TheMoveChannel.com | International Property

Browse By Subject

Money

Property

Social

Professional

Online property search boom

18/04/2007

The number of people looking for international property online has more than trebled in a year, reports HomesGoFast....

New research from Mintel found that around 800,000 British households now own a property abroad.

Primelocation.com found that the number of searches for international property conducted by UK residents jumped 399% in 12 months, with the number leaping up by 25% between February and March alone.

France and Spain top this popularity list, while Italy is also a common choice, as it overtook Portugal for third place.

But the country with the most dramatic increase in interest proved to be the United Arab Emirates, which climbed ten places in the past twelve months to sixth most popular country.

Second home tops 'wish list'

The research also found that Canada is gaining in popularity, with search volumes up by 285% from last month alone.

Experts are also predicting that, with a further 3% of households intending to buy abroad in the future and another 5% intending to sell up and move abroad, interest in international property will remain strong.

In addition, Savills has also published its latest findings into where people are looking to buy abroad. The report concurs that Spain and France are the countries most commonly chosen by UK buyers, with Italy and Croatia in high demand.

A second home near the sea is top of the wish list, according to Savills, with other desirable factors househunters abroad seek include a hot climate, and proximity to an airport. Proximity to an airport served by a low-cost airline added an average price premium of 37%.