Property of the week

Ref: HEO8042 Type: Semi Detached Area: Costa Blanca South / Alicante Town: Playa Flamenca

Beds: 3 Baths: 2 Pool: Yes Price: €129,995

Description: This spacious 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom semi-detached house is located in Playa Flamenca and is within easy walking distance to all the local amenities and the nearby beaches are just a few minutes drive away. Situated on a gated complex with communal swimming pool, this property comprises of a front and side terrace, glazed entrance porch, lounge/diner, independent kitchen and a double bedroom on the first level. Upstairs there is a family bathroom and two double bedrooms, one with a balcony and a solarium with sea views. This property also benefits from and under build with garage. www.spanishdreamproperty.com Direct link to this property http://www.spanishdreamproperty.com/index.php?action=listingview&listingID=55680

Buying a property with rental potential:

Buying a property with rental potential: www.house-by-the-pool.com

If you are looking for your own holiday home and would like to rent it out to help pay the costs then there are a few considerations to take into account.  If you want to maximise your rentals then it may be necessary to compromise on some of the requirements you would put first as those factors may not be the criteria renters seek.

You need to consider your target market.  If you are looking to rent to families then several factors will be important.  For instance they will be looking for secure outside space, the pool within sight of (or very close to) the house/apartment, two bathrooms, at least three bedrooms, walking distance to shops, child-friendly restaurants doing early evening meals, and probably walking distance to the beach.  Properties closer to the beach tend to be more costly than those further back, but often families prefer not to have to use a car every time they go out.  Two bedroom properties have the benefit of an extended season as they can attract ‘snow birds’, so are more likely to have winter lets but there is more competition for renters, and bearing in mind the costs of heating and lower rental rates, there is a lot less profit in winter lets.

Another consideration on location is proximity to the airport.  Within an hour of at least one major airport is best, if you can offer a choice of airports even better. 

Keyholders/cleaners area major part of your set-up.  You need to build a good relationship with them, be able to trust them and know they will clean and care for your property properly.  There area number of small businesses doing this all along the coast.  We would suggest that after buying your property you ‘interview’ two or three local ones.  Also put together a check-list of what you will want included in the fee.  Generally the renters pay the cleaning fee direct to the keyholder.  Keyholders often provide airport transfers at an additional cost for those not hiring a car.

We will cover advertising, rental rates, tax and bookings in another blog.  We’ll also cover our Top Tips for making yours a successful rental property based on our personal experiences of many years of successful renting.

Check also before you pay a deposit on the property that there are no restrictions in the community rules on letting out the property.

The property will need to have everything a holiday maker needs.  They will arrive with just clothes and personal items, often trying to limit what they bring to just hand luggage these days to keep down the costs.  You will need to provide everything: bedding, bath and hand towels, a FULLY equipped kitchen, a safe, washing machine, iron and board, hairdryer, all possible cutlery and crockery, pots and pans, satellite TV, wifi, music and music centre, DVD player and DVD’s, games consol and games, traditional board games, and good quality furnishings inside and out plus the mandatory barbecue.  Air conditioning is now considered essential by most renters. 

A lot of Spanish properties come furnished and equipped, but you will need to factor in the costs of replacement furniture items, new quality bedding and towels and even tea towels.  However, not everything needed is always included in a purchase; it may not include cutlery, crockery, iron or other sundry but necessary items (such as kettle and toaster).  Remember you need two complete sets of all bedding for every bed plus and two sets of one bath and one hand towel for every guest, plus a few spares.  Your keyholder cannot be expected to clean the house and lauder, dry, iron and air the bedding and towels all in one day, so second sets are essential for back-to-back bookings.

You will also need lockable separate storage for your own personal items and clothes that you keep there.

Renting out your holiday home is good way to make it more affordable, but you need to allow for expenses involved in equipping the property properly when setting your budget.  Renters don’t expect to ‘make do and mend’!

