The recession may have driven people to look for home working, but the cold weather is making them think that the “home” in question might best be found overseas. According to PrimeLocation.com, searches on its international section increased by 134 percent between January 2009 and January 2010, and by 25 percent compared to December 2009.

Australia, Cyprus, Turkey, and Bulgaria showed the biggest growth in home-buying interest.

“The upsurge in interest in international property show no sign of abating,” said Ann Wright, International Development Manager of PrimeLocation International. “January is the third consecutive month to have recorded an annual increase in searched of more than 100 percent.”