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Knight Frank has analysed the latest property prospects in France and published its top recommendations for 2010.

Commenting region by region Paul Humphreys, head of Knight Frank’s French department, said:

Anticipation of end-of-year bonuses fuelled a 23% surge in interest in international property purchase, as confidence returns against a backdrop of improved economic prospects, according to Primelocation International.

The Primelocation International Search Index recorded more than 1.8 million foreign property searches in December and an annual increase of more than 200%. Spain and Turkey saw the highest monthly rises of 48% and 36% respectively.

Sales of previously-owned US homes fell 16.7% in December.

Sales had gone up from September to November as first-time buyers took advantage of tax credits, according to the National Association of Realtors (NAR).

Overseas property agency Property Venture has revealed its top investment choices for the UK investor for 2010.

"Like any other investment, putting your money into property involves a balance between risk and reward," said Louise Reynolds, Director, Property Venture.

The number of searches for international property in November 2009 was double the level of November 2008, signaling that this sector may have turned a corner, according to the latest Primelocation International Search Index.

Primelocation International recorded more than one million foreign property searches in November, taking interest back up to pre credit crunch levels. Almost one third of searches were carried out for property in Spain, which has overtaken rival France to become the most popular country after 12 months in second place.

The highest growth since last month was for homes in the US (47%) and Switzerland (21%), perhaps as disaffected British bankers eye more appealing offshore locations amid the storm over City bonuses. Indeed, several of Europe’s largest hedge funds are considering moving their operations to Switzerland, which may be fuelling interest in property in the country.

The Spanish property market remains highly price sensitive, according to real estate company, Mercers.

Property will sell only if the price is right.

Marc Da-Silva, editor of HomesOverseas.co.uk, makes his predictions for 2010, by naming the top 10 destinations to invest in property next year.

1 Brazil
The Brazilian property market has got a lot going for it. The country is attracting a lot of inward investment, has one of the world’s fastest growing economies, a rapidly emerging mortgage market, a general shortage of quality homes, and has been selected to host the 2014 football World Cup and 2016 Olympic Games. This will lead to the construction of new and improved infrastructures and homes across Brazil.

Real estate agent Mercers has launched a Rent2Buy concept which it said was ideally suited to the Spanish property market.

With purchasers hesitating and vendors despondent, a Rent2Buy arrangement bridges a win-win gap between the two, the firm said.

The Association of International Property Professionals (AIPP) has released the 4th edition of its annual guide, Buying Overseas Property Safely – The Consumer Guide from the Industry Body.

As the step-by-step manual of how to avoid common pitfalls and buy overseas safely, it has become the "Green Cross Code" of the international property market.

The overseas property market could be showing signs of recovery, according to new figures. Mortgage quotes for holiday homes abroad were up 20 per cent in September.

September was the busiest month of the year so far for overseas mortgage specialists Conti. The company issued 20 per cent more mortgage quotes last month, with the value of the applications also rising to a year high.