International Property Investments: Keys to Success
Investing in real estate has traditionally been considered a wise choice: markets will occasionally shake and shift, but smart choices and careful timing will generally afford you a stable long-term investment.
Market stability varies from country to country, of course. Occasionally, investors may be discouraged from committing due to market fluctuations and the surrounding uncertainty, but properties shown admirable long-term resilience and stability among the core markets, and 2018 isn’t showing any signs of dramatic changes, on the contrary.
Initial considerations
What do you do if the circumstances for real estate investment are currently unfavourable in your immediate surroundings? Do you practice caution and weather the storm, waiting for a kinder turn of the market? While caution is always wise, sometimes it leads to missed opportunities. There is another course of action if your real estate market is on a downward trend: look elsewhere!
Around the world there is plenty of booming housing markets, and a number of countries are offering great incentives in order to draw foreign investments. Business immigration offers further benefits that can make your choice of investment far easier.
Arm yourself with knowledge
As with any major investment, it is absolutely necessary to research the market as much as possible. If you’re new to international property investment, here are a few basic pointers on what to look for and what to consider.
There is a number of factors to consider before making a decision on where to invest in properties. The first thing to look at is the health of the housing market in your area of interest. Across the world there is a number of countries with booming real estate markets, and an in-depth look at the key indicators of your potential return of investment will clear many doubts in your decision making process.
This is not the only factor to consider, however, as you should always look at the general political and social stability of your target location, consider tax and real estate laws, and seek out any additional incentives for foreign investors, such as tax deduction, golden visa options, etc.
Examine your motives
This is true for buying property anywhere, but even more so if you’re considering doing it abroad, so you’d be best advised to think twice about your potential real estate investment. Asking yourself a few simple questions will make your choice of target property far easier. Are you looking for residential or commercial real estate? Are you considering making the property your personal residence in the future? Are you looking to rent out or re-sell the property? What is the time frame for your projected return of investment?
For instance, the best option for personal residence may not necessarily be the most profitable option, and finding answers to the questions above (as well as many others) will help clear the fog and help you make the best decision.
Value the benefits
A constantly growing number of countries are interested in drawing foreign investments, and their laws and regulations reflect this. One of the most common models of attracting foreign investors is offering investment immigration opportunities, the quality of which varies from country to country.
Even a cursory look at the list of countries currently offering golden visa programs shows a great variety of options and benefits on offer for property investors. And while these investment residency and citizenship plans might seem as an expensive way to buy a passport, they come with a number of advantages otherwise unavailable to foreign investors, as visa-free travel around the world or a safe second home for your family. Once you narrow your list of potential real estate markets, look closely at the available benefits by countries to make a truly informed final choice.
Play the long game
Investing in properties internationally is not the ideal market if you’re looking for a quick return of investment. Its greatest strengths lie in its stability and longevity, and therefore any investment should be considered a long-term one. Committing to this type of investment for an indefinite amount of time may seem like a scary proposition at first, but solid decision-making coupled with the passage of time can make for a lucrative long-term investment.