If you are about to buy an overseas property then, despite today’s uncertain global economy, you are one of a growing number of people returning to the market after a period of, how shall we say, choppy waters.

The latest PrimeLocation.com International Search Index, which is published quarterly, reveals that the number of people house hunting on our site increased overall by 14% during the third quarter of 2011 and by 17% for the top ten most popular destinations (see list below).

At the top of the table, the United States is the most popular attracting 31% more searches than in the previous three months and overall it remains the third most popular destination for property hunters.

France: one of the European countries that an increasing number of British buyers searched for last quarter.

Switzerland was another big winner within the top ten – the number of searches for its Alpine homes increased by 30%, helped by the thousands of wealthy Brits moving money into its safe haven property markets at the moment.

But what, you may ask, is stirring people to buy overseas when several of the countries popular with British buyers are facing financial meltdown – i.e. Spain, Italy, Greece and Portugal?

The answer is that searches are beginning to increase again in the better known destinations despite the financial problems besetting them as many British retirees decide it’s time to emigrate to Europe and beyond for a better quality of life despite the recession.

PrimeLocation.com index also recorded more interest in Germany; searches there rose by 28% compared to the previous quarter driven by its status as the darling of international investor set as its economy shrugs off the recession.

So are there any losers? Only two countries within the top ten saw a decline. Searches for Cyprus property fell by one per cent, and the United Arab Emirates by five per cent, which dropped one place as a result within the Top Ten.

For a full list of the most popular countries by volume of searchs, go to www.primelocation.com.

It’s 20 years since the infamous Berlin wall came down, reuniting east and west and transforming life in the city of Berlin, Germany.

A recent episode of Channel 4’s Location, Location, Location, saw Phil Spencer and Kirstie Allsopp helping a couple look for a home in the UK and an investment property in Berlin. In typical Location, Location, Location fashion, despite looking at some great properties in Berlin, the couple eventually decided that perhaps they wouldn’t buy in Berlin just yet after all. But if it’s piqued your interest and got you wondering about the benefits of Berlin, then here’s a brief rundown.

• Germany as a whole has a strong culture of renting property, rather than buying. Berlin is no different and there’s a low percentage of property ownership – over 80% of Berliners are tenants, rather than property owners. This offers good possibilities for buy-to-let investors, who want to purchase Berlin property for rental purposes.
• The rental culture means that many people rent on a long-term basis, rather than short-term, so you may be able to get a tenant who stays put for a while, reducing the hassle of regularly having to find new tenants.
• There are also opportunities for short term corporate rentals too. Many large companies are based in Berlin and, where they used to house employees in hotels for a short-term basis, the increase in tourism has boosted hotel prices. So, small furnished apartments on short leases are proving a good alternative for business use.
• Some of the prime areas to buy include the up-and-coming central eastern districts, as explored by Location, Location, Location, such as Prenzlauer Berg, Friedrichshain and Kreuzberg.
• Other more established and affluent areas of Berlin, with more expensive properties, are the central western parts, such as Charlottenberg, Wilmersdorf, Mitte and Schoneberg.
• In the central parts of Berlin, there are mostly flats and apartments available – in old historic buildings, as well as some new builds. If you’re interested in houses, you may need to look towards the leafy suburbs, on the outskirts of the city.

See something you like? Take a look at properties for sale in Berlin.