So the suitcase is packed, passports are at the ready and you’re just popping out to get some foreign spending money. But what if instead of shelling out on souvenirs, you decide to buy a property there? Many Brits have fallen in love with a holiday destination and decided to get their own bricks and mortar there.

If you’re sick and tired of having your car vandalized or racing neighbours to the last remaining parking space on your road, then having a garage could be the answer. It’ll also add value to your house.Whilst modern properties tend to be built with a garage as standard, many older properties didn’t and the only way to get one is to buy a ready made garage or have one built.

If you’re thinking of buying a foreign property, don’t leave your brain at home when you step on the plane. Buying overseas can be a way of enjoying a holiday home as well as making a nifty investment - but you must research thoroughly and don’t let the sun, sea and sangria go to your head.Avoid the most common mistakes made by Brits buying abroad:

Earlier this year the Government unveiled plans for the Right To Build scheme, and has said it will make publicly owned land available to ordinary people to build their own homes. There is renewed interest in the self build market, but finding the right plot to build on, isn’t easy.

2012 looks set to be a particularly fruitful year with buy-to-let lender Paragon Group revealing that landlords are expecting tenant demand in the UK to remain high, predicting a double-digit increase in the number of people who will choose to become "professional tenants", opting to rent rather than buy.