After France, Spain is Europe's most popular holiday destination, and the apparent dominance of France is to a large extent due to visitors in transit elsewhere. In 1996 between 1.2 and 1.3 million European tourists visited Spain. It is therefore not surprising that many of them become interested in buying a home there. Spain's property market generally has enjoyed strong growth, with the Costa Brava enjoying a particularly large rise in values. About 20% of foreign owners are more or less permanent residents of Spain, while the remaining 80% bought their property for either holidays or investment purposes.
The costa brava is particularly attractive because ? Summer heat is less intense than further south, ? Scenery is spectacular, ? There are beautiful well-preserved mediaeval towns like Pals and Peratallada everywhere, ? Catalonia is well run with good roads and railways ? The A7 motorway is never more than a few minutes drive and connects to the French network ? Barcelona is easily accessible ? Golf courses are numerous and of the highest standard all year round ? In winter, there is good skiing in the nearby Pyrenees ? There are cheap flights to Girona/Costa Brave airport and to Barcelona and Perpignan. ? Eating out is inexpensive and a real pleasure ? The cost of living generally is reasonable. That is an impressive catalogue of benefits. Add that attractive property is still fairly freely available and competitively priced and you will quickly understand the popularity of the region. Many different nationalities settle here, but unlike further south they are all intermingled, with no "English" estates or "German" estates. The whole atmosphere is much more cosmopolitan. That does not suit everybody. Before buying anything, do visit the area in and out of season. Resorts that are a buzz in summer often die completely in the winter. To most Catalonians, the Costa Brava is where they go for their summer holidays; they don't live there, and they don't even visit at week-ends out of season. If you are buying just for summer rentals and/or your own summer holidays, that does not matter, but if you are thinking of permanent residence, it is a critical factor. Never assume that you may be able to rent your property in winter. It is most unlikely.
If you are thinking of semi-permanent or even permanent residence, you may be concerned that you will find it hard to make friends here, and therefore be somewhat isolated. This is generally not so. Most residents are retired or semi-retired and it is fairly easy to meet new people, particularly of course if you play golf. Incomers tend to be of a similar age and background, even if from different countries. They too want to make new friends.
This may be an advantage or a disadvantage! You will also suddenly find that you have many friends in England wanting to visit you. Some of them may be friends that you thought of only as acquaintances. It can also be difficult for visitors to understand that you are not there just to entertain them, but have your own life to lead as well.
All in all though, the Costa Brava is a terrific place to holiday or live as long as you have thought through your purchase correctly. Our experience comes as part of the package, and our job is to make sure that you make the right decision for you. This is not the Costa del Sol either in terms of weather or life style, but it is culturally rich, welcoming, and offers a great life to those that respond to what it offers.
This article and more can be found at: costa brava
? Costa Brava Homes 2004
Christopher B. Longmore - Costa Brava Homes Sales Director
Kalamazoo taxi o'hare .. Lockport Chicago limo O’HareFollowing the horrendous events on Boxing Day 2005 The Maldives... Read More
Vacation packages are a great way for travelers to book... Read More
The Costa del Sol has long been one of the... Read More
I love Sussex County Delaware. I am native born, multigenerational... Read More
Cabin rental in Pigeon Forge are one of the city's... Read More
If you're thinking about planning a great winter vacation, think... Read More
Traveling is a great way to escape the rat race... Read More
Sea Pines Plantation ? The Pearl of Hilton Head IslandHilton... Read More
Vacation rentals are an option when you plan to go... Read More
Bahamas house rental or a hotel? Vacation rentals are becoming... Read More
Edinburgh and beyondRoadtrips around BritainIt's hard to overstate the poetry... Read More
Gatlinburg cabin rental options range from old-fashioned rustic "log cabins"... Read More
Families have flocked to Hilton Head, South Carolina as long... Read More
Cambodia is a land on the mend. From 1977 through... Read More
RV rental vacations aren't cheap, but they do contain loads... Read More
Most of us take vacations for the express purpose of... Read More
Of course you are anxious to take a vacation this... Read More
I am in my yearly snit. Now my wife would... Read More
Three major cascades at Havasu Creek create a landscape that... Read More
The first words that come to mind when people think... Read More
Did you know there are no Smokey Mountain cabins for... Read More
The rental market and Vacation Home sale market is unsustainable.... Read More
Lake Tahoe cabin complexes rangein size from small, six-unit, luxury... Read More
Spent a fantastic trip going down the Oregon Coast to... Read More
Visiting the best Orlando timeshare resorts: a report on my... Read More
Chicago charter limousine service Hickory Hills ..Hilton Head Island's mild climate, slow pace, and beautifully forested... Read More
Traveling with children will be a memorable event ? the... Read More
As our wedding anniversary looms near... and this one will... Read More
Shropshire is England's forgotten county, but it is well worth... Read More
Traveling for business or vacationing always has one thing in... Read More
Cozumel has something to suit the tastes and budgets of... Read More
Traveling is a great way to escape the rat race... Read More
When vacation time rolls around, some people choose to stay... Read More
Spent a fantastic trip going down the Oregon Coast to... Read More
Whether you've saved up for years for a fun family... Read More
The real secret to cheap family vacations is to be... Read More
Disneyland became the very definition of a theme park and... Read More
Plan your next vacation where most people call paradise...the Bahamas... Read More
Destinations such as Aruba, Cancun, St. Thomas, and Bahamas have... Read More
The county of Dorset on England's south coast is a... Read More
Sunscape The Beach Punta Cana is located on the north... Read More
It has been said that in real estate there are... Read More
The DeLaunay House, located 185 N. Pioneer in Ashland is... Read More
Bahamas vacation villas are the way to go if you... Read More
Gloucestershire, pronounced Glostershire, is a pretty English county located south... Read More
Today, we as travelers have a ton of options to... Read More
For many people, the Bahamas is a dream vacation site,... Read More
Stay a week or stay a lifetime, the Emerald Coast... Read More
How to find a Town Houses that will make your... Read More
Holiday time is around the corner and its time to... Read More
Vacation Rental |