About mathieu

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So far mathieu has created 2836 blog entries.

Smart saved money on our Corfu purchase

Peter and Deborah had always wanted to spend time in the sun, away from the grey English weather. Greece was their country of choice so when Deborah’s mother sadly passed away they decided to use their inheritance both to invest their money wisely and to make their dreams come true. “We wanted to do something [...]

By |2012-03-21T14:54:39+01:00March 18th, 2012|Articles|

Spain’s “Disney World” making progress

Spain’s Murcia region last week came a step closer to becoming the “Orlando of Europe” after the promoter behind the planned Paramount theme park there completed the purchase of land needed for the leisure attraction. The arrival of this much anticipated theme park will be a shot in the arm for the region and its [...]

By |2012-03-21T14:38:51+01:00March 17th, 2012|Articles|

“My builder in France has gone quiet on me!”

The Overseas Guides Company helps readers with their questions about buying and living in France. If you need a question answering, email france@overseasguidescompany.com   My partner and I recently purchased a small house in the Dordogne. Once we had received the keys, we met with our builder (who had been recommended by the agent) to [...]

By |2018-11-15T15:36:24+01:00March 17th, 2012|Articles|

Canadian employers given power to recruit migrants

For many years Canada has embraced immigration as a means to nullify labour shortages and support an ageing population, however there are signs that the government there has slowly been changing the way it grants visas. Traditionally the policy was to grant permanent residency to ‘economic immigrants’ who would be sufficiently skilled to gain employment [...]

By |2012-03-13T15:42:16+01:00March 16th, 2012|Articles|

The real cost of an overseas property

Can you guess how much this idyllic French property costs? The truth is, for too many British people it’s impossible to say. Why? Because fluctuating exchange rates mean typical buyers from the UK don’t know until the day they make a currency transfer how many pounds they’ll need to exchange to meet the agreed local [...]

By |2012-03-21T14:54:07+01:00March 16th, 2012|Articles|

A new life in NZ starts at the airport…

New Zealand is a long way from the UK and when the time comes to book your flight there, whether you’re coming over on a holiday/recce trip or emigrating for good, it pays to do your homework   Says expat Pattie Pegler of NewZealandBuyingGuide.com: Price is probably one of the biggest considerations for many of [...]

By |2018-11-15T15:35:28+01:00March 15th, 2012|Articles|

Beware Spain’s unexpected tax

Many people who buy homes in Spain are unaware of an additional tax that can be demanded at any moment up to five years following a house purchase. Owing to the current financial crisis, more and more people are in receipt of this unexpected tax bill.   The complimentary tax is in fact applied when [...]

By |2018-11-15T15:57:30+01:00March 15th, 2012|Articles|

Travel to Turkish resort in style

Flying to Turkey can be tiresome at the best of times, but a holiday specialist firm has launched a new flagship flight to Dalaman, which could appeal to second homeowners. The new weekly, tailor made jet service will leave from a private jet terminal at London Stansted, starting at the end of April. With the [...]

By |2012-03-13T14:45:17+01:00March 14th, 2012|Articles|

Portugal traffic fines on the rise

Resident expats in Portugal and anyone with a holiday home there will be no stranger to the frequent roundabout car checks and random police stops that occur in the country. While officials deny that there is no policy in place to actively hunt out fines, English newspaper, The Portugal News, has reported that the value [...]

By |2012-03-12T11:16:17+01:00March 14th, 2012|Articles|

“Help – our Sky box in Cyprus is playing up”

The Overseas Guides Company helps readers with their questions about buying and living in Cyprus. If you need a question answering, email Cyprus@overseasguidescompany.com   When we switch on the TV at our apartment in Cyprus after it’s been vacant for a period, we always need to retune in Sky. And if we have people renting [...]

By |2018-11-15T12:46:40+01:00March 13th, 2012|Articles|