Property investors gunning for emerging markets

Emerging markets are the top choice for people investing in property abroad, according to a new survey.

With UK house prices stagnating, property investors are increasingly looking overseas to make money from bricks and mortar, and putting money into emerging markets is now more popular than buying a place in the sun.

A survey of people looking to invest abroad, commissioned by The Homebuyer Show, found that close to 40 per cent are prepared to put money into emerging markets, while half as many people (19 per cent) thought beach destinations were an appropriate place to splash their cash.

Current property markets were the third most popular choice for potential investors, favoured by 15 per cent of those looking at buying abroad.

The survey also found that more people were looking to long-term capital gains from foreign property investment than were thinking of buying a holiday home.

As for where to invest, countries such as Bulgaria, Croatia, and the Czech Republic scored highly, with most people believing that an area being a budget airline destination increased its appeal and investment potential.

"Buying a property overseas has been a distant dream for many people for a long time," said Nick Clark, managing director of The Homebuyer Show.

"However, in reality the process is becoming a lot easier," he added.