WINTER. Cold, wet and miserable. With Christmas already a distant memory, this is the time for dreaming and yearning for days in the sun.

Not just holidays either. More and more people are looking to spend longer and longer spells abroad with the numbers of Brits buying property on the continent showing a consistent year-on-year increase.

But the purchasing of a holiday home in France, Spain, Italy or wherever can be fraught with difficulties at the best of times.

Speaking the lingo - technical, legal or otherwise - is a definite advantage and that's precisely where solicitor Melanie Cosgrove comes into her own. For Melanie has a combined honours degree in law and linguistics!

Melanie, recently recruited by the Watson-Ramsbottom Partnership, is something of a home-buying specialist, though the prospect of opening a branch office in Tenerife is still something of a pipe dream.

"That's true!" she laughed. "But overseas property is a fast-growing market and being able to converse in French and Spanish is a bonus. I can comfortably act as a go-between for clients and agents and so deal with any difficulties or misunderstandings that arise."

Melanie's expertise is in growing demand: "Whether it's second homes for holidays or retirement, or business properties, the principles are the same. I aim to give as much advice as possible at the outset, to avoid mistakes and hidden traps, when buyers actually commit to foreign transactions.

"One common pitfall is unexpected fluctuations in currency rates and problems with foreign banks and I find that an increasing number of clients now prefer to raise finance in the UK, whether by way of a loan or re-mortgage to enable them to keep on top of their finances."

"There are lots of hidden expenses when buying a property abroad, such as payment of local taxes and difficulties relating to local utilities. Planning regulations also differ and this is where I advise instructing a local English-speaking lawyer to ensure that formalities are dealt with.

"It can be difficult to operate from this country, but we do have guidelines and if people follow them, then they can't go too far wrong."

Melanie's experience has shown that people, often flushed with excitement, sign agreements abroad that don't always match up in the cold light of day back home.

"They might be quick to sign up without realising the conveyancing systems are quite different. For example, clients often don't realise large deposits are non-refundable. It's very easy to get caught up in the excitement of buying abroad, but without good advice, problems can arise."

From Darwen to the Mediterranean and beyond, it's all in a day's work for Oldham-born Melanie, who has come 'home' to Darwen, as far as work is concerned after two decades working for practices in Blackburn and Manchester.

Her initial brief with Watson-Ramsbottom also involved the integration and streamlining of the different offices within the practice and, in line with government policy, a move towards electronic conveyancing.

"I started out in the legal profession 20 years ago as a 'PA' and worked my way up to qualify as a solicitor. Originally, I specialised in personal injury, but since working on bulk conveyancing and re-mortgaging for a number of major lenders, I have come to really enjoy property work.

"It's about getting people into that 'dream home' and making the transaction stress-free - achieve that and it's very satisfying.

"The business world is changing fast and our profession has to stay the pace, the majority of clients prefer to deal by e-mail and electronic processing is so quick and efficient."

"With estate agents doing their advertising, and banks and mortgage lenders posting more and more documents on-line, it is important the legal profession is in step.

"It's a natural progression that solicitors follow suit and that clients can have access to our services that way.

"For me, the new changes are really exciting and my first job here was to get everyone ready and equipped to deal with the new procedures. So far, nobody's resigned!"