Before Moving Abroad: 5 Things No One Tells You (But Should)

So, you’re thinking of moving abroad? Amazing! Whether you’re chasing sunshine, cheaper living, or just a new adventure, it’s a big, brave move. But here’s the thing: for all the Instagram-perfect snapshots and dreamy travel vlogs, living abroad isn’t always as smooth as it seems.

Sure, it can be life-changing in all the best ways—but only if you’re ready for the stuff no one really talks about.

Let’s dive into five things you really need to know before you pack your bags and hop on that plane.


1. Your Grocery Store is Going to Break Your Heart

You won’t realize how attached you are to your usual store until you’re standing in a tiny local market, searching (in vain) for something as simple as cheddar cheese or baking soda.

Shopping abroad can feel like a treasure hunt—only sometimes the treasure doesn’t exist. You’ll face unfamiliar brands, strange packaging, and shelves full of products you can’t even identify. And if you love cooking? Prepare for some serious adjustments.

Take Shaoxing wine, for example. It’s a staple in many Asian dishes. But if you’re living in, say, rural Europe, you’re probably not going to find it easily. Instead of giving up on your stir-fry dreams, check out this guide for a handy replacement for Shaoxing wine. It’ll save your dinner (and your sanity).

Learning how to substitute ingredients is a real skill you’ll pick up—and it makes you a better, more flexible cook.


2. You’ll Miss Weird Things

Yes, you’ll miss your family and friends. But you know what else? You’ll miss dumb stuff.

  • Your favorite toothpaste.
  • The smell of your neighborhood coffee shop.
  • How easy it is to return things on Amazon.
  • The exact way your local barista makes your drink.
  • And yes—drive-thru anything.

These little comforts sneak up on you. They’re not dealbreakers, but they can trigger waves of homesickness you weren’t expecting. Be kind to yourself. Missing things is part of the process, not a sign that you made the wrong decision.

The good news? You’ll also gain new favorite things—new routines, treats, and places that become yours.


3. Finding a Place to Live Can Be a Rollercoaster

When it comes to housing, what looks dreamy online might not live up to the photos. And depending on where you’re going, it can be harder than you’d expect to find something safe, clean, affordable, and not already booked by other expats or digital nomads.

If you’re not into spending a fortune or living out of a suitcase forever, here’s a tip: check out PropertyUnder20K. It’s a global listings site that specializes in affordable homes—and not just fixer-uppers either. You’d be surprised what you can find with a bit of digging.

Keep in mind: real estate prices change, and availability varies, but deals do exist. It’s all about timing and being open-minded.


4. Bureaucracy Is a Beast (But You Can Tame It)

No one tells you how much paperwork is involved. It starts before you even leave—visas, bank accounts, insurance—and follows you well into your new life. Expect to wrestle with forms, rules that change without notice, and slow-moving offices.

The trick? Be organized. Really organized. Make copies of everything. Keep digital and paper files. Expect delays.

And if you’re moving somewhere where English isn’t the first language? Get help. A local translator, lawyer, or relocation consultant can save you a ton of stress.

You don’t have to know it all—you just have to know where to get help.


5. You Might Not Feel “At Home” for a While

Even if you love your new country, there’s usually a weird in-between phase. You’re not quite a tourist, but you’re not a local either. It can feel a bit lonely or disorienting at first.

You’ll find yourself second-guessing social cues, fumbling through conversations, and craving the ease of home. That’s normal.

But then something shifts. You start recognizing faces in your neighborhood. You get invited to a local event. You figure out where to buy the best bread.

And slowly, you stop feeling like you’re on the outside looking in.


So… Moving Abroad, Should You Do It?

Absolutely. But do it with eyes open and expectations in check. Moving abroad isn’t a magic solution to life’s problems—but it is an incredible opportunity for growth, joy, and discovery.

Be flexible. Be curious. And give yourself a big dose of patience.

Oh—and when you can’t find what you’re looking for at the grocery store? Just smile, improvise, and remember you’re building a new life, one meal (and mix-up) at a time.


