Need to see some properties!

You will really need to drill down to the area that you want as good estate agents work in specific areas that they know really well....although agents do have access to all properties the good ones don't generally speak work the entire coast. I can recommend an excellent agent who is super professional but she doesn't really work in the La Cala/Fuengirola areas so if that's where you are looking she is unlikely to be of any real help to you. Move further west to Marbella/San Pedro/Benhavis/Estepona and that's a different story entirely. Or of course, you could be looking east of Malaga which has a different feel again......you need to set some parameters first though. And only you can do that.

Hi. Many thanks for that. We have looked at the La Cala area more because we have visited there more often but my wife has been looking at Estepona so I have a conflict lol. I think we will do a little more travelling when we are over in March and narrow the choice down. Thanks again. 

Hi.   I would highly recommend Flaxman estates.  Julie and Neil have been excellent for us and they are well established in this area.  Good luck with your house search.  We viewed 30 before getting in touch with Flaxman estates and then we bought the first one they showed us.  They've recommended solicitors and communications before and during the purchase were excellent.  I can't recommend them highly enough.  Teress

Many thanks for the reply. I have contacted the flaxmans and will hopefully be speaking with them in the next few days. 

I would suggest Ultimate Estates in La Cala and Homes Abroad if venturing Fuengirola way. We have dealt with both of them and can highly recommend. 

Thank you. 

Good afternoon Trevc,

You seem to have had quite a lot of advice from members of the forum about looking for a property......Sadly some of it is incorrect. The very best service you will get from an Estate Agency is to find one that covers the complete coast (say Malaga to Gibraltar) You need someone with years of experience that knows all of the coast because this way you will get to see all of the areas that you have selected with one person who is not going to have just a very localized knowledge and is therefore not qualified to comment on other areas.

Keep in mind that almost all of the Agencies have access to all of the properties you see advertised (through our Multiple Listing systems) this covers the whole coast, however it saves a lot of time and effort if your Agency knows these areas and properties and will explain the minus points as well as the plus points of each area and then you concentrate on the properties.

I have had over 20 years of experience in the property business here on the Costa del Sol and all of the old timers had to drive around and learn all of the areas before being let loose with a client. Often we spend weeks riding around on tours learning about the areas and developments and identifying problems (that clients should be told about but often are not) 

Also you should NOT ever take a recommendation for a Lawyer from your Estate Agency. It is a conflict of interests as neither the Agency or the Lawyer get paid UNLESS you buy and in many cases the Agency is paid by the Law Firms.

If you get stuck for a Law Firm I would always give you three of the biggest conveyancing law companies and the contact numbers so you can approach them yourselves.

Let me know what you are looking for, your particular wants and your budget and I will tell you which area you will get the best value for money. I am not asking for your business just trying to keep you out of trouble.

Good luck 

Many thanks for this. The advice is much appreciated. I have read lots online on the various pitfalls to the point we’re I lost the will to live. We love the coast and have seen many properties in many different areas so speaking to someone would help me more at this stage. We are looking for as near the coast as possible within a €150-€200, at least 2 beds, we are not golfers but wouldn’t rule out that type of area providing it was near enough to the coast. Needs to be a modern...ish apartment/townhouse. We love the la Cala/fuengirola area but have seen some properties in Estepona that look like reasonable value. We need inspiration really but all this brexit nonsense and uncertainty is causing me concern. We won’t be living there full time just now but hope to do so in the future. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks. 

Hello again Trevc,

You are right about the Pitfalls (I think I fell into most of them 20 years ago) With your budget of 150-200,000€ for a two bed with two bath (modern) the bulk of the La Cala de Mijas property is going to be out of the price range. Our problem was nothing was built when we first went into the recession around 2007/8 and when we finally came out of it everything (apart from some half finished Bank repossessions that were then completed) everything built was too completely new building standards which were far superior to the previous. You would probably get something in Terrazes (at the top of La Cala de Mijas) or maybe in Los Prados del Golf (close to the Galp Garage) but everything else new or newish is going to be very expensive. Also there are plenty in Calanova Golf but you would not be walking to much being so far out of town.

I would personally avoid the Selwo area as whilst eveybody seems to be building property here at reasonable prices it really does lack any infrastructure (although you will be promised it is coming, I am still waiting and its 20 years) 

Probably you would be best looking at Dona Julia (ViaCelere Dona Julia) walking distance to the beach and town or Lotus which is just behind Celere, or maybe Serenity views in Costa Galera. You also have a half dozen more such as Wellingtonia in Estepona town although this is being built in a very Spanish neighbourhood and right next to the school. If its views to die for then Pure South at Manilva and also worth a consideration is Las Olas but both of the last ones are in quieter areas.

Any questions please feel free orif you want you can always call me on 637992244

Regards Bill