Guest contributor, Helen Ranger, has kindly provided an interesting review of Abby Aron's book - Buying a House in Morocco. Helen is a resident of Fez and is the author of one of the best internet sites on houses for rent in Fez. (For Helen's Site, click here )
BUYING A HOUSE IN MOROCCO
Abby Aron
Vacation Work Publications 317 pages £12.95
ISBN 1-85458-349-2
‘… if you love noise, colour, people, art, music and food’, then Morocco is the place to buy property, according to author Abby Aron. This new book is aimed at British people wanting to climb onto the latest investment bandwagon and buy into a country whose property market is as undeveloped as Spain’s or Portugal’s was some 10-15 years ago.
Aron gives a great deal of advice on how to go about a purchase. Whether you are brave enough to attempt serious restoration in medieval Fez or want to buy a modern beach-front apartment off-plan, the book has comprehensive details on everything from how to choose an estate agent to moving your pets.
The chapter ‘Living in Morocco’ gives a good idea of what to expect when you move to a completely different culture; Aron covers everything from Islam, to the economy and health insurance. ‘Where to Find your Ideal Home’ is an invaluable chapter that explains the regions of the country in depth. She advises the potential buyer to imagine what the area will be like in a few years’ time. It also gives an overview of what you can expect for your money: a small, unrenovated kasbah in a rural village will cost around £3 000; a two-bedroom apartment in downtown Casablanca around £65 000; and a 5-bed riad with sea views in the medina of Essaouira might set you back £200 000. ‘The Purchasing Process’ includes good advice on the legal and financial side of things. Discussed here are the types of property available, whether it’s a remote farmhouse in the High Atlas, a golf course development, houses in the cities and smaller towns, as well as on the Mediterranean and Atlantic coastlines that are currently subject to huge investment schemes. The final chapter, ‘What Happens Next’ investigates domestic services, moving, building or renovating, and making money from your property.
On the one hand, if you’re sitting here in Fez having already bought a property and are now half way through a renovation project, it’s pretty easy to spot some errors such as those in the section on getting a residence/work permit, and perhaps to criticise a general feeling that all Moroccan estate agents are to be avoided and only foreign ones used. On the other hand, though, these are minor quibbles as the book does indeed offer a wealth of information that is basically sound and that covers a vast array of property types in a widely diverse country. For the average British person wanting to know about buying a house in Morocco, just about everything is included. All you need to do now is book your airline ticket and come and see for yourself.
©Helen Ranger
June 2006
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Tags: Morocco Fes, Maghreb news
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