So where - and why - are people investing in property?

A poll of potential overseas investors has shown that almost 40 per cent of respondents would invest in emerging markets, such as Bulgaria, Slovakia, Poland and Croatia, among others.

Beach destinations (19 per cent) were the next most popular destinations for investors' cash followed by existing markets (15 per cent).

The survey reveals that people want to make the most from their money by investing in countries that provide long-term growth and high capital gains.

In fact, more than 25 per cent of the people polled in the research, commissioned by The Homebuyer Show, are buying a property overseas in the hope of making long-term capital gains.


However 21 per cent also intended to use it as a holiday home and others for short-term holiday lets (20 per cent).

The poll also revealed that more than 50 per cent of respondents believed that budget airline destinations are more appealing to property buyers and therefore have greater investment potential.

Other investment plus points revealed by the survey include: becoming a member of the EU (22.41 per cent), the building of new facilities (10.34 per cent), the staging of an international event, such as the Olympics (5.17 per cent), and even extensive media coverage (5.17 per cent).