Property Sale Overseas: Property Articles
Top 20 Overseas Property Investment Countries

No 20 CYPRUS
First on the list at number 20 is Cyprus, most eastern island in the Mediterranean and former British colony. The British are far the most numerous foreign visitors and many of us are buying homes there. Since joining the EU in 2004, Cyprus has seen healthy growth in its property market but the average price is still only around the £100,000 mark. 188% return
No 19 SPAIN
Long-time favourite of us Brits, the most popular European destination for holidaymakers has seen a veritable boom over the last 15 years. Prospects for the future in many areas are not as bright as they may have been in the past, however respectable growth is still on the cards for new investors to this well-established market. Party town Valencia is currently on the receiving end of huge investment leading it up to the America’s Cup yacht race in 2007. A nice city centre apartment could set you back £130,000 now, but prices are heading rapidly northwards. 189% return
No 18 ITALY
Many parts of Italy such as Tuscany and Liguria are no longer the bargains they once were, however the island of Sicily boasts prices that are around 25% cheaper than mainland Italy. On the mainland, £20,000 renovations can still be found on the Adriatic coast of Abruzzo and the average across the country is £130,000. 199% return
No 17 FRANCE
Around half a million Brits are thought to own property in our second favourite holiday destination in Europe. Undiscovered bits of this tried-and-tested country are becoming harder to find, but it’s worth checking out Pau in the South-west – equidistant from ski-slopes and sandy beaches, it’s perfectly positioned. Recent improvements in road and air infrastructure means that it won’t stay undiscovered for very long though. Renting properties in France has become more tricky in recent years due to the competitiveness of the holiday rental market. You’ll make an unexciting 5% per year, but property price increases over the longer term look set to be more impressive. 201% return
No 16 NETHERLANDS
The most densely populated country in Europe lived in by its tallest people Holland experienced something of a boom in the late 90s but there is still money to be made. Average prices in Amsterdam are around £135,000 for a studio and country-wide the average is £150,000. 208% return
No 15 AUSTRIA
Home of Mozart, apple strudel, Arnold Schwarzneggar and the seat of the Hapsburg Empire, Austria comes in at 16. Average prices are just over £130,000 and in some ski areas you can pick up a one-bed apartment for £185,000. 211% return
No 14 IRELAND
Ireland is the country with the highest home-ownership in the EU at 83%. House prices here have been fuelled enormously by EU membership in 1997 and have almost quadrupled in eight years. But this surging demand has not abated and, whilst you’ll have to spend more to get your property in the first place (average prices are around £170,000), you could still more than treble your money in 10 years. 222% return
No 13 CZECH REPUBLIC
As a non-Czech citizen, it was previously very difficult to buy here. However, accession to the EU in 2004 has brought changes that paved the way for foreign nationals to invest in property. And they are in their thousands. This country is experiencing massive increases in tourism (Prague has become the stag-do capital of Europe!) and 20 UK airports fly direct to Prague. Unilever, Shell and Tesco are all investing heavily here, taxes are being reduced and locals are being allowed to borrow money at ludicrously low rates (2%) through government subsidy. The government’s statistical office predicts that demand for property will outstrip supply for years and years to come. Average property price is £45,000. 260% return
No 12 GERMANY
Germany has the lowest rate of home ownership in the entire continent at around 40%. Most people rent their houses, mainly due to the inavailability of mortgage funding. As a result prices have been stagnating or even falling for 10 years. This is all set to change with more flexible mortgage lending and access to finance which is likely to bring prices in line with other major EU economies. The situation has been compared to the UK just before Margaret Thatcher enabled people to buy their council houses. The UK property map for the last twenty years could well be mirrored in Germany. People are buying whole apartment blocks in Berlin for less than EUR1m which will be sold in time as individual units and the possibilities for making cash are considerable. 261% return
No 11 LUXEMBOURG
Luxembourg has the highest number of Michelin starred restaurants per person and is the most expensive place to buy property in the whole of the EU. In spite of the hefty price tag, prospects are looking good for the future. This tax haven has the highest income per person in the world and demand for property is as strong as ever. Return 263%
No 10 HUNGARY
Hungary is seeing some of the highest private foreign investment being poured into its borders. International companies are fighting each other off to set up their European hubs here. Budapest has been dubbed ‘the Paris of Central Europe’ and has proved a great city for investment over the past three years. A huge new-build programme is underway and apartment renovation projects in central locations can still be snapped up for £30-40,000. 269% return
No 9 FINLAND
A land of 188,000 lakes, 186,000 reindeer and more blondes per capita than anywhere else on earth. Average property prices are only around £100,000 which, when compared with wages, is pretty low for Europe – another country with great rental potential. 273% return
No 8 SLOVENIA
Slovenia is a diverse destination of natural beauty. Half the size of Switzerland, it has skiing and lake resorts as well as one of the coolest capitals in Europe, Ljubljana. Since EU integration, prices have risen but compare very favourably with neighbouring Italy and Croatia. A small house will only cost you around £25,000 and the average is only £45,000. 278% return
No 7 SLOVAKIA
According to the EU Slovakia has the fastest growing economy in Central Europe. This newly joined EU member has a huge shortage of properties, meaning the existing ones are soaring in value. The old town of Bratislava (dubbed a mini-Prague) is ripe for investment and rural properties are going for a song - £35,000 will buy you a new chalet in the mountains. 326% return
No 6 BELGIUM
The capital of Europe with the highest consumers of chocolate in the world (an amazing 16kg per person per year!), comes in at number six. Property prices are among the lowest in Western Europe (when compared with wages) with average houses going for £70,000. The rental yields are strong at 7% due to low local property ownership. 340% return
No5 SWEDEN
Dotted with lakes and forests Sweden is the biggest country in Scandinavia, however it is one of the least populated places in Europe. It's also one of the cheapest: on average property is just over £50,000. 352% return
No 4 THE BALTIC STATES
The Baltic States of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania are located in northeast Europe on the Baltic Sea, neighbouring Belarus and Russia. Old towns of these countries’ capitals (Tallinn, Riga and Vilnius) are seeing huge interest from foreign buyers. All three states joined the EU in 2004 and property prices have been booming for several years as rental investors pile in and local wages increase leading to increased ownership. Estonia is Europe’s fastest-growing tourist destination with both Easyjet and Ryanair links to the UK. These countries all have a low flat-taxation regime. 356% return
No 3 PORTUGAL
Portugal is one of the cheapest places in the EU to live (a three course meal with wine for two costs around ten pounds!) The country is recovering from a recession but has shown strong property growth for a couple of years now. The Silver Coast is still relatively undiscovered but has cheap flights to the UK and a 4-bed habitable period house will only set you back around £90,000. 360% return
No 2 POLAND
Poland is one of the wettest countries in Europe, but it is also the one with the best prospects of all current EU members. Huge numbers of international companies, such as Tesco and GSK, are setting up here and the country is set to get the lion’s share of EU funding over the next eight years – up to EUR70 billion. 393% return
No1 ROMANIA
As an applicant country to the EU Romania has extremely good economic prospects. Historically, applicant countries’ property prices rise strongly up to and through integration. Currently a house to renovate in the countryside can be snapped up for as little as £5,000. Massive regeneration and infrastructural investment is predicted in this eastern European neighbour which, when underway, look set to provide property investors with massive returns. 414% return