The Costa Almeria, to the south-east of mainland Spain, has the warmest, and sunniest – more than 320 days, annually – climate in the whole of Europe, and its coastline is a fascinating mixture of beautiful sandy beaches, and secluded rocky coves, all lapped by the clear, warm waters of the Mediterranean Sea. Aside from the plentiful opportunities for water sports, of all kinds, from water skiing, to windsurfing, to SCUBA diving and even fishing, the contrasting landscape of the region lends itself well to many other, active, outdoor pursuits.

Golf is a major attraction, with some of the finest courses in Europe, and horse riding, cycling and hiking, among many other activities, are also extremely popular. For the, perhaps, less active, there is a diversity of historical and cultural attractions – ancient Moorish fortresses and other architecture are much in evidence in the towns and villages of the region, or you might like to visit the film sets of the Tabernas Desert, or the Cabo de Gato National Park, or simply sample traditional, and distinctive, Andalucian cuisine in one of the many bars, restaurants or cafes.

The Costa Almeria is well served by international airports at Almeria, San Javier and Murcia, all of which receive direct flights from the UK, and the rest of northern Europe, and the popularity of the region has not gone unnoticed by the Spanish authorities, to the extent that the local infrastructure – including motorway links – has been greatly improved. Similarly, investors in Spanish property are becoming increasingly aware of the opportunities for investment in Almeria property – in the coastal, resort areas and also further inland – with the result that the Costa Almeria is something of a “hotspot” for Spanish property investment.

 

About Arboleas

Arboleas, situated beneath the Filabres Mountains, is typical of the towns and villages to be found on the Costa Almeria, a seamless and congruous blend of the ancient, and the more modern. Central to the traditional, whitewashed town is the 15th century church, and you can wander through the cobbled streets to the town hall, which houses a museum of the town’s – rather colourful – history. There is also a traditional Spanish market, held weekly, selling fruit, vegetables and other local wares. Arboleas, however, is also home to all the modern amenities and facilities that the traditional holidaymaker, or more permanent resident, might require. Supermarkets, banks, a post office and medical facilities are all available within the boundaries of the town, and the local school caters for children up to 12 years, while a free bus service runs to nearby schools, for older children.

 

Aboleas is also ideally situated for the coastal resorts of Mojacar, Garrucha and Vera Playa, all of which are within half an hour, or so, by car. Golf, too, is easily accessible, with similarly excellent road links to four golf courses, again all within 30, or 40, minutes. Other local attractions include rambling, horse riding, fishing, and even skiing, in the Sierra Nevada during the winter months.

 

More on Arboleas Property

Alboreas property, like Almeria property, in general, whether it be ready-built, or a new (perhaps “off-plan”) development can be found in a variety of shapes and sizes, and, of course, prices. Most of the terms used to describe Arboleas property are fairly self-explanatory – an “apartment”, for example, is likely to very similar to what you might expect in the UK, a self-contained suite of rooms, occupying part of a single floor, in an apartment building or complex, as is a “townhouse”, typically a suburban, terraced or semi-detached house, with two, or more bedrooms – but others are, perhaps, not quite so informative. You may, for example, come across Arboleas property described as a “bungalow” – for “bungalow”, read “apartment” – or “finca” – typically a farmhouse, of varying standard, with land, of varying standard, and size, so be careful, particularly if this type of Arboleas property is presented as “requiring restoration”; this is likely to represent a major project.

 

Alboreas property does, however, offer a very wide choice, with many new developments, built to extremely high standards, and attractively priced. Prices compare very favourably with those in the more established regions for Spanish property investment – typically some 25%, or more lower, than those on the Costa del Sol – and, indeed, with prices in the UK. Arboleas property prices are rising steadily, as they have done in recent years, as the region continues to catch the attention of property investors looking for a second home, or to purchase on a “buy-to-let” basis, and are likely to continue to do so for some years yet. The increasing number of low-cost, direct flights, operated by major “budget” carriers, to Almeria airport, coupled with continuing improvements to the infrastructure of the whole of the Almeria region, can only serve to increase the popularity, and occupancy rates, of Arboleas property, such that buy-to-let investors are likely to see returns above the level required to cover the cost of a Spanish mortgage for most, or all, of the year.