Should you take your property search to the Andalusian mountains?

Maybe it's time you extended your property search to Andalucía's mountain pueblos?

Close your eyes and imagine a typical expat property on the Costa del Sol. What do you see? If it’s a whitewashed, two-bedroom apartment in an urbanisation with shared pool and underground parking, then well done. This is pretty much the most popular type of property for British expats.

The Costa del Sol has plenty other types of property to choose from of course, suitable for all budgets and tastes. But they all share one common theme: a clamouring for that inimitable Costa del Sol lifestyle…

You know the one: sun-soaked, sea-viewed, sangría-drenched and neatly packaged with all the comforts of home with just the right amount of authenticity. But since the Spanish property market took a little bit of a tumble over the last few years, some buyers have been spooked by the very thing that used to offer reassurance, comfort and the fulfilment of dreams: affordable Spanish property.

And it hasn’t gone unnoticed. The Financial Times – that heavyweight of the UK high-brow broadsheets – has written a recent report on the current state of the Costa del Sol property market and reached one telling conclusion: head for the hills. And they mean literally, not metaphorically.

With some interesting insights into mountain life via a handful of candid interviews with the agents who sell there, the article throws up some interesting statistics. Such as the fact that just two per cent of properties in Andalucía’s mountain areas are bought by foreigners – a figure that rises to a whopping 40 per cent on the coast.

So what are the benefits of living in one of Andalucía’s cute little pueblos? Well there’s price, for a start. A number of the more unusual types of properties in these regions are impressively affordable, and many boast the sort of space that you just won’t find on the coast. Then there’s the peace and quiet, the chance to reconnect with nature, the incredible views, the traditional lifestyle… the list is long.

But there are downsides, too. Luxurious and modern home comforts can be yours, but they often come at a hefty premium. There’s a sense of isolation in some corners too, and if you arrive home and have forgotten the milk then, well, convenience stores are few and far between.

However, if you do fancy buying something a little different, then the Andalusian hills could be right up your gravel track. They boast the famous Costa del Sol sun of course, minus the hustle and bustle. If that sounds like something for you, then why not find out more on our Area Guides page?

You might well find the dream location you’ve been looking for…