Which? the consumers association has published a guide for overseas property investors, which warns of the dangers of inadequate planning.

It said with the number of UK residents who own a second home overseas increasing each year, its new Buying Property Aboard guide provides important information.

Jeremy Davis, author of the guide, commented: "The television shows that have helped fuel our obsession with overseas property make buying abroad look easy. But in reality, finding, purchasing and owning overseas can be a time-consuming business, and turning a foreign property into a successful investment can be even more of a struggle.

"Get all this right and you could have a wonderful new asset which gives you and your family enormous enjoyment over the years, and greater wealth in the long run. Get it wrong and you could be risking a good chunk of your future security on a pipe dream.”

People need to make sure that they use reputable companies when chasing the overseas property dream, such as www.OverseasPropertyOnline.com UK based global property experts.