1 Be under no illusions: buying property abroad is not a quick thing to accomplish. You should be prepared to spend up to a year from deciding to buy to moving in.

2 Assuming you’ve decided to move to a particular country, go to the relevant country’s embassy or consulate. There should – should – be a number of things they can do for you, including advising you about work permits and taxation issues.

3 Check out the planning permission rules in the country you’re moving to. It may be that you’ll need extra permission to renovate the property or that there are restrictions on what you can do while living there.

4 Get a good lawyer in the country you’re moving to; he or she should be able to speak fluent English. However, do not rely totally on your lawyer: it is essential to do your own research – knowledge is power.

5 Consider renting a home in the region first so you can get a feel of how tenable living there will be. Transport links, shopping, leisure – all will become clear once you actually live there. Not essential, but not a bad idea.