How do we find a good overseas mortgage?

Q My partner and I plan to buy a small flat on the Costa Blanca in Spain as a holiday home, and need to get a mortgage to finance part of it. There are so many mortgage companies dealing with this area that it is difficult to know where to start. Do you know of any websites that list the best deals?

RS-H

A As you say, there are a lot of players in this market - and small wonder. The numbers of Britons buying property abroad has been rising steadily for the past five years, and any mortgage broker worth his or her salt is likely to want to be involved in this growth area.

But I would urge you to be very careful. Buying a property in the UK, where you speak the language, is thorny enough; imagine how many more problems you might face under a completely different legal system, even before you try to work your way through what may be a totally alien language for you (you don't say whether you speak Spanish well enough to decipher legal and financial documents).

Because of this, I would recommend you get some help. One company you could try is Conti Financial Services, an overseas mortgage specialist of 10 years' standing. As well as arranging finance, it provides advice on buying property abroad and can put you in touch with local lawyers, architects, surveyors and others involved in the conveyancing chain. You can contact the firm on 01273 772 811 or visit the website, Mortgagesoverseas.com, for more information.