Best Country For A Second Home

Nobjocki

I am due a reasonably large sum of money from the will of a recently-departed relative probably in the region of 200K.
Like other people in this situation my thoughts turn to the long-held dream of having a second home and I just wondered about some of the options.
Can anyone recommend somewhere that ticks at least some of these boxes.

1. Mild and sunny winters.
2. Within five hours flying from the UK.
3. Not rammed with ex-pats intent on creating a Little England
4. Reasonable property prices.
5. Low crime rates.
6. Doesn't need to be a property/area which has to be rented out for the rest of the year.
7. Not Spain.

Thanks.

richardw

what about the disadvantages.

Maintenance, painting, cleaning, gardening, bills, security against crime.

IMHO don't bother, just go to places with excellent accommodation, enjoy the break, leave and don't worry.

Inactive

If you find a place that ticks all of your boxes, please let us know.

We can have it renamed to Utopia.

I don't think anywhere will tick all of your boxes.

Party_Animal

Can I ask why not Spain?

tiamaria

Cyprus would fit most of your requirements, esp the far south west, Polis or an inland area or outskirts of Paphos (though you will find more english around there)

dmg24

Morocco?

david69_2

There are plenty of areas in spain that are not full of ex-pats, I'm looking at buying in spain and the last thing i want is little england

Infidel

dmg24 wrote: »

Morocco?

Yeah, and go to Tangiers by Ferry dressed like a stereotypical American Tourist :D

popapapa

It's Italy...

not Tuscany, of course!:p

weather is fantastic, food exceptional, people helpful, great free NHS, within 2 hrs flight from London

moved here a year ago. Bliss! Only miss moneysavingexpert.com

PM me if you would like more info...

daveyjp

The Algarve outside of the main tourist resorts - suggest somewhere east of the airport. We have just been for a week and the area round the Spanish border ticks most of your boxes, less than 45 minutes drive.

We stayed in a friend's apartment in Vilamoura, but he chose wisely and bought in a condominium where most owners are Portuguese and don't rent out so we were the only ones there for most of the week.

Madeira may also suit, but I don't know about property prices - my mum's brother looked at buying there and I'm sure his budget was less than £200k and he found a few nice houses.

Sam_Bee

Do you intend to retire there when finished?

Otherwise, how about this.

Invest the money (earning, what, £8-£10,000 a year - not my specialist area!).

Use the interest to pay for your amazing holidays every year. Go to different countries, see new places every holiday. Imagine what type of holidays you could have with a £10k holiday budget. Yes, you can go to France if you want. Or the Galapagos Islands, or Easter Island. With that budget you can take your family and friends most years!