People who are thinking of relocating to Spain have been encouraged to start learning the language.

According to Property Showrooms, people in the European country are generally very hospitable to foreign expatriates.

However, the firm said they could build stronger relations with Spanish nationals if they know a few key words and phrases.

Cary Johnston, spokesperson for Property Showrooms, commented: “The Spanish will warm to you even more if you make an effort to speak a few words in the local language.”

He added that Spain offers a quality of life which is “second to none”, partly because it has attractions such as year-round sunshine.

This, combined with the better air quality, means that people can feel healthier both physically and mentally.

According to the Association of International Property Professionals, Spain is currently the most popular location for British buyers.

Figures showed that the country accounted for more than a quarter of all overseas purchases last year.

The number of British people who are choosing to move abroad is rising, according to an expert.

Sir Andrew Green, chairman of Migrationwatch UK, told the Daily Mail that a number of different issues are prompting Britons to relocate to a new home.

Speaking to the newspaper, he said emigration has doubled in the last couple of years, partly because people are attracted by potential lifestyle improvements overseas.

“People find the UK is getting more and more crowded and they see crime rates going up,” Sir Andrew commented.

He added that the recent economic slowdown in Britain has also contributed to a surge in the amount of outward migration.

According to the Spanish Property Owners Guild, many people from the UK are choosing to start a new life in Spain because they are dissatisfied with life at home.

The organisation highlighted a number of reasons for this trend, such as concerns over taxation, crime levels and the rising cost of living in Britain.

Overseas property investors who are in search of a bargain have been encouraged to consider the Spanish market.

According to ShelterOffshore.com, the European country currently offers a number of opportunities for foreign buyers.

The website said this is partly because the housing market in Spain is currently undergoing a price correction.

As a result, buyers could potentially “call the shots” throughout the purchasing process, especially if they are paying with cash.

ShelterOffshore.com said: “Spain is a great market offering real opportunities right now.”

However, the website added that prospective buyers still need to take important issues into account when purchasing a residence.

For example, it stated that investors should consider the location and quality of their home, as well as current market conditions.

This comes after Kyero.com revealed that many people are holding off on making a purchase and waiting for prices to come down.

Spain has been flagged up as a popular destination for retired expats by Propertyfinder.com.

According to the website, the European country has attracted thousands of foreign retirees during the last ten years.

This was partially attributed to the fact that it offers many lifestyle attractions to people from overseas, such as a warm climate and improved quality of life.

Propertyfinder.com added that financial considerations have also played a part, as retirees want to enjoy low living costs and make the most of their existing wealth.

Nicholas Leeming, director of the online portal, commented: “The average over-60-year-old homeowning couple has £265,000 of housing equity to unlock from their home.

“This kind of money can go a long way.”

He added that since house prices in Spain are currently falling, expats could possibly snap up a bargain property in the country.

According to the Institute of Public Policy Research, more than 3.3 million British pensioners are likely to be living abroad by 2050.

A British expatriate has spoken to the BBC about his move from the UK to Spain’s Costa Blanca region.

Eric and Viola Summers relocated to Torrevieja back in 1999 and believe their lives have improved considerably as a result.

Speaking to BBC News, Mr Summers said the Costa Blanca offers a much better quality of life, partly because it has excellent weather.

He added that the region also has many cultural attractions, such as concerts and shows, as well as good public services.

In particular, the local hospitals were described as “tremendous”.

Mr Summers also believes he is financially better off in Spain than in the UK, even though both countries have been affected by issues such as rising fuel prices.

He commented: “We’re still much better off than we would be in England.

“If we were living there we’d have to be on benefits.”

This comes after Saga Travel Money suggested that expats save money by purchasing locally-sourced goods rather than imported items from home.

People in England are increasing selling their homes and using the capital to buy abroad, it has been revealed.

The Emigration Group stated that falling house prices in the UK have directly contributed to the popularity of moving abroad in the last few months.

