We help clients from all over the world find the most inspiring properties to buy. Whether you are looking to relocate to Lisbon for a change in lifestyle or buy a chalet in the French Alps as an investment, we are here to help you at every stage of the journey.
18 years ago we found that investing in property overseas consistently threw up roadblocks and red tape. There was no one in the industry, from the big global players to small boutique agencies, that really had a grip on the entire process. Some just listed any property they could find, leaving their clients to trawl through them to find the best. Others would refine their selection but couldn’t help clients through the purchase process. This is how Athena Advisers started.
We help everyone, from budding second-home owners to residential or commercial property investors, even real estate funds, to invest in property. We select the best in each market, simplify the purchase process, optimise tax structures, organise finance, manage rentals, everything right down to translating contracts. All to take the sting out of the process.
Roman, Camille & Nicholas, Founding Partners
Our approach allows us to confidently present clients not only with beautiful properties, but also with sound investment opportunities in each of our markets thanks to both the local presence of our on-the-ground property experts and our strong network of highly regarded developers and architects.
How we work
The dynamics of our property locations, their offering, character and the resulting demand can change within a few metres. This is why we have dedicated offices in the locations where we operate, all centralised from our HQ in London.
Our experts in Lisbon, Paris, the French Alps and Stockholm have years of experience handpicking the most appealing properties in the very best locations for our clients. You may have very specific property requirements or be completely open to our suggestions. Either way, we have an intimate know of each property and location and will talk you through your options and accompany you on property visits, either in person or virtually.
Our services
At Athena Advisers, we try and do things a little differently, with dedicated teams to help our international clients choose, finance, design, furnish and manage their properties on an ongoing basis.
Search
Finding perfection – property search & selection
We only work in selected markets and this means we can focus on the pulse of these places we love and understand them as a local would. This ingrained knowledge supported by live availability is critical to the search and selection strategy we make for our clients. When a strategy is in place, our teams on the ground help clients find exactly what they are looking for, be it for second home purposes, investment or a combination. We organise property viewings, virtually or in person to show all the relevant property opportunities.
- Next-day property viewings
- Detailed guidance and recommendations
- Local property market insight
- Individual property assessment
- Introductions to developers and architects
Purchase
Hand in hand – 360° purchase support
Purchasing a property is no simple task, especially when it might be from abroad. Our client services team is on hand to help you during every step of the process. From placing a deposit, translating and signing the reservation documents to the signature of the deeds, ensuring that the process is as smooth, simple and effortless as possible.
- Document translation, such as deed of sale
- Tax optimisation support
- Process support and explanation
- French notary support
- VAT rebates (France only)
- Signatures
Finance
Money matters – mortgages & private finance
Our sister company, Private Finance Group, offers a complete mortgage service for those looking to buy residential or commercial property in France, Portugal and Spain, and makes accessing mortgages, development finance and other financial services easy for international or non-resident clients. Their skills and experience enable investors to move quickly along the purchase process, and will help you explore your financing options with access to local retail lenders and international private banks across Europe, often finding you preferred rates and conditions.
- Multilingual and CeMAP qualified brokers
- UK FCA and ORIAS regulated
- Access to preferred rates and conditions
- Financing possible in a little as 23 days
- 90% of applications end up with an offer
- Access to tax guidance, legal expertise, currency exchange and insurance specialists
Completion
Sit back & relax – property set-up
With every new second home or overseas property investment, there are many important details that need to be organised and managed in order to turn the finished property into a functional, operational and desirable living space or rental property. We provide a full Property Set-Up service, which removes all the hassle from this often complicated and time-consuming phase of property ownership.
- We manage the client / developer relationship
- Open utility accounts and manage supply delivery
- Help with the handover and connections with tax offices
- Interior design and furniture provision
Rental
Time to shine – rental property management support
Being ingrained into our markets means we know the best operators when it comes to renting your property. Whether it’s short-term rentals to maximise income generation or long-term to provide consistency and peace of mind over a property investment, we can put you in touch with the best people in the industry.
- Access to the best providers in the market
- Real-time analysis of achievable yields
- Understand the short, long or medium-term rental opportunities