cpcaronSophie25

Hi
we have a limited budget and are looking for a place near alicante or murcia to use as a holiday home initialy but to use for retirement in about 10 years .
just starting our search and would like help .
We would like some where not to busy and near to public transport and not to far for travelling
Any advice
Caron and Mike

Rosemary

Hi and a warm welcome to the Spanish forum on BE. Myself and Fred James are the moderators for the Spanish forums whilst BEVS moderates Europe. Moderators are there to ensure that the site runs smoothly within the rules of BE. This is so that members gain the information that they are looking for and find their experiences on the forums to be friendly and worthwhile.

Problems and complaints should always be addressed to a moderator who will look into the matter and deal with it efficiently and fairly. Our members who post in the Spain Forums are usually friendly and helpful with a wealth of knowledge about the issues of living in Spain. I hope that you enjoy your time participating in the forums.

Please let me know if you need any further help.

Rosemary

PS51

Same here. I shall watch this thread with interest. We have the added problem that we are not beach people but we have to be near a decent Tennis club. Good luck

cpcaronSophie25

Are you from uk too ? I have had an interesting article i had off internet Spain buying guide .
we also have no idea of where to start looking hoping to visit this year for weekend to start looking .
we would want links to local bus ,within walking of some shops restraunts ,not to far from beach ,my husband likex occasional game golf .

johnnyone

Is there any reason you are particularly picking that area? It may be that other areas would also fulfill your requirements giving you more choice and possibly lower property prices.

PS51

Hi Caron. When I priced places in other areas . . . Mijas/ Mojacar/Denia they all seemed to be more than my budget. For my £75 K sterling , I can get 3 bed in Los Balcones/Los Altos/Playa Flamenca . When I look at Mijas or above Mojacar I'd be lucky to get 2 Bed. I know people can be a bit sniffy about Torrevieja Urbanisations but when you have Kids and Grandchildren to entertain some of these places fit the bill. We are from Preston , Lancashire Caron.

cpcaronSophie25

I am open to all suggestions and advice
thank you

cpcaronSophie25

We have grand kids too and a limited bùdget , still in work so needs to be safe to leave between holidays too for now
I

PS51

Which areas do you mean. . . Giving more Choice and lower prices ? Like Caron , I'm open to suggestions

johnnyone

What I meant was members who did not have knowledge of that area would not post. If you are open to other areas then it increases the number of members that may post and give you advice.

Leper

I love these questions. People with a few bob and probably don't know how to spend it and guess what? "Sure 'tis the time to buy a holiday home in Spain."

It's the stuff estate agents thrive on and keeps them grinning like Dracula coming across an 18 year old virgin at one minute past midnight.

"We were on holidays in such-and-such-a-place and we loved it, so let's buy a holiday home there." The Draculas look on, no crucifix, no garlic, just pure innocent slender white skinned neck waiting for a fanged bite. The estate agents roadshow rolls on and not only just after midnight.

Now guys, this is where you stop, take stock, use what brains you have and think and then think again. "But, Lep, Spain is teeming with bargains!" - True, but a bargain is a bargain only when you need it. ("Sound advice there from Lep, but will they listen?" - They haven't listened before, so why do you think they'll listen now?").

Spain is the dream for those who know the financial terrain. That terrain is not in great shape at the moment and no sign of a decent improvement beckons. "Hey Lep, why are you stopping us from spending our dosh so?"

Spain has little interest in participating in a financial recovery. Greece has been bailed out and the Spaniards are just a step up from the Greeks. Somebody will probably pout Ireland's financial recovery; but we in this part of Europe think differently to those in the Mediterranean Basin.

I'm procrastinating, so I'll stop.(Estate Agents breathing a sigh of relief?). You can rent a good quality holiday apartment in a good resort in the off season for around €650 per month. You can change destination every winter. You are not suffering a huge dent in your savings. You can decide even going somewhere else too. Why tie yourself down?

Some of your answers before you even think:- "We will have time for our grandchildren." "It's a great investment." "We can spend more time together." Now insert what you are thinking.

You'll buy anyway. This has always been the case.

Moses2013

You are right in a way and I said it in other thread that we all have a different view on what a bargain is. Spain is flooded with apartments and estate agents love telling people that prices are increasing and now's the time to buy, so people start believing they are getting a bargain.








It's fine if you don't know what to do with your money, but people with a limited budget should always be cautious if they're planning retirement. Where Brits buy, you'll now only find a lot of overpriced, or realistically priced apartments, but it's certainly not a bargain if you have to pay £60K for a small apartment.

bolton wanderer

Hi Caron and Mike, Welcome to the forum

We've recently purchased an apartment in a small village near formentera del segura and we love the place. However, before we bought, we rented in various locations for 1 to 3 month periods over the last 4 years. We rented for a total of 7 months in our village before taking the plunge and buying the property.

I would strongly recommend renting before buying....We rented in some places we initially thought were wonderful until we'd been there a month or so. Then we discovered that things like "walking distance to amenities", "proportion of Spanish to Expat neighbours" and "quiet evenings" were important to us.

You will probably find that as you spend more time in Spain your initial wish list & priorities will change.....Easy to do something about this if you're renting, more difficult if you've bought.

mikelincs

Excellent advice there, what might well suit as a holiday home may well NOT be the best place to retire to, I would suggest renting, particularly spending time there during winter, it's not all sun you know, it can get very cold at night and Spanish homes are not noted for their insulation. We bought initially, and there was nothing wrong with the place or the area (Playa Flamenca), but we did see the crash coming and sold quickly and then went to renting. The great thing with renting is that you CAN try different areas, and had we not decided to return to the UK would have settled in Albir, just a few Km north of Benidorm, nice and quiet, not too busy in summer but near enough (short bus ride) to Benidorm if we wanted that sort of thing.

missile

There are many locations and literally thousands of homes available within your budget which would meet your requirements.


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