 

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A More Relaxed Way Of Life

WELL WORTH A LOOK

100 Reasons To Live In Spain Nº1: A More Relaxed Way Of Life

http://youtu.be/KOe2x08hF1A

Property of the week

Ref: VRE 2270 Type: Country Property Area: Costa Blanca South / Alicante Town: Crevillente

Beds: 4 Baths: 4 Pool: Yes Price: €229,995

Description: This South Facing, Four Bedroom Detached Villa in Crevillente offers real character and is located in the outstanding Spanish country side, situated within less than a 10 minute drive from the town centre, where you can find all amenities, including bars, restaurants, shops and more. This property has the main house and an outer building included on the plot, the main house comprises of an open plan fully fitted kitchen; lounge/dining room with feature high ceilings, and access out to the covered terrace, which overlooks the beautiful pool and gardens; two double bedrooms, the master with an en suite bath room; a cloakroom/toilet; a family shower room; and stairs that lead to the spacious attic area. The outer building comprises of a living space with dining table and chairs; two double bedrooms; and bathroom. Outside is an enormous garden with various plants, trees, shrubs, a private swimming pool, an outside kitchen and BBQ area, plenty of off road parking leading up to the garage, wooden shed and much more! http://www.spanishdreamproperty.com/index.php?action=listingview&listingID=51766 www.spanishdreamproperty.com

Spanish house prices rise for first time in 41 months

The Spanish property market could be turning the corner if a report from Fotocasa.es and the IESE business school are to be believed.

The average price of resale property rose 0.7% in July compared to a month earlier, the first rise in 41 months. The majority regions saw and increase with Galicia, Asturias and Extremadura the only regions where prices fell (by 0.1%, 0.2% and 1.2% respectively). In Andalucia prices remained stable.

Although it’s far too early to jump to conclusions based on a month’s data, there are other indications the market might be about to turn. A report by the Ministry of Public Works shows the Spanish housing glut is now shrinking due to big discounts and a total collapse in building activity.

The Spanish “bad bank” has also this week sold the first phase of its property portfolio to institutional investors HIG Capital.

According to OECD figures Spanish house prices are now at 2000 levels (around 30% down) before accounting for inflation. After inflation prices have more than halved.
It’s a fool who predicts the bottom of a property cycle but what is certain is that from an agents’ perspective the international Spanish property market is looking healthier than many other European markets. Prices have dropped further an almost any other European country. International buyers are a small but buoyant proportion of the market and I'd be willing to bet on the domestic market turning the corner by 2015.

Source: Global edge

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Memories of Spain in the 1960's

Memories of Spain in the 1960's

As a child I spent many happy times in Spain. I remember being fascinated by the way of life and culture which seemed so strange to the English back in those days. My favouri...te memories are seeing all the donkeys in the straw hats or sombreros hard at work. Donkey carts were as common a sight on the road as a car, but you saw them often working in the fields pulling ploughs, cart loads of veg or oranges, in fact anything that needed to be moved. Tractors were all old fashioned, many pre WW2, and blelched black fumes as they trundled down pot-holed roads and tracks. It never went without comment when we returned to the UK how smooth the roads were!

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Cranes of Hope

We’ve all heard of the Costa Del Sol, The Costa Blanca and the Costa Verde but how many have heard of the Orihuela Costa?  Well it’s not a Costa in the way we Brits picture them, it’s just 16km of coast in the very south of the Costa Blanca, Alicante region.  Forty years ago it was farmland and coastal scrub land, now it’s a large town divided into several separate areas; Campoamor, Cabo Roig, La Zenia, Playa Flamenca, Los Altos, Villamartin, Las Ramblas and part (not all) of Punta Prima.  Although often wrongly classified as part of Torrevieja, the area actually comes under the control of the townhall in the city of Orihuela, some 30km away, hence the name.  Popular with ex-pats from across northern Europe it has diverse population. 

 

City of Orihuela

 

 

An all year round destination for holiday makers, thanks to the milder winters, blue flag beaches and the famous golf courses of Villamartin, Campoamor, Las Ramblas and the newest addition, Las Colinas.  A lack of hotels means most holiday makers rent private apartments and villas, maybe one of the reasons A Place in the Sun magazine named it in their recent Top Ten of places to buy a holiday rental property, although even they mistakenly stated places such as La Zenia and Cabo Roig as being part of Torrevieja! 

 

And now Orihuela Costa boasts the largest shopping mall on the Costas!  Opening last October with 150 shops and bars, sporting some of the best known names on the high streets of Europe, plus a bowling alley, casino, ‘town square’ complete with dancing fountains, free parking and sea views, La Zenia Boulevard is a shopper’s paradise.  And it’s always busy.  Spain may be deep in recession but people still go shopping! 

