buying an apartment in spain

[Phil.]

Birdster said:

Same just spent a while looking at Fuerteventura.
Can find an apartment in a complex with a pool for €80000.

I’m not sure of the region, but just following on from the conversation about this seems like a reds only priced humble place.

https://www.idealista.com/en/inmueble/89684386/

We’re both looking to move to completely remote working opportunities and move out of the rat race a little as we approach 40.

I’d appreciate insights into experiences and thoughts and guess that starts with reading this thread from the beginning.

Getting on/off the La Manga strip in the summer can be subject to long queues especially on Spanish public holidays and Sunday evenings as the locals community to/from their homes. Also, there is only one road along the strip and it can be very slow getting about in the summer.

You would be better off looking in the Playa Honda and Mar de Cristal areas. Possibly Los Nietos but it is very Spanish and without many facilities.

Generally though, it’s a lovely area with the benefit of the Mar Menor and the Med, with some lovely beaches, walks, and mountain biking around the Playa de Calblanque national park.

We’ve been visiting La Manga Club for 13 years, bought in 2011 and regularly cycle around the area. Feel free to run any properties past me for a quick location check.

[Phil.]

PurpleTurtle said:

Cheers Phil - I'll take you up on that, but probably not this year :-(

Things are somewhat logistically tricky this end. I may have mentioned up the thread that I'm a 12-weeker, (long-term ulcerative colitis managed by immunosuppresants, which was all going fine until Covid came along) so only just officially allowed out.

My wife is a Primary school teaching assistant and because of shielding has asked to not go back to work until September, so we have a better view of what the 'R' rate is. Conversely our 5yo son's (different) school a mile away from where she works run by the same Council have canned Reception classes for the rest of the year because they don't think it is safe, so he's not going back until September either. Pretty much being pulled from pillar to post on that score.

It's a real shame, I am an IT contractor and my client co have said no need to go to their office for the forseeable, so in any other circumstances I could have driven my M3 down to La Manga and done an extended working holiday. Wife and son chilling by the pool, me on the balcony with the laptop trying to stay off the San Miguel until at least 3pm! We tend to keep ourselves to ourselves anyway whilst there so social distancing would be pretty easy for the life we lead when there.

As it is my wife is very nervous about us taking any kind of holiday, either at home or abroad. Pah. Circumstances dictate that I am only driving about 4k miles a year these days, so a road trip like that, removing the need to fly. would have been great fun. Sigh.

I have followed Murcia Today in the past but not dipped in for ages, thanks, will take a look. My parents' neighbours in the UK have an apartment in one of the streets leading down towards Mar De Cristal, they only went out for a bit of sun in February and have been stuck there since, unable to get a flight back apparently. First world problems and all that, but crazy times.

The Murcia region has had far less CV19 than the UK and the rest of Spain. It has been at the bottom of the list for infections and deaths in Spain for many weeks, and is returning to normal quickly.

You need to begin gathering the evidence to convince your wife it’s safe to drive down in your M3 as soon as the borders open to the brits, which hopefully will be soon. There were some positive political noises in the press last week. Spain can’t afford not to open their borders or lose their tourist trade to their competitors!

I’m optimistic about us all coming out of most CV restrictions by August, and Spain is ahead of the UK in the process. Get planning your journey and hopefully see you there

[Shnozz]

Phil. said:

The Murcia region has had far less CV19 than the UK and the rest of Spain. It has been at the bottom of the list for infections and deaths in Spain for many weeks, and is returning to normal quickly.

You need to begin gathering the evidence to convince your wife it’s safe to drive down in your M3 as soon as the borders open to the brits, which hopefully will be soon. There were some positive political noises in the press last week. Spain can’t afford not to open their borders or lose their tourist trade to their competitors!

I’m optimistic about us all coming out of most CV restrictions by August, and Spain is ahead of the UK in the process. Get planning your journey and hopefully see you there

I'll raise a glass to that! And your M3 is a convertible too Purple, so we know CV19 is less transmittable outside!

