Lifestyle buyers opt for Portugal

Portugal is proving to be a popular choice for second home buyers from the UK, according to experts.

Currency specialist FC Exchange said top-end buyers in particular are showing lots of interest in the European country.

This has been attributed to a number of factors, including Portugal's relatively low living costs and property values.

The firm said that since the euro is currently much stronger than the pound, these financial benefits have proved to be decisive factors for overseas property buyers.

Nick Fullerton, managing director of FC Exchange, commented: "People are increasingly looking to get more for their money."

This, he said, has led to Portugal attracting people who might previously have considered places such as the south of France.

Portugal's popularity with second home buyers was recently highlighted by the Irish Independent, which said its lack of "unsightly overdevelopment" makes it preferable to many other established markets.