Frequently Asked Questions Our Data in General Can I rely on the Global Property Guide's data? Is the Guide independent? What are the sources of the Guide's data? What types of data are on the site? How many countries do you cover? Rental income taxes How can I compare rental income tax rates across countries? Assumptions made in presenting the ‘typical case’ income tax scenario Sources of the income tax data Investment Ratings The star rating system - what do the stars mean? How does the Global Property Guide rate countries as residential investment destinations? Landlord & Tenant Law How do I find landlord and tenant law for any one country? Why does the Global Property Guide emphasize the importance of landlord and tenant law? What system does the Global Property Guide use to compare and rate landlord and tenant laws? ‘Pro-landlord’, pro-tenant’ and ‘neutral’ – define the Guide’s use of these terms Which law firms prepared the brief L&T surveys? Inheritance law and taxes How do I find explanations of inheritance law, as it affects foreign property owners? Which law firms prepared the Guide’s inheritance law data? Capital gains taxes How do I find the incidence of capital gains taxes on residential property in any one country? How can I compare capital gains tax rates across countries? What are the Guide′s CGT data sources? What assumptions does the Guide make, when calculating CGT? House Price Trends Where do I find historical house prices (time-series)? What are the sources of the time series? Price change 1 year – definition Price change 5 years – definition Price change 10 years – definition Square metre prices, rentals, and yields How do I find residential square metre prices, rentals, and yields for any one country? What does rental yield mean? Why is it important? Shouldn’t I just buy if property prices are rising? How can I compare prices and yields across countries? What are the sources of the Guide’s price data? Can these sources be trusted? Assumptions: What assumptions are made in presenting the Guide’s price and rents data? Next updates – when will the Global Property Guide yield tables next be updated? Transaction costs How do I find roundtrip transaction costs for any one country? How can I compare transaction costs across countries? Why bother? Aren’t transaction costs more or less the same everywhere? Sources: What are the sources of the Guide’s transaction costs data? Can the transaction costs data sources be trusted? Definition: What does the phrase ‘roundtrip transaction cost’ mean? What assumptions does the Global Property Guide make in calculating transaction costs? Macroeconomic comparison tools GDP per capita GDP/Cap growth –1 year GDP/Cap growth –5 year Economic freedom index Economic freedom index – 5 year change Growth competitiveness Property rights index Currency +/– valuation Comparing countries What yardsticks does the Guide offer for comparing countries as investment destinations?
