Whichever way you look at it, Spain is still top of the pops, especially for Scots. Italy and France have always been among the most popular choices for a second home, but nowhere can compete with Spain, which has been welcoming expats since the 1960s.

Recently the Spanish property market has been one of the most active in Europe, experiencing price rises of around 16-per cent per annum for the past six years - fuelled in part by the number of retired people seeking a better standard of life, warmer climate and lower costs than they would at home.

Barcelona, for example, comes 56th on the list of the most expensive cities in the world, with Dubai at 83 and Limassol at 95, as compared to London, which is the second most expensive city in the world after Tokyo.

Last year alone 75,000 British buyers splashed out on a Spanish home and, over the past five years, the number of UK buyers has increased by a staggering 460-per cent. Most of them choose to buy on the Costa del Sol where companies like Andalucian Dream Homes help to guide buyers through the complexities of finding and buying property in Spain.

Harry Smith, who runs the company's Elvira branch, is typical of the new breed of younger buyers who are making the move with children. "We looked at lots of places but nowhere could compete with Spain for the climate or the availability of cheap flights, " he says. "Add to that the level of infrastructure on the coast, the numerous golf courses and the general way of life and it is easy to see why so many people choose Spain."

The average price British buyers are willing to spend is pounds-160,000, but properties in the most sought-after areas do cost more. Typical of what's on offer on the Costa del Sol are the new two-bedroom apartments at Los Monteros, situated on the Rio Real Golf Course in Marbella.

Prices here start from pounds-199,995.

Apartments at Bonmont near Tarragona on the Costa Dorada start at pounds-158,000.