The Autonomous Community (province) of Andalusia has been a popular area for property buyers from outside of Spain for many years. There are of course many reasons for this:

• Andalusia has some fantastic beaches.
• The weather and temerature in the region is good throughout the year
• The pace of life is perceived as being relaxed and therefore appeals to people seeking a home for vactioning or retirement.

Although many thousands of non-Spanish people buy property in Andalusia every year, there are some things that you need to expect if you are considering a property purchase in this part of Spain.

Searching For Property in Andalusia

The region of Andalusia is very large and comprises a variety of geographical features. As Andalusia is such a big area, beginning a search for a property here can be quite time consuming unless you have a clear idea about the specific area in which you would like to purchase and the type of lifestyle you are looking for. In general property prices in the larger cities and coastal areas will be more expensive, while inland towns and villages will offer more value.

Coastal Property in Andalusia

The coastal towns and cities of Andalusia are obviously the most popular areas for foreign investors and buyers. For those who do not wish to live year round in their Andalusian property, coastal villas and apartments offer their owners the possibility of generating rental income: Andalusia’s Costa del Sol remains one of the busiest destinations for European holidaymakers. If you do not plan to live in your Andalusian home throughout the year and are thinking about rental possibilities, you should think carefully about the location of a potential property, taking into account such factors as proximity to a beach, whether or not your property has access to a swimming pool, if there are busy roads nearby and the quality and number of restaurants and bars within walking distance.

Inland Property in Andalusia

Buying a property in inland Andalusia will offer a different set of opportunies. As these areas have historically been overlooked by foreign property buyers, you should be able to get more bang for your buck here. Having said this, foreign buyers have been slowly waking up to the potential that these areas have to offer. This has meant that these types of properties are now starting to increase in price as the availability of property decreases comensurately. The inland towns and cities of Andalusia offer picturesque whitewashed towns and villages, incredibly beautiful scenery and important historical cities. Finally, living in an inland area of Andalusia gives people more of a chance to fully integrate themselves into a Spanish community; you will find less of an expatriate community than you will do in the coastal areas.

Advice for Buying Property in Andalusia

• You should be sure to familiarize yourself with the national and regional property buying procedures and processes
• Try to visit Andalusia and see as many different places as possible to identify an area you think you could reside in.
• Try to have a very clear idea about the type of property you are looking for. This will ensure that property agents do not waste your time taking you to view properties you are not interested in.
• Use a solicitor or lawyer who does not have a relationship (business or otherwise) with the person you are buying a property from. An indepenmdent lawyer will be able to work on yourt behalf alone ensuring that all paperwork is correct and identifying possible problems that could come back to haunt you.

Andalusia is an extremely interesting region of Spain that can offer you a great quality of life. So if you are interested in buying an Andalusian property, be sure to do your homework and you might never look back.