Trading the stock market is just one of the ways you can beat the traditional savings rates when investing your capital. On of the most popular long term investments these days is that of owning properties, additional to your own home, and earning rental income while house prices rise in that area.

The number of people who are choosing this option is continually growing, and as property prices in the UK have started to plateau there has been a swarm of investment buyers looking overseas to find the highest returns.

Right now there are properties all over the world that are owned by UK residents but just where should you go to find the safest, most accessible property ventures?

One of the first, and probably the most popular, destination chosen by UK prospectors is Spain and this is still the case now. The attractions of buying a property in Spain are many:

• The housing market in Spain is still relatively immature and so there is a lot of upside to property prices still to come as demand continues to grow.
• Rental potential in Spain is far higher than other European countries that have smaller tourism industries.
• Travel between the UK and Spain has never been easier or cheaper should you need to visit your property at any time.
• Thanks to its popularity with investment buyers, Spain has a property industry ready and able to manage your investment in your absence.

When buying a house in Spain you should be aware of how quickly and easily you might be able to rent it out. Try to pick popular tourist destinations where the summer income will help pay the mortgage, and where the holiday season lasts the longest.

Another thing to keep in mind is the Spanish house buying system. You need to know the legal process thoroughly to ensure there are no problems that could delay your purchase. You can seek legal advice in Spain or the UK to help guide you through everything.