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The Top 10 Places to Buy in 2011
At last, the definitive guide to the ten best places to buy a holiday home in 2011 has arrived. We've scoured the planet, researching standards of living and property options to give you the information you need to make your decision. The usual favourites are still there, but are this year complimentent by a couple of surprise new entries to the list too - will your dream destination measure up?
Once again, Spain tops the list with hundreds of our readers and exhibition visitors telling us why they choose the land of sunshine and siestas to buy their hoiday homes.
Unsurprisingly France came a close second with Brits still flocking across the channel to buy their second homes. We look at some different options and learn what mortgage options are currently available.
Followed up by Portugal, Italy, Florida, Turkey, Greece and Cyprus, the top ten appears to be the usual line up of old favourites, but this year new entries Malta and Egypt completed the line up of top destinations.
Find out why...
1 . SPAIN
2010 position 1
2 . FRANCE
2010 position 3
From the chic, sunny south to the lush, rural north, France’s appeal lies in its rich culture and gastronomy, its diverse landscape and excellent accessibility from the UK. Ever popular as a place to move to permanently as much as somewhere to own a second home, it will always be a favourite among overseas property buyers. We show you homes here from only £67K.
3 . PORTUGAL
2010 position 4
The Algarve, both east and west, and the Silver Coast have some idyllic unspoilt spots for second homes, thanks to the country’s conservational approach to tourist developments. And compared to other countries, in particular its next-door neighbour, property prices have remained relatively buoyant. While golf is one of Portugal’s major draws, we reveal how friendly-family beach resorts are just as appealing and ensure a strong rental market. We show you how you could own a slice of a luxury designer apartment from just £112K.
4 . ITALY
2010 position 6
Character homes, great scenery and culture, and irresistible food and wine are what first brought British property-hunters to Tuscany and the northern Lakes. But we’re now waking up to the fact that these are qualities that can be enjoyed throughout the whole of the country, including the central region of Abruzzo and Puglia and Calabria in the south. We look at the costs of buying and owning a charming two-bedroom two-bathroom trullo in Puglia.
5 . FLORIDA
2010 position 2
The combination of theme parks, golden beaches and a fun-packed lifestyle becomes even more attractive when property prices in much of the Sunshine State are such good value. Plus, the year-round sunshine means a holiday home here can make you a tidy sum in rentals too. We look at the how you could land yourself a four-bed villa with a pool in Davenport for just £96k and meet Mark and Anne Irvine who are having a property built in a gated community on Florida’s west coast near Sarasota.
6 . TURKEY
2010 position 5
Hard to beat for value for money, Turkey’s popularity shows no signs of slowing. Whether you look along its Aegean or Mediterranean coastlines there are some fantastic options on offer. Being outside the Eurozone means it has become a magnet for holidaymakers looking for value during the recession, so the chances of some rental income are pretty good.
While estate agents report that prices have fallen slightly, the market hasn’t suffered like the rest of Europe, as foreign house-hunters have woken up to Turkey’s delights – and affordable prices. This growing demand has led to improved access, as airlines start to extend their services to Turkey. We show you homes with prices starting from a very affordable £23K.
7 . GREECE
2010 position 8
With dozens of islands to choose from, as well as an equally attractive mainland, properties here range from traditional stone villas in village locations to apartments in small complexes overlooking unspoilt fishing harbours. Our chosen buying opportunities start from a tempting £42K for those of you prepared to put some work into a property or a ready-renovated one-bed house on Crete for £51k.
8 . CYPRUS
2010 position 7
Year-round sun, beautiful beaches and Brit-friendly resorts make the third largest holiday island in the Med an attractive second home destination. And the economic downturn has caused large price reductions in many developments – we show you homes in Paphos from £92K.
9 . MALTA
NEW ENTRY!!
Named after the local word for honey, the new sweet spot for British buyers is Malta. It comes recommended by our Queen and the scuba diving crowd for its laid-back and friendly atmosphere. Despite officially being the most crowded country in Europe, it’s still possible to find some quieter more rural properties on the sister islands of Gozo and Comino. We look at a luxury apartment in the pretty village of Mellieha in the north of the island and find out the cost of buying and owning it.
10 . EGYPT
NEW ENTRY!!
The good news for water sports fans continues with the addition of Egypt to the top ten best places to buy in 2011. There’s a raft of development still taking place along the Red Sea coast with off-plan apartments in Hurghada available from around £10k and options in Sharm-el-Sheik ranging from £100k - £200k, or for more well-heeled house-hunters El Gouna offers luxury custom-built villas around the £800k mark.
The January 2011 issue of A Place in the Sun magazine is on sale at all good newsagents.
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