Conti latest hotspots report showed that mortgage enquiries for France were up 12% on 2009 and 29% on 2008.
Investors remained focused on well-known locations, with Spain and Turkey rounding out the top three most popular countries. Together, they dominate overseas enquiries at Conti, accounting for 85% of all those received.
Despite Spain’s struggling housing market, the country claimed 24% of enquiries, up 2% on last year and 9% on 2008, while Turkey held on to third place while 18% of enquiries, up 5% on last year and 7% two years ago.
By comparison, Conti said the flurry of interest in emerging markets seen in 2008 has disintegrated. The USA was the only other country in Conti’s top ten to see a significant increase in enquiries over the last year, rising from 1% to 5%.
Florida was particularly popular due to prices plummeting in the region since 2008, with many homes sold for less than it cost to build them. One Conti client bought a two-bed property in Orlando for $65,000, when in 2006 it sold for $210,000.
Clare Nessling, operations director of Conti, said: “It’s clear that investors are favouring the tried and trusted locations when it comes to overseas property. But they also want easy access, good rental opportunities and security with price appreciation over the long term.
“On top of this, the falling value of the euro has made property in the eurozone around 10% cheaper to British buyers over recent months, so this is also contributing to the increasing popularity of France and Spain.”
