It is the right place to buy. And the right time to buy. But why here? And why buy now?

Introduction
Spain is still the top destination for many overseas buyers, and for some it is still the Number 1. The love affair continues! But Spain is a big country. The northern coast faces the Atlantic Ocean so it is stormy, windy and, for Spain, cold. Spain has little western coastline due to Portugal. Spain’s eastern coastline begins at the French boarder, and although it is popular with some buyers the north eastern Costas are not where the vast majority buy – the Costa Brava for instance is windy and sometimes very cold, with snow in the winter. The most popular parts of the eastern coastline are the Costa Blanca and the Costa Calida in the south east corner of Spain. Below this, ‘rounding the corner’ so to speak is the Costa Almeria, a desolate, arid and vastly under-developed Costa with little infra-structure. The southern coast contains the Costa Tropical and the Costa del Sol, both lovely but where properties are between 2 to 5 times as expensive for ‘like-for-like’ properties on the Costa Blanca and the Costa Calida. As an example we went down to the Costa del Sol recently and there we saw a studio offered for sale at €340,000 and a 2 bed 2 bath apartment for €480,000! Lovely properties, but a studio costs €87,500 and a 2 bed 2 bath apartment costs €150,000 on the Costa Blanca and the Costa Calida. But even so these two Costas alone cover a vast area. So where does one begin?

The northern Costa Blanca is beautiful. But expensive. Midway is the metropolis that is Benidorm, still the most visited seaside resort in Europe. But it is an apartment city, hectic and relative to the southern Costa Blanca expensive. The southern Costa Blanca is the most favoured section. The Costa Calida at its southern end is arid and as desolate as the Costa Almeria is. The northern Costa Calida was (and possible still is) Spain’s “Best Kept Secret” and is the most favoured section of this Costa. The best ‘Med Lifestyle’ is arguably to be had here, on the northern Costa Calida and the Southern Costa Blanca. And it is here that we specialise. We specialise in;

1. golf properties
2. beach properties
3. golf AND beach properties

Generally
We specialise in the northern Costa Calida (generally called the region of Murcia) and the southern Costa Blanca areas that are near to everything; shops, restaurants, nightlife, fantastic beaches, water sports, and where the attractions of Murcia city or the ancient port of Cartagena are not far away, so that your time here in Spain is as busy, or lazy as you would like it to be. Most properties are within 1/2 hours drive from the airport so your holidays can start within minutes of your arriving in Spain. And even the most inland of golf properties will still be close to a fabulous beach. But some things here are not available elsewhere in Spain. Click on the highlighted text for information on the Costa Blanca and information on the Costa Calida.

Specifically

1. Number 1 on everybody’s list – it is safe to buy here. Guaranteed through spanish home 4u. There is no doubt that buying here is safe, it’s all above board with proper planning licenses and bank guarantees in place. That is not true of some other places or some other Costas, and unfortunately nor is it true of every Estate Agent selling properties in Spain. But it is true here buying through us. Guaranteed. And we never sell in any area subject to the notorious ‘Land Grab’ laws (in the main these afflict inland, rural and semi or undeveloped areas in the mid to northern Costa Blanca).
2. Build quality. Full 10 year structural guarantee on all our new build developments, like the NHBC in the UK. 
3. Health. We all want a healthy place to live. And for many buyers this will be top of their wish list. According to the World Health Organisation this area is the 2nd healthiest place in the world to live.
4. Tremendous value for money properties. Go to many of the other popular Costas and the price of property there will be higher, and sometimes 2 to 5 times as high for more or less the same type of property in the same type of setting.
5. This is a Property Hot Spot. This area is a true 'Property Hot Spot' with new developments being built - yes even in the recession - and bought - even in the recession - as more and more infra-structure is built, including a new airport and an extension to the existing airport, new hospitals, new roads, new shops, new leisure facilities. But don't tell everyone! This is still 'Spains Best Kept Secret'!
6. Stunning 'Wow-Factor' properties. We sell some of the most exciting developments in the entire South East of Spain and the prices now are so low that now is the right time to buy! We only sell excellent quality well priced properties, so whatever you want we have it, from traditional Spanish properties with bougainvillaeas around the door to an ultra modern villa built in the shape of a doughnut designed by one of Spain’s most famous Architects! All of them, every single one has to pass our ‘would we ourselves buy this?’ test before we offer it for sale.
7. Quality of Life. It’s slow here. Mañana exists here. Sometimes of course that is a nuisance, but it is much preferable to the 24/7 culture back in the say the UK! Lunch is almost a religion in its own right and lasts from 2pm to 4pm – I don’t think I have ever seen a ‘packed lunch’ here!

8. Low Cost of Living. Maybe 1/3^rd lower than the UK? Cars are more expensive to buy as is car insurance, plus internet access and telephone calls are also expensive, but in our experience everything else and all day to day things are much less expensive.

