Britons still see property as the clever investment

Britons would rather put their money into property than any other type of investment, despite mounting evidence that the housing boom is over, research shows today.

A further 14 per cent of those questioned thought a building society was the best home for their cash.

People were even more likely to put their money into property in the long term, with 68 per cent saying they thought it would provide the best returns over 25 years, compared with 13 per cent who favoured the stock market.

Jeff Knight of GMACRFC-said: "Our research reveals how attitudes have altered from traditional methods of investment. It highlights how equitable people believe property can be."

But recent figures from Nationwide showed house prices grew at their slowest rate for nearly three years during July, while surveys from estate agents and chartered surveyors have also indicated that the market is cooling.