Click on one of the article headings below to read more. These articles were written by Chris Garwood for various publications such as Living Spain Magazine and Spain Magazine.
Buying on the Costa Blanca
November 2007
People looking to buy property abroad, whether for investment, holidays or permanent living have never before had so many options. This also means many more decisions and great scope for hasty or bad decisions which could leave you stuck with a ‘white elephant’ property in an ill-developed location and a difficult market from which to extricate yourself. You may wonder why your money would appear to go much further, buying into one of the new high-risk, immature frontier markets of Europe for example.
If you are smart enough to be able to afford to buy abroad, you are probably smart enough to know you don’t get ‘ought for nought’, you don’t trust ‘bargains’ and you understand the difference between value and cheapness. A good value property in a desirable and sought-after location will be a sound investment. A ‘bargain buy’ in a new and unproven area could be a costly mistake.
Spain, France and Portugal are mature, stable and proven markets, with Spain attracting visitors and buyers for over 40yrs. Of the three, Spain enjoys a more laid-back, Mediterranean lifestyle than France, whilst it is more accessible by air, road and ferry options than Portugal, and a much easier language to learn! Indeed, the option of an easy drive back to the UK might become very significant if the trend to tax flights gathers pace.
Within Spain, most people (Spanish and other Europeans) live on the Mediterranean costas, and with very good reason! Apart from the wonderful year-round climate, the lifestyle and the spectacular blend of coastal and mountain scenery are the more practical considerations: there are eleven airports to chose from on the costas, our coastal motorway (A7-E15) extends from Gibraltar to Calais, Spain’s standards of health, education and low levels of crime ensure a way of life sadly missed by 21st century UK. and, unlike some eastern options, there is no political, cultural or religious conflict or unrest – except perhaps the rivalry between Real Madrid & Barcelona football clubs!
The particular area of Spain we recommend to you is the area we chose ourselves having visited the length of Mediterranean Spain. The Costa Blanca (North), whilst cheaper than the sophisticated (and brash?) Costa del Sol, remains one of the most desirable areas of the whole Mediterranean. This does come at a price, but our local climate, established infrastructure and relatively strict planning controls ensure that purchasing property in this area is a shrewd and safe investment.
Costa Blanca SELECT are located in the exquisite Marina Alta area of the Costa Blanca (North). Our landscape reflects and dictates our lifestyle; we have wonderful beaches and cliffs with marinas every 10miles or so. A few minutes inland we have spectacular mountain ranges with verdant valleys and picturesque whitewashed villages. Between these two features there are great opportunities for watersports, golf, walking, horse-riding and many other activities. Ours is a truly cosmopolitan area where one can enjoy a wonderful lifestyle whilst being as British or as Spanish as you chose.
To learn about our totally cost-free service, and our region in more detail, please see our adjacent advertisement and visit our website: www.costablancaselect.com.
