New research has shown that housing affordability has remained at a seven-year high, despite the rising cost of property during 2009.

This year, A Place in the Sun Live - the UK’s biggest and best-attended overseas property exhibition - is shining the spotlight on four of the UK’s favourite overseas property destinations.

Mediterranean countries are proving more popular among those searching for overseas property as the focus turns away from wintry destinations to summer dreams, according to the latest foreign real estate index.

The slow pace of house-building in Australia, combined with a rapidly growing population, could force house prices ever higher in future, the R.B.A. has warned.