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With a growing number of British nationals choosing to buy property abroad, we meet some of the people who have already taken the plunge and find out how they made it happen

Words: Marcus Waring

THANKS TO PROGRAMMES such as A Place in the Sun, growing numbers of British residents are buying properties overseas. In this new wave of emigration, people are taking advantage of increased housing wealth, the strong pound, and the ease of moving due to affordable flights and new technology such as Skype, which allows people to stay in touch.

Younger people emigrate for adventure or work, while pensioners head for a better climate. The Institute for Public Policy Research estimates that
5.5 million Britons live overseas, which is equivalent to 9.2% of the UK population. There are an additional 500,000 Brits who split their time between the UK and another country. They also predict that a further one million individuals will move overseas in the next five years. Here, we highlight three cases where people have turned their overseas property dreams into reality.

ANTIGUA

Cricket-enthusiast Jani Saeed, 38, a money broker from Richmond, Surrey, has always enjoyed visiting the Caribbean to holiday and watch international cricket matches. Already owning two holiday homes in Cornwall, he decided his next investment property should be overseas.

“I’ve been to Antigua and Barbados a couple of times, and really loved going to the Caribbean. But I always thought Antigua was a lot more laid back,” explains Jani. He was also attracted by the Antiguan prices – in terms of development, it is approximately 10 years behind Barbados. The Nonsuch Bay development properties are good value for money compared with other locations in the Caribbean, such as the Turks and Caicos islands. His apartment, which is one row back from the beach, has two bedrooms, both with en-suite bathrooms, plus an open-plan living room, dining room and kitchen as well as balconies. It cost £214,000.

Since Jani bought the apartment, the value of the property has risen by 15%-17%. He plans to rent it out but also aims to visit during the Cricket World Cup in 2007.

In addition to cricket, Antigua also boasts the famous sailing week, and the chance to do some island hopping. Antigua is easy to access, with an eight-hour direct flight from the UK. The only downside is the hurricane season, which runs from June to November. Although all La Perla developments are built to be hurricane-proof, there is always the chance of heavy rain and wind during this period. www.laperlainternationalliving.com

MALLORCA

When Allison Hammond, 40, and Mick Holland, 41, from London met in 2003, Mick was a professional draughtsman and Allison an Operations Director for a pub company. Discovering they both loved the Balearic Islands, they decided to take the plunge and moved to Mallorca that same year, where they now run www.caladore.co.uk

They chose Mallorca as it had a short flying time to the UK to visit Mick’s children from a previous marriage and it was also the most popular of the Balearic Islands for British tourists. Although property prices were higher than on mainland Spain, London prices were sky-high and their money went much further here.

Using a local estate agent run by English staff in Cala D’or, they bought a two-bedroom apartment in a community of six apartments with a garden, basement, parking and communal swimming pool. It cost £164,700 and, after three years, is worth £191,000.

“Getting a mortgage in Spain is just as straightforward as in the UK, although there are different requirements,” says Allison.

As the couple had already run a successful business on the island for two years, the bank was happy to lend them up to 70% of the asking price without basing it on their salaries, as in the UK.

They have now launched a new business called Caladore.co.uk, offering affordable holiday apartments with a personal touch. Allison has also learned a few invaluable lessons along the way. “Have a good gestoria (solicitor), check all details on the escritua (deeds) and be patient. The Spanish work at a slower rate than the British but always get things done.”

ANDALUCIA

When they met in Chelmsford, Essex, Sean Lummis, 36, was working at a shipping company in Barking and Sally Crane, 32, was a legal secretary in London. Their frustration with commuting, crime and working incredibly long hours made them relocate to Spain, where they both work for www.spanish-inland-properties.com

After spending their holidays visiting properties and doing research on the internet, the pair rented a cave house in the bustling market town of Huéscar in Andalucia in 2004 as an experiment. They fell in love with this quirky accommodation and bought it outright for £40,900. They didn’t need to get a mortgage but did need to open a Spanish bank account, although it didn’t have to have any funds in it. The property is freehold and they own the deeds to it. It has three bedrooms, a patio, three terraces and a star-gazing hut above it. It had little power, no bathroom, no hot water and the sewerage wasn’t connected. So they gutted it using local builders, which cost £20,000. They have recently sold it for £69,275 and are moving to another cave house.

“Property prices and the cost of living are so much lower than in the UK,” says Sally. “There is very little air and light pollution and the scenery is stunning.”