The province of Almeria in the South Eastern part of Spain is now one of fastest growing areas in the country. Historically an area of great agricultural resources, the emphasis is now on tourism, what with natural parks such as Cabo de Gata and the endless stretches of virgin beaches bathed by a clear Mediterranean sea, it has been the obvious choice with Spanish holiday makers for years. If you are looking to buy Costa Almeria property there is an excellent opportunity for the property investor with prices still low and set to rise as the area and the local economy grows in line with the offer for tourism.

 

Roquetas De Mar

The popular tourist resort town of Roquetas de Mar was once a sleepy, picturesque fishing village, dating from Roman times and it still retains its warren of Moorish alley-like streets and pretty aspect of white-washed houses ascending the hillside. Hotel and apartment complexes, however, are beginning to dominate the skyline especially along the long, sandy beaches adjacent to the village. Tourism is big business along the holiday strip, with shops selling local crafts jostling with numerous restaurants and bars, and myriad activities on offer from horse riding to scuba diving or sailing. Roquetas has an 18-hole golf course (at Playa Serena) and a specially designated nudist beach. Those interested in history will enjoy exploring the ruins of the medieval Castilla de Santa Ana and other fortifications in the area, and bird-watchers have a treat in store at the Las Marinas salt marsh and Punta Entinas beaches a few miles south of the village, where flamingos, egrets and avocets gather.

 

 

Almerimar

Almerimar is situated 40 km west of Almería and 160 km east of Malaga. It is one of the few resorts in Europe within less rainfall. Its wide, sandy beaches, the nautical sports, restaurants and hotels make for an unforgettable holiday. Almerimar is also known for its golf course and its marina with unspoiled beaches, quiet uncrowded by ways to Cabo de Gata and the Sierra Nevada, Yacht club, marina promenade and natural scenic beauty. It boasts wide, sandy beaches and offers bars, hotels, shopping arcades and night life. The town has a 1,000 berth marina and a yacht club. Sailing and windsurfing are possible all year round. The clear Mediterranean water makes it an excellent place for snorkelling and scuba-diving. Fishing is also popular. Almerimar is a purpose-built tourist complex centre around the working fishing harbour and the modern yacht marina which has moorings for more than 1,000 boats. The resort is flanked by two natural parks and long unspoiled beaches. The annual temperature is around 20º.

 

 

Agua Dulce

Agua Dulce is situated 15 km west of Almería and 145 km east of Malaga. It is one of the few resorts in Europe where the rainfall is scarce. The sun shines for more than 320 days a year! Agua Dulce has grown from a very small fishing village to the present day as a tourist complex of hotels, apartments, restaurants and a sports marina. Complete tourist complex of hotels, apartments, restaurants and a sport port that makes Agua Dulce of an ideal place to enjoy the sun and the beach.

 

 

Vera

The naturist village of Vera is situated in a privileged situation for tourism in the east part of Almería. Praised by the ones who know it already, the naturist area of Vera has grown to an important destiny within the European naturist resorts. The service offered in the different urbanizations and along the beach is numerous and count with green zone everywhere, fountain, swimming pools and heated indoor pools, French bowl course, beach restaurant, massage room, supermarket, disco pub with Latin music, sun beds, water sport activities, volley beach and beach football. Vera is a prosperous town with great variety of shops and amazing street market. Nearby at Vera Playa there is the only Water Park in the area. Vera has a strong attraction by its local strong cuisine found in both classy restaurants and local tapas bars.

 

 

Mojacar

Undoubtedly the most romantic and picturesque resort town in south-eastern Spain, the white-washed houses and cobbled streets of Mojacar, typical of Costa Almeria property, are sprinkled atop a hill overlooking pristine sandy beaches, washed by the warm Mediterranean. This unspoilt ancient Moorish fortress town has been a favourite with artists and writers for many years, and now attracts holiday-makers who fill up the hotels and villas which have proliferated along the nearby stretch of beach, fortunately not yet to the detriment of the town's appearance or beguiling atmosphere. The village centre is honeycombed with narrow casbah-like cobbled alleyways, which hide many quaint surprises, like a Roman fountain pumping fresh spring water and the unusual fortified church of Santa Maria.

 

 

Valle Del Este Vera Playa – Garrucha

The most noteworthy characteristics of the Valle del Este: The Valle del Este Resort occupies a 108 hectare site, next to the Mediterranean dual carriageway, 70 kms from the airport at Almería, and 7 kms from the beaches of Vera and Garrucha.A 4-star hotel, with 135 rooms and 6 suites Estella. 18-hole Golf Course and Golf Club House. Sports club: swimming pool, tennis & paddle courts. Beach club. Nature trail, right around the complex. Residential area with 30 residential development complexes.

 

 

Albox

A short drive inland into the mountains you will find small villages and towns such as Albox, just 30 minutes drive from the coast and you are in real Spain with its traditional customs and ways. Slip deeper inland to small villages such as Taberno that has a fuente común (drinking water spring) crystal clear mountain water for drinking.

