Italy is the most searched for country by Brits looking to invest in property, with 8.5% of all searches on theMoveChannel.com website, it has been revealed. The country knocked France, which fell to third, off the topspot, as Spain moved into second place.

* Search for prime property in Europe

In terms of newcomers to the table, Brazil is definitely a country to keep an eye on, says the property website.

‘Brazil has a unique blend of attractions for property investors: It has a strong economy, with good regional and global trade links, an increasingly diverse service sector and all sorts of natural resources that it can leverage,’ said Dan Johnson, managing director of theMoveChannel.com.

‘The people of Brazil are aspirational, modern and increasingly forward thinking. The domestic economy is growing and the international profile is strengthening.

‘With around 7,000 km of amazing coastline and a great climate, it has world-class tourist potential, something which the major tour operators appear to have finally woken up to,’ concluded Mr Johnson.

* Search for prime property in Europe