 

Forever reading in the British press about the unsold new properties littering the coastal resorts and how nothing is being built, this area is genuinely ‘bucking the trend’.  At any one time there are half a dozen cranes to be seen on the skyline building new low-rise apartments and houses, which are selling.  There is nowhere near the flurry of activity that could be seen a decade ago, but there is building work, a rare sight in Spain these days.

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Property of the week

Property of the week

Description: This South Facing Three Bedroom Detached Villa in Benimar is located in a peaceful urbanisation, between to Rojales & Benijofar. Within walking distance to many amenities such as bars, restaurants, shops, supermarkets, banks and more, with the beaches of Guardamar just a ten minute drive away. This well maintained property comprises across one floor, an open plan fully fitted kitchen with breakfast bar, adjoining utility room with back door to the garden; lounge/dining room with access out to the front covered terrace with sun all day; three double bedrooms; a shower room; and a family bathroom. External stairs leads to the spacious roof top solarium with great views of the area. Outside is a beautiful kept garden with fruit trees, off road parking space, storeroom and wooden shed!

Beds: 3
Baths: 2
Pool: Yes
Price: €139,850

Murcia Airport

The 'Will it or won't it open?' question still remains unanswered.  I am referring to the new airport at Corvera, Murcia.  It is built, the new roads are finished, the runway lighting is in place, even the signposts are up, approach flight paths decided and, we are told, the necessary licences have been granted.  The only things missing are passengers and planes.

The latest twist, according to Murcia Today reports, is that Ramon Luis Valcarcel, the President of the regional government, has rescinded the contract to run the airport with the concessionary who built it.  The airport was built using private money but with a 200 million euro guarantee on the loan by the regional Murcia government.  The concessionary has no money left to fund the running of the airport.  Talks with Aena, who manage the state run airport system, have resulted in a tentative agreement that Aena are prepared to run Corvera, but unsurprisingly, there are complications.

When the military airport at San Javier opened to the public to cash-in on tourism and the property boom, both of which had up until then predominantly by-passed Murcia, Aena invested heavily in facilities, constructing the terminal building, the control tower and a second runway, investment totalling 70 million euros.  The plan back then was to keep these facilities in use when Corvera opened, but provision was made that should the military want the airport back for exclusive use then they would 'buy' the facilities built by Aena.  The plan to run two airports just 20 minutes drive apart in a region with limited demand for international travel, and still only an hour from one of Spain's busiest international and tourist destination airports, Alicante, was flawed from the outset, with wildly optimist predictions on passenger numbers.

Now Aena are saying, if reports are to be believed, that they will run Corvera instead of San Javier, it raises two major questions.  Who is going to compensate the concessionary for the loss of ability to see a return for their investment in Corvera?  And who will compensate Aena for their investment in San Javier?  The regional government of Murcia does not have 200 million euros to repay the loan it guaranteed.  The military are not interested in buying the facilities for 70 million euros at San Javier.  It seems that once again, despite all the meetings and debate, the stalemate remains.  If there is anything we can be sure about it is surely that Corvera Airport is not, as widely publicised, opening in 2013.

3 Bed 2 Bath Townhouse in VILLAMARTIN

Ref: SDP949 Type: Townhouse Area: Costa Blanca South / Alicante Town: Villamartin

Beds: 3 Baths: 2 Pool: Yes Price: €104,950

Description: SPACIOUS 3 BEDROOM 2 BATHROOM TOWNHOUSE VIEWING ESSENTIAL - GREAT PRICE A very well presented 3 bedroom townhouse just a few minutes drive to the Villamartin golfcourse and approx 10 min drive to the beach. • Communal swimming pool • Private roof solarium • Off road parking/patio area • Balcony from master bedroom • Close to amenities http://www.spanishdreamproperty.com/index.php?action=listingview&listingID=50350 http://www.spanishdreamproperty.com/index.php?action=listingview&listingID=50350

Due to a cancellation

Book your holiday now! Due to a cancellation time now available between June 20th and July 14th. www.house-by-the-pool.com

 

 

 

www.spanishdreamproperty.com

REDUCED FROM 239,950 EUROS to €187,500

4 Bed 2 Bath Country Property in ORIHUELA

Ref: SDP1535 Type: Country Property Area: Costa Blanca South / Alicante Town: Orihuela

Beds: 4 Baths: 2 Pool: Yes Price: €187,500

Description: LOVINGLY RESTORED 4 BED FINCA REDUCED FROM 239,950 EUROS - VIEWING HIGHLY RECOMMENDED A lovely country finca with stunning mountain views and open countryside on a good size plot. The property consists of the main finca with 2 bedrooms 1 bathroom plus guest accommodation in a separate annex with 2 bedrooms 1 bathroom. • Private swimming pool • Pretty secluded garden and patio areas with covered BBQ • Carport and workshop • Ceilings with a wealth of exposed beams • An assortment of fruit trees

Association of International Property Professionals

Just to let you know Spanish Dream Property is a full Member of this Industry body. We got our full Membership on 27/11/2012.

