Archive for October, 2011

Overseas Travel Insurance – Preparing For the Unexpected While Away From Home

October 22nd, 2011

Ventures to foreign lands can provide unparalleled insight into fascinating cultures, historic vistas and even allow travelers to put neglected talents in foreign dialects to work. Journeys far from home provide exciting diversion from everyday life, but when unexpected disruptions occur while traveling abroad, their impact can be much more substantial than if the same event had happened at home. Therefore, overseas travel insurance is something every savvy traveler should investigate, as it affords a sense of security and confidence that major expenses resulting from unpredicted events will not result in financial or physical calamity.

Even travelers covered by traditional types of insurance domestically may be surprised to learn that when traveling abroad, their involvement in adventurous physical endeavors such as rock climbing and certain water sports may negate their policies. Tourists should also realize that when they head to countries with nationalized healthcare systems, it is quite possible that they would be ineligible for treatment in the case of accidental injury, as such services are reserved strictly for citizens. Further, in situations where medical treatment is required, doctors and hospitals in foreign lands may be unwilling to negotiate payment terms with a tourist’s home insurance provider, resulting in a demand for upfront payment prior to commencement of service. In situations where proper treatment is unavailable, emergency transport home may be necessary and conventional insurance policies may not provide coverage. Therefore, overseas travel insurance is a wise choice for travelers seeking to guard against the financial dangers posed by unanticipated events while abroad.

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Why Brits Go Mad for Overseas Property

October 21st, 2011

The UK has seen steady growth in the overseas property market. The traditional buyer has always been a couple in their fifties heading retirement. Moving abroad and retiring to the sun is a common desire amongst the British and this still remains. Spain and France and Florida are the typical locations for these types of overseas property buyers. However this profile is changing and it is changing for a number of reasons.

Overseas Property investors

The British have done very nicely in the UK property market with many homes doubling in price over a 10 year period. The Buy to let sector of the UK market is so big that many economists feel that property investors are in part responsible for consistent house price increases. UK government interventions have failed to slow the climb of housing prices; this could well be attributed to property investors who are so keen on expanding their portfolios they are not perturbed by the odd interest rise. These investors are now looking to property abroad for larger capital returns. The type of buy to let investor is so broad that it is difficult to give a profile. These investors range from a single person who has now moved to their partner’s property and has let their own premises to builders, lower income individuals who own their local authority home, to high flying city bankers. What ever the profile they have all seen good gains in their UK investment property and want to do the same overseas. Many regions from the emerging markets such as Bulgaria, Romania, Croatia, offer such low prices that buyers now include individuals that do not own a home in the UK

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