I wrote a long answer, then deleted it, and was gonna say refer Martin Samuel's article in the Times a couple of weeks ago,
then i thought, of an analogous situation
Rich people from the UK buy run down Vineyards, or Villas in France, or Tuscany. They do so not because they want a semi derelict property somewhere abroad, but because they see themselves sat on a veranda in the sun, looking out over the sun setting behind the Olive trees, as crickets chirp. Perhaps drinking a glass of locally produced wine. They also have an eye that the value of the property could treble as "the area catches on".
They've maybe read or heard of an early mover from their town who has taken the plunge.
It's about a dream and an interest and the allure of a return on the investment. It's about being one step ahead of the crowd.
But all that's just a dream and "maybe one day", then some documents from Rothschilds land on your doormat "For Sale, ancient property, scope for improvement, price reduced due to poor state of property, this type of offer doesn't come round often..."
Then you look into it, find there's a cantankerous old scrote occupying the property, along with a few faithful retainers. You see that they can't manage to look after it properly, even though they like the prestige of being the owner of the Big House....."
With experience in your own country of reviving a similar property, with money in the bank, who wouldn't be interested?
Here ends the middle class analogy. Another Gin & Tonic, Cyril?
thank you very much, the first thing that has genuinley made me smile all day i reaaly mean it,
sincere thanks