How to avoid costly tax mistakes in the USA

With tax returns due in America this week, check out these mistakes commonly made by British expats according to an expat tax advisor. Hopefully this will help you to avoid them: 1. Filing late In England, this may cost you £100, but in America you will be charged 5 per cent (4.5 per cent late [...]

By |2012-05-08T16:13:07+01:00May 9th, 2012|Articles|

Cyprus banks seek to raise capital

The three largest banks in Cyprus; Popular Bank, The Hellenic Bank and The Bank of Cyprus, have announced this week that they will be undertaking “dramatic measures” in order to generate capital to recover losses obtained during the Greek sovereign debt crisis. The three banks plan to regenerate funds by selling non-core assets and distressed [...]

By |2012-05-08T15:03:54+01:00May 8th, 2012|Articles|

“Currency specialists saved me money”

When Ronald Cross decided to buy a a second home in Spain, he began his search for a currency exchange specialist who could offer him the best rates along with a seamless service. His search led him to Smart Currency Exchange. With the favourable current £/€ exchange rate, we asked Ronald to tell us a [...]

By |2012-05-25T15:12:00+01:00May 8th, 2012|Articles|

What are the effects of hosting the Olympics?

The whole nation is bracing itself for an eagerly anticipated year of sporting events and celebrations in the capital with the London Olympics and the Queen's Jubilee coming to town However, despite criticism and doubts about the benefits of the Olympic Games, the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games (LOCOG) are quick to argue [...]

By |2012-04-30T17:26:15+01:00May 2nd, 2012|Articles|

Where to buy in St Lucia

It seems that no topic is dominating the dinner tables of St Lucia residents and expats as much as the impending implementation of Value Added Tax (VAT) due to come in to force on the Caribbean island this September. In this week's Throne Speech, which is made before the start of St Lucia's annual National [...]

By |2012-04-30T14:57:07+01:00May 1st, 2012|Articles|

Tips for expats feeling the pinch in Spain

Recent gossip sweeping financial markets is speculating that Spain will be the next country to join the likes of Greece, Ireland and Portugal and request a bailout from Europe. These concerns follow price and tax increases across the nation which have led expats to really feel the pinch when it comes to budgeting for the [...]

By |2012-04-30T15:17:56+01:00May 1st, 2012|Articles|

Miami property prices still rising

The Miami property market has seen property prices surge for the fourth month in a row with the median sales price of condos reaching 46 per cent more than they were this time in 2011. Property experts in the Sunshine State believe that the consecutive increases indicate that prices have bottomed out and have caught [...]

By |2012-04-30T15:19:27+01:00April 30th, 2012|Articles|

The importance of international health insurance

Whether you plan on relocating on a permanent basis or just want to use your holiday home as a place to get away from it all, it is important that you take a moment to consider your healthcare options. Healthcare systems vary from country to country and may not include services which you would expect [...]

By |2012-04-30T15:18:48+01:00April 30th, 2012|Articles|

Turkey to limit foreign ownership by district

Turkey's Parliament’s Justice Commission has ruled to impose a ten per cent limit per district on land that can be bought by foreign investors. The decision to reinstate these restrictions on foreign ownership of land was made by the AKP Party following a heated debate over the controversial bill that eased the restrictions in the [...]

By |2012-04-24T16:49:35+01:00April 27th, 2012|Articles|