Star signs reveal who are the big spenders in overseas property and mortgages

Conti looks to the stars - 8th January 2007

It’s usually at this time of year when people, refreshed from an overseas Christmas and New Year break, return to the UK fuelled with the idea of owning a place abroad. But in perhaps what could be considered an unusual approach to looking at where people are likely to be buying property abroad, Conti Financial Services Ltd, one of the UK’s leading overseas mortgage providers, has looked to the stars.

Over the last 12 months, Conti has looked at the star signs of clients to see whether being born at a certain time of the year makes people a rolling stone or a stay at home sort, and which star signs are most likely to dig deep to buy a place overseas.

One of the most striking findings is that people born under all the Air signs, Gemini, Libra and Aquarius are by some way the most likely to buy overseas. Almost a third of all buyers belong to these signs, known for being forward thinking, gregarious and versatile, but also being Air signs, not surprisingly flighty, which may explain their inclination for seeking homes away from the UK.

Which star signs are the big spenders?
Below is a list of Star signs, and their average property purchase prices

Aries € 519,681
Sagittarius € 516,412
Scorpio € 370,411
Capricorn € 353,574
Virgo € 312,402
Gemini € 312,120
Libra € 300,437
Leo € 272,299
Cancer € 269,582
Pisces € 251,647
Taurus € 237,271
Aquarius € 231,087

Where do star signs buy?
It’s Scorpios that need to broaden their horizons, being the sign least likely to invest away from home, and the sign showing the least diversity in their chosen destinations. Only 6% of people born under this sign bought abroad in the last 12 months, and nearly half of the properties were purchased in either Spain or Portugal. Maybe as the one of the most passionate of the star signs it’s the promise of hot days and sultry nights that puts the sting in a Scorpio’s tail, in fact for a Scorpio, the Florida sun is another attractive proposition, with 20% heading for the USA, mostly to the Florida sunshine.

Leos, Virgos, Capricorns and Sagittarians, buy investment and holiday properties in almost exactly the same numbers, with Virgos and the shrewd and business savvy Capricorns equally likely to buy in France and in Spain (28%). Leos and Virgos also favour the property hotspot of Bulgaria (10%), with a guess that the larger than life and warm-hearted Leos are basking in the sun on the Black Sea coasts, while the pure Virgo seeks the uplifting pure air of the cooler mountains.

Unless people are a Gemini, Sagittarian or Aquarian, the favourite destination is not surprisingly Spain, especially for our sensuous Scorpios, where over 37% of people have bought a property. In France, it’s more likely to be Geminis and Sagittarians (the latter being the dynamic travellers of the Zodiac) buying property, and Aquarians are Algarve bound (27%), favouring Portugal over its Iberian neighbour.

Aries, by nature pioneering and adventurous has the monopoly in the Czech Republic, whilst pleasure seeking and bullishly determined Taureans by far the major buyers in New Zealand. Dreamy and romantic Pisceans are twice as likely to find their desires fulfilled in the natural and historical beauty of Poland compared with other star signs, or maybe it’s because as a sign endowed with insight, it’s because of the cheap property prices.

Cancerians are the most widely spread star sign around the world with significantly more numbers to be found in destinations such as Australia and Cananda.

Whether people believe in astrology or not, if born under the star signs of Gemini, Libra or Aquarius, predictions are they are likely to think about buying abroad if they haven’t done so already, and as for Scorpios, stop being so analytical and stubborn, and get out the Atlas.

Simon Conn, Managing Director of Conti Financial Services: “Although this may not be the most conventional or reliable method of predicting where people will be looking to invest in overseas property, it’s interesting to see that there are trends, but I won’t be dusting off my crystal ball just yet.

“However, getting back down to earth, anyone considering buying a property overseas should take a little time out to do their homework, research the market and seek independent advice before signing on the dotted line.”