Speaking to the Cambridge News, company director Paul Arthur said this is because people want to make the most of the value of their home before it falls even further.

This trend was said to be highly apparent in southern and eastern England, for example counties such as Cambridgeshire and Essex.

Mr Arthur commented: “House prices have peaked and people with more equity realise they can get a different lifestyle abroad.”

According to the BuyAssociation website, Spain is currently one of the main hotspots among Britons who want a foreign property.

Property editor Paul Collins said this includes those who are looking to live abroad on a permanent basis.

Countries which attract holidaymakers all year round could be good places for overseas property investors to consider.

According to Holiday-Rentals, Spain is currently one of the most popular destinations among its clients.

This was said to be because the European country is consistently popular with tourists for 12 months of the year, which means it has strong rental potential.

Sarah Chambers, spokesperson for Holiday-Rentals, commented: “60 per cent of our clients own one or two foreign homes.

“They almost always rent them out for the whole year.”

Speaking to the Telegraph, she added that investors need to make clear that there are year-round attractions near their property when advertising it to potential tenants.

This comes after Holiday-Rentals revealed that 31 per cent of British-owned foreign properties in Europe are located in Spain.

The organisation said this is partially due to the number of cheap flights servicing areas such as the Costas.

Interest in the top end of the Costa del Sol’s housing market is still very high, according to an expert.

Barbara Wood from The Property Finders said that affluent property buyers are still keen to snap up a residence in the region.

Speaking to the Times, she revealed that houses that are valued at about £624,000 or above are in high demand because they are in short supply.

This means that the slump which has hit many cheaper houses in the Costa del Sol is not affecting the market as a whole.

Ms Wood commented: “Every client I’ve had this year has had little need for finance.

“They have been watching the market and they are deciding it’s time to start looking in earnest.”

She added that while investors will not get “vast sums” knocked off the asking price of a property, they will not have to compromise on any other requirements.

This, she said, would be “crucial” for top-end buyers.

The Telegraph recently described the Costa del Sol as a “hugely popular location” for British property buyers.

The main attraction of the Costa del Sol may be the coastline promised in its name, but many picturesque inland towns in the Malaga province are becoming popular with British property seekers, it has been claimed.

Andalusian news site Sur claimed that small inland towns like Antequera were becoming targets for overseas property seekers, with big influxes changing the complexion of the area.

It was claimed that the non-Spanish population of the town had grown from only 198 in 2001 to 2,300 in the present day, signalling a huge rise in foreign interest for a town with a total population not much over 40,000.

The new multicultural Antequera was said to boast as many as 61 different nationalities, reflecting the vibrant diversity of the Costa del Sol itself and its many foreign residents.

But while Brits are infamous for snapping up beach-side properties on the Costa, the inland spot saw only 247 UK property investors to date, with 740 Brazilians topping the foreign list and taking to Antequera in greatest number.

Latest estimates, however, claim that as many as 750,000 Brits are now resident in Spain, largely in the Costa del Sol and Costa Blanca areas of the southern coast.

The Mayor of Marbella is forecasting a positive future for the region and its economy, it has been reported.

According to Homes Overseas, Angeles Munoz wants authorities in the area to take a more “consultative” approach with residents and businesses.

This, he stated, will ensure that future infrastructure upgrades work cohesively with existing facilities, thereby improving day-to-day life in the region.

Mr Munoz commented: “I am very optimistic about the economic future of the Costa del Sol.

“We will be providing support and welcoming with open arms the suggestions that the industry have for the region.”

Speaking at the Leading Property Agents of Spain conference, he went on to acknowledge the recent problems in the market, such as the issue of oversupply in some areas.

He said greater consolidation would enable Marbella to recover from this “difficult period”, although he welcomed the fact that it has maintained its brand “despite everything”.

This comes after the Sur newspaper revealed that residents and political parties in the Costa del Sol have backed plans to build the proposed San Pedro Alcantara tunnel.