Buying in Greece as a same-sex couple: legal insights
Last month, Greece became the first Christian Orthodox majority country to legalise same-sex marriage. We chatted to Harry Angelides from The Property Chambers about the legal implications for property buyers in Greece.Read more...
How to keep calm and settle into life in Ireland
You did it! Thanks to your meticulous planning and preparation you successfully navigated the overseas property buying process. You also took care of all those other important tasks on your pre-move checklist without a hitch. Everything from sorting your pet’s passport and obtaining the necessary insurance to organising your leaving do. Now that you’re finally in possession of the keys to your home it’s time to turn your attention to settling into your new life in Ireland.Read more...
Will you earn more in New Zealand?
It’s the 64,000 (New Zealand) dollar question, will moving to New Zealand make you better off? It’s easy to look at basic pay comparisons, but ascertaining real purchasing power is a little more complicated. So we have crunched the numbers to see if you will earn more in New Zealand, or less.Read more...
Buying a holiday home in Apulia
You can buy a holiday home in Apulia that offers the best of all worlds. A country home, yet close enough for easy trips to the beach and charming historic towns. Apulia has well over 500 miles of golden beaches and breath-taking cliffs, lapped by the Adriatic and Ionian Seas, the Strait of Òtranto and the Gulf of Taranto. Just the names are enough to evoke the sound of the sea and the aroma of suntan lotion! This peninsula feels like an island but has the benefits of being part of the mainland.Read more...
Car ownership and driving in Portugal
Driving in Portugal, some other British drivers will tell you, is not for the faint of heart. A saying you often hear in Portugal is that the locals never hurry unless they’re behind the wheel of a car. In our experience, however, it’s fine once you’re used to it! This article covers everything from the legal practicalities of taking your own car there, to taking the Portuguese driving test.Read more...
Latest news from Italy
Hello from Italy, where a healthy tourism industry has boosted the rental market and Cristiano Ronaldo’s World Cup exit has given him time to do a spot of house-hunting in Turin.Read more...
Your emigration checklist to a new life abroad
Britain may be basking in a heatwave today, but if you want to be living abroad before you’re scraping ice of the car windscreen, better start planning now! Use our emigration checklist to stay on track for a wonderful new life abroad.Read more...
Living in the Spanish countryside
With a population of around 46.4 million and an area almost twice the size of Great Britain, Spain really does feel less crowded. However, most of the population is concentrated on the Costas and in major cities, leaving much of the rural interior almost uninhabited. Country houses and fincas within easy reach of the sea and large towns are always sought after and can command high prices. Smaller properties in villages will be much cheaper as will urbanisation’s in the hills behind coastal towns.Read more...
Sport in France
With the Football World Cup now at the knockout stage, and as I write this both France and England still strong contenders for the title, it is hard to ignore football fever here in France. Almost every bar, café and restaurant shows the matches and the French are a fiercely patriotic nation. Everywhere you look these days you see the French flag and signs of “Allez les bleus!”.Read more...
Understanding the Canadian Tax System
If you’re planning to relocate to Canada, you’ll want an understanding of the Canadian tax system to ensure you are compliant with local tax laws. In Canada, taxes are set by the federal and provincial government and are collected by the Canadian Revenue Agency (CRA). The types of taxes you may need to be aware of as an expat or retiree in Canada are income tax, government sales tax (GST), provincial sales tax (PST), and property transfer tax (PTT) if you are buying real estate in Canada.Read more...
How to make friends in the USA
Making friends in the USA will take some work. While striking up conversation is easy (especially when Americans hear a British accent) making real connections involves a touch more work. We understand the prospect of having to recreate your friendship circle can be daunting. Especially when you’re retiring to a place or moving with a young family and are concerned about not having a support network. It’s natural to be nervous.Read more...