A home by the vine: 4 wine regions to buy in
You probably never thought that you would take home-hunting advice from a grape. But they do know a thing or two.Read more...
No problem? No deal for property buyers in Spain
Playing golf in the warm January sunshine. Eating al fresco by your pool. Renting out your holiday home for a profit all summer and enjoying it in winter for yourself. However you see your life in Spain, you can do all this and more, however Brexit works out. Here’s why you shouldn’t be too worried about no deal for property buyers in SpainRead more...
My magical new village life in the Charente
If you’re thinking of making that leap of moving permanently to France and think you already know what to expect, think again. Village life in France may well surprise you with the joy and beauty it has to offer. Every day is a new adventure – a beautiful, colourful, joyful and glorious one. Enjoy every single minute of it.Read more...
Build your own home in France, part 1: buying land
If you’re making a life-changing move to France, maybe you want to make it perfect. And one way to do that could be to build your own house. Think how thrilling that would be. We’ve all imagined it. What we would like, what our priorities would be, what it would be made of and most of all, what the outlook would be, from rolling fields, glittering seas, charming vineyards, to soaring mountain ranges….Read more...
How do taxes in New Zealand work?
Just when you thought you’d heard every ranking New Zealand tops, here’s another one: the world’s best personal tax system! Even moving to the other side of the world might not free you from paying up, but, luckily, the tax system that you will be greeted with is incredibly easy to navigate and is focused on fairness and predictability.Read more...
Self-building in Australia, part 2: architects and permissions
Last month we wrote about buying the land to build on in Australia, and discovered that it’s easier than you might imagine. So now you’ve got the perfect plot and evicted the wildlife, how do you go about getting your home-of-a-lifetime not only designed, but approved by the authorities too? We’re going to meet some architects….Read more...
New rules come in around Airbnb rentals
Many European cities are struggling to contain the rise of Airbnb-style rentals. Their proliferation leaves local residents complaining of a lack of affordable homes. In a move that could have an impact on Airbnb in Portugal, Porto’s city council has decided to temporarily stop issuing licenses for new short-term rental properties in certain areas.Read more...
Build your own home, part 1: buying land
If you’ve spent any length of time browsing property listings in Portugal, you’ve probably noticed a wide selection of land for sale. Large plots of land, often with one or more ruins for renovation, are easy to find. Sometimes the prices seem incredibly tempting too. So, is buying land in Portugal and building a house to your dream specification a good option? This article explores the practicalities.Read more...
Self-building in Cyprus, part 1: Buying the Land
Could you build your own home in Cyprus? If you’re going to move to Cyprus, especially in retirement, you may as well move into somewhere special! Many of us have spent a large part of our lives imagining the perfect home, where everything fits together exactly as we want it. So we are starting a three-part series on self-building in Cyprus, written by someone who did it. In this week’s first part we’re looking into where you buy your building plot and what it will cost.Read more...
Self-building in Cyprus, part 1: Buying the Land
Could you build your own home in Cyprus? If you’re going to move to Cyprus, especially in retirement, you may as well move into somewhere special! Many of us have spent a large part of our lives imagining the perfect home, where everything fits together exactly as we want it. So we are starting a three-part series on self-building in Cyprus, written by someone who did it. In this week’s first part we’re looking into where you buy your building plot and what it will cost.Read more...
Prices to rise as Milan/Cortina wins Winter Olympic bid?
Milan and Cortina have won the bid to host the Winter Olympics in 2026. Could this be the time to invest in a property here before prices rise? If so, summer is the perfect time to book that viewing trip.Read more...