Coronavirus may have forced house-hunters to postpone their overseas viewing trips but that’s no reason to ditch your buying plans completely. Instead, use your time at home to do research and make some important contacts, so you’re ready to snap up a property once normality has resumed. Here are some useful pointers

Browse online listings
Now that we’re all housebound most of us should have plenty of time to flick through Rightmove listings and really get to grips with property availability in your chosen destination. Use the filters to help you compare similar properties in different areas or resorts. When calculating what you can afford, remember to include the fees and taxes that would be added to any advertised or agreed purchase price.

Build in a cushion for swings in the exchange rate too. Make use of our tools that allow you to save listings, add notes, send to friends or create alerts geared towards your preferences. In particular, save or note down those properties you’d be really keen to view – start to build up a wish-list.

On-line research
In tandem with perusing property listings, download and read our free guides to buying property in your chosen country.

This will give you an overview of the purchase process and the various specialists you will need along the way. For more in-depth guidance and a whole range of articles on buying and living abroad, visit the relevant country link at PropertyGuides.com.

Tap up some agents
Continental Europe and the USA are enduring a similar lockdown to the UK, which means most overseas estate agents are sitting at home or alone at their desks with more time on their hands than usual. This makes it a good time to get in touch, via email, phone, social media or Skype, and pick their brains about properties in their patch. Start by contacting those that listed your favourite properties, ideally no more than three. Once you have opened a dialogue, the more proactive ones will start to understand your requirements and may suggest other properties they know of that you haven’t seen. In some cases, where the lockdown rules are less stringent, they may be able to do virtual viewings for you, using their phone or tablet.

Liaise with a lawyer
Ideally, you should appoint and speak with an independent lawyer before you even find a property to purchase. They can start some of the formal procedures required to become a homeowner, such as applying for a tax identification number or opening a foreign bank account, thereby minimizing the chances of any delays. They may also spot an advantageous way of structuring the ownership of your property. So get ahead of the curve by researching relevant law firms now, with a view to appointing one sooner rather than later.

Look at their website, read their testimonies and send them an email outlining your buying plans, perhaps requesting an idea of fees. Seriously consider giving your lawyer power of attorney, allowing them to act on your behalf during the transaction and eliminating the need for you to be present at completion – it’s helped many buyers during the Coronavirus lockdown.

Mortgage agreement
If you’re planning to purchase with a mortgage, get a head start by talking to an overseas mortgage broker or foreign bank now.

They will look at your personal circumstances and as long as you meet the required criteria, offer you an Agreement in Principle (AIP). An AIP remains valid typically for three months, after which it is likely you would need to re-apply or update your application, a simple process your broker would assist with. What’s key is that you’ve done most of the legwork involved with an application, so you’re in a strong position when you do start viewing properties.

Contact currency experts
Don’t overlook your currency transfer requirements. You might not need to send dollars to the USA, or euros to Spain, France, Portugal or elsewhere in Europe yet, but knowing your options for when the time comes will bring you peace of mind and could save you money. Our Currency Zone explains more, including why your next step should be to open a no-obligation account with Smart Currency Exchange. You can then chat talk through your future property purchase with a specialist and start planning the most suitable approach for your currency transfers.

Learn the lingo!
Find half an hour each day – which shouldn’t be difficult right now – to start learning the language in your chosen destination. The choice of on-line resources and websites is huge – you’ll soon find your favourites and you’ll be in a great position to explore the local area when you are able to head out on that viewing trip!