Dont ask any company for advice, they will merely point you to thier wares. You dont ask the barber if you need a haircut.

I went on a similar physchological journey and felt like I was going round in circles so I sat down and did a list of everything I wanted and tried to find a location to fit.

The following I think are the most important points for money making;

1) Everyone will promise you renting will be abreeze, it wont be in most cases. So number one - how EXACTLY will you let your place?
I wanted rental agents on site to ensure rentals would be hassle free.

2) How long is the rental season. You will find people on forums like this complaining thier Bugarian beach property only let for 8 weeks last year. You will find many in over supplied Spain lucky to get a couple of months rent.

SO HOW WILL YOU EXTENT THE RENT SEASON?

I would say the key draws that will underpin rentals are;
a) on or close (very close - no car hire involved) to a good beach
b) ON (not near, on) a golf course - and not a planned one - a real one
c) Easy to repatriate funds. Imagine your kids in 15 years time if you die - how EXACTLY will they get the money
d) SPECIAL FEATURES - I dont mean 'luxury', everything is 'luxury' supposedly, I mean something extra like an ON SITE marina
e) Healthcare - if you want a decent return the host area must have decent health care facilities to attract families with young kids

f) Distance - I think you want to be no more than 3 hours flight. People may fly 4 hours to Turkey in summer but what about thier long weeked in Decemeber - less than 3 hours is a magic number

g) Quality - that means for example a real grass garden not a patch of earth that so many developments end up delivering

h) leisure facilities - you need lots of these to maximise rentals and get repeat business


3) COMPETITION - the reason so many French and Spannish properties are'nt good investments in terms of rent yield is they are much of a muchness with boundless competitors in the area

4) SAFETY - the big one. Nothing is ever guaranteed despite what the guarnatees and bonds say, and even big American Banks like Bear Sterns can go pop.
I would stick to large operators (or smaller ones with big backers / Government support).
Dont go for those that want lots of your money prior to delivering the final property - why should you shoulder the risk!

5) DONT BUIY IN MARKETS THAT HAVE HAD A RECENT BOOM ALREADY - thats bad timing and like the tail end charlies in the great gold rush

In the end you will never find perfection


Ive invested in a few places and like Saidia, Morocco the best as it ticked more of the above boxes than any other investment I found - but that doesnt mean there wont be hassles and worries
It has many unique features such as 11 onsite internation hotels - thats a very rare selling point and is very important as those big boys will drive people to the site with established marketing protocols. Also gave me more confidence such a large number of big names felt willing to set up here.
Reportedly the biggest marina in the med also

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Been investing abroad a few years. Always amazed people invest in places that produce just a few months rent per year