buying an apartment in spain
Discussion
Thanks for replies. It's a bit of a minefield isn't it - property here in the UK seems so easy to understand yet in a European country like Spain it seems a totally different subject. I guess you'd just have to spend some time over there getting to know areas / property types and find a good local agent whom you can trust...
Phooey said:
Thanks for replies. It's a bit of a minefield isn't it - property here in the UK seems so easy to understand yet in a European country like Spain it seems a totally different subject. I guess you'd just have to spend some time over there getting to know areas / property types and find a good local agent whom you can trust...
It’s fundamentally the same, in so far as location is the main driver of price. As you say, ideally you’d spend a decent amount of time in an area to understand what you really want.
We are currently here renting a new build apartment while we look at property, it’s very nice but not much within walking distance, we arrived here today.
I won’t post a photo of our very nice balcony as we are currently drying lots of washing outside as we have been on the road for 3 weeks around Andalucía.
I won’t post a photo of our very nice balcony as we are currently drying lots of washing outside as we have been on the road for 3 weeks around Andalucía.
Whistle said:
We are currently here renting a new build apartment while we look at property, it’s very nice but not much within walking distance, we arrived here today.
I won’t post a photo of our very nice balcony as we are currently drying lots of washing outside as we have been on the road for 3 weeks around Andalucía.
Just out of curiosity I was looking at the prices for 2 weeks in August for a family of 3 to Ikos Andalusia resort (on your map) earlier today... bit pricey so we definitely won't be going there in a hurry I won’t post a photo of our very nice balcony as we are currently drying lots of washing outside as we have been on the road for 3 weeks around Andalucía.
We bought in Las Mesas overlooking Estepona harbour in December 2022. It is fair to say that we could probably not be able to buy our apartment today. The prices have just gone crazy, probably more than 65%, and this has to reflect in rental prices. The mayor is trying very hard to make the town a better place to live - and succeeding.
Location, location, location is the driver. Being able to easily walk into town at night, or shopping during the day, makes a huge difference. Sure, we have a car available, but parking in the centre of most towns in CoD is a real PITA.
If you can afford the ticket, I strongly recommend Estepona centre.
Location, location, location is the driver. Being able to easily walk into town at night, or shopping during the day, makes a huge difference. Sure, we have a car available, but parking in the centre of most towns in CoD is a real PITA.
If you can afford the ticket, I strongly recommend Estepona centre.
rdjohn said:
We bought in Las Mesas overlooking Estepona harbour in December 2022. It is fair to say that we could probably not be able to buy our apartment today. The prices have just gone crazy, probably more than 65%, and this has to reflect in rental prices. The mayor is trying very hard to make the town a better place to live - and succeeding.
Location, location, location is the driver. Being able to easily walk into town at night, or shopping during the day, makes a huge difference. Sure, we have a car available, but parking in the centre of most towns in CoD is a real PITA.
If you can afford the ticket, I strongly recommend Estepona centre.
Wow, that’s some serious uplift. Location, location, location is the driver. Being able to easily walk into town at night, or shopping during the day, makes a huge difference. Sure, we have a car available, but parking in the centre of most towns in CoD is a real PITA.
If you can afford the ticket, I strongly recommend Estepona centre.
Good point re location. I’m only tyre kicking atm but walking into town is a great feature. Driving to stuff like beaches, cheaper supermarkets and the gym isn’t a problem, but I wouldn’t want to be reliant on the car everyday. I also think I’d want a house rather than apartment so unfortunately Estepona might be out of reach unless budget is knocking on the door of €1m??
Phooey said:
Wow, that’s some serious uplift.
Good point re location. I’m only tyre kicking atm but walking into town is a great feature. Driving to stuff like beaches, cheaper supermarkets and the gym isn’t a problem, but I wouldn’t want to be reliant on the car everyday. I also think I’d want a house rather than apartment so unfortunately Estepona might be out of reach unless budget is knocking on the door of €1m??
