The present time is a very advantageous one to invest in overseas property, it has been stated.

Paul Owen, the chief executive of the Association of International Property Professionals, said that the current climate is one that has put some people off buying, reducing the overall number of buyers.

However, such a situation means the market is left open for those who remain committed to investing, he added, stating: "If you are in the market buying in many locations it is a great time to buy, because of the lower number of people buying than there was before."

Such a situation could mean those who invest now can have the pick of more bargains and find attractive properties that might have been snapped up by someone else in other circumstances.

Recent figures from financial services firm HiFX have shown that in the first half of 2008 the number of Britons wanting to emigrate was up by 30 per cent on a year earlier.

However, it found, only an extra ten per cent have gone ahead with such a move.

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