Jon Clarke (Publisher & Editor)A THIRD of all Briton’s looking to buy abroad are looking in Spain, according to new research.
And property website Primelocation says that there are more than double the number of people looking to move abroad than this time last year.
According to new data searches for property in Spain increased the most. Last month, there was a 151 per cent increase in searches compared to June 2009, and the country accounted for nearly a third of searches overall.
Despite a potential rise in capital gains tax and a precarious economic situation in southern Europe, investors appear to be taking a long term view on the market, while hoping, in the short term, to take advantage of a weaker euro.
Ann Wright, International Development Manager of Primelocation International, said: “While the market in Spain has suffered from some bad publicity recently, there has been no significant drop in the number of people searching for property in the country.
“The fact remains that there are many reasons why the country remains attractive to British buyers. Spain’s main attractions are still the warm climate, great beaches and unique culture all just a short flight from the UK; these factors will still draw in international buyers whatever the economic situation.
“It is also worth remembering that, while most of the problems experienced in recent years have centred on the Costas, there is far more to the Spain than just the southern coast.”
Following Spain came France, the US, Portugal and Italy.
Primelocation also revealed a third of all those considering buying property abroad are looking to emigrate permanently
The problem of corruption does not confine itself to the Costas. The problem is countrywide, and even exists on islands like Mallorca etc. PrimeLocation will not talk down their own industry, so this analysis can be safely ignored.
The problem with statistics like this is that there might only be 3 people wanting to buy, one wants Spain – the other two want Iceland. Therefore one third want to relocate to Spain.
It tells us nothing.
151 % is more difficult, as it would require at least 100 enquiries the first year, but it could still be very few indeed.
“No significant drop” might be that the one person on their books is still there.
I think we need a bit more investigatioin in the journalism !
151 per cent increase? Exponential growth in searches? How does this reflect anything substantial about the Spanish Property sector?
I have been looking for two years now and I visit the same sites again and again and often the same properties again and again but Im probably reflected in these statistics as all these buyers looking. Statistics are not to be trusted.
To quote the comedian Vic Reeves: “92.6% of all statistics are made up on the spot!”