Olaespania

How would a novice prospective buyer know that? This is why the site is so useful. Who wants to buy an apartment which is surrounded by potentially decaying properties and infrastructure?

How do we know which are the areas to avoid, to me, that is just as important as narrowing down nice areas!

missile

There really is no substitute for visiting and seeing with your own eyes

Loafing Along

Pulaski

Utlimately I agree, but you can certainly save some time by filtering out some "definite no's" using Google Satelite View, 3D/ birdseye, and Street View.

It's been a while since I purchased a house, but today I would check out possible addresses for proximity to major roads, railways, power tranmission pylons/lines, airports, etc, as Mrs P and I have wasted a fair amount of time in the past on travelling to visit houses only to say "no!" as we pull up at the curb.

Moses2013

Very true and will save money. I would also filter properties by price and actually look at the whole of Spain rather than focusing on one area. It might give you ideas of areas one never considered before and never forget that in Spain most properties are listed at a higher price, so knocking off 50K for a property listed at around 200K is very normal.

DavidKS

We are in the Jalon Valley and thats quite nice

Leper

1. Maximum Cost of Property = €170,000.00 appears (to me) to be main criterium and I'm OK with that. (circa 15% more for fees etc).
2. Confining your search to CdS, CdL is just that i.e. confining.
3. Without offending I gather that you are placing much trust in "holiday home in the sun" television programmes. Most do, but (my opinion) is not good and a short cut to disaster.
4. You're 60 (I know people who made the move who are twelve years older). But, personal circumstances dictate what you will do. (Again, no offence meant).
5. Probably the best advice you'll get:- Rent off season for no less than five weeks in an area where you think you would like to buy. You're in a "war" (albeit an enjoyable one) and even if you have air and sea support, it's the infantry that has the final say. You can't beat feet on the ground for true knowledge.
6. Don't dismiss Mojacar Playa or Vera Playa (both in Costa Almeria). You'll get more for your euro there compared to other Costas. And perhaps all of your boxes will be ticked instead of most. Rental potential, if you require it, is good too. (Almeria, Alicante, Murcia, Málaga, Granada are airports listed in order of my merit). Furthermore, CdeAlmeria is marginally warmer and drier than any other Costa.
7. Where did I buy and why? - (i) Mojacar Playa (ii) I noticed many who had previously owned businesses and property in other Costas retired to Mojacar Playa.

missile

That is valuable advice, however Spain is a huge country. I would suggest a prospective buyer needs to limit his search criteria to a few locations before going down than route.

Loafing Along

Had forgotten about them but if you want to see some of the real horrors up and down the Costa del Sol have a look at the web of "Overseas Dreams" - they specialise in discounted properties normally from developers.
https://overseasdreams.com/

Moses2013

Discounted, more like boom prices. A plot of land (600m2) in Coin for €86,000