How To Invest In Property Globally

International residential and commercial properties represent a significant opportunity for you to invest in real estate capable of yielding strong investment returns. Ease of global travel and international communications now make it easier than ever before to invest in properties abroad. Established property investment markets like Spain, France and USA, which still have much to offer astute property investors, are now competing with emerging overseas property markets, such as the Czech Republic, Costa Rica and Turkey.

Today, the range and location of investment properties around the world is unprecedented. With the power of the Internet, finding those investment properties is now much easier too.

But with such a sea of information available across the Internet and in estate agent shop windows, how is it possible to focus on solid and reliable investment property deals that are capable of returning on their promise? The answer is to do your homework!

Good investment properties fall into three investment categories:

Rental Income
Property that is strong on rental income tend to be residential properties in a location where tourist rental, business rental and/or local rental demand for that specific type of property is high. Commercial properties too are capable of returning strong rental income on long leases. These types of investment properties are frequently found in top vacation destinations along the coast or in international cities and emerging city markets. This includes places as diverse as the French Investment property in French Alps, the city of Prague and New York.

Capital Growth
Investment properties with the potential for high capital growth are found in similar locations to those that yield a good rental income. These types of investment properties are also found where local demand for property purchases is high, but where supply of those properties are limited. New York City is a prime example – new construction is very limited, demand for real estate is high and the city is a top international tourist destination. As a result, New York properties yield high rental returns and appreciate in capital value at a very healthy rate.

Market Value
Below market value property investments are properties where the vendor is willing to sell their asset at less than the going price. This might be due to personal circumstances (i.e. the vendor needs a quick sale) or the property requires repair and renovation, or may be purchased off-plan direct from the developer. Renovation properties and off-plan properties are by far the most attractive types of below market value properties in countries like France, Spain and Italy. They offer investors the opportunity to buy property cheaply and turn a profit on the property when it is placed back on the market for sale.