Low prices in europe attract property hunters

Demand for information about foreign property rose 36 per cent year-on-year for the three months to the end of June, according to the most recent Overseas Guides Company (OGC) Quarterly Index, which measures interest in destinations popular with second homeowners and expats.

"It seems the euro's continued strength during the second quarter hasn't put British buyers off tapping into some very attractive property prices in Southern Eurozone countries," said Richard Way, Editor at The Overseas Guides Company. "There are reports of buyers taking advantage of current favourable euro mortgages, expecting their loan to become even better value if the pound strengthens in coming months."

Mr Way continued: "Enquiries for Spain were up, if slightly, on Q1, while Italy, Portugal and Greece saw hikes of 18 per cent, 9 per cent and 48 per cent respectively. It's interesting that enquiries for Turkey were also up by 30 per cent on the previous quarter, despite the civil unrest in Istanbul - and that while France's enquiries fell by 5 per cent, it still remains our most popular destination."