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Spain: Importance of Location

Overview

The most important consideration when buying a home is usually its location – or as the old adage goes, the three most important points are location, location and location! This is particularly important if you’re buying for investment or plan to let a property. A property in a reasonable condition in a popular area is likely to be a better investment than an exceptional property in a less attractive location. There’s usually no point in buying a dream property in a terrible location. Spain offers almost anything that anyone could want, but you must choose the right property in the right spot.

The wrong decision regarding location is one of the main causes of disenchantment among foreigners who have purchased property in Spain.

Where you buy a property in Spain depends on a range of factors, including your personal preferences, your financial resources and, not least, whether you plan to work or not. If you have a job in Spain, the location of your home will probably be determined by the proximity to your place of employment. However, if you intend to look for employment or start a business, you must live in an area that allows you the maximum scope. Unless you have good reason to believe otherwise, it would be foolish to rely on finding employment in a particular area. If, on the other hand, you’re looking for a holiday or retirement home, the whole of Spain is your oyster. The most popular areas are the costas, particularly the Costa del Sol and the Costa Blanca, and the Balearic and Canary islands. When seeking a permanent home, don’t be too influenced by where you’ve spent an enjoyable holiday or two. A town or area that was adequate for a few weeks’ holiday may be totally unsuitable for a permanent home, particularly regarding the proximity to shops, medical services, and sports and leisure facilities. If you’re looking for a holiday home that you also plan to let then you must look in an area attractive to holiday makers and the property should have a pool and be within easy reach of an airport.

If you have little idea about where you wish to live, read as much as you can about the different regions of Spain and spend some time looking around your areas of interest. Note that the climate, lifestyle and cost of living can vary considerably from region to region (and even within a region). Before looking at properties it’s important to have a good idea of the type of property you want and the price you wish to pay, and to draw up a short list of your areas or towns of interest. Most importantly make a list of what you want and don’t want in a property – if you don’t do this you’re likely to be overwhelmed by the number of properties to be viewed.

The ‘best’ area in which to live depends on a range of considerations, including the proximity to your place of work, schools, country or town, shops, public transport, coast or inland, entertainment and sports facilities, swimming pool, bars and restaurants, etc. There are beautiful areas to choose from, most within easy travelling distance of a town or city. Don’t, however, believe the travelling times and distances stated in adverts and quoted by estate agents. According to many developers and agents, everywhere in the south of Spain is handy for Malaga airport and everywhere on the Costa Blanca is a stone’s throw from Alicante airport. When looking for a home, bear in mind travelling times and costs to your place of work, shops and schools (and the local bar/restaurant). If you buy a remote country property, the distance to local amenities and services could become a problem, particularly if you plan to retire to Spain. If you live in a remote rural area you must be much more self-sufficient than if you live in a town. Don’t forget that Spain is a big country and if you live in a remote rural area you will need to use the car for everything (which increases your cost of living).

If possible you should visit an area a number of times over a period of a few weeks, on weekdays and at weekends, in order to get a feel for the neighbourhood (it’s often better to walk rather than drive around). A property seen on a balmy summer’s day after a delicious lunch and a few glasses of vino tinto may not be nearly so attractive on a subsequent visit without sunshine and the warm inner glow. If possible, you should also visit an area at different times of the year, e.g. in both summer and winter, as somewhere that’s wonderful in summer can be forbidding and inhospitable in winter (or vice versa if you don’t like extreme heat). If you’re planning to buy a winter holiday home, you should view it in the summer, as snow can hide a multitude of sins! In any case, you should view a property a number of times before deciding to buy it. If you’re unfamiliar with an area, most experts recommend that you rent for a period before deciding to buy. This is particularly important if you’re planning to buy a permanent or retirement home in an unfamiliar area. Many people change their minds after a period and it isn’t unusual for buyers to move once or twice before settling down permanently.

If you will be working in Spain, obtain a map of the area and decide the maximum distance you will consider travelling to work, e.g. by drawing a circle with your work place in the middle. Obtain a large scale map of the area and mark the places that you’ve seen, at the same time making a list of the plus and minus points of each property. If you use an estate agent, he usually drives you around and you can then return later to the properties that you like best at your leisure (providing that you’ve marked them on your map!). If you’re looking at properties at your leisure in the Spanish countryside, it’s sensible to take a mobile phone with you in case you get lost! Agents may be reluctant to give you the keys to visit a property on your own.

There are many points to consider regarding the location of a home, which can roughly be divided into the local vicinity, i.e. the immediate surroundings and neighbourhood, and the general area or region. Take into account the present and future needs of all members of your family.

© Survival Books Limited 2005

“Buying a Home in Spain 2006” 5th Edition, David Hampshire.

Reproduced with the permission of Survival Books Limited.

Further information on this topic can be found in “Buying a Home in Spain 2006” 5th edition, by David Hampshire.

For extensive, annually updated information about buying a property in Spain, you can purchase this book at www.survivalbooks.net

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