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Article #63: Overseas Homes Hit By New Airport Taxes

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Introducing new taxes on flights to There could be a glut of properties come
reduce carbon emissions could impact the to the market which will send prices
prices of properties, according to downwards.'
Tribune Properties, who specialise in the Exceptions to the rule could be in the
sale of overseas property to second home two European tax havens of Monaco and
buyers. Andorra , where there is no income tax
'There has been more discussion and calls for residents.
for action recently over the impact that 'Historically tax havens have been
air travel is having on the environment,' popular no matter how the economy is.
say Tribune, 'And one of the most obvious When someone buys a property in Monaco it
ways to cut air travel is to raise the often doesn't matter to them if it's a
price of travelling through taxes. It's a few million Euros as they're going to
win-win situation for governments, more save more than that in tax during the
tax revenue and being seen combating time they stay there. Andorra is slightly
global warming at the same time. It's different as it's a tax haven but also
only a matter of time before cheap air people buy ski apartments there, adding
fares on the scale we see it today comes to demand'.
to an end'. Andorra property prices have risen an
Owning a second home and a property average of ten per cent a year in the
abroad has shown to be an aspiration for last decade, and some predictions are for
the majority of UK residents by recent that figure to be closer to fifteen per
surveys, and low cost carriers have cent for 2006.
opened up new overseas property markets If governments do start introducing new
by flying to destinations not covered by air fare taxes to slow and possibly
other airlines, or forcing flight prices reverse the rise in air travel there
down where they compete directly with could be good news for some property
more established carriers. buyers though.
Property prices within a one hour drive 'In some areas the second home market has
of regional airports served by the low increased prices significantly, with many
cost airlines have tended to escalate in of the younger local population being
recent years, and it is these areas that forced to move away from their towns and
would be hardest hit by any increased villages', say Tribune Properties.
taxes on flying. 'The UK and US populations are quite
The areas which would feel least impact mobile, but in some countries popular
according to Tribune Properties would be with holiday home buyers there are three
northern France, which many UK second or four generations of the same family in
home owners access via ferry and the a village or town. But as overseas
Channel Tunnel, and areas where owning a property buyers have moved in and pushed
property abroad was in vogue long before prices up, the younger generations ahave
the new airlines started, and when air been forced to look away from these
fares were proportionately higher than popular areas because they cannot afford
they are today. Access to France from the a property in their home town anymore,
UK has improved recently with Eurotunnel and a lot of the local employment has
cutting the journey time by twenty become seasonal. If real estate prices
minutes. come down they might be able to afford to
'The Costa del Sol for example we feel live in the villages where they were
wouldn't be impacted much by increased brought up if they choose to do so. Some
air taxes - although over development will still move away but at least they
could bring prices down there anyway'. will have a choice.'
But there is a warning that the lower Conversely, far from changing traditional
priced end of the market could be hit towns and villages into holiday resorts,
more than the top end. overseas property buyers can sometimes
Bargain Properties have a positive affect on preserving
'There has been a significant increase in traditional village life.
second home ownership in the last 'In France for example, many of the rural
decade', say Tribune. 'Gone are the days villages were dying a slow death as the
when it was just the wealthy who owned an younger generations moved away to the
overseas property. Developers in Spain, bigger towns and cities to find work.
Greece and Cyprus have built apartment British second home buyers have revived
blocks with units of two and three the villages by buying run down
bedrooms that are affordable for a lot of properties and renovated them, breathing
middle income families. Given that new life into the communities. The
mortgages are readily available and it's property market is nothing if it isn't
often just twenty per cent of the asking adaptable,' conclude Tribune, 'And while
price that needs to be found an overseas there will be regions that will suffer as
home has become reality for millions of a result of a declining market, there
Europeans. But if air fares increase will be winners too.'
significantly and the holiday makers who Tribune Properties offer Menorca property
rent the owners apartments and villas for sale and Andorra property via
declines, quite a few will need to sell andorraproperty.
as the rental income pays the mortgage.






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