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Looking to buy a second home next year and would like some advice please

Posted: Sun Nov 15, 2020 8:17pm
5 replies245 views3 members subscribed
Lisa40

Posts: 10

Location: La Cala De Mijas

Joined: 15 Nov 2020

Hi we are looking to buy a second home in either Mijas or Estepona snd would like to know a bit more about the areas. Any advice would be great?

We are in our 40s snd have twin boys who are 15. Thank you 

demongardener48

Posted: Mon Nov 16, 2020 12:33pm

Posts: 16

1 helpful points

Location: Calahonda

Joined: 27 Jul 2020

Posted: Mon Nov 16, 2020 12:33pm

Hi,

I have just bought a sea-side apartment in Calahonda for family holidays and winter breaks. The Mijas area was the third part of Spain where I looked. Learning from my earlier attempts, I found a few properties on-line that looked suitable and then contacted those agents before I came out to Spain, who then took me to see those places and others matching my criteria. In a few days I found several which would suit me, and got my offer accepted on the best one. (I reckon that this is a good time to buy as there was so little activity in the property market in the Spring and, I guess, again now, during lockdown.) I then used local e-mail networks to find a good solicitor, by recommendation, which worked well. In my earlier searches an estate agent would drive me round for the day and show me what they wanted to sell, even if it was utterly unsuitable and not what I said I wanted, wasting my time and theirs.

Good luck ! All I need now is for the Covid restrictions to be lifted as I can't get there with my paintbrushes to start work !

Diana

Lisa40

Posted: Mon Nov 16, 2020 7:27pm

Lisa40

Original Poster

Posts: 10

Location: La Cala De Mijas

Joined: 15 Nov 2020

Posted: Mon Nov 16, 2020 7:27pm

demongardener48 wrote on Mon Nov 16, 2020 12:33pm:

Hi,

I have just bought a sea-side apartment in Calahonda for family holidays and winter breaks. The Mijas area was the third part of Spain where I looked. Learning from my earlier attempts, I found a few properties on-line that looked suitable and then contacted those agents before I came out to Spai...

...n, who then took me to see those places and others matching my criteria. In a few days I found several which would suit me, and got my offer accepted on the best one. (I reckon that this is a good time to buy as there was so little activity in the property market in the Spring and, I guess, again now, during lockdown.) I then used local e-mail networks to find a good solicitor, by recommendation, which worked well. In my earlier searches an estate agent would drive me round for the day and show me what they wanted to sell, even if it was utterly unsuitable and not what I said I wanted, wasting my time and theirs.

Good luck ! All I need now is for the Covid restrictions to be lifted as I can't get there with my paintbrushes to start work !

Diana

Thank you Diana for messaging me. Is Calahonda a nice place? We are going to come out next spring and have a good look round. Same as you we are buying for a holiday place😀 Why did you choose costa deal sol and not costa Blanca? 
thanks 

Lisa 

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demongardener48

Posted: Tue Nov 17, 2020 11:10am

Posts: 16

1 helpful points

Location: Calahonda

Joined: 27 Jul 2020

Posted: Tue Nov 17, 2020 11:10am

Lisa40 wrote on Mon Nov 16, 2020 7:27pm:

Thank you Diana for messaging me. Is Calahonda a nice place? We are going to come out next spring and have a good look round. Same as you we are buying for a holiday place😀 Why did you choose costa deal sol and not costa Blanca? 
thanks 

