5,000 brokers can't be wrong!

Conti says that more and more intermediaries are realising the benefits of overseas mortgages as a valuable new revenue stream. It has signed up more than 1,000 in the last six months alone, bringing the grand total to 5643.

Despite the situation in the UK, brokers might be pleasantly surprised by the healthy appetite of overseas institutions to lend to foreign investors. In addition, falling property prices and historically low interest rates are making it much more affordable, despite the strong euro.

Clare Nessling, Conti's operations director, says: "If brokers haven't yet considered the overseas mortgage market as a source of additional income, there has never been a better time to do so. There's a growing feeling of confidence amongst prospective buyers, and savvy investors are more willing to explore overseas opportunities in their search for better potential returns on investment than they're achieving in the UK."

And it's not just Conti who is noticing a renewed interest in overseas property. Recent research from Primelocation has found that the number of people searching for international properties increased by 134 per cent between January 2009 and January 2010.

Making it even easier for intermediaries to get involved, Conti's online sales toolkit offers ready-made sales letters, brochures, newsletters, top tips and a free weblink - providing everything they need to generate overseas mortgage sales from their existing client base. It costs nothing and means they can promote this service with minimal outlay from their own business.

In addition, Mortgage Brain's overseas sourcing module (developed within Mortgage Brain 6.80), launched in partnership with Conti, allows brokers to process enquiries and applications for overseas mortgages as simply as if they're dealing with a UK mortgage.