The tragic events in the resorts of Tunisia and Egypt over the past year have rocked the foundations of holidaymakers around the world, so much so that UK travellers now consider safety and security to be the most important factor when it comes to booking their holiday destination. The changing shape of holidays has been revealed by a survey from TravelZoo, where 30% of respondents rated this as their number one priority.

Luxury real estate, for sale in the Lagos, Vilamoura, Luz and Loulé, Algarve.

"Spain and Portugal are ripe for property investment this year. Iberia is definitely the place to be looking right now."

So speaks Chris White, Founding Director of Ideal Homes International, when asked about his recommendations for places to invest in property within Europe. He continues,

"2016 is a tale of capital cities and beaches when it comes to property investment. In Portugal it's Lisbon that is offering some of the most enticing opportunities, while in Spain the sun-kissed Costas are definitely the places to find the ideal investment property."

London versus the world! What can you get abroad for the price of an average property in the capital?

According to the UK government's December 2015 House Price Index, the average property in London now costs £514,097. Based on a quick Rightmove search, £514,097 is enough to purchase a new build one bedroom flat in Newham, a two bedroom flat in a converted house in Acton, or a four bedroom mid-terrace house in Tottenham in need of some serious modernisation.

But what could you get for the same money overseas? £514,097 is worth just over €656,151, or USD $743,053, at today's exchange rate, which opens up a wealth of property options to those looking to buy on the continent or even further afield.

Between 2012 and 2014, Portugal generated over 440m Euros of investment from their Golden Visas scheme. Now in 2016, less than two years later, that total has skyrocketed to over 1.6bn Euros. With growth picking up again in the last month, the scheme looks set to bring more revenue, while providing opportunities for investors who are seeking a new European life, or diversification in their investment portfolio.

The revival of Spain’s property market has been confirmed by continued transaction and price growth. Experts largely agree that the country’s real estate is back on track but there are still obstacles to be overcome.

Geographical disparities on a regional level and the lack of new-builds in popular destinations are some determining factors for the future, as Spain regains popularity with foreign buyers.

Because today's home buyers want a variety of choices to meet their individual tastes and lifestyles, our service doesn't finish with our portfolio. Luckily we can source your dream home with cooperating agents' portfolios and can save you much time and money.

Instead of spending endless hours browsing through never ending property finders and letting you decide based merely upon the quality of random photographs, save your precious time and let us search for you within your criteria FREE OF CHARGE.

The days of holiday homes being the sole domain of Hollywood A-listers and the well-to-do are long gone. With property prices in Spain and Portugal still offering incredible value compared to those in the UK, ownership overseas is more achievable than ever.