International Real Estate Buyer’s Guide
(1) Make sure you know what you want. There are probably some “deals” of a lifetime, but make sure the one you purchase is “the deal of the lifetime.”
(2) Know you budget. Most of you will be at an age where you can make the right decision about how much you want to spend.
(3) What country?
a. Is it for Investment?
b. To live?
c. To retire?
(4) Know the Laws that relate to living and retiring in the country you have selected.
(5) Research the Country, the region, the area, the neighborhood, and the street or lane where you are “putting” your money.
(6) Spend time there as a tourist or renter before you purchase
(7) Consider all of the seasons. (Many people love Cape Town, South Africa in the summer, but cannot believe that the winters are like).
(8) Consider infrastructure to your country. Is it a direct flight or several and then a bus or train?
(9) Consider the infrastructure of your neighborhood. Is it there and is it complete?
(10) Buying on the “if come” or “pre-construction” is “by nature” fraught with “risk.”
(11) Know your Seller. This is more important than you think. What is the financial condition of the Seller and why he is selling? This is true for a Developer, a company, or individual. This may make it “a deal” or “a mistake.”
(12) Don’t trust “guarantees.”
(13) Know your Realtor or Salesmen. Trust your “instincts.”
(14) Buy Title Insurance
(15) Use a Lawyer or Title Company to close the deal
(16) Use an Escrow Account
(17) Hire an Inspector if there is such a thing where you are purchasing
(18) Be careful of “bandwagons.”
(19) Trust your “instincts” about the deal itself.
(20) Enjoy your purchase