Ref: SDP1725 A great Villa

3 Bed 2 Bath Villa / Detached in PINAR DE CAMPOVERDE

Ref: SDP1725 Type: Villa / Detached Area: Costa Blanca South / Alicante Town: Pinar De Campoverde

Beds: 3 Baths: 2 Pool: Yes Price: €161,995

Description: 3 BEDROOM 2 BATHROOM DETACHED VILLA VIEWING IS HIGHLY RECOMMENDED This exceptional villa offers good living accommodation plus great views to the Mar Menor and beyond. The easily maintained garden is paved and planted with orange, lemon and mandarin trees. Just a 10 minute drive to the beach and 5 minutes to golf course. • South facing private swimming pool with good size patio area • Glazed terrace with open views to the sea • Private driveway • Large upper sun terrace with sea views • Air conditioning fitted plus log burner

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Here is Beverley talking about Spanish Dream Property       http://youtu.be/pDOc0d2hZeA


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North Costa Blanca Last Year 2012

Last year, 2012, we asked you to name your favourite town on the Costa Blanca or Costa Calida. The clear favouite was Cartagena, a beautiful and historic city and naval port in Murcia. If you've never been there it's worth a visit!
In joi...nt second place came Torrevieja, Benidorm and the town of Orihuela Costa (La Zenia, Cabo Roig, Playa Flamenca etc).
This year we are splitting the vote into towns north of Alicante and those south of Alicante and you can vote on both.
So from the map below name your favourite town north of Alicante.

Owning a house on the Costa Blanca or Costa Calida

 

May 25 2013 at 10:00am until May 27 2013 at 4:00pm

Free Personal Consultation. Come & meet us & ask us everything you have always wanted to ask about owning a house on the Costa Blanca or Costa Calida. Buying for holidays, investment or re-location, we are here to help. Book your free consultation by emaling info@spanishdreamproperty.com or text SDP with your name to 07889 362950 and we will get back to you or call 01603 415296.

Q. Is it best to buy a bank repossesion?

Q. Is it best to buy a bank repossesion?
A. Frankly, in most cases, NO! The exception being that if you need a 100% mortgage there are a few bank repos that have them. However we do have bank repos on our site that are worth considering. Most repossesed properties never make it to the open market. The good ones are sold by the banks to their known list of investors or purchased by bank staff. ... The ones left are the ones that are less in demand due to location or condition or the fact that the amount the bank needs to sell it for is higher than the current market value. Re-sales are often furnished, are open to offers and have been in regular use so everything is working. Bank properties have no furniture, are generally a fixed price and may have been empty for two or more years, leading to problems of dried-out pipes etc. Remember in Spain the debts relating to the property are passed on at sale to the new owner, so be very careful that you do not sign the papers until you are 100% sure the bank have settled all outstanding bills!

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Guardamar

If you live within travelling distance of Guardamar and would like to explore it further why not take a ride with Guardamar's tourist train.The tour includes La Senda de la historia, the castle, the archaeological site of La Fonteta and remains of the Phoenician city harbour. The tour price is 6€ for adults and 3€ for children aged to 12. A guide is available in English on Fridays and the ticket includes free admission to the Municipal Archeological Museum.
Reservations can be made at Guardamar Tourist Office. As there is a maximum of 15 people per tour it is important that you reserve a place by calling 965 724 488 or emailing
turisme@gmail.com

Why should I use a Spanish solicitor

Q. Why should I use a Spanish solicitor, surely I can save money by doing it myself?
A. Unless you are a fluent Spanish speaker and reader, and well versed in Spanish property law and conveyancing, don't even think about not using a solicitor! Use an independent, bi-lingual and recommended one. Ensure everything you sign is in both Spanish and your own mother tongue, (verified translation). As regional laws and taxes vary use a solicitor that regularly does conveyancing in your chosen area.