9. The Weather. It is overwhelmingly sunny with over 320 days of sunshine per year, warm if not hot and dry here. Winter temperatures might rarely drop to 13 degrees Centigrade but even so I have seen holidaymakers sunbathing on the beach on New Years Day! Summer temperatures are c.28 degrees Centigrade and in peak conditions might go to 40 degrees for short periods. On those rare rainy days it pours down – don’t get caught out, as you’ll look as though you have fallen into a swimming pool!
10. The Med way of life. Café culture reigns supreme. Tapas abounds. Sea food like you have never seen before. Vegetables that are organic and so fresh some still have the earth on them, clearly plucked out of the ground that very morning. Local markets where you can ‘put a little back’ into the local economy by buying direct from the farmer and his wife. Hundreds of varieties of olives. Good quality wine that is so cheap. Good restaurants where the ‘Menu del Dia’ can cover 3 courses, including wine for €8, to the other end of the spectrum where a ‘Wedding Anniversary’ quality meal on a secluded candle lit table at one of the best  restaurants will still only cost you €60 in total including wine of course!

11. Healthcare. Healthcare is excellent here. In my view and in my experience (as an ex-private medical insurance specialist back in the UK) the Spanish State hospitals system is above the level of the NHS hospitals and below the level of the UK’s private hospitals, and the Spanish private hospitals are above the levels of the UK’s private hospitals. Healthcare Insurance in Spain is less expensive than in the UK too. Health Centres are available funded by the State and private ones are available too. Dentristy is less expensive than the UK.