I have braved a very early ferry booking Portsmouth > St Malo. Possibly a little too early but its looking like an adventure either way. With every day passing, some news changes, sometimes for the good, sometimes for the bad but rarely does a day pass without some news on the chances of our journey getting to completion! The Aston is packed already, GB sticker adorning the boot, payage transmitter in the windscreen and any day now the ait quality certificate sticker should arrive from France to hopefully show we are as compliant as we can be. All fingers and toes crossed we can make it to Pompey, make it to France, avoid quarantine, make it over the border to Spain and then finally can travel across regions to make it to the Costa.

As I say, either way its going to be a trip like no other normal continental blast.

[Phil.]

Shnozz said:

I'll raise a glass to that! And your M3 is a convertible too Purple, so we know CV19 is less transmittable outside!

I have braved a very early ferry booking Portsmouth > St Malo. Possibly a little too early but its looking like an adventure either way. With every day passing, some news changes, sometimes for the good, sometimes for the bad but rarely does a day pass without some news on the chances of our journey getting to completion! The Aston is packed already, GB sticker adorning the boot, payage transmitter in the windscreen and any day now the ait quality certificate sticker should arrive from France to hopefully show we are as compliant as we can be. All fingers and toes crossed we can make it to Pompey, make it to France, avoid quarantine, make it over the border to Spain and then finally can travel across regions to make it to the Costa.

As I say, either way its going to be a trip like no other normal continental blast.

Sounds brilliant. I’ll be keeping my fingers crossed for on the 4th July! You must post some photo’s of your mucky Aston when you arrive

At the moment we are watching and waiting. Still have a few commitments in the UK which means we can’t escape for the whole summer but am hoping to visit for 4-5 weeks over August and early Sept.

[Phil.]

So much for waiting. Have booked this evening to fly out from early Aug to early Sept. It's the pull of the place I think

Used my Ryanair voucher from April. Everything I have booked (flights, car parking and car hire) is fully flexible and can be cancelled (except for the flights which can be moved without incurring fees).

Roll on Aug............

[Shnozz]

Ha ha - good man! You have also reminded me that we have about £500 worth of supposed credit with RA.

See you for a beer with Mart 63 in September then!

[soxboy]

tobinen said:

rdjohn said:

https://www.idealista.com/en/ Is similar to Rightmove in the UK.

I've lost 3 hours this afternoon on that!

Me too! Much more on it than Rightmove.

[Shnozz]

soxboy said:

tobinen said:

rdjohn said:

https://www.idealista.com/en/ Is similar to Rightmove in the UK.

I've lost 3 hours this afternoon on that!

Me too! Much more on it than Rightmove.

A word of warning - a few evenings on that site, coupled with wine and a bit of lifestyle research of the areas can quickly lead to a depleted bank account.

Seems you aren’t alone:-

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/news/articles/property...

Edited by Shnozz on Wednesday 10th June 14:38

[Chris Stott]

Weather out here is perfect at the moment... clear sky’s, mid 20’s, and a gentle breeze.

All the shops have reopened, along with bars and restaurants (with restricted capacity)... feels like it’s getting back to normal at last.

[Shnozz]

Chris Stott said:

Weather out here is perfect at the moment... clear sky’s, mid 20’s, and a gentle breeze.

All the shops have reopened, along with bars and restaurants (with restricted capacity)... feels like it’s getting back to normal at last.

Making me envious Chris! Roll on next month and fingers and toes crossed the borders let us in.

[mart 63]

Shnozz said:

Ha ha - good man! You have also reminded me that we have about £500 worth of supposed credit with RA.

See you for a beer with Mart 63 in September then!

We might be over earlier, if an offer my dad is putting in for us tomorrow, on a villa is accepted.

[Shnozz]

mart 63 said:

We might be over earlier, if an offer my dad is putting in for us tomorrow, on a villa is accepted.

Congrats if so mate and welcome! I’m sure you have it all covered with your dad being on the ground, but do let me know if there’s anything you need.

