As Bulgarian property investment opportunities continue to flood the British market and Croatia establishes itself firmly on the holiday resort map, canny investors are staying a step ahead by looking at the alternative destinations in Eastern Europe.

Montenegro, Estonia and Turkey are tipped to perform well in the next few years according to property experts who will be exhibiting in London in September.

Montenegro - the new Croatia

Just 15 minutes from the Croatian capital Dubrovnik, Montenegro is similar in climate and landscape to the Adriatic hotspot and yet is a lot cheaper and has fewer tourists.

Property prices reflect the undiscovered nature of Montenegro and the fact that almost all the properties for sale are older houses, usually requiring some work. Property firm Someplace Else (www.someplaceelse.co.uk) have properties around the popular bay area of Boka Kotorska for around £20,000, with cheaper prices further away from the sea.

There are no restrictions for foreigners buying property in Montenegro and it is relatively easy to purchase land providing it has some form of building on it. If the country is successful in emulating its neighbour Croatia and establishing itself as a sophisticated holiday resort, prices are likely to rocket in key areas.

Estonia – the new Bulgaria

Although already a member of the EU (Estonia was one of ten countries to join in May 2004), the former Russian state has seen its profile increase, mostly as a result of its popularity for budget airline city breaks. The climate is similar to that in Russia but with milder winters and, although the majority of the country is highly forested, the capital city Tallinn is full of character with cobbled streets and historic buildings.

Estonian Properties (www.estonian-properties.com) believe that property price growth in Tallinn will increase to nearly 20% next year thanks to the increased profile of the country and its continuing healthy economy. There are no restrictions on foreigners buying or selling properties in Estonia and land can be bought with permission from the local municipality. Estonian Properties currently have both resale and new properties available around Parnu in the south west of the country, with average prices starting at around £15,000.

Turkey – the new Cyprus

Cyprus and Turkey have both long been popular destinations for British tourists. However many believe that Turkey’s economy and housing market will boom in a similar way as Cyprus if it successfully negotiates EU membership. As well as older properties, Turkey is seeing a lot of new developments in the tourist areas such as Bodrum and Dalaman and there are plenty of opportunities for investors to make savings by buying off-plan.

Headlands International (www.headlands.co.uk) will be showcasing many Turkish properties in September including semi-detached villas starting at £44,000 and two-bedroom apartments at £37,950.

Alison Thornton, head of Turkey sales for Headlands International said: "Having recently been granted tourism status, Dalaman has become a property hotspot. There are plans to build marinas, golf courses and other amenities as well as plans to expand the airport next year."

"The market here is very similar to that in Spain in the 1970s before the country really began to boom with British buyers. As with all overseas property purchases it is important to do your homework and deal with people who know what they are doing."

Nick Clark, Managing Director of The Property Investor Show, comments: "Although areas such as Bulgaria and Croatia are providing fantastic returns for investors, the race is now on to find the next eastern hotspots."

"As the economy, political positioning and infrastructure of Montenegro, Estonia and Turkey improve further over the next few years, all are likely to become hugely popular tourist destinations and property investors will be leading the way, taking advantage of the resultant capital gains and rental yields."

The Property Investor Show, (www.propertyinvestor.co.uk) to be held from Friday 23 to Sunday 25 September at the ExCeL centre in London’s Docklands, will feature around 200 exhibitors specialising in all areas of property investment both in the UK and abroad as well as expert seminars and workshops.