Overseas mortgage specialist Conti has reported an increase in the number of Britons showing an interest in buying foreign property.

Claire Nessling, operations director at the firm, said that the level of quotes for European mortgages dished out by the company has grown 20 per cent in recent weeks, suggesting more people in the British Isles are looking at property on foreign shores.

Earlier this year, property investment magazine Jet-to-Let suggested that Cyprus, France, US and the United Arab Emirates were the top four destinations for investors wanting to make a house purchase outside of the their own country.

"The recent rate cut by the European Central Bank is helping to reinforce the general feeling of growing confidence amongst borrowers, and the fact that sterling is starting to claw back some value has also given them a boost," Ms Nessling explained.

Using safe storage methods is likely to make any move abroad a lot easier.

Written by Paul Governor