Hem utomlands

What is it that makes Scandinavians tick?  Why do they move abroad into new homes for their holidays or retirement?  What are they looking for?  What are the arguments from a seller that they buy?  In this article, we´ll give you some tips!

Scandinavians have always travelled.  Well, at least in the last 1000 years.  It started with the vikings in the late 900's.  They left their homes in the north, took their ships and sailed southwards to be away for a year or two.  If they survived the trip, they later returned with gold and silver, a few slaves, salt and many other things . 

Today's Scandinavians still go out into the world.  They stay away one or a few weeks, in some cases for those who already bought a home abroad for months or even years.  When they return home today, they come back with a digital camera full with photos, some souvenirs and a couple of bottles of duty free liquer.  The needs have changed... 

In Scandinavia, the winters are long, cold and dark.  This is perhaps the main reason why so many today look for homes abroad to retire in the sun.  A better climate is definitely what one is looking for, a garden where flowers bloom all year round, a place where one can play tennis or golf outside around the year.  Scandinavians are generally health conscious and like to excersise.  To have a tennis club or a golf course in the vicinity is definitely a good sales argument as is areas for jogging or walking.

Scandinavians have been highly taxed for generations and today rank in the top of highly taxed nations in the world.  A Swede or a Norwegian who moves abroad will always look at the tax levels in a new country and compare.  Low taxes are always a good argument for moving abroad.

Generally, there are two types of persons who buy homes abroad.  The first type is the person who has never lived abroad who is now retiring into a more convenient life style.  Very often, this person wants to move to an area where there are lots of fellow citizens around.   He wants to continue to socialize with Scandinavians and he wants to continue to speak his own language in daily life.  This gives him the feeling of security.  This person probably would like to move inte places like south Spain or Thailand where there already are large Scandinavian communities.  He or she definitely wants to bring a piece of Scandinavia with him/her into the new home abroad.

The other person is quite the opposite.  He is an individualist, he wants to move into a new culture or into a multinational culture abroad without too many of his fellow citizens around.  This is the type of person who would not buy property in large developments but prefers individual properties where he can have his privacy and live his own life.

When you show property to a Scandinavian, you should find out what type of person he is, what his needs are.  The needs are many and only one thing is for certain:  the Vikings are on the move again!