Bonus Tips for a Smooth Move:

  • Research visa and residency options before you go.
  • Pack light—seriously, you don’t need as much as you think.
  • Join local Facebook groups or expat forums.
  • Learn a few key phrases in the local language.
  • Always have an emergency fund.
  • Say yes to invites, even if you’re nervous.
  • Take breaks from social media if it makes you homesick.
  • Remember: no one has it all figured out.

Moving abroad is messy, magical, and totally worth it. Just don’t expect perfection. Expect real life—with a much better view.

And who knows? You might just find your dream home for less than your last couch. 😉

Affordable Living: Cheapest Real Estate Adventures


In the realm of real estate, there exists a hidden treasure chest of bargains waiting to be discovered. We’re talking about the homes that are so affordable, they practically come with a “happy dance” built into the price tag. Picture this: the enticing allure of a “cheap house for sale in Italy” or perhaps a “cheap property sale” beckoning you towards a world of budget-friendly bliss. Let’s explore the fun side of snagging a steal in the real estate market.

1. The Fixer-Upper Delight

Ever dreamt of becoming the hero of your very own home improvement saga? Well, look no further than these rough diamonds. Picture yourself donning a tool belt like a superhero cape, ready to conquer leaky faucets, peeling paint, and floors that might have a secret passion for creaky serenades. It’s not just a house; it’s an adventure waiting to unfold!

2. Neighbors, Quirks, and Unintentional Stand-Up Comedy

Who needs a comedy club when you can live next door to characters straight out of a sitcom? Cheap real estate often comes with colorful neighbors, each with its own unique quirks that could rival any sitcom cast. From the aspiring rock band practicing at 3 AM to the neighbor who insists on mowing the lawn dressed as a superhero, you’ll never be short of entertaining anecdotes.

3. Sewage Tango

Picture this: While public sewage might be a distant dream, consider it an opportunity to embrace a more intimate relationship with your waste disposal system. Maybe you consider a compost toilet or a more elaborate sewage treatment system. In any case, you are the master of your own waste!

4. Eau de Factory

Ah, the sweet scent of industry! Forget about lavender fields; imagine waking up to the aromatic symphony of a nearby factory. It’s not just a smell; it’s an olfactory adventure that will have your nostrils thanking you for the unexpected thrill. The best-smelling factories to look out for are cookies or chocolate factories.

5. A Global Playground of Possibilities

Now, let’s not limit our imagination to the rolling hills of Tuscany or the bustling streets of Rome. The world is your oyster regarding “cheap property sales.” From the charming cobblestone streets of Europe to the exotic landscapes of Asia, there’s a budget-friendly gem waiting for you on every continent. It’s like a global scavenger hunt with a home at the end!

6. The Mythical Land of Sub – €20,000 Homes

Yes, you heard it right – less than €20000! It’s not a typo; it’s the golden ticket to homeownership. Forget about the latest tech craze; the real steal is waiting for you in the form of an actual roof over your head.

Imagine regaling your friends with tales of your unbelievable find – a house for the price of a used car! You’ll be the talk of the town, the maverick who cracked the code on budget-friendly living. A home that comes with a price tag so friendly, it practically invites you in for a cup of tea. Cheers to the under-20,000 house hunt – where the adventure is just as affordable as the homes themselves!

Conclusion

So, there you have it; it’s about embracing the quirks, unleashing your inner DIY hero, and collecting stories that will have your friends laughing for years to come. Happy house hunting, and may your journey be as entertaining as the homes you discover!

In case you are fed up with all your property adventures, you can list real estate for free and get it sold.

Real Estate in Europe

The European real estate market in comparison

We just jumped into the year 2020 and curious to know how the real estate market in Europe was doing last year? Maybe we can find a tendency that is a must-know for our real estate strategy.

When making my research I came across a very interesting report that really opened my eyes to a few surprising facts regarding the real estate in Europe. I can recommend this to everybody to have a read.

Property Index – Overview of European Residential Markets

https://www2.deloitte.com/content/dam/Deloitte/de/Documents/real-estate/property-index-2019-2.pdf

Also, they will regularly post new reports – so you can keep up with new developments. “Data is the new gold”, so they say and I believe they are right. Acting according to the data provided can give you a big advantage.

