Property Guides and Information for the Costa del Sol, Spain

Why buy on Spain’s Costa del Sol

If you are unfamiliar with the Costa del Sol this short article is here to help you understand why so many people from Northern Europe have decide to make this fantastic location their second home. The article will also offer insight in to why this location will continue to be such a popular destination for the long term.

Great weather

There are over 300 days of sunshine a year on the Costa del Sol and average day time temperatures during the winter months are between 16 to 22 degrees Celsius. Parts of the Costa del Sol have a microclimate; Marbella and Almunecar are two such areas due to the natural protection afforded by the mountain ranges close by.

Easy accessibility

The Costa del Sol has three international airports: Malaga, Gibraltar and Jerez de la Frontera. Regular low cost flights are available from most of Europe’s major cities and journey times are between 2 and 4 hours depending on location.

Exciting location with good amenities

The Costa del Sol is an area of coastline that’s approximately 200 kms long. There are a huge number of locations in which to have holidays or to live for longer periods. The areas of Marbella, Fuengirola, Sotogrande and Mijas have a year round tourist season and offer all the services and amenities you would expect in any northern European city. There is a huge variety of restaurants, shops, bars and night clubs available up and down the coast. The most exclusive of which are situated near Marbella and Puerto Banus.

A sound health care system

Spain has a good state health care system and is free for people from European Union member states. There is also a good private health care system available and the cost is quite reasonable. The Costa del Sol has numerous public and private hospitals and most treatments are available easily.

Political stability

Spain has a stable political climate and is a member of the European Union (EU) and in recent years has made enormous strides towards becoming a place where one can buy and sell property within a sound legal framework. The EU sets a benchmark for legal and administrative processes and also acts as the supreme legal power for court rulings.

Sound infrastructure

Spain has benefited from ten years of subsidies from the EU, over one hundred billion euros has been invested in the country. In the Costa del Sol region, new roads, rail infrastructure, telecommunications networks, and a huge range of government-sponsored initiatives for local amenities have transformed the area from an underdeveloped coastal region into the exciting and vibrant location it is today. There are further plans in process, that include major improvements to increase the regions appeal for business and tourism.

An exciting range of sports, activities and hobbies

The Costa del Sol offers a wide range sporting activities that give the area enormous appeal as a year-round holiday destination. These include all of the water sports and some of the best locations for kite surfing and wind surfing in Europe. If you prefer the mountains there is skiing in the Sierra Nevada and many beautiful locations for hill walking, climbing within the Malaga province. There are a huge number of clubs and societies to join, so whatever your interest you will find a group promoting it here with both foreign and Spanish members. Golf is a year-round tourist attraction especially during the winter months as there are an extra ordinary range of delightful courses. Some of the world’s most famous courses are located near Sotogrande.

Improved building standards and industry regulation

The Costa del Sol has perhaps the highest concentration of luxury developments and individual properties anywhere in Europe. Building standards have progressed a long way since the 80’s. Recent legislation from the EU and the Spanish Government regarding building standards and Health and Safety has improved building qualities.

Fiscal and legal help on hand

The Costa del Sol´s long history of residential tourism means that there are many Spanish and foreign companies available to help sort out legal and fiscal matters. It’s now very easy to find someone with good references to help manage your affairs who can explain the intricacies of any tax or law-related questions you may have.

Culture

Spain is a country with a long and diverse history, and Andalucia is full of interesting cities, monuments, galleries and sites of particular historic or ecological interest. There are a huge variety of places to visit that surround the Costa del Sol and Morocco and Portugal are also within a few hours drive if you want to experience something a little different.

Low crime rates

The Costa del Sol is still a very safe place to live and it is still a pleasure to see people of all ages walking in the streets late at night, unfortunately a rare sight in most other areas of Europe.

Future growth potential

Spain and particularly the Costa del Sol are similar in climate to California. It seems very likely that the coastal regions of southern Spain will experience very similar demographic shifts over the next two decades. Factors such as the large number of people approaching retirement age, good infrastructure and accessibility seem to suggest that people from northern Europe will continue to buy property over the long term. This strongly suggests continued development of the Costa del Sol’s tourism, business and real estate sectors.

January 11, 2006 | Category: Buying Property