Research is of paramount importance when moving house, whether you are moving a few streets away or if you are moving to a completely new country. You may be buying abroad to for a holiday home, to emigrate, to retire, for investment or a combination of all of these, but whichever it is, good research ensures that things don’t go wrong. And if they do, you should be prepared to deal with them. Research will also open your eyes to the different laws, rules and regulations that different countries operate.

There are bound to be a lot of differences between the new country and what you are used to in the UK and it is important to research the area, the property types, what sort of prices you can expect to pay and everything you would take into consideration when buying a property in the UK. If you don’t do thorough research then you could find yourself having to pay more money than you expected, perhaps for hidden costs/fees etc. Knowing what to expect will avoid this emotional and financial stress.

Try to remain logical and practical when you are buying a property abroad – don’t get blinded by the excitement of the move, and never sign or commit to anything unless you are 100 per cent sure of what it is you are agreeing to. Buying abroad can be a fantastic experience, but things do go wrong, mainly when people have not researched potential problems and assume that it works the same way in every country.

Although many people can buy a foreign property outright, when it comes to paying for your new property, the likelihood is that you will be looking to get a foreign mortgage to help pay for it. Mortgages vary greatly so be sure to shop around for the best deals and do as much research as you can into how mortgages in a particular country work – for example some countries do not let foreigners take out mortgages; if this is the case you will need to find an alternative way of paying for the property so don’t sign anything until you have guaranteed funds.

Deposits needed to buy in popular destinations are typically between 10 per cent and 40 per cent of the (bank) value of the property – 100 per cent finance is available on bank repossessions in Spain though. You need to know how much deposit you will be expected to pay before you commit to anything.

Like anywhere in the world, a number of factors will affect the price you pay for your property abroad. Things like schools, reputation, area, number of bedrooms and proximity to facilities can all have an impact on prices. Always bear in mind that if a seemingly perfect property seems to be too cheap, there is probably a reason why so do all you can to find out if there is anything off-putting to do with the house itself or the area it’s in.

Take the same precautions you would when buying a property in the UK, and don’t get complacent. A good place to start your search for an overseas property and compare prices in different destinations is the Overseas Guides Company’s property portal. To start browsing now visit http://www.emigrationguide.com/content/emigration-properties