News Detail

The European Quality of Life Index, a study conducted by U-Switch has found that British and Irish residents have the worst quality of life in Europe, despite the fact that they have the highest average incomes.

"We may earn substantially more than our European neighbours but when it comes to quality of life we remain the sick man of Europe," said Ann Robinson, director of consumer policy at uSwitch.com.

"Soaring food prices and inflation, not to mention high property costs, are placing the biggest squeeze on disposable incomes in well over a decade," she added, noting also below-average investment in health and education services.

Liam Bailey head of international research for overseas property specialists DSR said:

"These findings really aren't all that much of a surprise with the mass-exodus of Britons in the last few months and years, in search of a better quality of life. I see Spaniards and the French have the best quality of life in Europe, I would imagine this would attract questions over why we don't have property in Spain or France."

"The answer to that," he continued "is that while Spain and France may have the best quality of life, there is not much money to be made on Spanish and French properties, though there will be the odd exception as there is with every rule. As we are investment specialists we only have properties in locations that are capable of generating substantial return on investment. We also have properties perfect for lifestyle buyers with an eye on saving for the future."

DSR currently offer sun-soaked properties in some of the newest emerging investment hotspots around the world including: Tunisia, Margarita, Dominican Republic, and Albania. All of those countries are excellent for property investment. Albania is a mid-long term capital investment, whereas Tunisia, Margarita and Dominican Republic offer particularly special buy-to-let opportunities. All the others have been covered in previous DSR press releases, but Tunisia is a new and extra-special opportunity.

80% of Tunisia's population own their own homes, because the government prevented foreign investment to prevent locals being priced out of the market, this has resulted in Tunisia becoming a middle-income emerging market, which will mean a strong resale demand for when investors decide to realise the return on their investment.

Tunisia is therefore not a standard emerging market, but it certainly has an emerging property market, with high-end properties available from as little as £20,000, which generate an 11.92% rental yield if occupied for 13 weeks. Given that Tunisia received an astonishing 2.6 million tourists in the first semester of 2008, 13 weeks occupancy is an incredibly conservative estimate.

Back To News Archive in Europe