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Second home developments have been one of the brightest spots in the UK new-build market through the recession and now into the recovery, according to Knight Frank.

After a slight decline of 0.4% in 2008 the number of second homes in Britain rose by 2.6% in 2009, to reach record levels of 245,384.

A beach hut has gone on sale for a "bargain" £70,000, in Branksome, Dorset.

The Bournemouth Daily Echo reports that some of its readers "may scoff at the hefty price tag" - but estate agent Alec Fry, from Savills in Canford Cliffs said: "When you see huts like these sell for more than £100,000 in Mudeford, suddenly £70,000 is not that expensive.

TripAdvisor® an operating company of Expedia has acquired holidaylettings.co.uk from Rightmove.

Terms of the acquisition are not being disclosed.

Including holidaylettings.co.uk, TripAdvisor Media Group now includes 17 popular travel brands and attracts nearly 46 million unique monthly visitors.

Get £60 off a Premium advert and be one of the first to display a video of your holiday home on your advert with www.holidaylettings.co.uk

We’re very proud to announce that we’re the first of the major holiday home marketing sites to enable advertisers to upload video of their property to their advert. Introduced in response to demand both from holiday home owners and holidaymakers, videos provide an even richer insight into the home you are renting.

Following one of the coldest, longest winters on record, Brits desire for an overseas holiday remains strong despite the ongoing recession. However, dwindling savings and spare cash mean the focus remains squarely on value for money and deals.

With a wider choice of holiday home rentals than ever before and given that rentals can work out up to half the cost of hotels, sometimes less, it’s no wonder they are fast becoming the preferred accommodation option for many.

Just as the furnished holiday lettings tax reliefs were scrapped (6th April), the Conservatives may have prevented this change making it to Statute at all.

 In the Government's race to finalise the Finance Act ahead of parliament dissolving before the election, shadow Chancellor George Osbourne fought the corner for British tourism and the self-catering industry, refusing to endorse the repeal of tax reliefs for holiday home owners and forcing the Government to retract the change, at least until the outcome of the election.

BBC Wales' Welsh-language current affairs programme Taro Naw tonight (12th April) investigated complaints made against Swansea-based Britannia Overseas Property.

In a special report, Taro Naw traveled to Bulgaria in an attempt to find answers on behalf of customers who have invested hundreds of thousands of pounds with the property company.

Over the last decade there has been a growing trend towards buying homes in far-flung and emerging destinations, often to capitalise on rising property values.

However, in today’s economic climate, buyers have reverted back to traditional, established second home destinations and buying for lifestyle, rather than purely investment purposes according to the latest results of a survey carried out by Savills International and HomeAway.co.uk .

The Bay, Talland, makes a special spring retreat with 21st century comforts - superb insulation from April showers, contemporary fixtures and fittings - all in an idyllic and peaceful setting, just minutes from the beach.  This successful development of holiday homes overlooking a beautiful stretch of Cornwall’s south coast has just released its final phase of just 20, three bedroom properties.

Purchasers can choose from four striking designs - The Sky Deck, The Sky Garden, The Light House and Pool Side - all situated by a natural outdoor swimming pool.  Prices start from only £350,000 up to £385,000.

Country Life magazine has listed its ideal dream second home locations for 2010 - provided money was no object.

Italy is one of the most favoured with Chianti in Tuscany; Venice and Florence still highly desirable.