British people seeking Portugal property may want to take heed of some newly-published top tips for buying a place in the sun.

The key element to a successful holiday purchase is to remain realistic, according to Shelter Offshore, which advises Portugal property hunters to take five simple steps to second home success.

Portugal property hunting may seem like fun in the sun, but potential buyers are advised to make some for some serious number crunching too, by sorting out all money matters before they leave the UK and sticking to their budgets.

Spending time in potential locations is also recommended, as is checking the cost of flight routes to the nearest airport to the Portugal property destination being considered.

Finally, the magazine suggests going back to the books to think about any hidden costs, while all owners are advised to have an exit strategy in case unforeseen events arise.

Portugal has a population of 10,566,212 and a land area of 92,391 square kilometres.

Visit Rightmove Overseas for the best selection of Portugal property. Stop dreaming, start searching!