Horizon Property Group
Ask a Professional
There may be investment prospects in Spain, but
it is essential that you seek independent expert
professional advice before
undertaking any property purchase.
There are lots of things to bear in mind, including
local laws and regulations, taxes,
surveyor's assessments of the building,
financial currency exchange, dealing with interbank transfers,
volatility of the housing market,
etc. etc. In some countries there are
various restrictions on foreigners owning land or property,
so this needs to be checked out fully.
Any property purchase is a
major undertaking.
Surge in Interest
The interest in purchasing property
abroad has increased at an amazing rate in the past five years,
fuelled in the UK by a booming domestic housing
market making overseas properties
seem good value for money. Also, TV programmes like
Channel 4's `A Place in the Sun' have made everyone realise that
owning a property abroad is no longer just for the rich and famous.
People are interested in purchasing a home overseas
for a variety of reasons - enjoyment, investment,
a new life, retirement, and more.
Southern Spain
Andalucia
Resting in the very south between the Sierra Morena and the Mediterranean, Andalucia has attracted some of the world's most influential civilisations, from the Romans to the Moors and their legacy remains thanks to some of the world's most stunning architecture.
Granada, famous for the Alhambra, is one of the area's most visited cities, a world famous example of Moorish architecture resting amid the snow-capped Sierra Nevada at Granada.
Granada is a lively provincial city made so not only by the tourists who flock to it but also by the fact that it is a university town with a large student population.
Among Andalucia's other city attractions is Seville with its white-washed houses, flowery balconies and its famous orange trees. A wonderful place to visit, the 16th-century saying 'qui non ha vista Seville non ha vista maravilla" (who has not seen Seville has not seen a marvel) still rings true.
Adalucia also has one of the most visited coastlines in Europe. The Costa del Sol attracts thousands of sun worshippers each year, not only due to its sandy beaches and lively resorts, but because its climate means it has four months of summer and eight of spring. Resorts include Marbella, the glamourous jewel of the Costa del Sol with boutiques and boats a plenty, and Malaga - its most popular beach stretches to the east at Pedregalejos.
Algeciras
One of the most southerly spots in Spain, the port offers passage to nearby Morocco and seems all the more exciting for it. Although Algeciras is predominantly a port town it does have its attraction with its genuine tea rooms selling mint tea thanks to a north African influence, its Arabic signs and Morrocans in transit.
The north and central
Catalonia - with the Pyrenees to the north and Riu Ebro delta to the south,
Catalonia has always been proud of its heritage and culture. Among its attractions
is the bustling city of Barcelona. Vibrant and attractive, it is Las Ramblas
which singles it out from many other cities - a long avenue
of street entertainers parading as living sculptures from pirate to angel,
flamenco dancer to political figures. As well as its street entertainers, Barcelona has
much to offer with its stunning cathedral ..... fantastic restaurants, art
galleries and museums. Nearby are Barcelona's beaches including the favourite of
the gay, Sitges. Barcelona apartments are really hot properties.
Up the coast is the Costa Brava with its jagged cliff backdrop. Among the surprises is Gerona which is by-passed by many but is worth a visit with its medieval and modern facades, lively cafes and attractive orange, blue and yellow-faced buildings.
Tossa del Mar rests nearby with its beach and old town - a collection of 14th and 15th century buildings.
Of interest also is the Catalan Pyrenees, although quite isolated it has the wonderful Parc d'Aiguestortes which is filled with beautiful lakes and waterfalls.
Other areas of the north which are well worth a visit include Santiago de Compostela (Christianity's third most holy city after Jerusalem and Rome). Nearby are some of the most beautiful beaches in the world.
Madrid in the centre of Spain is the country's capital. With its boundless energy, it rests on the dry, hot Castilian plain. Many love to saunter its broad, leafy boulevards, gazing at its neoclassical mansions and endless theatres, museums and cafes. It is an important business centre, surpassing Barcelona in terms of finance and manufacturing.
Other cities worth a visit include: Toledo, Aranjuez, Segovia and Salamanca.
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