Product Description

This title includes all the countries that "A Place in the Sun" has visited - France, Italy, Spain and the Canaries, Portugal, Greece, Turkey, Florida, the Black Sea, the Caribbean and Croatia. As well as photographs to make readers want to give all up and move there straight away, it features lots of practical information about how to get there, and about climate, currency, language and so on. And if you're not sure where would suit you best, the author also includes an introduction to the culture, the food, the sights and the people of each country, to help you decide on the perfect location. Whether thinking of settling elsewhere permanently or just looking for a weekend retreat; whether you dream of an Alpine chalet or a Portuguses pied a terre: this book includes all the guidance readers need to get started. From choosing a location and calculating a budget through finding and buying a property to applying for planning permission and renting it out, this should prove a useful guide to buying a home abroad.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #378425 in Books
• Published on: 2002-08-23
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 160 pages

About the Author
Fanny Blake is a freelance journalist and writer. She co-wrote Grand Designs with Kevin McCloud and is the author of two books to accompany the Channel 5 series House Doctor.

Customer Reviews

A good introduction but the book needs to be longer.
I bought the book having seen the TV programme on which the book is based. I enjoyed looking at the scenery and properties in the countries the programme visited and it did make me start thinking about a buying a property overseas.

I hoped the book would have plenty of pictures and information on the countries visited. I also hoped that it would give me useful information on how to go about looking for and buying properties in those countries.

The book did live up to that in part. Its got a brief description of each country and its regions as well as which parts may be best to buy property. It also has a brief summary of some of the programmes shown, with photos of some of the properties. It also has useful notes on what to think about in buying property abroad and how to go about it as well as addresses of estate agents for example.

My main critiscism of the book is that its too short and really needs to be about twice the length it is. If you're buying the book simply to recapture the pleasure of watching the programme, then it is disappointing to find that the programme summaries don't have photos of all properties visited and that some programmes shown haven't been included. If you're looking to buy property then the description for each country really needs to have more detail. What would also have been useful is a a short guide on each country on where its best to buy property to let out as holiday accomodation or simply as an investment and then the chances of letting it. It also needs more detail on the position for each country if you're buying to live there.

In summary its interesting if you've watched the programme and a useful starting point to buying overseas. However it could be a lot better if it was longer, and its price would justify a longer book.

An absolute MUST!
Essential for any person who is tired of UK grimness and wants a fabulous home abroad for a fraction of the cost. Covers series 1-3, and all the essentials including all the details you will need to consider when buying houses in specific countries. A great list of links too- other books, foreign property websites & e-mail address. An absolute MUST!

Good international coverage of buying a property abroad
Purchased this book as thinking of joining together with some friends to buy our "Place in the Sun". Generally the book covers the basics country by country but would benefit from more detail in the case studies.