Many British owners of overseas holiday homes have spent the past 18 months watching their properties endure price drops, no doubt much to their discomfort.

Or at least that is the received wisdom. But research released today reveals that,  instead, the weakening pound has increased rather than diminished the value of their overseas investments.

Figures from foreign exchange specialist Close Treasury show that, despite falling prices in France, Spain, Portugal and the USA, and weak price growth in Italy, the dominance of the euro and dollar have – on paper – helped increase the  value of British-owned properties overseas.

A British-owned villa in Portugal which, despite local price drops, may still be worth more today than 18 months ago following recent pound/euro fluctuations

Close Treasury says the collective value of our places in the sun increased by £2.6 billion between July 2008 and December last year – during the lows of the general economic and banking crisis.

For example, during this period prices in France dropped on average by 6.6% but because of the euro’s increased strength against the pound, British owners saw an average rise in value of £10,400 per property. Close Treasury says there are 98,000 properties in France owned by Brits.

In Spain, where some 144,500 properties are owned by British citizens, house prices fell by 8.35% between 2008 and 2009, but the euro difference gave owners a collective gain of £1.1 billion or £7,700 a property.

And even in the US, where the property market has endured the darkest days most Americans can remember, Brits saw the cash-in value of their properties in the land of the free jump by £1,750.

The pied à terre is such a romantic idea, isn’t it? A pretty little home from home for when you’re working in the city, but really, you live in some huge mansion out in the country. Idealistic it may be, but what about if your job means you work across two cities? If you’re between Paris and London it’s not so bad, but if you’re in New York half your time, then your own little apartment might not be such a bad idea. Plus, I watched Sex and The City repeats last night and New York is seeming like a very glam place right now. So, let’s have a look at some homes for rent.

East 84 Street: £1490 a month

This 1 bedroom apartment on the Upper East Side is pretty decent for its size. After all, you’re paying for location, but you also get a washer-dryer and dishwasher as well. Sounds all very dull and practical, but it’s everything you need to make living away from home easy. Because a home from home isn’t meant to feel like a hotel, is it?

Heart of Manhattan: £1761 a month.

My goodness this is pretty. Look at that floor! Look at those stairs! I know this is meant to be a home from home, but I’d live here all the time if I could. It’s stunning, and it’s right by Fifth Avenue too for all those shopping trips. You get a 24 hour doorman too which is vital if you’re only going to be there half the time.

Paris in New York: £3048 a month.

Now, if you’re flitting between Paris and New York (frankly I’m a little jealous of you) I think this place will suit you just perfectly. French windows, stunning views, and it’s even got a balcony. Oh, and it’s on Madison Avenue. I’d like to move there right this second.

Town House: £9,415 a month

If the thought of an apartment doesn’t give you ideas of home living, then what about a townhouse? There’s something lovely about townhouses. They’re very… civilised. This one has four bedrooms, so if you’ve got a family, it might be a more suitable option than a one bed flat.

All this talk of flitting between two cities has given me itchy feet. Now I just have to find a job that will let me travel to New York every other week and pay for a pretty place like one of these at the same time. That should be easy, right?

If you’re considering investing in a golf property, or buying a home near a golf course, it can be mind-boggling trying to decide where to choose, as there are so many top notch overseas golf courses these days. But inspiration is at hand, thanks to the International Association of Golf Tour Operators (IAGTO), who’ve recently assessed thousands of courses around the world and named the winners in their prestigious annual awards.

The annual IAGTO awards recognise the outstanding golf destinations in five regions of the world – Asia and Australasia, Africa, the Indian Ocean and the Gulf States, Latin America and the Caribbean, North America and Europe. In addition, the International Association of Golf Travel Writers, a sister organisation of IAGTO, which represents over 100 members in 27 countries, awards a prize for the Undiscovered Golf Destination of the Year.

The awards celebrate the destinations which are making waves in the golf tourism world and the results are invariably of interest to property investors, as they highlight areas where golfing properties may do well, either currently or in the future.

The results of the 2009 IAGTO Awards are in:

New Zealand picked up the award for the Golf Destination of the Year: Asia and Australasia.

The European award went to Andalucia, in Spain (no surprises here).

The Africa, Indian Ocean and Gulf States award was picked up by Dubai.

The Latin America and Caribbean award went to the Dominican Republic.

The North American prize went to South Carolina.

As for the Undiscovered Golf Destination of the Year, it went to Kenya, which was noted for having 40 golf courses across the county, located in very diverse areas and with wonderful wildlife in close proximity.

George Hamilton... love that Fanta glow

If you need any more evidence that it’s a buyer’s market in the United States as well as Britain, put on some sunglasses and cast your eyes towards perma-tanned American actor George Hamilton. George closed a (literally) sweet property deal this week on a luxury condo in Los Angeles, but only after insisting his estate agent throw a year’s supply of cookies into the mix.

That’s right – cookies. A dozen a month.

We’d LOVE to pretend that what shall herein be referred to as ‘The Cookie Clause’ was merely the casual whim of an ageing orange soap opera star – you know, in the same way that J-Lo might demand twenty-seven thousand fresh gardenias on her backstage rider, or Jim Carrey might insist on a vegetarian chef for his pet iguana (this one from the ‘ridiculous but apparently true’ files). But actually it seems the unusual purchase condition stemmed from George’s discovery that his estate agent’s wife owns a local bakery.

This strange turn of events has got us thinking, though. If American estate agents will crumble under a demand for cookies (if you’ll forgive that horrendous pun), what else would they give in to?

So in the spirit of pushing boundaries and making childish demands, we’ve compiled a list of Other Freebies That Desperate Californian Estate Agents Might Be Willing to Throw Into the Deal:

• A year’s supply of Botox injections
• A walk-on role in Desperate Housewives
• Surfing lessons
• A shopping spree on Rodeo Drive
• An invitation to one of Hef’s infamous shindigs at the Playboy Mansion
• An apparently rare-as-hen’s-teeth place in a good LA school for your child (you never know, they might even surrender their own child’s place at Beverly Hills High or similar, forcing the poor kid into home-schooling and a wretched life of minimal social interaction. Hey, desperate times…)

Are there any opportunities for estate agent exploitation we’ve missed? Let us know.