Yeah, you’ll need €1m+ for a villa. Plus the associated €100k in fees. Good point re location. I’m only tyre kicking atm but walking into town is a great feature. Driving to stuff like beaches, cheaper supermarkets and the gym isn’t a problem, but I wouldn’t want to be reliant on the car everyday. I also think I’d want a house rather than apartment so unfortunately Estepona might be out of reach unless budget is knocking on the door of €1m??
I’d love to be able to walk to bars and restaurants, but that’s the space/price trade off… most apartments like that are either Spanish residential, which don’t make good holiday places. Villas like that are very rare at any price. Doesn’t seem to be how the spanish live down here.
rdjohn said:
We bought in Las Mesas overlooking Estepona harbour in December 2022. It is fair to say that we could probably not be able to buy our apartment today. The prices have just gone crazy, probably more than 65%, and this has to reflect in rental prices. The mayor is trying very hard to make the town a better place to live - and succeeding.
Location, location, location is the driver. Being able to easily walk into town at night, or shopping during the day, makes a huge difference. Sure, we have a car available, but parking in the centre of most towns in CoD is a real PITA.
If you can afford the ticket, I strongly recommend Estepona centre.
Based on asking prices alone we have seen around a 40% rise over the same period.. Estepona is a very nice town.Location, location, location is the driver. Being able to easily walk into town at night, or shopping during the day, makes a huge difference. Sure, we have a car available, but parking in the centre of most towns in CoD is a real PITA.
If you can afford the ticket, I strongly recommend Estepona centre.
We are not really walking distance to town, but I always have a car anyway so not really a problem. There is never a problem parking in Sabinillas or Duquesa out of peak season.
Whistle said:
We spent this morning in Estepona, €6.00 for 2 hours parking.
I've never found a problem parking for free in the car park just by the hospital on the edge of the town. If you want the other end of town the beach is always an option also. We don;t go in high season so that probably helps. ooid said:
Of course having a house would be great but I would not mind a flat in Spain. You spend most of your time outdoors anyway.
As we found out over Christmas, although the headline temperatures are great, it's chilly outdoors outside of 1300-1500 and in July/August you might want to hide in the air-conditioning!For our holiday place we went for a penthouse with roof terraces in the centre of the town and right by the tram station. For a holidays, I can't imagine not being able to pop to the cafe for breakfast, the supermarket on the corner for bits and pieces and having countless bars, restaurants and the beach available within a few minutes walk. Still have plenty of space for barbecuing, sunbathing, eating outdoors etc though.
When we eventually move over, we'll likely end up with a villa, as the apartment is perhaps a little bit small for us to live in full time and a private pool and outdoor kitchen would be ideal. Depending where it is, we may well end up keeping both and move between them.
ooid said:
Of course having a house would be great but I would not mind a flat in Spain. You spend most of your time outdoors anyway.
To provide context, I have gas central heating in my villa in the southeast of Spain. We tend to use it in the evening between November and February. Many of our neighbours have wood burners. Spanish properties often have very little insulation. Phil. said:
Spanish properties often have very little insulation.
Totally aware, spent most of my youth and later holidays in Barcelona. Our parents have a flat near Gothic. They used to also live in Diagonal, more family oriented but I think we are used to outdoor activities irrespective of the season there..Unlike U.K. having a flat there will never be a deal-breaker for me personally.Would always prefer a villa but as far as apartments goes this one doesn't look bad (below). But why don't Spanish property listing sites include the exact location of their properties like we do (Rightmove)? I'd like to know where this, and other properties are located so I can play with Google street view etc. I'm only tyre kicking so I'm not going to contact the agent, but it's like looking at a car for sale without knowing the milage.. frustrating.
https://www.terrameridiana.com/ref-TMRA11557_apart...
https://www.terrameridiana.com/ref-TMRA11557_apart...
Phooey said:
Would always prefer a villa but as far as apartments goes this one doesn't look bad (below). But why don't Spanish property listing sites include the exact location of their properties like we do (Rightmove)? I'd like to know where this, and other properties are located so I can play with Google street view etc. I'm only tyre kicking so I'm not going to contact the agent, but it's like looking at a car for sale without knowing the milage.. frustrating.
https://www.terrameridiana.com/ref-TMRA11557_apart...
