It was the capital cities of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania that first attracted overseas buyers to these Baltic countries. That was when they offered buy-to-let opportunities during the property boom years of the second half of the last decade which were especially appealing to foreign investors.

Like most places, the property markets of the Baltics were affected by the economic crash in 2008 and prices have fallen considerably and foreclosures are common. Now could be the time to re-enter the investment market, in Vilnius, Riga and Tallinn, but bear in mind there are some very affordable properties suited to second home ownership in the rustic villages and towns in each country.

For example, Latvia is one of the least populated countries in Europe and has been dubbed the Canada of Europe. It is 40 per cent forested with endless landscapes of log cabins, delightful inns, wooded valleys and pastures. A natural paradise, the Gauja National Park is a bus ride from the capital, Riga, and is known as Little Switzerland. Still in Latvia, the town of Saliena, five kilometres from Riga, is well placed for commuters. It is the recipient of some well designed master-planning and the old port is now a bustling residential centre.

In Estonia, just an hour’s drive south of Tallinn is Parnu – the country’s ‘summer capital’. Property prices here are around 30 per cent cheaper that in Tallinn itself, and the resort has two golf courses and several spas. Meanwhile, Lithuania’s second city of Kaunas offers a good alternative to the capital, offering bustling nightlife at more reasonable prices.

When choosing a property in Estonia, there are a couple of things to consider. There are two main types of restrictions on the acquisition of immovable property by foreigners: they can’t purchase more than 10 hectares of agricultural or forest land (unless they’ve lived in the country for a certain number of years) and purchase is prohibited in some areas due to national defence reasons.

In Latvia, EU citizens have the same ownership rights in urban areas and, as from May this year, rural areas as Latvia citizens. In Lithuania, there are restrictions on the ownership of agricultural land.