Where Should I Buy ?

To help guide you, we would ask you the following questions.

Do you require...

...a Spanish holiday home for personal and family use?

If so, it is probably better to choose somewhere close to the coast so that visits to the beach are convenient and there is also some local evening entertainment for the young at heart. Of course your lifestyle requirement may dictate that you want somewhere quiet, somewhere inland with or without its own pool, somewhere you can lock up and forget until your next visit. Bear in mind that you will require a firm or individual to maintain the grounds and pool during your absence.

Do you require...

...a Spanish holiday property for occasional use and for renting out?

In this situation, it can be an advantage to be located on a complex or an ’urbanisation‘ as the Spanish term it, or in a beachside apartment block ’edificio‘. The advantage to be gained, is that the property grounds and swimming pool or pools will be looked after as part of the community service agreement. Close proximity to not only the coast, but to golf courses is also a great advantage. This will extend the letting season through the winter period.

Do you require...

...a Spanish investment property, for full time letting?

The same general principles, as the preceding paragraph, apply if you should be buying an investment property. As ever, location is the primary consideration. By buying in the early stages of a new development of villas or apartments one will see the quickest appreciation of your capital outlay. Rental income will be delayed until the properties are complete, but as resale properties are selling at a premium because of the high demand for homes ready to move into, this delay will be far offset by appreciation.

When letting your property, we cannot emphasize strongly enough that it is wise to employ an experienced rental company to manage it. This service does not come particularly cheaply but the right company, will incorporate extensive marketing throughout the UK and Europe to ensure the best possible rate of occupancy. The company should have a 24 hour reception facility for the assistance of guests who may arrive at any time of the day or night, so that they can be shown the location of their accommodation and handed the keys. The property will be prepared in readiness for their occupation and laundry and the cleaning will be taken care of on their departure.

Where you buy will depend very much on your reason for buying. You must decide on the type of locality that will best comply with your particular life style.

We should enter a word of caution at this stage. Many people express to us their interest in buying an older country style property, often referred to as a ’finca‘. And we do indeed make many successful sales of such properties to clients who find them a dream come true. But you should be aware, if the property is not already habitable. If it is relatively cheap, there will be a reason for this.

There may be no water, gas or electricity services, there may be major structural works, planning and proof of ownership of the property and land may be a problem. Major works will mean employing workmen, plumbers, electricians, carpenters, suppliers, local authority officials and etc. with whom communication may be a major problem if you do not have a good command of the language and, in addition, if you do not have a good knowledge of local building methods and practices.

Do you require...

...a full time home for permanent living throughout the year or a winter home to escape inclement weather at home, returning to the UK in the summer to see family and friends?

In this case you may wish to consider situations a little away from the more holiday-orientated areas. Somewhere where there is a community of like-minded people as yourself and where there are social and recreational facilities available at all times. You may wish perhaps to be a little inland, close to a Spanish village with its own local shops, bars and restaurants. Possibly have a garden or some land with almond, orange or lemon trees.

We have many first class properties that fit this criteria. Properties that in general have been carefully maintained and form the sort of home one can envisage spending many contented years.