A very warm welcome to International Property 2006. With more and more people getting into property investment, it is vital to stay ahead of the competition and keep yourself abreast of upcoming trends and emerging locations.

When, in our first edition, we encouraged you to look at the Bulgarian property market (while others would not give it a passing thought), it appears that it was a timely piece of advice, as the number of Britons buying a property in Bulgaria had risen by 77 per cent in 2005! Pronounced the fastest growing holiday destination in the world, Bulgaria dazzles property investors with its blue skies and white ski slopes (not to mention great capital growth and low cost of living!), while Bulgaria's government has put significant resources into developing the country's infrastructure to make Bulgaria an attractive all-year-round destination. Do not miss our in-depth section on this fascinating market to learn where and how to invest.

On the other side of the world, South Africa's re-stabilised property market continues to attract investors with rising rental return and declining interest rates. Price growth of between 10 and 15 per cent per annum is expected up to 2010, especially on the high-end market where, according to expert sources, demand for exceptional real estate outstrips supply.

For those looking for some really hot property, Morocco - the UK's nearest exotic destination - is seeing an increasing number of tourists and investors discover its charms. Be it an off-plan luxury development in Marrakech, a traditional riad in Tangier or a seaside villa in Casablanca, with the Moroccan government actively focusing on the tourism industry, venturing into the Moroccan buy-to-let market now may pay significant dividends in the future. Budget airlines Ryanair and easyJet have already spotted the opportunities that Morocco is offering and launched direct flights to the country in May and July 2006 respectively.

It can never be overstressed though that property investment can be daunting and International Property has consistently strived to provide sound advice on ways of protecting yourself and ensuring that you invest safely. In this edition, specially commissioned articles from organisations such as Choices and FOPDAC will guide you through the process of building a property portfolio, while pointing out how to maximise your returns and manage risks. It is worth mentioning here that Choices provides educational seminars for investors, so that you can decide what and where to buy quicker and smarter.

With all the good advice from the industry experts awaiting you in this edition, there is only one thing left for me to say: happy investing!