Hi Larry and Marie,

I don't know how much you already know, but there are 3 basic things to
bear in mind. Firstly as foreigners, the flat you buy must cost at least
LM30,000, or else you must guarantee to make expenditure on it to bring the
final amount up to that.

Secondly, if you need a mortgage you can get one here, but since you're not
allowed to work here (and probably won't be for some time, even after Malta
joins the EU) you need to bring proof of employment with you to show the
bank. One or both of you might need to take medicals here for the life
insurance that goes with the mortgage (I objected, and got a separate UK
based life insurance deal, which is much cheaper, but I had to make a fuss
to do so).

Thirdly, you can identify the flat and agree the purchase price and make a
deposit etc in January, but you won't be able to finalise the deal until
you get an API from the government. I think it stands for Alien's Permit to
Invest. Basically it is a search which the gov't does to check that you've
got a good character and sufficient funds not to be a burden here. Mine
took about 7 weeks, but the government is really slow and it might take up
to 12 weeks to get that. In the unlikely event they turn you down, you will
be able to get your deposit back if the notary has stipulated it in your
purchase agreement.

If you or any other list members reading this would like to participate in
a fun forum that has numerous boards on all aspects of ex-pat life and also
has a rather quiet Malta board (moderated by me) that I would love to build
up into something useful with a nice community feel to it, pop over to
http://www.britishexpat.com/expatforum/index.php

Good luck with your search!

Tim