Choosing the right location - Coast or Country?

Location, location...location! The location of your new home is even more important in Spain than in the UK as the right property in the wrong area will be a costly mistake.

CHOOSING THE RIGHT LOCATION – equally as important as the property

Coast or Country – The Pros and Cons -

Coast – Advantages

• Close to the beach and a holiday atmosphere
• Lots of busy bars and restaurants, both Spanish and British
• Lots of ex-pat communities and activities
• Good opportunities for rental income
• Great for young kids
• Best for Holiday homes

Coast – Disadvantages

• The nearer the beach the higher the price and the smaller the property
• Some resorts can be too busy in summer
• Some resorts can be too quiet in winter as many of the amenities close down or take extended holidays in the off season
• Main resorts not really very Spanish these days
• Premium prices in the summer

Country – Advantages

• Property prices are lower inland.
• A villa with pool & mountain views for the price of a coastal apartment
• The villa will be more spacious and the plot & pool will be larger
• Eating out is a better and much less expensive experience
• You can make more Spanish friends and like-minded Expats
• Open all year round as not reliant on tourists

Country – Disadvantages

• Further to drive to the beach
• Fewer ex-pat communities.
• Quieter - No water parks etc
• No sea views

There are good and not so good areas in both Coast and Country in every region

Firstly you should think hard about your initial prefered the location. Is it the right one? If like to go to the beach several times each week then a location close to the beach is where you should concentrate. But if you are not so keen on the sand or being on crowded beaches then have a look at properties located further away from the coast. With coastal land prices at a premium you will pay more and get less space both inside and outside of the property than for a similar property 20/30 minutes or so from the sea. If you venture inland an easy drive from the coast you can buy a detached villa with a nice sized garden and private pool for the price of an apartment at the coast.

Is the property to be used as a holiday home or for permnent living?  It would become tiresome to have to spend your holidays working on maintenance jobs because the garden is too big or the property is too old. Equally if you retired to Spain full time but found the resort closes down in the winter this would impact on your quality of life.

Therefore the location is as important as the bricks and mortar. If you tell us your wish list and both you short and long term plans then we can usually advise and show you the different locations thatbest match your requirements. For almost 20 years we have been successfully finding just the right properties for our clients and we do have the experience of all areas of the Costa Blanca, Costa Calida, Murcia and Almeria.