Although Britons used to prefer Spain as their favorite place to buy a vacation home, France has become the most popular place for the English travelers to invest in vacation property, reports U.K.’s Daily Mail.
The ease of access from the U.K. and perception of economic stability have made France a more desirable location than Spain, which has dominated headlines for its illegally-built properties and nationwide property crash, according to research by Savills International and HomeAway.co.uk.
Southern France, the Alps, Portugal’s Algarve region, Italy, and upscale Spanish locations such as Mallorca make up the most popular destinations for Britons. Although the economic crisis has hit home, wealthy vacation-home buyers have been more resilient in the downturn.
“It’s a confidence issue,” explained Rebecca Gill at Savills. “France has proved more stable and while there have been negative stories, the property price drop was not so dramatic."
Lifestyle was the main factor in choosing destinations, with most buyers looking for some type of outdoor space, as well as proximity to restaurants, bars, beaches, and the airport.
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