When buying a property abroad many people forget about the most obvious and relevant point of all:

What do you want the property to do for you?

This simple factor could determine the country and the area you buy in to. Are you looking for a short term property investment? Are you looking for a long term regular income? Or like most people are you simply interested in a holiday home for you and the family?

There are two types of property abroad you can buy. Off-plan and Resale Property. Off-plan means buying a property abroad before it is built. A resale property is simply buying a completed property abroad from a third party. Both options have their advantages and disadvantages.

Buying an off-plan property in UAE can reap some fantastic profits. In Dubai there are no taxes which make Dubai a very attractive investment property opportunity. If you assume 10-12% as being the maximum abroad then you should receive some change every time.

If you are buying a property abroad to emigrate then you must check out the infrastructure i.e. Hospitals, education etc.

This is why Dubai always ends up being number one in our opinion because the infrastructure is leaps and bounds ahead of many of the developing countries. You may pay more to begin with but you receive far more for your money long term.

If you want to buy a property abroad for investment and rental purposes then think about what appeals to the majority.

Is it close to an airport? Is it close to the beach or local amenities? Is there sufficient transport nearby? Are you able to rent the property all year round?

If you are looking for a rental income from your property in Dubai then do spend time finding a good agent. We at SNJ's Real Estate can give you advice on this subject. If you can afford to do so then buy a cheap good looking vehicle which could add extra value to the property both on rental and resale. Always try to buy a property that appears to be spacious. The inside color makes a big difference which is something you can change yourself. Never buy a property that doesn't have a view of some form or another. The view can compensate for the lack of space inside.

Always check the surrounding areas for potential building projects as the last thing you want to do is come back 12 months later and find the field next door is a construction site. The chances are your tastes are not that much different to other peoples so although you have to be vigilant at all times don’t forget the basic rule. If you like it then you can be sure that others will also. So buy a property that you like would fall into place quite nicely.

SNJ's Real Estate can really help you make all these decisions.