European property after the referendum

Is 2016 the year that Brits make that step to buy that property abroad,  like most financial committments there is a good time to buy and a not so good time to buy.  Anyone looking to buy in Europe would be now buying into a flat property market with the exchange rate well in their favour, that makes buying at the moment a good time to buy.

The biggest factor for many looking to buy a property in Europe is whether the UK votes yes or no to the upcoming referendum which is expected to be as early as June or July this year. Those looking to move permanantly will definately want the assurance of being part of the European Union so that they can participate in the benefits of that country which already apply to their  Nationals, primarily that would be health care.

Only this week I watched a TV  program that followed various people trying to make a life for themselves in Spain, it varied from a couple from Essex who bought a bar/restaurant to a guy on his own who was looking to work in the entertainment business as a magician. The program brought back memories of when we experienced the last boom of Brits searching a new life abroad back in the early part of 2000, the circumstances were pretty similar with low European prices, beneficial exchange rates and those who had a property to sell to finance the project were in the position of selling top of the market and looking to relocate to France.

Back in those days in early 2000 France was top of the list for Brits buying abroad, they were searching out all the corners of the country for their idealic countryside or waterfront property. Both holiday homes and permanent residence were the objectives, at present there is a trickle of Brits looking to buy property in France, that could turn into a flood if the yes vote wins the referendum, especially for those looking to retire and wanting to be fully covered by the health system.

France is a large country and the regions vary quite a bit in both culture and climate, Rightmove Overseas offers a buyers guide on their site along with overseas properties for sale. One area that stands out is that of Burgundy, stretching from just south of Paris to almost the outskirts of Lyon, it is a region offering a lifestyle suited to both young and old, it is has easy access from the UK and easy access to other parts of Europe.

Will we see European property prices surge on a buying spree by Brits after the referendum? that is if the UK votes to stay in the EU, now is the time to be looking ready for the event.

 

 

Allen Walkey

Highly experienced businessman with a successful career in property sales and investment both in the UK and abroad. Now a freelance writer and blogger for the property and Investment Industry, keeping readers up-to-date with changes and events in a rapidly changing world.

You May Also Enjoy

Breaking News

Planning reform alone will not fix the UK’s housing crisis

Propertymark has published a new position paper, Meeting UK house demand, moving beyond the planning system, warning that focusing solely on reforming the planning system will not deliver the number of homes the UK urgently needs. While planning reform is frequently cited as the primary solution to the housing shortage, Propertymark’s analysis shows that changes…
Read More
Breaking News

One in three mortgage hunting FTBs has at least 25% deposit

While higher loan-to-value (LTV) mortgages dominate first-time buyer demand a significant minority are seeking higher deposit deals, fresh data from Moneyfactscompare.co.uk can reveal. Of those looking for fixed term deals on moneyfactscompare.co.uk: Almost one in three (30%) first-time buyers are opting for 90% LTV mortgages, and a further 12% are looking at 95% LTV options. This…
Read More
how to present your property for sale
Breaking News

Nationwide House Price Index for January 2026 – Industry Reaction

Nationwide House Price Index for January 2026. The latest index shows that: House prices increased by 0.3% between December 2025 and January 2026. This reversed the -0.4% monthly decline seen between November and December of last year. Annual growth sat at 1% in January 2026, with this annual rate of growth increasing from 0.6% in…
Read More
Breaking News

House price growth edges higher in January

Slight rise in annual house price growth to 1.0% House prices were up 0.3% month on month Continued improvement in affordability helped drive first-time buyer activity in 2025 Headlines Jan-26 Dec-25 Monthly Index* 544.9 543.4 Monthly Change* 0.3% -0.4% Annual Change 1.0% 0.6% Average Price (not seasonally adjusted) £270,873 £271,068 * Seasonally adjusted figure (note…
Read More
Breaking News

Housebuilding sector shows early signs of recovery

The latest Barclays Business Prosperity Index report1 reveals that despite affordability pressures, regulatory challenges and financial caution, four in five businesses (83 per cent) operating in housebuilding and its supply chains remain confident about their outlook for the year ahead. Barclays’ anonymised client data from around 70,000 UK businesses, combined with research from 500 industry…
Read More
Rightmove logo
Breaking News

Rightmove launches major updates to its agent qualification CELA

Rightmove’s Level 3 Certificate for Estate and Letting Agents (CELA) will include a new module on Renters’ Rights from April, helping agents to get Renters’ Rights ready before May The Level 3 Certificate for Estate and Letting Agents is included as standard within all Rightmove memberships, with only a fee to the exam board to…
Read More