The best destinations in Europe to buy a second home

*The UK is no longer part of the EU and therefore while the information in the following Blog was correct at the time of writing, it would be best to gain more current information

Buying a second home and moving abroad, for all or even some of the year, is a dream for most of us. So what do you do when you’re finally in a position to make that dream a reality? Choose where to move of course! In this post we’re going to take a look at some of the best destinations for Brits planning to buy a second home abroad.

France

France has always been a popular destination for Brits looking to purchase a second home abroad. The north of the country is so close to Britain that travelling back and forth is fairly straight forward. However if you’re after a place in the sun the the south of France is where you should look.

Due to the lower population density across the channel you can find some real house bargains if you look hard enough. If you have the time you can save even more money by renovating an old property.

Spain and Portugal

Due to the European economic crisis there are plenty of property bargains to be found in Spain and Portugal. Cheap housing and the laid back lifestyle make both these countries very popular for Brits looking for a second home abroad.

Depending on what you’re after you can find areas in Spain and Portugal that cater to the British lifestyle, like the Costa Del Sol. However, if you’re after a more authentic lifestyle then looking at smaller towns and villages away from the big cities will provide you with a very different way of life compared to what you’re used to at home.

The Netherlands

For families with young children relocating to the Netherlands can be very convenient. English is widely spoken and it can take less than an hour to fly from Amsterdam to London. Many large employers, like Phillips and Microsoft, have offices in both the UK and Holland. There are also a large number of English speaking schools which can make everything a lot easier for your children if you’re moving there permanently.

Slovenia

Slovenia isn’t a typical destination for second house buying but the Eastern European destination does have a lot to offer Brits looking for a home abroad, especially if they’re on a budget.

The overall cost of living in Slovenia is much cheaper than it is in the UK. The housing market also offers much better value to buyers. For example for around 1 million Euros you can buy a seven bedroom luxury villa. To put that price in perspective for the same amount of money in London you will be hard pressed to find a two bedroom house.

Slovenia has been a member of the *EU since 2004 which means that it benefits from EU privileges like free movement of people and goods. This can be extremely useful if you’re planning to move your business there.

For many people buying a second home abroad is a dream come true. To see how we can help make your dream a reality, take a look at our international removal services.