Investing in SpainApartments and townhouses from €194,000 in a former silver mining town, and six holiday villas for € 2.7m. Kate McMorrowreports
A former silver mining boom town in Almeria in Spain's south-east has been revived by tourism in the past 20 years. Now Harbour Lights, a waterfront development of 48 two, three and four-bedroom apartments and townhouses are being sold in the town of Villaricos.
The 56-138sq m (603-1,485sq ft) properties range in price from €194,000 to €369,000. The development is a five-minute walk from the beach, according to the selling agent. It's designed to look like a traditional Spanish fishing village, with some properties built around plazas, others around courtyards with swimming pools.
All the homes have individual rooftop solariums with sea veiws and underground parking.
The new homes being planned are among a further 2,000 planned in the village, where the population had fallen to under 300 in 1985 because of its declining economy.
Villaricos is in the Almanzora region. The closest airports are at Almeria, about 50 minutes' away, and Murcia. The Almanzora Bay Group is the developer.
www.almanzora.com
A potentially lucrative holiday complex in Alicante might suit an Irish buyer with a warmer climate in mind and a valuable property to sell.
A price of €2.7 million is negotiable for La Datcha, which consists of six villas, one a restored finca or farmhouse, tucked here and there on a terraced acre of cultivated gardens, with two pools, sauna, gymnasium and thousands of flowering trees and shrubs. Alicante agency Espana Magica is handling sales.
La Datcha could continue to trade as a holiday retreat or be sold on as individual villas. As the location is a special conservation area, the latter option would need to be checked out by a solicitor with Spanish conveyancing expertise.
The complex stands in the hills of San Vicente del Raspeig, a quiet scenic area about 12kms from Alicante and 20 minutes drive from the airport. Owners Michelle and Danny Crowe discovered the old Finca and rental cottages while trawling the internet for a suitable Spanish villa to relocate to.
It was "off the radar pricewise at €1.2 million" says Danny Crowe, who works in the tourism business. Nevertheless, they flew out to Alicante, loved the potential despite its "falling down" state and bought La Datcha within four days of arriving. The property was owned by a Swiss/German couple who had lived in the main house and rented the holiday cottages for years.
With the help of a team of Spanish builders, the Crowe's completely restored the three-bedroom finca, rewiring and plumbing, rebuilding thick crumbling walls and extending the garden.
Of the two two-bedroom cottages and three one-beds, one had to be totally refurbished and the remainder restored to a good standard.
One two-bedroom house was converted into a large one-bed with formal diningroom and good-sized garden. Already beautiful, the gardens were tidied up and pruned.
Hundreds of giant cacti, bougainvillea and 12 huge palm trees add character and colour.
The six houses are fully furnished and have their own private terraces screened from neighbours.
There are two pool terraces, one at the top level of the site and another at the lower end.
The owners, who are moving back to the UK for work reasons, recorded temperatures of 18-20 degrees over Christmas and New Year.
La Datcha's letting website advertises the cottages for €715-€910 per week for the month of July.
www.espanamagica.com; www.uniqueproperty.eu
