France has over taken the once very popular Spain, for the top spot when it comes to Britons choosing a holiday home abroad.
Offering easy access and a perception of market stability – France makes for a more desirable holiday home destination.
Spain has also been receiving a lot of attention regarding illegally built properties and a nationwide property crash.
Many Brits are finding it hard with house prices at home, the more traditional holiday home destinations have been more resistant to the down-turn – benefiting wealthy second home buyers, according to the research by Savills International and HomeAway.co.uk.
British investors know what to look for in a holiday home, lifestyle is an important factor – with most buyers looking for outdoor space. 80 per cent look for a property with a pool, balcony’s are also popular.
Closeness to restaurants, bars and a beach are also important. As well as being within close proximity to an airport – reducing travel time and therefore increasing holiday time.
Buyers are also worried that Spain’s property market has not dropped to its lowest prices yet. France has not had these problems, proving more stable with less dramatic price drops.
Tim Boughton, general manager of HomeAway.co.uk said: ‘The holiday rentals market is one of the fastest growing sectors in the travel industry with around one in five people now opting for this type of accommodation over a hotel due to the value and experience it offers.
‘This is good news for today’s lifestyle-motivated buyers as it generally means they can be assured of a strong rentals market which will help contribute towards costs.’
