"With prices starting at just £75,000, for a two bedroom apartment, many people are in an ideal financial position to invest in this hugely buoyant market. Attractive overseas mortgages are readily available, which is encouraging investors to transfer equity from their UK property into the Spanish market," explains Guy Tolhurst, manager of Hunters Overseas.

He should know - Hunters Overseas is currently negotiating several large purchases on behalf of investors from across the UK. One such deal includes the sale of £5.6million worth of property to one private investor who already owns more than 200 properties in Leeds and York.

The value and nature of this deal provides a significant indicator of the confidence in the overseas residential property market. As traditional investment methods continue to provide low returns, more and more people are turning to the Spanish property market. As well as being a fantastic investment tool it's an attractive lifestyle choice; rental returns can contribute substantially towards costs.

Values rise 90%
"The overseas investment market still has room for significant growth with 40% of property sold still being used as holiday accommodation, with a further 30% bought for residential purposes. Some properties purchased two years ago on The Costa Del Sol have risen in value by up to 90%" adds Guy.

The best step when buying a Spanish property is to seek professional advice here in the UK. Consider, how will you fund an off-plan purchase? If you buy a property that is still under construction, the payment is usually split into stages. A small initial deposit secures the property, then between 25% and 50% of the purchase price is subsequently paid at a specified time.

The balance is payable once the property is complete. Generally, UK mortgage companies will only provide funds for the completion payment and not for the deposits. For this reason it's advisable to obtain a bank guarantee, which will secure your deposits, to protect you against things going wrong.

"Most reputable UK based agents will take care of these technicalities on your behalf. We're constantly looking for new investment hotspots, as well as negotiating the payment terms and best prices to ensure customers get the greatest deal for their money," adds Guy.

"We always encourage customers to visit the area where they are planning to buy. We have established relationships with airlines and a selection of Spanish hotels which enables us to organise viewing trips for all buyers."

Hunters Overseas: 0113 218 2438 Hunters Overseas Homes is a division of Hunters Estate Agents and was established two years ago to guide investors through the maze of overseas property investment. It now specialises in Spanish property and currently sells £2million worth of property on the Costas every month.

Partnerships with companies such as Taylor Woodrow, Viva Estates and the European Village Agency has made Hunters one of the north's leading overseas property agents.

In 2003 Hunters Overseas Homes was acclaimed Taylor Woodrow's "Best De Espana UK Agent". Hunters is a member of the Homesale Network and has offices in Leeds, York, Harrogate, Wetherby, Ripon, Haxby, Acomb, and Easingwold. A Manchester office opens this March.