An Introduction to Costa Almeria

If you are looking for your dream property in Spain the Costa de Almeria may not be the first place that comes to mind. Less well known than the Costa Del Sol, Costa Brava and Costa Blanca yet just as scenic, the province of Almeria is located in the South East of the Iberian Peninsula on the shores of the Mediterranean, and covers around 8774 square metres. The growth in the Spanish property market has been well documented. Many believe, however, that the huge amount of visitors and construction has been to the detriment of many areas of Spain. The Costa de Almeria has building restrictions preventing developers building over two storeys and locations have density limits. The Costa de Almeria is unspoilt and regulations are in place to ensure it stays that way. We believe the Costa de Almeria provides superb investment opportunities. Prices have steadily risen over the past two years (25% annually) but the market still has a long way to go. Purchasing property here will not only improve your lifestyle but could have significant positive financial benefits too. Research shows that the Costa de Almeria provides significantly better value for money than other parts of Spain.

The area is geographically very diverse. To the East the coast lies alongside the natural park of Cabo del Gato-Nijar, sparsely populated with few villages dotted along the coastline – the most well-known of which is San Jose. To the West are the popular beach resorts of Roquetas de Mar, Aqua Dulce and Almerimar: this is where you will find the marinas, golf courses and hotels. Inland the scenery may seem familiar; many ‘spaghetti Westerns’ were filmed here, as were some scenes from Lawrence of Arabia. Almeria City is lively and modern, with art galleries, shops, museums, a weekly market and a thriving marina. You can while away an afternoon strolling down La Rambla, a long avenue with pretty squares, street cafes and children's play areas. The rich history of Almeria (over the centuries it has played host to Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Romans, Arabs and Christians) is in evidence throughout the city, not least in the imposing 10th century Arab fortress of Alcazaba and the beautiful Cathedral of Almeria.

The weather is pretty good too! The Costa de Almeria is warmer than the Costa del Sol (which has nearly four times more rain) and enjoys over 3000 hours of sunshine a year.

Although determined to maintain the area’s unspoilt natural beauty the infrastructure has been improved dramatically over recent years. New golf courses, marinas, train routes and motorways are having a positive effect on visitor numbers and making the area far more appealing to those wishing to purchase a property in Spain. Two years ago Almeria airport had one flight a week from the UK. Amongst other carriers, British Airways have now introduced a 4th weekly flight to Almeria from the UK and MyTravelite have introduced a daily service from Birmingham. With the current extension of Almeria Airport for the 2005 Mediterranean Games, flight routes are expected to extend further. The area is also served by Alicante and San Javier Murcia Airports, making it easily accessible from the UK. The region is considered very cosmopolitan by Spaniards as a holiday location and therefore the area remains true to its Spanish heritage and has not been transformed into a "Britain in the sunshine" cluttered with "chicken & chips" restaurants. Those expats who do choose to make Costa de Almeria their home are keen for it to retain its character, charm and national identity. For now, the Costa de Almeria is still relatively unknown in comparison to other parts of Spain, but considerably more facilities have been approved for the region and it is beginning to receive more media attention in Britain. This is the ideal time to take advantage of what are still relatively low property prices, and find your dream home in what is still, and will remain, a beautiful and unspoilt region of Spain.