Thinking of buying property in India, anyone done similar?

Oh how such a simple question can prompt so many responses, options and advice.  While India has been mentioned as potentially one of the largest economies in the world over the next decade, it does not often get mentioned in property investment forums.  While tourism is growing in the country, it tends to be seen as more of an industrial / business area, something which some investors seem to be steering clear of.  Is this a mistake? Well, the property market seems to be booming, the economy is going full steam ahead, and the reputation of India is growing day by day.

India is a country which looks set to grow and grow for the next decade or so, but yet the difference between the rich and the poor seems to be widening.  As a property investment market it has been shunned by many, possibly because of mis-information or the fact that it does not conform to the traditional tourism business model.  Either way, India is a boom economy at the moment and it is attracting overseas investment in a  whole host of business sectors.  However, the location, location, location principle will be vital in a country which has so many different standards of living.  If you are looking for a good long term investment, India is a place you should be checking out as soon as possible. 

Hot Regions for Investment in China

While nearly every country in the world seems to get mentioned at some time on the forum, China is something which very rarely crops up, even though it has great potential for growth.  This thread is still fairly young but already a number of useful regions have been mentioned as potential hot spots for the future.  Perhaps the one main factor which has scared off so many investors in the past is the secrecy and laws of the country.  However, when you consider how open the country is now, compared to saw twenty years ago, things are really starting to move ahead.  A venture into the unknown can sometimes bring up gems for the future!

Slowly but surely China is becoming more and more involved in events outside of its own boundaries, but it has taken some time to get to this point.  The country has a fairly good relationship with the US, which has opened many doors for both countries, with cross border trade, etc.  When you consider that China is currently rumoured to be opening one new power station a day, you may get an idea of how quickly the economy is growing.  Overseas investment has assisted in this growth, but up until now it has mainly been in the business sector.  One of the largest countries by land mass, China has many variations, traditions and climates to offer, and property speculation is becoming a major market.  The ongoing relaxation of overseas investment rules, and the ownership of property by non-nationals has prompted a rethink by many investors. Along with India, China is one of the fastest growing economies in the world, and by all accounts it still has a lot further to go.

News and Info for investment in Bulgaria

This thread has highlighted Bulgaria and the Northern and Southern areas of the Black Sea, in what is a refreshingly new type of thread, which many readers will find useful.  As we all know it is the location of your property which will ultimately dictate performance, price, etc, but you also need to consider what is around you, developments, etc.  This thread offers readers the chance to post their observations from any area of the world, regarding new developments which may attract people and ultimately assist the local housing market.  Very often it is these "free role" threads which have the most to offer, bringing in a variety of knowledge.

This is a very interesting thread which has the potential to run and run, picking up the news of the day and highlighting the potential for different areas of the world.  The posts on here are both informative and more importantly easy to understand.  It also shows that you need a balanced approach to research, not depending upon one source or type of publication.  There are a number of posts which have corrected potential anomalies in some information, which is always helpful to encourage discussion - which is ultimately how we will get to the truth.  The thread currently takes in the Black Sea and Bulgaria, but is open ended and can quickly move to the latest hot spot of the moment.

Best investment real estate locations in Spain?

This thread seems to have it all on the subject of Spain, the old, the new and the pitfalls of local planning permissions.  The main coastal areas of Spain have always been very popular, especially with the British investors, and while the days of a fast turn over may have gone, there is still steady growth in these market.  However it seems that there may be better opportunities elsewhere, both inland and in some of the lesser know coastal resorts, but beware of the local councils.  The threads highlights a concern that many may not be aware of, scandals and suspected bribes in exchange for planning permissions.  These types of criminal investigation can effect property prices in the area overnight, with investor not willing to take that type of risk on board.  Interesting and informative.

As you would expect with one of the stalwarts of overseas property investment, the subject of Spain brings a out a lot of differing views.  Some believe that markets on the coast have topped out, some believe there is more value in land, but the truth probably lies some where in between.  It is still very much down to location, location, location as to how your investment will perform.  There is also an interesting take on a property planning permission scandal, whereby some council officials have been arrested on suspicion of taking bribes and granting planning permission on protected areas.  When investing in any market, these areas should be avoid due to the extra unknown risks.

Military Permission in Turkey

When looking to acquire a property in Turkey, it seems that the local property investment laws are very unique.  There is much mention of the military searches, as much of the land for sale is held within so called military zones, and needs to be investigated thoroughly before investing.  There is also the subject of charges which is very prominent in this thread, with some confusion about what is a fair price.  The thread also highlights the need to take on local advisers who know the area, the laws and the potential pitfalls, but ensure they explain everything to you!

Not only does this thread highlight the unique rules and regulations when buying property in Turkey, it also highlights the good, the bad and the ugly of the property industry.  The good points being the way posters come together to assist and help one another in great detail, the bad being the often lack of detailed information coming from solicitors who act on the buyers behalf and the ugly, the potential to be over charged if you are not careful.  The price of "military searches" seems to vary drastically from transaction to transaction, which should sound an alarm for those in the higher bracket.  Did you realise that Turkey was quite this complicated?