Things to consider when buying overseas property

Prospective expatriates buying a home abroad may run into trouble if they have not anticipated the ins and outs of the process, according to a property website.

Paul Collins, editor of BuyAssociation, explained that overseas medical insurance may be useful to those thinking of relocating to a different country.

"People may end up moving somewhere that is possibly a little bit isolated, that maybe doesn't have the swift access to things like healthcare or even just local facilities, like shops and leisure facilities that they might want" he noted.

Among the things to consider when relocating abroad is to obtain the services of an independent lawyer who can work solely on a house purchase.

Mr Collins pointed out that difficulties can arise when prospective expats use the same lawyer as the seller of the house.

His comments follow research from Standard Life showing Spain is the most popular overseas destination for British expatriates wanting to retire.