Introduction
Santa Ana is part of the greater Mundo Aguilón golf resort, a high-end development in the Costa Almería at the eastern end of the Andalucia region.
The development offers 2-bedroom investment property apartments with underground parking and private terrace space, fantastic views of the golf course and of the sea just under 2km away.
Sea views and a golf course location tend to add high premiums to investment property prices but these sea view apartments are available for just €256,400 (£176,828) – 24% less than other comparable properties.
A 15% deposit is required, with 85% payable on completion. At a conservative estimate of 5% growth over 5 years, the value of your Spanish investment property could increase by 68%. This would mean a truly remarkable 453% return on your invested capital.
And all this in the stable, proven and mature Spanish investment property market.
Why Costa Almeria?
Excellent Climate
The south coast of Spain has long been a magnet for northern Europeans seeking respite from cold, cloudy drizzle and when you look at the climate it’s not surprising. With an average of 325 days of sunshine per year, the south eastern corner of Spain enjoys beautiful year-round weather. It has a semi-arid climate with mild winters and long, warm to hot summers and very low rainfall too. In fact, Almería is reported to be the sunniest region in Europe, with an average 3000 hours per year1.
Easy to Get to
South eastern Spain is extremely well-served for air travel. There are major airports at Almería, Malaga, Alicante and Murcia. It is possible to fly to the area direct from all parts of the UK, with no need for a time-consuming transfer in London. All the budget airlines fly to either Malaga (2 hours drive), Alicante (2 hours), Almería (1 hour) or Murcia (11⁄2 hours). Flight time is approximately 21⁄2 hours.
Gorgeous Setting
The province of Andalucia is a large one, and its eastern end, the Almería region, is blessed with beautiful scenery. The Sierra del Aguilón (Mountains of the Eagles) rise up to the north and gorgeous sandy beaches stretch out along the Mediterranean. In between there are quaint hill towns and the famous, atmospheric “white villages” where it seems time stands still. Dramatic rock formations dot the coastline and you might recognise places you have seen in famous “spaghetti westerns”, and “Lawrence of Arabia”, which were filmed in the region.
Restricted Planning
Having learned the lessons of over-development further round the Mediterranean coastline, the authorities have clamped down on the planning permission process. Much of this region is protected national parkland with the remainder being agricultural land. It is notoriously difficult to obtain change of land use permission, and all other building requests have to go through a complicated and time-consuming process at various levels of government – local and regional. It is not permitted to build on front-line seafront land, any new buildings must be set back, and no building can rise higher than three storeys. This is good news for the property investor as it restricts supply and preserves the region’s natural beauty.
Improving Infrastructure
The Almería province will benefit enormously from the upgrade of a stretch of road through the region to motorway status. When completed in approximately 18 months (mid-2008), it will create a high speed route to Valencia and Barcelona and onwards up into France. This will make travel in and out of the region much quicker and will drastically reduce journey times to these attractive cities, making it easier to explore other parts of Spain.
Beautiful Towns and Places to Visit
Andalucia is a stunningly beautiful region, jam-packed with fascinating historical sites, reflecting and celebrating hundreds of years of civilisation. Not-to-be-missed destinations include the Alhambra of Granada, the romantic and historic Seville, several nature reserves including the mountains of Sierra Nevada and Cabo de Gato-Nijar reserve. Mojacar was built as a Moorish hill-fort and its streets snake up the steep hillside, offering great views from the top. Dotted along the coastline are old Moorish towers, lookouts for sea-borne invaders.
Golf
The south of Spain has always attracted the keen golfer with its excellent year-round temperature and challenging and beautifully designed courses. There is plenty to interest players of all levels. In addition to the course at Mundo Aguilón, there are several other courses in the area which offer variety to players of all standards.
Activities (including Skiing Within 2 Hours Drive)
This region of Spain is one of those places where it is possible to spend a morning on the beach and then enjoy an afternoon’s skiing in the Sierra Nevada, approximately 2 hours inland. As well as golf – there are a couple of other courses in the area if you fancy a change from the course at Mundo Aguilón – there are the obvious attractions of the beach – swimming, boating (there is a marina at nearby Garrucha) and water sports. You can also go horse-riding, hiking, play tennis and enjoy a host of other outdoor activities, thanks to the pleasant weather.
Year-Round Rentals
With its mild climate, south east Spain attracts visitors all year round. Golfers, in particular, relish the opportunity to play in the mild weather, compared to the heat of the summer. This means good potential for rental yields, even outside of the high season. On a recent site visit at the end of October, there were still plenty of people on the golf course, by the pool and in the sea.
Lifestyle
Life in southern Spain is laidback and relaxed. Perhaps it is something to do with the weather, or maybe it is the proximity to the beach, but life is lived at a slower pace there. In common with the rest of Spain, life should be enjoyed, and spent happily with family and friends in front of a cold glass of wine and a plate or two of tapas, or relaxing on the beach, or savouring the great outdoors or just making the most of your absence from the rat race, even just for a little while.