A CHANNEL4 report on THE COSTA CALIDA (January 2006)
| Spain in general does possess a certain blueprint for investment success. A combination of eternal sunshine, frequent and fast flight connections, superb infrastructure and such delights as Amanda Lamb extolling its virtues to the small screen means that the European love affair with Spain continues to flourish. To rubber-stamp this claim, recent figures from the Office for National Statistics showed that 190,900 Britons went overseas last year with the intention of staying away for at least 12 months and Spain remains the destination of choice. In the past year alone, Britons have snapped up 75,000 houses in Spain and the number buying property there in the past five years has risen by a staggering 460%.
Constraints of word count make it impossible to highlight the potential of each corner of the Iberian peninsula in one hit, but rather focus on two of the best spots with their own special secret formula for investment success. One established (note: Costa del Sol) and one slightly more obscure. The obscure, the Costa Calida. Literally meaning ‘the warm coast' and reckoned by the World Health Organisation (WHO) to have the healthiest climate in the world, this Costa stretches for 250km of coastline from alongside the border of the province of Alicante in the north, almost down to the border of Almería in the south. One of the most famous assets of this coastline is Mar Menor, Europe's largest salt water lagoon with over 170km² of shallow water. The 22km spit of land that separates Mar Menor from the Mediterranean is called La Manga de Mar Menor. The beaches along the spit are both wide and clean and many nautical clubs can be found across its length offering various water sports. The most famous and exclusive resort by Mar Menor is the 1.220 acre estate of La Manga Club, established in 1960 and just recently acquired by MedGroup from P&O who bought it 1987. The Costa Calida is best accessed via Alicante or Murcia airports, both of which offer regular flights to the UK with flight times of around two hours. First-rate road links can bring you to your chosen spot on the Costa Calida with the minimum of fuss. Dream Homes Worldwide has identified the Costa Calida as a hotspot for the future for a number of reasons. Richard Moseley, International Investment Director for Dream Homes Worldwide comments, “Despite the kudos and publicity surrounding La Manga, the rest of the region has stayed out of the spotlight and avoided the scourge of mass development. The countryside and coastline is attractive and unspoilt but things are just reaching a tipping point. The Tourist Board is becoming more proactive in marketing the area, new roads are being laid and a 140 million euro airport is under construction in Corvera through which authorities expect more than 5.000.000 passengers a year with 22 arrivals and departures each hour. The boom is set to begin. Although it would be improper for any professional real estate agent to suggest enticing profit levels without accepting the responsibility to deliver those returns to the client, the increased commercial activity, local government spending and facilities on offer coupled with ease of access and stunning weather places the Costa Calida in a prime position for growth.” Polaris World is building six resorts throughout the Murcia region, all of which are self-contained with a range of facilities on each site including pools, hotels, spas, shops and restaurants. The focal point of each resort is golf and all have their own Nicklaus design course. Polaris World has an impeccable reputation and all building licenses and bank guarantees are in place. Pricing is extremely attractive with quality two bedroom golf course apartments available from as little as 165.000 euros (115.000 GBP) and golf course villas from 300.000 euros (210.000 GBP). If you compare these asking prices to other coastal resorts in Spain, you wouldn't be foolish to believe that growth is inevitable. http://www.channel4.com/4homes/buyingabroad/countryguides/sarah_vaughan_marbella_january.html |