Lisa 

Hi Lisa,

I wanted somewhere in Spain where I could go all year for short stays or up to two or three weeks at a time, and particularly for winter trips. (I may rent it out in peak season as it will be too hot and busy for me then, and it would help offset the running costs.) I'm hoping that family and friends will use it, too, for holidays and golf trips. I did earlier property-hunting trips to the Mar Menor area, and then Javea/Denia but they were not quite right for what I wanted. I have an old friend who lives near Mijas Costa and realised that being near her and in an area that had lots going on all year was a good idea, although it is much busier/more built up than I originally envisaged. I did loads of research on-line and then upped my budget to get exactly what I wanted. Lower Calahonda will suit me well - very near the beach, good access to shops, restaurants and cafes, public transport, etc, and with lots of places to go and visit within easy reach by bus or rented car. I found several very nice properties there. Apartments back from the coast, up in the hills (Upper Calahonda, Upper Riviera, etc)  are cheaper, often newer, and some are like very posh hotels, but there is little flat outside space (so the pools and green spaces were smaller) and you would need a car for every journey. I didn't want a high rise resort and needed somewhere that was near the airport and didn't shut up for winter, which ruled out some of the earlier places I looked at (Costa Blanca and Denia). I can't get there now because of Covid - I have not been to Spain since buying it - which is a frustration, but it will pass. I am a bit concerned about running costs, getting work done, and the admin of having a second property but I'm sure it will work out.

My friend used a networking website to get recommendations for a solicitor, which worked out very well. The local estate agents were excellent -  in the Mar Menor area they didn't listen to me about what I wanted (I learned how to manage them better after that trip !).

God luck, Diana

clwiggin

Posted: Wed Nov 18, 2020 4:46pm

Posts: 22

5 helpful points

Location: La Cala De Mijas

Joined: 6 Apr 2019

Posted: Wed Nov 18, 2020 4:46pm

demongardener48 wrote on Tue Nov 17, 2020 11:10am:

Hi Lisa,

I wanted somewhere in Spain where I could go all year for short stays or up to two or three weeks at a time, and particularly for winter trips. (I may rent it out in peak season as it will be too hot and busy for me then, and it would help offset the running costs.) I'm hoping that family and fri...

...ends will use it, too, for holidays and golf trips. I did earlier property-hunting trips to the Mar Menor area, and then Javea/Denia but they were not quite right for what I wanted. I have an old friend who lives near Mijas Costa and realised that being near her and in an area that had lots going on all year was a good idea, although it is much busier/more built up than I originally envisaged. I did loads of research on-line and then upped my budget to get exactly what I wanted. Lower Calahonda will suit me well - very near the beach, good access to shops, restaurants and cafes, public transport, etc, and with lots of places to go and visit within easy reach by bus or rented car. I found several very nice properties there. Apartments back from the coast, up in the hills (Upper Calahonda, Upper Riviera, etc)  are cheaper, often newer, and some are like very posh hotels, but there is little flat outside space (so the pools and green spaces were smaller) and you would need a car for every journey. I didn't want a high rise resort and needed somewhere that was near the airport and didn't shut up for winter, which ruled out some of the earlier places I looked at (Costa Blanca and Denia). I can't get there now because of Covid - I have not been to Spain since buying it - which is a frustration, but it will pass. I am a bit concerned about running costs, getting work done, and the admin of having a second property but I'm sure it will work out.

My friend used a networking website to get recommendations for a solicitor, which worked out very well. The local estate agents were excellent -  in the Mar Menor area they didn't listen to me about what I wanted (I learned how to manage them better after that trip !).

God luck, Diana

We bought an apartment in La Cala de Mijas three years ago to come to in the winter.   We came here on holiday from the U.S. and absolutely fell in love with the area.   We had not intended to buy, but couldn't help ourselves!!  Our plan, like yours, was to come in the winter and rent in the summer. Last year we decided we loved it here so much we moved here.   Having lived in San Diego, California for many years, we found this area to be very similar but less stressful.

Our realtor here, Sean Peck, e-mail [email protected];  phone +34-660-719-235 (WhatsApp), has lived here for many years (English) is familiar with all areas, can manage the apartment and get renters for the summer (one stop shopping).   I am sure if you let him know what you are looking for he would be very happy to work with you.   

Good luck and I know you will absolutely love it here.   Carole Wiggin

Lisa40

Posted: Wed Nov 18, 2020 6:09pm

Lisa40

Original Poster

Posts: 10

Location: La Cala De Mijas

Joined: 15 Nov 2020

Posted: Wed Nov 18, 2020 6:09pm

Thank you so much for your messages. They are very helpful! I just need to be able to fly out that abs look around more ready to buy.😀

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