It’s that time of the year when temperatures plummet and Britain comes to a standstill following a light dusting of snow. If you’re shivering on the platform wondering if your train is cancelled, the time has come to plan a property viewing trip to Spain.
If you have a big budget to escape the big freeze, you will have your pick of high-end homes in exclusive Spanish locations, from Barcelona all the way down to the Canary Islands. Even if your financial resources are more modest, you needn’t be disheartened. Some savvy property hunting in a suburb or nearby village could unearth a bargain buy near the same beaches, bars and restaurants as that villa that’s a few euros out of reach. Let’s take a journey around Spain to visit the best luxury locations.
Majorca
The largest of the Balearic Islands attracts millions of visitors each year because it offers something for every taste and budget. Those at the top end of the scale are drawn by the glitzy nightlife, Michelin-starred restaurants and super-yacht-friendly marinas. Even the Spanish royal family make the annual pilgrimage here, staying in their holiday villa. If you want to rub shoulders with royalty by purchasing your very own palatial pad, visit the mountainous north where you’ll find luxurious villas with seven figure price tags. If six figures is more realistic head south-east from Palma, here a budget of €300,000 (£265,300) will go a long way when buying a property in Spain.
The capital Palma – one of Spain’s richest cities – is home to the island’s busy international airport, cobbled streets, a Gothic cathedral and Moorish style townhouses based around a cool courtyard with water features that sell for northwards of a million euros.
Estepona, Costa del Sol
Do you want the best of both worlds? To purchase a property in a town on the Costa del Sol that’s managed to maintain its pueblo charm, but is still close enough to all the sights and sounds that make the region so vibrant. If the answer’s yes, take a viewing trip to Estepona. This established favourite with British buyers offers house hunters a wide selection of attractive high-end properties to consider in and around the town.
A significant proportion of property transactions around here occur in the so-called “Golden
Triangle” of Marbella, Estepona and Benahavis. If the Marbella “Bling” isn’t your style, head inland to the hills around Estepona. Here you will discover destinations like the La Resina Golf Resort, where a starting budget of €600,000 (£530,600) will buy you a stylish four-bed property with sea views.
Sitges
Anywhere that draws comparisons with St Tropez is bound to offer property buyers style and glamour. Its location just 35 kilometres along the Catalan coast from Barcelona means it’s a popular getaway for well-heeled city dwellers, who come to enjoy its vibrant beach and nightlife, attractive old town, art galleries and sprinkling of upmarket restaurants.
High-end properties with high-end price tags are in plentiful supply in and around Sitges. Think of the parties you could have in your 11-bedroom, €8.7 million beachfront villa! If that’s a little out of your price range, a budget of around €700,000 (£619,000) will secure you a five-bedroom villa with private swimming pool in a desirable part of town.
Barcelona
Spain’s most sophisticated and cosmopolitan city perfectly combines its beachside location with a liberal dose of art and architecture. Buildings designed by the city’s most famous son Antoni Gaudi, such as the Sagrada Familia, can be found at every turn. While several Pyrenees ski resorts are just a short drive away. It’s only a couple of hours to get here on a cheap flight from the UK too.
If your budget stretches a little further than the city’s €190,000 (£168,000) average house price, head uptown to the salubrious district of Sarrià-Sant Gervasi , where a 11.6% increase has tipped the average price of property over the €4,200 per square metre mark. If you’re feeling particularly flush, try Pearson Avenue for size. Prices reach €12,000 (£10,300) per square metre, making it the second most expensive place to purchase property in Spain. Here you’ll find family houses and apartments of around 150 square metres with landscaped communal areas and multiple facilities.
Madrid
If you want to buy a property somewhere that ticks the artistic, culinary, architectural and nightlife boxes then Madrid, Spain’s capital city, is the destination for you. Masterpieces adorn the walls of the city’s art galleries, medieval mansions and royal palaces are complimented by fine contemporary structures and a seemingly endless supply of bars and restaurants make for fun evenings that become early mornings.
Despite being one of the most desirable areas in Madrid, you can purchase a modern three-bedroom apartment in Retiro Park for just €465,000 (£411,300). If you really want to splash the cash, some of the most sought-after properties in the city can be found in the upmarket Salamanca district for over €3,000 (£2,600) per square metre.
Canary Islands
Situated 62 miles off the North African coast, the Canaries’ southerly position makes them the ideal destination for a spot of winter sun – it doesn’t get much colder than 17°C in January – without any risk of jetlag (or hurricanes!). Property is a little cheaper here than the Balearics, mainland costas and large cities, yet the seven main islands are not short of exclusive communities.
You’ll find both luxury communities and affordable resorts in islands including Lanzarote, Gran Canaria and Tenerife. Maspalomas on Gran Canaria, for example, has based its development on Palm Springs in California and Palm Beach in Florida, resulting in an excellent local infrastructure and spectacular properties, across various price brackets: from five-bedroom villas worth upwards of €4,000,000, to three and four-bedroom chalets on the market for around €750,000.