650K https://www.terrameridiana.com/ref-TMRA11557_apart...
Thats out the back of Estepona. Theres a lot of new apartments going up between the back of Estepona & the AP-7. All look similar to this one.
GT03ROB said:
650K
Thats out the back of Estepona. Theres a lot of new apartments going up between the back of Estepona & the AP-7. All look similar to this one.
Under offer (apparently) too. That’s what I mean though - the listing sites don’t tell you where they are. If I was ever in the situation to buy, I’d firstly do a 3 month rental or two in a year and try and get to grips with the area. I don’t think I could do it any other way.Thats out the back of Estepona. Theres a lot of new apartments going up between the back of Estepona & the AP-7. All look similar to this one.
Here's my best guess - https://maps.app.goo.gl/kkpBi9xHoDhNX8eu6
Sat view gives you a better idea - and I could be wrong.
My gripe is that the internal m2 can be so much smaller than the quoted m2 - so that one says 110m2 built, but then 93m2 internal, which isn't a lot for 3 beds...
Sat view gives you a better idea - and I could be wrong.
My gripe is that the internal m2 can be so much smaller than the quoted m2 - so that one says 110m2 built, but then 93m2 internal, which isn't a lot for 3 beds...
Car bon said:
Here's my best guess - https://maps.app.goo.gl/kkpBi9xHoDhNX8eu6
Sat view gives you a better idea - and I could be wrong.
My gripe is that the internal m2 can be so much smaller than the quoted m2 - so that one says 110m2 built, but then 93m2 internal, which isn't a lot for 3 beds...
Thanks Car bon. Well if you're right, I'd hate to think how much a front line property would cost Sat view gives you a better idea - and I could be wrong.
My gripe is that the internal m2 can be so much smaller than the quoted m2 - so that one says 110m2 built, but then 93m2 internal, which isn't a lot for 3 beds...
Yeah, it's not an appealing location for 650k is it
Car bon said:
Here's my best guess - https://maps.app.goo.gl/kkpBi9xHoDhNX8eu6
Sat view gives you a better idea - and I could be wrong.
My gripe is that the internal m2 can be so much smaller than the quoted m2 - so that one says 110m2 built, but then 93m2 internal, which isn't a lot for 3 beds...
I think thats the right place. Everything from there back to the A7 & AP7 will get built onSat view gives you a better idea - and I could be wrong.
My gripe is that the internal m2 can be so much smaller than the quoted m2 - so that one says 110m2 built, but then 93m2 internal, which isn't a lot for 3 beds...
The place I linked to earlier is half the price of this for similar space, yet as Chris said that was overpriced. I think this one is too. But its under offer so what do I know!
Genuine question. Why is the stretch between Gibraltar and Malaga so popular compared to other Spanish coastal areas?
I did a 10 day driving tour of Andalusia last October. The coastal areas appear to be over developed in many areas with development continuing all focussed on achieving mass tourism. Property prices are relatively high. Lots of people being crammed into a limited space. This isn’t attractive to me.
As an example, I’m based in the Cartagena - La Manga area, on the coast. Spanish visit from the cities for the summer. There is a lot of nature/space to explore. It never feels over populated. There are plenty of reasonably priced restaurants and services. Property prices are much lower and the weather is similar. What more does the like of Estepona offer for so much more cost?
I did a 10 day driving tour of Andalusia last October. The coastal areas appear to be over developed in many areas with development continuing all focussed on achieving mass tourism. Property prices are relatively high. Lots of people being crammed into a limited space. This isn’t attractive to me.
As an example, I’m based in the Cartagena - La Manga area, on the coast. Spanish visit from the cities for the summer. There is a lot of nature/space to explore. It never feels over populated. There are plenty of reasonably priced restaurants and services. Property prices are much lower and the weather is similar. What more does the like of Estepona offer for so much more cost?
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