Five reminders why Spain is the best choice for overseas property

Considering buying overseas? Then Spain ticks all your boxes, and more

On the eve of the A Place in the Sun exhibition, held between Friday October 3 and Sunday October 5 at the NEC in Birmingham (VIVA will be there of course, so come and say Hi!), we thought it wise to remind you all why Spain remains the number one choice for overseas property.

After many months of good news stories relating to Spain’s tourism sector, its wider economy, and positive developments in its property market, it is perhaps easy to forget what a corner the country has turned in just a short space of time. So here are five reminders why Spain is THE place for overseas property…

1. It remains the most developed market

Spain, and particularly the Costa del Sol, boasts more property choice than any other destination in Europe and beyond. From two-bed apartments and cute townhouses to spectacular villas and rustic fincas, whatever your taste you can be sure Spain has something to satisfy.

Buying in Spain is a straightforward, transparent affair

But it’s not all about property choice. The entire property-buying chain is mature, robust and transparent, with a clear set of laws and regulations, fair taxes and highly competent professionals working within the sector. Add in a brilliant infrastructure – think good roads, a superb nearby airport and plenty of expat-friendly amenities – and you have the perfect recipe for overseas property development.

2. There is nowhere more convenient

OK, technically the nearest ‘overseas’ market is France, but the northern parts of France bear little difference to southern England, at least in terms of climate. And the farther south you head, while the mercury rises, so too do property prices.

Nope, the corner of Europe best suited as a bolthole to the sun is southern Spain. Decades of tourist development on the Costa del Sol has laid the foundations for an unrivalled level of convenience. Getting to Málaga airport is exceptionally easy, no matter where you reside in the UK. Most British airports boast direct flights, of which very few are expensive nor much more than two hours. And once you land it is an easy 30-45 minute drive into the heart of the Costa del Sol.

3. Affordability remains the name of the game

A few years ago, Spain’s property market no longer had it all its own way. By 2006, upstarts in the form of Bulgaria, Cyprus, Dubai and Turkey had begun to turn investors’ heads with the lure of cheap property and barely believable short-term profits. It was madness, and proved to be unsustainable.

Barring a few pockets, Spain never went down that route. Quality and long-term thinking remained the order of the day for the Spanish property market – a grounding that has set the country in good stead. As these latter-day property markets have all but disappeared from the radar, Spain’s affordable, good quality homes remain an attractive proposition for overseas buyers… and it will stay that way for a long while yet.

4. Expat life is well developed

Aside from affordable property, cheap and regular flights from the UK, and transparent laws that ensure your investment is protected, what else do you need? Ah yes, that’s it – a good lifestyle. Thankfully, the Costa del Sol offers this in spades, delivering a good balance of traditional Andalusian warmth and the cosy familiarity of British life.

However you wish to live your life, the Costa del Sol can cater for you

And the best thing is, it is up to you to tilt the balance in any way you see fit. You can snap up an apartment in a semi-enclosed urbanisation where all your neighbours are Brits or other expats, or you can buy a charming townhouse in a small pueblo and throw yourself headfirst into true Andalusian life. Alternatively, you can do what thousands of Brits in Spain do and dabble in both – a bodega here, a full English there, Spanish lessons tonight, Guinness and live Irish music tomorrow night… the Costa del Sol offers it all.

5. The weather

320 days of sunlight a year. Yes, you’ve heard that statistic so often that it almost becomes meaningless. So how about this instead: you can sunbathe on your terrace in temperatures reaching the mid-20s Celsius right through to December, with even the occasional days in January tempting you out into the winter sun. February can be a bit wet, as can March, but by April the temperatures begin to regularly reach the high-20s.

The sun is a regular visitor to these parts… all year round

Summer on the Costa del Sol is a long, languid, glorious affair. It gets uncomfortably hot for only two-to-three weeks towards the end of July, but the Mediterranean breeze tends to mitigate the worst effects. May is glorious, June dry and hot, August can bring the occasional storms (which are a sight to behold as you cradle a sangria and watch the rain teem down and lightning strike the horizon), while September and October are pleasantly warm and sunny. In short, everything you’ve been told about Southern Spain’s weather is accurate – it really is a glorious place to live.