Published by Zeb BhamA growing number of people are considering taking out foreign mortgages for properties in Australia or New Zealand, it has been claimed.Tanya Powley, a personal finance reporter at FT Money, said there are a number of reasons why Australia appeals to those considering moving abroad.Commenting on figures from Rightmove which showed a 55 per cent increase in the number of searches for homes in the Antipodes, Ms Powley said factors such as the better weather and common language are just two of the reasons why Australia is a popular choice.Besides this, the country's economy is in a relatively strong position, she said.However, individuals considering taking out foreign mortgages and buying a home in either Australia or New Zealand should be aware that the two countries' currencies are relatively strong against sterling at the moment, so the cost of moving is higher than it was two years ago.By working with a dedicated foreign exchange broker, individuals may be able to get the most out of their foreign currency investment.For more information on purchasing currency for regular or one-off payments, visit our Personal FX site