| It has never been a better time to buy a | | | | remarkable because only four years ago |
| second home, or invest in the buy-to-let | | | | that figure was only 11.1 billion. |
| property market. The UK's booming | | | | Spain is predictably the most popular |
| buy-to-let market is being boosted by | | | | destination for Brits to buy a second |
| immigration and the difficulty of | | | | home. Over 70,000 homes are own by |
| first-time buyers to find suitably | | | | Britons, almost 27% of the entire |
| priced property. The UK is second only | | | | market. Recently Banco Halifax Hispania |
| to Poland for buy-to-let investors, with | | | | (BHH), the Spanish Halifax, has cut its |
| Bulgaria and France following behind. | | | | mortgagerates making, for many, the |
| The shortage of homes will continue to | | | | allure of a move to sunnier climates |
| drive up house prices in the UK, some | | | | more of a reality than a dream. There's |
| predicting by an extra 10% by 2008. | | | | more good news too. Britons investing in |
| Home owners who find themselves with a | | | | overseas property look set to gain a tax |
| UK property that is increasing in value | | | | bonus next year. Gordon Brown's recent |
| are now re-mortgagingor freeing up | | | | budget speech indicates that property |
| equity in their properties to invest in | | | | bought through a company will be exempt |
| houses abroad with many reaping rewards | | | | from tax, with those who have already |
| from their investments. Remarkably, the | | | | bought abroad in line for considerable |
| British now own over 250,000 properties | | | | payouts from the Inland Revenue. |
| abroad, the value of the property in | | | | There has never been a better time to |
| countries like Spain, India, and South | | | | invest in property abroad. So, if you |
| is estimated at 23 billion, this | | | | can, why not do it! |