12. Fantastic clean 'Blue Flag' beaches. This area has some of the most beautiful beaches in the whole of Europe, mostly white fine sandy beaches, ranging from the busy and hectic to the serene and remote ones in nature reserves, and ranging from the manicured flat beach to the rugged backed by sand dunes. Generally car parks are free, close by or even on the beach itself and facilities are 1st class. We even have ‘secret coves’ tucked away in hidden corners, just about accessible down dirt tracks.
13. 'Costa Del Golf'. This is the new ‘Costa Del Golf’ with over 25 courses within a 25 kilometers radius … and more being built or planned. The Rolex Championship was held here 50 meters from my villa, and Spain’s number 1 PGA course is at the centre of activity. Not to mention the world famous La Manga Club Resort. Even the most inland of golf properties will still be close to a fabulous beach.
14. Low, almost non-existent crime levels. Of course there is crime here, there is everywhere, but, to an ex-pat Brit used to the UK’s knife culture, crime, muggings, vandalism and loutishness behaviour, in comparison here in Spain it seems almost crime free. Children play in the streets. We can walk about at night, in the dark, feeling totally safe. Underground car parks are not full of ‘hoodies’, there is almost no litter (but unfortunately often a fair bit of graffiti). The public monuments are not full of traffic cones or lager cans. Christmas nativity scenes are erected in the town squares, yet they are respected, not abused or vandalized. And in 11 years I have never, not even once, seen a drunken Spaniard.
15. Beautiful scenery. From nature reserves to typically Spanish villages to beautiful beaches – it is all here. And more.
16. The Mar Menor. In this part of Spain we have something unique. The largest salt water lagoon in the world. The ‘Little Sea’ as it is called. On average it is 7 degrees warmer than The Med, no-where is it more than 7 meters deep and it is surrounded by beautiful white sandy beaches. It is arguably home to the largest choice of water sports in Spain. Click on the highlighted text for more on the beautiful Mar Menor.
17. Civic and Moral pride exists here. Old ladies in black cardigans still sweep the path outside of their front gardens. Litter is placed in litter bins. Children respect their elders. Family life rules. 
18. Beautiful vibrant cities. The attractions of the regions capital city of Murcia or the ancient port of Cartagena are not far away, so that your time here in Spain is as busy or lazy as you would like it to be. For more details on these cities click on the highlighted text above.
19. Shopping. We have all of the usual shops and now C&A’s, Zara of course, Primark, H&M, up-market clothes shops, El Cortes Ingles (Spain’s equivalent to say John Lewis or Selfridges) and now even Iceland stores! And more shoe shops than I (as a mere male) ever thought existed! 
20. Fiestas. This is the land of the Fiesta! Even tiny villages will have a Fiesta to their Patron Saint and the larger towns and cities will have countless Fiestas like you will never have seen before! Highlights are the Moors and Christian Fiestas, the Easter Fiestas, the 3 Kings Fiesta and at the 5th Holy City in the world, the Holy City of Caravaca de la Cruz is the ‘Running of The Wine Horses’ Fiesta (for information on Caravaca de la Cruz click on the highlighted text). You don’t have to be Spanish to enjoy them or to understand them. They are entirely free and are a unique insight into the Spanish psyche … not to say an excuse to enjoy the Spanish nightlife afterwards!
21. Wildlife. Flamencos migrate to this area. Salt plains and nature reserves are in abundance here (not maybe what you would expect if your view of Spain had previously been of Benidorm). Wild walks along coastal paths, huge nature reserves, whatever you want you’ll find it here.
22. Sports facilities. Every possible type of sports facility is here with a huge diversity of water sports, especially so in the Mar Menor, including kite-surfing, and there is snow ski-ing in the mountains just 2½ to 3 hours drive away.
23. Fabulous nightlife. The Spanish know how to party! But for them the night never starts before 10pm and often goes on until sunrise!
24. The people and the history. This is more ‘real Spain’ than many other Costas, yet still with the things we northern European’s like to have close by. The people are proud to be Spanish. They are proud of their country and their history. They are a friendly people, welcoming and open. The national pastimes of socialising, l-o-n-g lunches, the tradition of family, going to fiestas, proactively enjoying weekends (especially so at the beach) are all important to them. Then there are the castles, the churches and the ancient monuments to be enjoyed by all. 
25. This is a land of contrasts. If I brought you to my villa at night, in the dark, you might think that I live "in the middle of nowhere". From my front door I have a view of the mountains, yet within 17 minutes drive I am in the heart of the city of Murcia. 5 minutes from my brand new contemporary villa in a 5-Star Resort I’ll be surrounded by goats and a shepherd. I’ll get caught behind a tractor on the service road. But then a Maserati will dash by on the new dual carriageway. In the closest village an old lady dressed in black will be sweeping her path. There I can buy fresh bread baked on the premises. I am 10 minutes from my favourite restaurant and 25 minutes from my favourite beach. The numerous large 'out of town' shopping centres are 20 minutes drive away ... but 25 minutes in the opposite direction I can be at a Roman ampitheatre site. I have a choice of 2 different seas within a 25-30 minutes drive, The Med and the Mar Menor. I often eat tapas but last night I ate at a fusion wok restaurant, eating sushi, sea bass and 'eat as much as you like' wok for just €8.95 per head. Back home my neighbours from Holland will arrive in a Porsche and stay in their €700,000 villa. But this is not some enclave, not a ‘them and us’ place. Here are Spaniards living alongside Northern Europeans, and the President of Polaris World, himself a Spaniard, is one of my neighbours. We have Spanish friends … even though we speak just a few words of Spanish. This is a mixed community where the people buying into the lifestyle can easily co-exist with the Spanish. This is a lovely, lively place to live. I love it here! Maybe you will too? If you want 'old world Spain' or bright lights holiday destination, or something in-between, it is all here.  
26. Marinas. If you are into boats there are dozens of marinas here, with little weekender fishing boats to €10m super yachts moored alongside great waterside restaurants.
27. Holy Cities. Caravaca de al Cruz is the 5th holiest city in the world. It is within our region and even if you are not at all religious it is one of the regions ‘Must See’ attractions. If you are religious it is a place of pilgrimage and especially so for Catholics, as in 1998 the Pope conceded a Jubilee Year to Caravaca de la Crux, and hence authorised Caravaca to celebrate a Perpetual Jubilee, a Holy Year every 7 years in perpetuum at the Sanctuary of the Vera Crux. In 2010 it celebrates its jubilee and will attract hundreds of thousands of religious pilgrims. For more on Caravava de la Cruz click on the highlighted text to go direct to that page of our website.
28. Here things are disabled friendly. There are ramps to shop doorways, specially marked ramps on kerbs, disabled parking spaces aplenty. Many restaurants will have disabled washrooms. Many new properties are built disabled friendly (for more details on Spanish properties for the disabled click on the highlighted text).

29. Pensions are transferable. We can recommend specialists who can advise you and do all of the necessary paperwork for you to get your pensions transferred to Spain.

30. Schools. Schools are good here. There are Spanish Schools, International Schools and British Schools, as well as availability of one-to-one private tuition. Even the best British private school here will cost you less than the equivalent in the UK. We have specialists here who can help you with your child’s School.

31. Want a return on your investment? Want to rent your property out? According to The UK Post Office who conducted a survey in early May 2009 via their Travel Service operation, Spain is still "the cheapest holiday destination in the Eurozone" so why not buy your holiday home in THE country visited by the greatest number of potential renters?

In summary
Whatever you want from a Spanish property it will be here. That much is probably evident to you now. Maybe now it’s time to look at the properties for sale (right hand menu on the home page) or their locations (left hand menu on the home page)? Here at spanish home 4u we pre-select the best – the best properties, in the best locations, at the best prices, and they all have to pass the ‘would we ourselves buy this?' test before we offer them for sale. Why not come to see them on the best inspection trips? For details of our inspection trips click on this highlighted text no obligation inspection trips. We will be delighted to help you find your very own ‘Place in the Sun’! Don't just dream it, do it! Come over and live the life of your dreams! We do!