• French Riviera
• French Chateaux
• Algarve, Portugal
• Monaco
• Lake Como, Italy

Income

Often, one of the primary concerns about buying a property abroad is how to maintain an income that sustains the dream of a relaxed lifestyle in the sun. Of course, the cost of living overseas is much less than in the UK, but increasingly more and more people are considering the option of buying not just a dream property, but also a property with a rental or business income. The range of commercial properties overseas is at least as varied as at home, but often properties with letting potential are popular. The options for an income of this kind range from letting out your property to tourists for a few weeks, or even the whole season, through offering Bed & Breakfast accommodation, to purchasing a hotel for sale.

The kind of property to be found abroad with letting potential, from a chambre d’hotes to a grand hotel for sale is staggering. Often these properties are sold as going concerns with a proven history of profit, and are often sold furnished and ready for new guests. From the smallest mountain chalet, popular with skiers and hikers, to the grand historic chateau hotel set amid its own estate, there is a property or hotel for sale to suit every taste and budget. Management is often readily available for those that choose to keep their main home, but for those that choose to live abroad and run their business themselves, a letting property or hotel for sale can offer a guaranteed income for their new life amid the spectacular landscapes, rich culture and relaxation of sunnier climes.

As at home, rental income on your property varies dependent on how often and to whom you choose to let. One option is to permanently let to a local tenant. Although guaranteeing a steady and fixed income, this is not a viable option for those that wish to enjoy their property full or part time. At the other end of the scale, purchasing a large hotel for sale can be both satisfying and financially rewarding. Often a large hotel for sale will be an established business with a proven income, and will already be fully staffed and with regular guests, whether individuals or via tour operators. As such, this type of hotel for sale can be run as hands-on, or hands-off, as required; as competent managers are often already employed by the previous owners. Many buyers, however, choose to purchase a smaller scale hotel for sale or a property with tourist letting potential. Almost all properties have the potential to be rented to holidaymakers either in their entirety, or on a per room basis. Finding tourists that want to stay in the area is not as daunting a task as it first seems, as, especially in the more popular tourist destinations, management companies that arrange everything from finding guests to cleaning and maintaining the property are easy to find.

Types of Hotel For Sale

A hotel for sale can range from the smaller guest houses, with one or more bedrooms to let, to grand urban or rural hotels with a great many bedrooms. The type of hotel for sale that is chosen is largely down to individual preference, as there is often a wide choice throughout Europe and beyond. The smaller B&B style hotel for sale allows the buyer to be more involved with the day to day running of the business, and also to more carefully select the desired type of guest. While it is quite possible to employ staff to run the business side, this type of hotel for sale does not appeal to all buyers due to the unavoidable consequences of taking paying guests into what is often also the home. As the number of guest bedrooms and the size of the hotel for sale increase, often so does the ability to keep the paying guests separate from the living accommodation. This allows buyers of the larger hotel for sale greater flexibility. Buyers who choose to live on-site to enjoy the spectacular landscapes of their chosen area are often delighted by the standard of attached accommodation. This may range from a separate suite of rooms or an apartment, to a nearby property. For those that choose to buy a hotel for sale as a purely financial opportunity, any attached accommodation is often let to an employed manager.

As with any commercial property, the financial turnover is often reflected in the price of the hotel for sale.

A hotel for sale with a good annual turnover and predicted growth is always going to have a higher purchase price than an undeveloped property or one that needs a financial stimulus to turn the business around. However, in some European destinations where tourism is growing, but not yet established, there are still some bargains to be found. On occasion a hotel for sale will have an attached business such as a bar or restaurant, which increases the turnover, and can often provide an income from locals when the hotel is less profitable out of season. With any hotel for sale that specifically caters for holidaymakers, it is important to remember that there are marked seasonal fluctuations in visitor numbers, and out of season any hotel for sale is instantly transformed into a spacious retreat from which to enjoy the milder weather and the natural beauty of the area.

With so many beautiful locations boasting a fabulously sunny climate year round, specific legislation regarding buying a hotel for sale is dependent on the country of choice. Often buying a commercial property or hotel for sale abroad is no more problematic than buying at home. While advice should always be sought prior to committing to a purchase, with the correct legal support, buying a business abroad can be fairly straightforward in many European countries. While some EU countries can have quotas on the number of immigrants per year, and visas or work permits may be required to buy a business, if correct procedure is followed and a little patience shown, often the process is fairly straightforward. Once the correct permits are obtained, it may also be necessary to licence the business and register it with the local authority in order that the correct taxation is applied, where necessary. Again, with the correct legal advice, this is usually a fairly simple process. It should be noted that, just as at home, some older and historic properties have restrictions on modifications and future building projects which may limit the expansion of a hotel for sale, and some rural and picturesque areas, particularly estates containing a hotel for sale, may have specific requirements of land use.

Buying a hotel for sale whether as an investment, a business to run from a distance, or as a means of income while enjoying a relaxed lifestyle in the sun, is always a rewarding experience, and, whatever your needs, large or small, we will be happy to find you the perfect hotel for sale in the country of your choice.