[mart 63]

Shnozz said:

mart 63 said:

We might be over earlier, if an offer my dad is putting in for us tomorrow, on a villa is accepted.

Congrats if so mate and welcome! I’m sure you have it all covered with your dad being on the ground, but do let me know if there’s anything you need.

Cheers, the old guy is selling it privately, and he's over priced it. But I'm putting in an offer of what they are normally selling for around there. Will see how it goes.

[Phil.]

Shnozz said:

Ha ha - good man! You have also reminded me that we have about £500 worth of supposed credit with RA.

See you for a beer with Mart 63 in September then!

[Simon-k41v9]

My parents just drove back to UK last Friday from Mar Menor - personally I think they are crazy to have come back to UK but having been out there since January I think they wanted a change of scene, plus they aren't too keen on the extreme heat that starts to be the daily occurrence from about now.

With work being non existent and kids being off school until September, there is a huge burning desire to jump in a car and drive down there ourselves for 6-8 weeks. Our idea when we looking at Spanish properties was always to spend the UK summer holidays over there, and we've not done it yet.
My wife wont be as keen.

As Phil says above, Murcia region has been very well managed with regards to covid19

[Shnozz]

Simon-k41v9 said:

With work being non existent and kids being off school until September, there is a huge burning desire to jump in a car and drive down there ourselves for 6-8 weeks. Our idea when we looking at Spanish properties was always to spend the UK summer holidays over there, and we've not done it yet.

Sounds like we should form a PH convoy at this rate. Feel free to join for beers also.

[Phil.]

Simon-k41v9 said:

My parents just drove back to UK last Friday from Mar Menor - personally I think they are crazy to have come back to UK but having been out there since January I think they wanted a change of scene, plus they aren't too keen on the extreme heat that starts to be the daily occurrence from about now.

With work being non existent and kids being off school until September, there is a huge burning desire to jump in a car and drive down there ourselves for 6-8 weeks. Our idea when we looking at Spanish properties was always to spend the UK summer holidays over there, and we've not done it yet.
My wife wont be as keen.

As Phil says above, Murcia region has been very well managed with regards to covid19

Simon, whereabouts are you in the Mar Menor area? How long have you been visiting? Any interesting things you can share?

I’ll begin, the Indian Restaurant/Take-a-way (Bollywood) in Los Belones serves the best Indian food I have ever tried. Really fresh ingredients and very consistent. I’m hoping it has survived the lockdown!

[Phil.]

Looks like Spain are opening up to the EU from next Sunday 21st! A u-turn from last week. This should help sales somewhat.

https://murciatoday.com/spain_will_re_open_borders...

Edited by Phil. on Monday 15th June 13:18

[hbzboy]

My wife is an estate agent in the Mar Menor area. Focusing on the San Pedro, San Javier and Los Alcazares areas. The requests are coming in thick and fast. She has been doing virtual viewings during lockdown and people can now start to come over with their properties already shortlisted after doing the online viewings, saving time and leg work for buyers when they are here.

We are in San Pedro Del Pinatar. Any questions anyone has please feel free to get in touch. 8 years we have been over here now with our kids (now 19 and 14).

Cheers
B

Edited by hbzboy on Wednesday 17th June 09:18

[mart 63]

hbzboy said:

My wife is an estate agent in the Mar Menor area. Focusing on the San Pedro, San Javier and Los Alcazares areas. The requests are coming in thick and fast. She has been doing virtual viewings during lockdown and people can now start to come over with their properties already shortlisted after doing the online viewings, saving time and leg work for buyers when they are here.

We are in San Pedro Del Pinatar. Any questions anyone has please feel free to get in touch. 8 years we have been over here now with our kids (now 19 and 14).

Cheers
B

Edited by hbzboy on Wednesday 17th June 09:18

We put a deposit down on a villa today in Spain, with a virtual viewing, and my dad having a look. Can't wait to get over there and have a look at what we have bought.