 

 

Arboleas

Nestled in the Sierra de los Filabres and ever popular with Costa Almeria property buyers, Arboleas boasts magnificent views of the desert-like surrounding landscape and the fertile greenery of the riverside. It has three supermarkets, a post office, banks, bars, restaurants, a chemist, a weekly market, and a school. Arboleas is growing steadily, but retains a tranquil atmosphere and slower-paced lifestyle. Arboleas is ideal whether you're looking for a property as a permanent residence or as a holiday home.

 

 

Los Millares

Los Millares is situated 20 kms North West of Almeria between the villages of Gador and Santa Fe de Mondujar and was thought to be the location of Spain's first metalworking culture dating back to 1800 BC. Los Millares provided a crucial stepping stone between the Stone and Bronze ages because of its ability to smelt and shape copper.

 

 

Velez Blanco

Velez Blanco is a small whitewashed village that lies 6km north of Velez Rubio at the foot of a rocky hill. On top of the hill you will see a stunning castle built by the Marquis of Velez Blanco between 1503 - 13. Although the castle exterior is still viewed as a stunning piece of Renaissance architecture the interior is just a shadow of its former self. In 1904 the castle was sold to George Blumenthal, an American millionaire, who proceeded to rip out the interior, including the Patio de Honour - an impressive courtyard carved in white marble, and ship it all off to the USA. It has since been reconstructed inside the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. Plans are in discussion to carry out a complete reconstruction of the original using marble from nearby Macael.

 

 

Tabernas

The 'Desierto de Tabernas' is a land mass measuring approximately 11,625 hectares which lies to the north of the city of Almeria. It is considered to be the only real desert in Europe and has been used as a backdrop for a number of famous films.

 

 

Parque Natural de Cabo de Gata

The Natural Park of Cabo de Gata has become one of the jewels in the crown of Almeria and was created in 1987. It is the first Terrestrial/marine Park in Andalusia covering 38,000 hectares of dry land and 12,000 hectares of land under water.

 

The land in this area has remained largely undeveloped, there are no real towns, just small villages scattered here and there.

San Miguel de Cabo de Gata is one such village, home to a large lake favoured by flamingos. The Faro de Cabo de Gata (lighthouse) sits on the cape's southern tip and on a clear day the Riff Mountains in Morocco can be seen. Scuba divers and snorkellers are attracted to a stretch of seabed 2 km wide in the park where marine flora and fauna are abundant.

 

Types of Costa Almeria Property

Costa Almeria has great value investment property and an extensive range of apartments, townhouses, villas and other property for sale.

 

 

The Property Market in Costa Almeria

Costa Almeria is the driest region in Spain and is known as the garden of Europe due the mass greenhouse production of millions of kilos of crops which are exported from here. The capital, Almeria is overlooked by the spectacular Alcazaba Castle built in 955AD by the Moors. It also has the only desert region in Europe. This together with the mountains, coastal natural parks and picturesque villages make the scenery as diverse as the residents and continues to attract Costa Almeria property investors.

 

In the traditional Spanish resorts you also find British, Irish, Germans and Dutch living happily together meaning diverse nightlife too without the endless lines of Brit bars selling full English breakfasts with two for one offer on Carling. Road networks are excellent with Almeria airport in close proximity. The motorway is currently being extended to reduce the journey time to Malaga from 2.5 hours to just 1.5 hours.

Costa Almeria property prices are amongst the lowest in any coastal region in Spain with one bedroom apartments available from €80,000 and self designed villas only a short drive to the beach available from €162,000. The average price for a 3 bedroom townhouse is just €205,000 and a 4 bedroom villa at €220,000. So whatever, your budget, you are sure to find something to suit your needs. In the last year Costa Almeria property prices have risen by 13.4%. Things also look very rosy for the future with rises forecast of 8.6% for 2006.

 

Why Invest in Costa Almeria property?

 

• Spain's fastest emerging Costa
  
• Very popular investment property market
  
• Competitive market entry level
  
• Properties from Vera to Almerimar
  
• Ideal location for first time buyer
  

 

Investing in property in Spain - a wise choice?

Each year more and more people buy Spanish property as an investment. Although in theory there are many reasons for investing in property in Spain (housing prices have gone up by 220% in the past five years here), and lots of companies ready to sell you property that isn't even built yet, the reality is that too many people fail to understand the ins and outs of buying a house in Spain, and their investment can - and sometimes does - all go horribly wrong.

 

Because Spain is a wonderful place to live the property market here is an attractive option for a safe investment, if you go about it in the right way. But if you don't understand the Spanish property market properly, you and your investment can be quite vulnerable.

According to some estimates, over one and a half million foreign people will invest in property in Spain over the next five years. Attracted by reasonable prices, cheap flights, good weather and Spanish lifestyle, investors increasingly look to Spain and to Costa Almeria property as one of the best options available in Europe.

The Costa Almeria property market is still thriving and prices are expected to continue to rise here and elsewhere in Spain at least in the near future. But even so, we encourage our users to become properly informed before buying property. It is a big step to make, and while the vast majority of foreign house buyers in Spain are pleased with their experience (150,000 houses are purchased by foreign buyers each year), a growing minority are not.