Owners of Spanish holiday homes are likely to travel there for the Christmas holidays, according to experts.

The Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA) stated that Spain was one of the most popular tourist destinations during the festive season, mainly because many people owned flats or houses there.

In addition, the good weather during the winter months was also said to be an attractive quality, especially in places such as the Canary Islands.

Frances Tuke, a spokesperson for ABTA, said: "They’re a year-round destination, with temperatures always in the 70s."

She added that Costa del Sol was also a highly popular region, since it also offered a much better climate than the UK over Christmas.

This follows recent research by Yorkshire Bank which found that 43 per cent of Britons were considering buying a place in the sun.

Spain was found to be the most popular destination among prospective buyers, in particular the Costa Blanca and the Costa del Sol.

Cheers guys! Hope to write more often…

Catalonia has benefited from a massive influx of tourists since the introduction of cheap flights to the region, an airline has said.

Budget carrier Ryanair stated that since it began offering services to Spain in 2002, it has transported almost 13 million people to Girona and Reus.

The firm added that since it provided transport at a relatively low cost, tourists were able to save a collective total of more than €1 billion.

Michael O’Leary, chief executive of Ryanair, stated that Catalonia had benefited as a result since tourists had more money to spend while on holiday in the area.

He also said that new flights to the region would be announced soon, potentially boosting tourism and overseas property investment like flats, houses and condos in the region.

Mr O’Leary commented: "At the end of this month, we look forward to bringing even more of Ryanair’s guaranteed lowest fares to Catalan passengers, when we launch 14 new routes from Girona."

The introduction of new flights is likely to lead to extra interest in the region among foreign property buyers.

Earlier this month, the Telegraph recommended that overseas property investors look at airline routes to identify potential growth markets.

Cheerio!

The direction of the economy will become clearer this week, as the size of the national slowdown is quantified and interest rates are left on hold.

The Reserve Bank meeting tomorrow is likely to be a short-lived affair, with the futures market pricing the chance of a move higher in official interest rates at less than 5%.

The prospect has emerged that the RBA’s tightening cycle has ended, after 12 rises in six years and evidence the economy has hit a speed bump.

The economic data is pointing clearly at the moment to a marked slowdown of the economy being under way. It’s a question, however, as to whether the cooling of the economy has gone too far.

The gross domestic product numbers for the first quarter, published on Wednesday, will show just a mild expansion of economic growth although there is some thinking among economists that a contraction could have occurred.

The majority of market economists are likely to adjust their calls today after retail sales and inventory numbers are released.

The markets forecast for economic growth range from 0.1% to 0.5% - which would take the annualised pace of economic growth down to about 2%, well down from the recent breakneck speed of 4%.

Flats 4 Party wish you a Merrrrrry Christmas and a happy New Invest!

Concerns have been raised with the State Government about how public auction laws apply in cyberspace.

Technology is racing ahead of outdated legislation, with vendors and agents in other states already using online negotiation systems, such as eBay and 2bid2.com.au, to auction property.

eBay has recorded 33 sales in its real-estate section this year and last month sold  Sydney flats with harbour views for $1.49 million.

Another website based in Queensland has a dozen online auctions listed — its first sale was a Sunshine Coast home that went under the electronic hammer for $890,000 — and is looking at expanding in Victoria.

A spokesperson for Consumer Affairs Minister Tony Robinson confirmed that the Government had directed Consumer Affairs Victoria to investigate the practice.

The Real Estate Institute of Victoria, which helped push for the review, says it is concerned that consumers have little or no protection when they conduct sales online.

"We asked the minister to consider that when auctions go online that the legislation is there to protect consumers and protect both parties in the transaction," REIV chief executive Enzo Raimondo said.

"We want to make sure that all the safeguards and protections of the legislation that apply in physical auctions and the disclosure of notices and requirements agents make are transparent to the online environment."

At present, bids for property on eBay are not binding in Australia. Other sites have different policies depending on where they are based, but there is no consistency nationally.

But take care with this kind of auctions, I prefer visiting the house and feel it… Cheers!

Spain is one of the least stressful countries to move to, according to research from the currency company HiFX.

South Africa meanwhile, is the most stressful country to make the change to, closely followed by the US and Australia.

Moving abroad isn’t just about moving your belongings and pursuing a new lifestyle.

Decamping to a different country means getting to grips with a whole new way of living - from the language you’ll be speaking, to the money you’ll be spending.

Lack of understanding about how crucial systems like tax and law work in a foreign country could lead to problems for an emigre.

Each year more than 385,000 people emigrate from the UK looking 4 new flats, houses and villas.

There are approximately 761,000 Brits currently living in Spain according to the Institute for Public Policy Research.

Bye Bye

Spanish budget airline company Clickair has announced it will continue flights between Spain and Scotland through the winter months.

Clickair has been trialing the route throughout the summer and took more than 18,000 passengers from Edinburgh to Barcelona during August and September.

Its success may have also influenced the proposed expansion of its service from Edinburgh airport to Seville and Valencia next summer, the Scotsman suggested.

Alex Cruz, Clickair’s chief executive, told the newspaper that the announcements demonstrated the company’s commitment to the Scottish airport.

"There is a feeling that a destination like Edinburgh would be seasonal to the summer, but we are satisfied with the performance we have had so far and what this will allow us to do is get to know Edinburgh as a destination," he said.

Clickair is a partnership between Cobra, Iberia Lineas Aereas, Iberostar, Nefinsa, Quercus Equity.

The company is registered in South Africa.

Good choice to buy your flats mates!!! Run! Cherio!