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Just five countries account for over 90% of searches for international property, according to the latest Primelocation International Search Index. Total searches for overseas property were up 3% in July and up 108% on the same month last year.

Spain, France, USA, Italy and Portugal are responsible for 91% of all international property searches on Primelocation International.

For the price of an average UK home, Brits could own a large detached house with a pool in the Sunshine State or a bijou studio apartment in trendy Nice.

With a sustained high number of Brits looking to buy a second home overseas or even to emigrate permanently, Primelocation International has explored what they could get for their £169k in the most popular destinations in five favourite countries.

Growth in distressed property listings eased back in more than 85% of countries surveyed according to a global report by RICS.

In the second quarter, 13 out of the 25 countries surveyed reported an increase in distressed sales, an improvement on the 17 countries reporting three months earlier.

UK based property investment firm Assetz plc is offering British investors a chance to buy four and five-bedroom homes in America's motor city of Detroit to rent to low income families and with a guaranteed return of more than 20%.

The USA government backed scheme ensures investor’s properties are protected as tenants are bound to look after them as if they were their own or face ejection from the scheme forever.

Interest in international property remains resilient, according to the latest Primelocation International Search Index.

Total searches for overseas property were down 7% in June but up by 138% on the same period last year.

Property markets in the more dynamic economies of South America, Asia and Eastern Europe are outperforming those in the UK and euro zone, according to the latest RICS Global Property Survey.

Occupier demand is rising in the majority of countries across the globe with the notable exception of the UK and euro zone countries where the tough measures that have been taken to reduce fiscal deficits appear to be having a more pronounced impact on the appetite of businesses to take up new space.

One third of all those considering buying property abroad are looking to emigrate permanently, according to recent research by Primelocation International.

Of over 1,500 people questioned as part of Primelocation International’s MyHomeLife Panel*, 33.0% - the largest group of respondents - replied that a desire to relocate abroad permanently was behind their search for international property.

Interest in international property remains high despite challenging market conditions, according to the latest Primelocation International Search Index.

Total searches increased by 3% in May and are up by 109% on the same period last year. The results indicate that potential buyers are prepared to take a long-term view on the overseas market, with concerns over a potential rise in Capital Gains Tax and the economic situation in Southern Europe balanced by the current weakness of the Euro.

Holiday home in Lapland anyone? While Lapland may not be top of many property shopping lists it is symptomatic of a clique of destinations on holidaylettings.co.uk where holidaymaker demand outstrips supply.

There are also destinations in high demand with holidaymakers where holiday homes exist but those available to paying guests are few and far between.

Interest in purchasing international property did not suffer significantly in April despite the widespread disruption to air travel caused by the eruption of Icelandic volcano Eyjafjallajokull, according to Primelocation International.

The latest International Search Index shows that the number of searches for international property increased by 111% between April 2009 and 2010, although they dropped off slightly from the record levels registered in March, down 4%.

The unpredictable course of the UK election and the developing debt crisis in Southern Europe also seem to have done little to dampen the enthusiasm for international property, with buyers recognising that many overseas destinations offer good investment potential as the global recovery continues.