A recent report in the local press indicated that price rises are returning locally at least, or are not dropping. This is in stark contrast to what is happening in much of Europe where house prices are still on the way down.

A report in the UK also indicated that for the next decade the stock market will by far outperform house price increases, so investors looking for a return may be well advised to put their eggs in more than one basket.

Leading experts from Price Waterhouse Coopers UK are predicting that equities will give a return of more than double house prices which are expected to increase by a mere 2% a year.

Property though always has its variations and certain areas in the UK may beat this flattish trend, as has certainly happened in certain developments in Malta, mainly located in Sliema and St Julians, where property price rises have often outstripped the rest of the island.