Second homes in a favourable, coast line location will stay at the same value despite the recession, according to one expert.

The director of residential research at Savills, Lucian Cook, suggested, however, that demand for purchasing this type of property depended on the constraints of the market.

More people bought abroad last year because it was more affordable, he said.

"Clearly if exchange rates make those purchases abroad look more expensive, they are less inclined to do it," Mr Cook added.

But the residential expert suggested that this all depended on whether mortgage lenders allowed buyers to borrow enough money in the current financial climate.

Knight Frank, which found a record rise of 2.6 per cent in the number of second homes bought in the last year, also revealed that 9.8 per cent of homes in South Hampshire were owned by people with at least one other house.

People interested in buying a new home may wish to consider using self storage facilities.

Written by Emily Sanders