If you’ve got money to spend and are looking to invest in property, then Spain could be the ideal destination – especially if you love a bargain.

It’s still one of the most popular locations for property investors from the UK, not least because it’s very easily reachable and has a temptingly warm climate. Spain has previously experienced a boom in property purchases and prices rose considerably over the years in some areas. But like the UK, it’s now experiencing a fall in property sales.

Figures from the National Institute of Statistics in Spain show that in November 2008, 32,792 residential properties were sold, compared to 51,753 the previous year. Although it might not be cheeriest of news for property sellers, for buyers it’s got definite benefits.

Many properties for sale across Spain are being reduced in price, meaning that if you’ve got cash ready to spend, it could well stretch much further. Figures in the region of €50,000 are reportedly being slashed off properties in the lower to mid end of the market, with up to €1m being taken off top of the range, high end and luxury properties.

So, what can you get for your money?

• If your budget is up to £300,000, you could buy your very own two-bedroom, three storey house in the city of Barcelona, two minutes walk away from the marina and beach (£299,811).
• With a budget of up to £500,000, you could purchase a three bedroom house next to the golf course at Santa Ponsa, about 18km from Palma (£499,685).
• If you’re spending up to £800,000, you could buy a three-storey villa near the heart of Javea in Alicante, with six bedrooms, four bathrooms, a large garden and pool (£799,995)
• If you’ve got £1m to spend, you could buy a brand new finca in the countryside at Portol, on the island of Mallorca, with four bedrooms, two reception rooms, three bathrooms, air conditioning and a large pool (£999,369).

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.

The last few months have been blighted by news of airlines cutting flights, but there’s more encouraging news for the Canary Islands, which are set to benefit from new flights from early 2009.

Failed airline company XL had left a bit of a gap in the market, with flights to the Canary Islands amongst those affected by its downfall. But budget airline, Teleticket, has stepped in to fill the gap and announced that it will be introducing new flights from Bristol to Tenerife, Las Palmas and Lanzarote in 2009.

The flight-only tour operator, which also operates flights from airports such as Gatwick, Manchester, East Midlands, Newcastle and Glasgow, will start the flights to Tenerife in April 2009 and to Gran Canaria at Easter.

The Spanish Canary Islands are a destination that’s long been a favourite with Brits. Between them, the islands attract a massive 10 million visitors each year and it’s no wonder they’re a popular location for holiday property owners and expats too. Amongst the major attractions are the great year-round climate, good beaches and easy access from the UK. But from a property point of view, it’s possible to find apartments like this for under £100k, and there are good opportunities to rent out accommodation to tourists.

For those wanting to splash out with a bit of luxury, top notch properties can be found on the islands too, like this individually designed house in Tenerife.

The clocks have gone back, frosty mornings have started and some places have even had snow already. Winter has arrived in the UK, but if you’d prefer to jet away to sunnier climes during the colder months, here’s a round-up of some of the top winter sun property destinations.

Cape Verde
Located 400 miles northwest of the coast of Africa, the Cape Verde archipelago of islands is a key property location that’s attracted a lot of interest in the last few years. An emerging property destination, it boasts a year round tropical climate and beautiful sandy beaches, so is the perfect getaway for winter sun seekers.

Barbados
Areas of the Caribbean, such as Barbados, bask in glorious sunshine all year round, so they’re a great favourite for winter property owners. In fact, a range of celebrities, including David and Victoria Beckham, Hugh Grant and Simon Cowell are amongst the owners of properties here. If you’re also considering renting out your home, then Barbados seems a good location for holiday lets.

The Canary Islands
A long-term favourite with Brits and attracting 10 million visitors a year, the Canary Islands are a popular choice for winter sun seekers, where the average annual temperature is 22°C. The largest of the islands, Tenerife, has a five-year building moratorium in place, so new developments are limited and existing properties are in demand.

Dubai
Home to a growing number of British expats working in the United Arab Emirates, the city of Dubai is blessed with a subtropical climate. There’s currently a lot of interest in property here and rental yields of about 8% plus can be achieved. As an added bonus, Dubai has favourable tax incentives and there’s no VAT or stamp duty on property purchases.

Brazil
The largest country in Latin America, Brazil has a year-round average temperature of 26°C and, together with an array of stunning beaches, it’s an ideal getaway for the winter months. Areas around the north east coast are currently appealing to both property buyers and tourists, and you’ll find plenty of new build and off-plan developments available. 

Spain continues to be one of the top location choices for overseas buyers, but do you know where you can find an area with the best coastal property price growth rate in Spain, great transport links and a coastline that’s well protected from overdevelopment?

The answer lies in Andalucia and the Costa de la Luz, which stretches along the western coast of Spain.

In the province of Huelva, property prices rose by 7.6% in 2007, which was the best property growth out of all of the coastal areas of Spain. Yet it remains one of the least built-up coastal areas in the country, with less than 13% of the coastline affected by urban development. Although several new developments are occurring, retaining as much of the natural environment and beauty as possible is an issue locals are keen to uphold and there are strict environmental controls in place.

With 417km of coastline and great beaches to choose from, it’s the perfect location for both a beach holiday and a holiday home. Compared to the beaches in the Costa del Sol, the sand in this part of Spain tends to be finer in texture and have a more golden hue, and the beaches themselves are often picturesquely backed by pine trees and sand dunes.

There’s good news for golfers too, as the area already boasts a number of great golf courses and neighbouring golf property developments and more are on the horizon. The average price of a round of golf in Huelva costs up to 50% less than it would in the nearby Algarve or Costa del Sol, so you can get more rounds for your money. Many experts have dubbed Huelva the ‘fastest growing destination for golf tourism in Spain’, so buying in the area now could get you in at the forefront of a golfing revolution.

One of the reasons Spain always appeals to UK property buyers is its close location – only a short haul flight away. Huelva is easily accessed via the airports in Faro, Portugal, Seville or other local airports, but earlier this year it was announced that it would finally be getting its own International Airport. It’s been a while coming, but should be functioning by 2012 and will be a blessing for property owners.