Buying Guide - Spain

Area focus: Costa Blanca

Whether you are looking for soft beaches, powerful
surf, refined sophistication or the up-tempo, festive
feel, Barbados has something for everyone.

Spain's Costa Blanca is the part of the coast that links to the province of Alicante. Located in the middle of the Costa Blanca, Alicante is one most the most important tourist destinations along the Spanish east coast. The many golf courses, along with the Mediterranean, are part of the appeal of this beautiful harbour city. In fact, this region of Spain is paradise for anyone that loves the game, with courses to suit every level of golfer.

The temperature is generally mild on the Costa Blanca - the annual average being slightly higher than 17ºC - with little rainfall. In the mountains in the northern half of the Costa, the rainfall is higher than that in the lowlands around Elche and Orihuela. Alicante is also a land of deeply-rooted traditions, such as the Moors and Christians festivals and the Night of San Juan.

Lifestyle:

Of all the countries that are favourites with Britons seeking a home abroad, Spain regularly features at, or near, the top of the list. Year in, year out, since the early 1970s, millions of people have flocked to Spain on holiday to enjoy one of the most enviable lifestyles to be found anywhere.

And of those millions, hundred of thousands have chosen to buy homes on the Iberian Peninsula. The reasons are easy to see: Spain is a modern democracy with a fabulous climate; a transport system that is second to none; great food and wine; wonderful golf developments that feature beautifully designed apartments and houses and above all, some of the kindest people in Europe. It's no wonder so many have chosen Spain as their home.

Prices:

The average property price in Spain is now €248,000, according to Kyero.com. According to the latest fi gures for the end of the third quarter, average national Spanish property prices rose by 0.3 per cent, which translates into an annual rise of 5.3 per cent in 2007. Prices vary widely depending on the area. Murcia, the region in which the Costa Cálida lies, has seen an annualised 10.7 per cent increase in property prices. Alicante, where the Costa Blanca is located, has seen an annualised price increase of only 2.1 per cent.

Buying Property:

It's worth remembering that Spain's property market has increased by some 150 per cent over the last decade. Expect to pay up to an additional 10 per cent in costs - stamp duty accounts for one per cent, VAT on a new home is seven per cent and lawyer's fees cost 1.25 per cent (plus 16 per cent VAT). Finally the notary's fees are 0.25 per cent and Land Registry fees are 0.25 per cent.

In The News:

If you're thinking of driving round Spain, why not explore the Villas Marineras (seaside towns and villages) of Green Spain: Cudillero, Gijón, Llanes and Ribadesella in Asturias; Laredo, Santoñaand San Vicente de la Barquera, in Cantabria; Baiona, Ortigueira, Ribadeo, Sada and Sanxenxo, in Galicia; and Bermeo, Getaria, Hondarribia and Lekeitio, in the Basque Country. Kilometres of beaches and stunning natural landscapes await you in these locations. The pleasant climate to be found here makes it possible to enjoy a unique setting between the mountains and the sea.

There are towns and villages with art and history in their streets, but where Mother Nature takes the leading role. These places have real a seaside fl avour and offer a varied range of activities: outings, water sports and activities, hiking, adventure sports, gastronomy, cultural events... there is something for every taste and every age. Don't miss the chance to get to know this unique part of Spain, where the deep blue of the sea meets the luxuriant green of the countryside. This is what the Villas Marineras are like. This is part of Spain that you shouldn't miss.


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