Hold or sell foreign property?

Just looking for a poll or opinions on people's intentions over the next few months/years over whether or not they will sell their foreign property.

Property could be investment, holiday home, or both.

I'm curious because anecdotally, Irish owners in the South of France are a very mixed bag at the moment. Some stories of local developers snapping up urgent sales, some sales with more time on their hands but also a lot of people holding and waiting (and enjoying).

Just wondering what peoples thoughts are...

This question is too general. The answer depends on:
a) the financial circumstances & security of the owner
b) the reason the property was bought and how is it used - is it a holiday home, investment etc.
c) the location of the property - not all global property markets are experiencing the same contraction. Equally, not all have the same growth / recovery prospects.

Perhaps we could focus on people with a medium to long term investment strategy (even if the purchase was partly intended for leisure use during the time) to see their current attitude. People who are not under serious financial pressure but are thinking about any future pressure on finances at home or price falls in their investment property in question.

I bought a leaseback in South of France so I guess i am stuck with it anyway but enjoying it as well

Hi Riviera,

Thanks for the clarification - personally I have 2 foreign properties that I bought purely as investments - I've never spent a night in either and they are rented out year round. They are both in Spain - in tourist areas.

I did think about selling them when the market was at its peak - but couldn't for legal reasons (missing paperwork - now sorted)

While the value of them has plumeted in the last two years, Im probably still just above negative equity.
I have some financial pressures just now, but am going to try and ride it out - I see them as an asset that will hopefully serve me well over time.
Personally, I think now is a terrible time to sell - unless you reallly have to...

I'll hold mine, seeing as I'm living in it at the moment! but I reckon property here in Berlin has been unaffected by the downturn and rents are on the up, from talking to a lot of germans on the look out at the moment. I am 100% happy with my decision to buy in Berlin. I remember people telling me to get into all sorts of places in Bulgaria etc. and so far am absolutely delighted that I took the more conservative approach.

If you can afford to hold, I can't imagine any reason to try sell into the current market of any of the main foreign property haunts for Irish investors

I say hold.

I bought a property in sunny beach 5 years ago. I have been trying to sell for the last year with no luck. i am going to drop the price to almost half what i paid for it, dont have any other choice i am afraid.

I have an apartment in Canaries. I have worked hard at renting it and really given people good deals in the hope of getting some return.

The thing is worth half what I paid for it and in 40% negaative equity.
I dont see that I have any choice but to hold and rent as much as I can.

I think the key is to be realistic about rents, in my view.