Noticed the trickle of ‘For sale’ signs starting to appear in your area yet? Every year the arrival of spring kicks start activity in the housing market, and not just in the UK but in popular holiday home destinations too.

If you’re keen to bag yourself a second home somewhere sunny in 2014, now is the time to start thinking about booking a viewing trip. Before you start though, take a browse of our top ten considerations to address when you’re purchasing property abroad.

1) Air access. When researching your preferred destinations or area, check flight options and seasonality of routes. Relying on one budget airline and one airport – both in the UK and at the other end – to get you to your property is not advisable.

2) Tax office registration. To purchase property anywhere, you’ll need to register with the local tax office and receive a tax identification number, which is needed to complete any formal state process or transaction, including opening a bank account. In Spain, for example, it is known as your NIE number and in Portugal your NIF.

3) Independent legal representation. In most of Europe a notary is required by law to oversee and rubber-stamp a property transaction – they represent the State and you will pay a small fee for their services. Don’t confuse them with a lawyer – you should still also employ an independent laywer to represent your own interests.

4) Transferring your money abroad. When you need to send euros, or any other foreign currency, abroad to pay for your property, never ask your high street bank to do so. You’ll get far better exchange rates and service from a Financial Conduct Authority-authorised currency specialist like Smart Currency Exchange (www.smartcurrencyexchange.com), which advises opening a no-obligation account before you find a property, to enable you to protect yourself against currency fluctuations.

5) Your estate agent. A good English-speaking estate agent can be gold dust, and will assist with much more than just showing you properties. It’s often said, once you know where you want to buy, start by finding the right estate agent rather than the right property.

6) Buying costs and taxes. When you budget for your property, be sure to factor in the inevitable costs on top of the purchase price – these will include transfer tax (or VAT if buying new-build or off-plan), notary fees, lawyer’s fees, land registry costs and perhaps a survey.

7) On-going costs and taxes. Wherever you purchase a property, there will be ongoing ownership costs too, which could include local council taxes, community fees if on an urbanisation or complex, usual bills and maintenance and possibly a small fee for filing a tax return, if applicable.

8) Mortgage or outright purchase? It might be worth your while opting for a loan in Europe. Banks desperate to off-load repossessed homes, especially in Spain and Portugal, are offering some great finance deals at the moment, including some with guaranteed rental income. Mortgage offered by banks have stricter conditions than pre the crash, but the eurozone has historically low rates at the moment.

9) Inheritance. Speak to your lawyer about inheritance before purchasing your property – they might be able to structure ownership in a way that reduced inheritance tax exposure or ensures your property is passed on according to your wishes. Remember, heirship laws are different abroad to in the UK. You may need to make a local will in the country of your second home.

10) Rental laws. European countries have tightened up on holiday lets recently, with many countries now requiring owners to register or obtain some kind of licence to let their property to holidaymakers. Flouting the rules could land you with a fine, which could sour the experience of owning a holiday home in the sun.

Richard Way is Editor of The Overseas Guides Company (www.overseasguidescompany.com), an on-line resource for people buying overseas property or moving abroad.