Here are some results from this report I found very useful.

Since 2015, growing prices were seen in 15 (from a total of 16 EU countries). Italy being the only exception. There, property prices have been falling gently but little by little for years.

The typical annual growth in European property purchase prices has been 5 percent over the past three years.

In Eastern European countries (the likes of Hungary or the Czech Republic) and in Portugal, however, this increase was almost twice as high, which makes it increasingly problematic for people in these countries to acquire real estate in view of the lower income levels. In Eastern Europe the price growth may be seen as catch-up growth. Also, price developments are motivated in particular by the low interest rate environment. The “cheap” money fuels the property prices on one side, but also increases debt on the other.

The purchase price index between urban property prices and those in the countryside continue to separate and continue to show the ever more differing development of purchase prices between urban and rural regions. Just to look at one example, property prices in German cities such as Berlin, Frankfurt and Hamburg exceed the national average by half; Munich has the highest German value at 130 percent. Looking at Europe as a whole, Munich is not the only one: in a European comparison Paris and Lisbon (both about 220% above average) and London (198%) show an even more extreme development.

Are you looking for a great real estate bargain in Europe?

Or maybe you see this as a good time to cash on those favourable developments. Here are two places that can help you.

Find your real estate in Europe. See all properties on a world map.

List your real estate for sale in Europe. It’s for free – no strings attached.



Property transactions costs comparison between the US and Europe

I recently read an article which indicated that transaction costs for US property average between 9 and 10%. This seems staggeringly high to someone like me who is more used to costs around 2%.

The seller has to pay the majority of the US transaction costs and the largest part by far is the Real Estate Broker fee which is typically 6%.

Similar costs in Northern Europe are between 1.5 and 3%. Other overall costs are pretty comparable and consist mostly of taxes and legal fees.

Continue reading Property transactions costs comparison between the US and Europe

Property Depreciation and why Europeans have never heard much about it!

Here is an interesting thing I realized recently as a result of living in the US. In the US property depreciates. As a result you can write off the cost of the depreciation against rental income (typically over 27.5 years).

This deduction is not possible for those living in Europe. Why the difference?

Is it because of differing building standards. Generally more buildings are timber frame in the US verses block build in Europe thereby affecting their lifespan? Continue reading Property Depreciation and why Europeans have never heard much about it!

An Overview of Expected Property Price Growth in Europe

I was reading an article recently which reviewed a recently published S&P report. It indicated that 3 countries are set to led the price growth in property: Ireland, Portugal, and the Netherlands.

It appears the price growth in these countries is as a result of a shortage in supply.

The report predicts that the top 3 countries will continue to see growth in property prices until at least 2020. For the coming year it predicts growth of 8.5% in both Portugal and Ireland with the Netherlands close behind. Continue reading An Overview of Expected Property Price Growth in Europe

Rent a room to earn income and save tax

It appears most countries across Europe now have a scheme whereby you can rent a room in your house and the income earned is tax-free up to a threshold.

This is certainly something worth considering as many countries charge a crippling tax rate for rental income or for many people the extra income pushes them in a higher income tax rate. Effectively this means they may be paying back almost half the extra income in tax. Continue reading Rent a room to earn income and save tax

You need as little as £20k to get on the property ladder

If you think you will never be able to put together enough money to get on the property ladder …think again.

It normally takes a few years saving up for a deposit and than to be able to demonstrate you have the ability to meet your monthly payments on a mortgage.

Continue reading You need as little as £20k to get on the property ladder

They sell like hotcakes. Free property listings

Thousands of users are visiting our website every week to seek out new free property listings. It seems properties prices are again increasing right across Europe.

Listproperty4free.com helps the real estate market by providing free services for buyers and sellers. Continue reading They sell like hotcakes. Free property listings

Buying property in Spain and Portugal: What a difference 2 years can make!

I recently read an article published on The Telegraph website which reviewed the world’s top 20 places to invest in property abroad (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/property/abroad/worlds-20-best-places-to-invest-in-property/).

The article is over two years old now (written in January 2014) and I was Continue reading Buying property in Spain and Portugal: What a difference 2 years can make!