 
Rural Life in Real Spain - Inland Property Andalucía
If – as year on year it is becoming ever more popular – you’ve set your heart on owning a place in the country, the possibilities are as infinite as your imagination is boundless. Location is the key and in this privileged region (Andalucía) renowned for the diversity of its landscapes, you could opt for a lakeside, golf course or river-fronted property, a home surrounded by lush pastures, blossoming orchards or fragrant pine forests. A villa with acres of land enjoying panoramic views from a hilltop vantage point, or the rustic seclusion of a traditional finca deep within a peaceful valley.
It could be a brand new, well-appointed apartment or penthouse, a modest property with plenty of potential for expansion, a renovated village house, a detached home on a rural urbanisation not too far from leading resorts, or a gracious cortijo of massive proportions.
Inland in Spain, your money will go much further, resulting not only in a larger home, but one with land and to spare! You could also purchase your own plot, but with planning permission varying widely from one area to another, this is a complex matter requiring expert legal guidance from the outset, as the Junta de Andalucía (Andalusian Government) has recently introduced new legislation to protect agricultural and arable land as well as key fruit-growing and market gardening industries.
Almost everything costs less in the country in Spain: shopping, bars, restaurants, and water (you may even have your own well or spring), while weekly local markets offer the freshest of local organic produce at bargain prices.
As you settle into your new surroundings, you’ll discover that almost everything you require is available in the nearest town. The lure of the hinterland has resulted in a broad spectrum of services and leisure facilities aimed specifically at the many foreign residents who have opted to put down roots in rural communities. And when you do need to visit the coast, a network of excellent roads means it will probably be no more than a scenic 20 or 30 minutes’ drive, often considerably less.
When it comes to eating out, you’ll be spoilt for choice! Wholesome, traditionally Andalusian dishes are on offer at myriad rustic Ventas. While you shouldn’t expect linen tablecloths, you can generally rely on satisfyingly large portions and prices that make dining at home seem less than worthwhile. You’ll also find several eateries specialising in creative, well-presented regional and international cuisine with carefully selected wine lists to match.
But with the majority of local inhabitants employed in the agricultural, construction and hotel sectors, early-to-bed, early-to-rise is the norm. Bars and restaurants close much sooner than on the Coast, the only exception to the rule is during the annual fairs and romerías when you can expect to see the sky alight with fireworks at 2am, while the pulsating rhythms of salsa, flamenco and rock bands are still going strong at dawn!
Having decided to take to the hills, you can enjoy an unrivalled quality of life. With plenty of land to play with, no doubt a swimming pool and spacious landscaped gardens will come top of the list. You could keep horses, and with its long equestrian traditions, providing you have the time and the inclination, where more appropriate than in Andalucía? Donkeys and Shetland ponies are another possibility, particularly if you have children. With so much space, and no shortage of country walks, most people also keep dogs, and it’s the ideal opportunity to visit one of the coast’s many animal rescue centres to adopt one – or more - of the hundreds of pets in need of a good home.
You’ll awaken to birdsong, or indeed chirping crickets, and get out the binoculars to marvel at a swooping eagle or a hawk hovering on the wing. If you’re committed to living in the country, but find the mere thought of possibly sharing your garden with a snake, toad, frog or lizard sends shivers down your spine, you’d be better off buying a villa or apartment on an established urbanisation, or perhaps a village house.
You could buy a property with a vast tract of land already dedicated to the commercial production of avocados, olives, oranges, almonds or figs… produce your very own estate-labelled wine, and take advantage of your olive harvest by using one of the local mills which, for a small fee, will press the fruit and bottle the precious liquid for your very own home consumption...fantastic!
If retirement is not yet on the cards and your inland home proves too large for your current requirements, with the appropriate skills and necessary permissions you could perhaps start a lucrative guesthouse business aimed at the increasingly popular so-called ‘green tourism’. Subject to status, viable business plans and the relevant qualifications, the Junta de Andalucía may even help out with useful grants.
For first hand information and recommendations from our inland team (many of us live inland and absolutely love it) drop us your details below and we will be in touch...
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