Portugal

Portugal has developed into an extremely popular location for property investment. Its climate is of a similarly sunny disposition as its neighbour, Spain, and the similarities do not end there: breathtaking scenery, inexpensive living costs, and a laid-back lifestyle await those who make the move to Portugal; and what's more, the country can boast one of the highest life expectancies in the world, mainly thanks to the healthy diet of fresh fish and seafood. A country of stark contrasts, Portugal features the afore-mentioned idyllic, quiet countryside with startling views and unspoilt beaches, but relies heavily on tourism and ongoing industrialisation to fuel its diverse economy.

The south of the country, with its very typical hot and dry Mediterranean climate, is currently where most of the property is sought from overseas, but southern provinces such as the Algarve seem long overdue to be usurped by rapidly developing areas in the north which enjoy cooler winters, such as the Minho region, which currently gives way to rolling fields and charming rural towns and villages. Thanks to the lack of previous tourism in the north when compared with the south, living costs and property prices have remained moderately low, and many outstanding areas are ripe for development, especially for buy-to-let hopefuls.