Securing the Best International Mortgage for Your Home in Spain

Are you one of a growing number of people planning on buying a holiday home in Spain?

Or have you decided to expatriate, buy a Spanish home and live in it permanently?

If so, you may be about to begin your hunt for an international mortgage to purchase real estate abroad?

The task of finding the best international mortgage can seem like quite a daunting one at first glance with many domestic, overseas and international providers vying for your business. But don't panic! Tackle the task head on, ensure you secure yourself the best possible international mortgage or property finance deal today and you will save yourself tens of thousands in interest payments over the lifetime of your mortgage.

You can begin your search for the best loans and repayment vehicles online which should help to make the whole process more convenient and time efficient for you, and this article will also help make the search for the most ideal and personally suitable finance method that much simpler.

There are five basic types of finance arrangement available internationally; to enable you to determine which one suits you and your circumstances best there follows a brief description of each: -

1) International Mortgages

Depending on the country you're resident in and the country you're considering buying property in some domestic lenders offer international mortgages for overseas real estate purchase.

An example is Lloyds TSB in the UK which offers resident Britons who already own a home in the UK an international mortgage scheme specifically for the purchase of real estate in Spain.

The types of mortgage and repayment vehicles are standard to the domestic country (e.g., UK or US) though there is often the added criterion that the purchaser is already a home owner in the local country and any mortgages available are only for up to 70% of the purchase price.

2) Local Spanish Mortgages

As Spain is largely geared to the foreign property buyer it's often possible to raise a mortgage locally in Spain especially when you approach one of the larger international bank's subsidiaries. It's still important to make sure you understand the local terms and conditions of the loan and the repayment vehicle as well as checking and comparing the interest rates available to you with those available from an international lender 'back home.'

3) Expatriate Mortgages

If you're already an expatriate whether in Spain or another overseas country and you want to buy in Spain or you're interested in buying a home in your originating country for investment purposes or as a base for you to return to at some point in the future, it can be tricky to secure a mortgage.

If you had a strong credit history before you expatriated and you're now in receipt of income to support your mortgage application there are a number of lenders specifically interested in attracting expatriate business though. Some of the major high street lenders will charge you a bit of a premium for the ease of application and service they offer and it's actually worth while shopping round on the internet to see who else is offering specific expatriate mortgages.

Usually you should be able to borrow up to 85% of the property's value and when it comes to proof of income this can be made up of earned, pension, investment and rental income.

4) Equity Release and Second Mortgages

This is of course the simplest and most popular method being used currently for the purchase of holiday homes overseas by many buyers. In the UK especially, where the housing market has significantly strengthened over the last 5 ? 7 years, many people have built up substantial equity in their homes and are now releasing this 'extra money' to purchase property in Spain in cash.

If you consider this method you must accept that the additional sum you add to your mortgage will incur interest, it will have to be repaid over the term or at the end of the term of your mortgage and that the whole loan is secured on your main property.

5) Installment Payments

You might like to consider purchasing property off plan as this can give you the option to pay for the real estate via a series of installments or stage payments that you can save up to fund during the build period.

After paying the securing deposit your installment dates and amounts will be written into your purchase contract enabling you to budget accordingly. Clearly this method would particularly suit those with a high level of disposable income.

Once you have determined the most suitable method to suit your requirements and circumstances you can begin your search for a lender if applicable. Consider searching the internet, using forums, expatriate and international property sites, examining lenders sites and you can also listen to personal recommendations from friends, family and colleagues who have already undertaken property purchases in Spain.

Rhiannon Williamson is the publisher of http://www.shelteroffshore.com - the online resource for investment property abroad, offshore investing and living overseas articles, guides and resources.

Click the following link for Spanish property and moving to Spain articles, guides, resources and recommended reading.

---

Home Equity Loan ? Still a Better Idea Than a 401(K) Loan

Anyone who borrows money is always looking for the cheapest... Read More

A Mortgage Loan For Homes

Everybody wants to own a house because it is something... Read More

A Guide to Quick Homeowner Loans

The search for quick homeowner loans can seem futile at... Read More

New Home Loan - 3 Tips To Speed Up The Mortgage Loan Approval Process

Imagine this: you've found the perfect house, and feel lucky... Read More

How to Find the Best Home Improvement Loan

If you're looking for the best home improvement loan for... Read More

Refinancing vs Line of Credit

Refinancing vs line of credit are two popular options you... Read More

Homeowners? insurance: The mortgage connection

A home owners' insurance is the cover for the house... Read More

Get the Best Rate on Your Home Mortgage Loan

Home mortgage interest rates hit record lows in 2004 and... Read More

Home Equity ? Let the Market Eliminate Your Private Mortgage Insurance

In decades past, most people who were interested in obtaining... Read More

Bridging Loan Basics

A Bridging Loan is a short-term loan used as a... Read More

FHA Mortgage: Whats the Best Way to Show an Underwriter that Youre Ready to Buy a House?

Mortgage underwriters can be a suspicious bunch. If you have... Read More

Mortgage Cycling May Be Your Best Bet For Equity Buildup and Investment Real Estate

Mortgage cycling is a system that relies on solid budgeting,... Read More

Guide to Flexible Mortgages

Outlined below is a useful guide to flexible mortgages. Flexible... Read More

Thinking About Re-mortaging? Read These Tips First

More and more of use are signing up for limited... Read More

A Mortgage and Bank Trick You Should Avoid at All Costs

Once you've purchased your home, you will begin to get... Read More

Home Mortgage Loan Refinance ? Benefits To Refinancing Your House Online

Here are some of the benefits to doing your home... Read More

What is an Interest Only Mortgage?

An Interest Only Mortgage is one where the repayments are... Read More

The Power of a Home Equity Loan to Pay Down Debt

Households across the country are finding themselves in a similar... Read More

Think You Cant Get a Mortgage?

You've finally found that dream home that you have always... Read More

Home Equity Increases $1 Trillion in Five Years ? Is the Market Peaking?

A new survey reveals that in the last five years,... Read More

Applying Online For A Home Loan Can Give You an Instant Approval

"Instant Approval For Home Loans" is a common refrain for... Read More

Who Else is Ready to have Their Money Work Harder for Them?

What does it mean to refinance? Why would anyone want... Read More

Preventing Foreclosure Proceedings and Understanding Your Options

Every year over 8 million homeowners are seeking help preventing... Read More

Are Biweekly Mortgages Really Worthwhile?

You may have heard people, especially mortgage lenders, extolling the... Read More

Bad Credit? Qualify Yourself For A Zero Down Mortgage Loan

I decided to write this article today after closing a... Read More

Why You Should Not Get Hung Up on the Interest Rates!!

This is what a mortgage can do for you!AND Why... Read More

Shopping for A Mortgage? Do Your Homework First

If you happen to be shopping around for a mortgage,... Read More

Online Mortgage Brokers - What You Might Not Know About Home Loans & The Internet

You may think that applying online for a mortgage is... Read More

Reverse Mortgages ? a Reversal of the Mortgage Process

Mortgages have assumed a number of characters from the time... Read More

Mortgage after Bankruptcy - Bankruptcy Discharged Yesterday? Purchase a Home Today!

So you have been through a bankruptcy and surely have... Read More

First-time House Buyers: to Buy or Not to Buy; that is the Question

Buying your first house is always a difficult time. There... Read More

What is a Mortgage?

A mortgage is a loan, usually from a bank, finance... Read More

Home Equity Loans

A home equity loan allows you to cash-in on the... Read More