When it comes to property investment, the question on everyone’s lips is always “where’s the next big thing?” By that, I mean the relentless search for a region which most people wouldn’t bother with at the moment in terms of property investment, but which will someday gain the investment respect that countries like Brazil, Panama, Morocco, and Dubai have achieved today.

It’s possible to take a pretty good stab at this, by looking at factors and events which have happened in other countries in the past and applying it to new areas. Well, it’s as good a method as any, I reckon. So here’s a prediction for you. The country very much on the economic upturn is…Estonia. “Where’s that?” I hear many of you ask.

Well, geography was never my strong point as school either, so here’s a refresher. It’s a Baltic country in northern Europe, with Finland to the north, Sweden to the west, and a border with Russia to the east. Known for its lakes (more than 1400) Estonia has a relatively mild climate despite its northern position (something to do with the Gulf Stream). So why is it worth looking at in terms of property investment?
  
Well, investors have being eyeing up the country since it achieved independence from Russia in 1991 and gained EU membership in 2004. It has one of the fastest growing economies in the Euro zone (12% in 2007) with adoption of Euro coins widely predicted for 2010 or soon after. It also has an excellent coastline, with the seaside resort of Parnu attracting most of the attention, and the historic city of Tallinn (the capital) also a popular destination. Finnish nationals in particular have been snapping up real estate there, as it’s near to Finland, but with house prices a fraction of the cost of property in their homeland.

And for the rest of us, getting there is becoming easier every day, with direct flights now available from cities like London, Amsterdam, Brussels, Barcelona, Stockholm, and Prague. Once there, the city of Tallinn is only four kilometers away. You can also travel to Estonia by ferry from Helsinki.

So there you have it, Estonia is as good a bet as any for future prosperity…you heard it here first. Don’t quote me on any of this of course, but if you make big fat profits in the future, I shall expect to see the cheque in the post.