Inverness is one of the most profitable places in the UK to own a holiday home

Holiday home owners in Inverness bring in an average of1,778 every month (Photo: Shutterstock)

Owning property abroad may be the dream for many, but Brits would rather buy a holiday home here in the UK, new research has revealed, and Inverness is one of the most lucrative locations.

While Santorini in Greece topped the worldwide list of the most profitable of popular places to own a holiday home, the UK wasn't too far away, coming in at number three.

Inverness properties bring in £1,778 per month

The most profitable location in the UK to own a holiday home is in the city of Bath, in Somerset, with owners making an average of £2,221 per month, according to data compiled by Hitachi Personal Finance and Airbnb.

Inverness on Scotland's northeast coast is the eighth most profitable place to own a holiday home, and those who do bring in an average of £1,778 every month.

Edinburgh also made the list, and is the sixth most cost-effective destination, with owners bringing in an average of £1,844 each month.

The top 10 most profitable UK locations and average monthly revenue

1. Bath £2,221

2. Oxford £2,066

3. Brighton and Hove £2,061

4. London £1,951

5. Cambridge £1,847

6. Edinburgh £1,844

7. York £1,835

8. Inverness £1,778

9. Windsor £1,729

10. Bristol £1,509

A holiday home is a status symbol

Nearly one in 10 Brits would opt to purchase a holiday home in the UK over one abroad, and owning a vacation property is regarded as the biggest status symbol among UK residents, with more than a third of UK adults (37 per cent) aspiring to own one themselves.

But anyone searching for their own holiday home should pay close attention.

"Never sign up for a property that you haven't visited for yourself, as you many find your dream home is actually next to a motorway, airfield, or a rubbish dump," advised international property and finance expert, Simon Conn.

"Also consider employing a managing agent to look after the property if it is a long way from your home, as there will always be someone to help you in the case of an emergency."