Thinking of buying a property in Spain?

Opportunity knocks!

OK, so let's put our cards on the table. Considering the state of the world economy right now, at yourVIVA we'd be the very last ones to suggest that this is the time to buy a Spanish property to sell on with the sole intention of making a quick buck in the process. And nor can we - or anyone else, if they're honest - predict whether the bottom of the market has yet been reached, or is still to come.

But we certainly can tell you that despite what you may have thought, it's not all doom and gloom out there. And by buying your Costa del Sol property now, you can actually turn the current global slowdown to your advantage. So when you find the sunshine home of your dreams... don't think twice!

"If you have the money to spend, spend it in times of recession" - Sir Richard Branson

Well, if you think about it, that makes perfect sense, because your money is bound to go much further than you ever imagined possible. So you'll probably be able to buy a larger property than you thought you could afford, one that's in a better location, or one that's much more luxurious... maybe even all three rolled into one! Now that would be something, and it's not pie in the sky because that really could be within your reach - and without over-stretching your budget.

Making hay while the sun shines
There's no doubt that the buy-to-sell fever on the Costa del Sol - like just about everywhere else on the planet - has now been replaced by end use purchasers who are only too happy to enjoy and make the very most of their sunshine home for the foreseeable future. They're not in any hurry to sell it on, and are content just to use it and benefit from it, knowing that property prices have always been cyclical, and reassured by the fact that over the mid-term its value will surely appreciate - but at a far more rational rate than during the unsustainable and over-egged boom years that came before. A first-class product, sensibly and fairly priced, will always be in demand.

Let yourVIVA be your guide

There are plenty of bargains to be had for sure. But negotiating your way around ‘distressed' and ‘repossessed' properties can be a minefield for the unwary! That's why you need Costa del Sol experts like yourVIVA on your side. Some of the properties you see advertised in the local press or online are genuine, of course. But you just can't afford to take them all at face value, and we all know that the cheapest isn't necessarily the best.

Many of the 'distressed' and 'repossessed' properties you'll hear about may leave an awful lot to be desired. They might be unfinished, the community in which they're situated could be non operational, and the location may perhaps be very far from perfect. That's where yourVIVA come in. Because we know the Costa del Sol like the back of our hand, we can advise you on all the properties that will really tick all the boxes for you and your family... and without breaking the bank. Just tell us your budget, and we'll make sure you get the very most for your money as well as pinpointing the property that fits your lifestyle like a glove.

Reasons to be cheerful

Fact: More holidaymakers visited the Costa del Sol Sol this Easter than for the same period in 2008.

Fact: Spain is still Northern Europe's favourite destination.

Fact: So far this year, more properties have been sold in the province of Málaga than anywhere else in Andalucía.

Fact: In one of the first positive articles about the future of the Spanish property market since the worldwide downturn took hold, El Mundo - one of Spain's most respected of daily newspapers - recently reports that, ‘it appears to be the beginning of the end of the worst period for property sales since the crisis began'.

Fact: Property prices rise in direct proportion to the number of low-cost carriers flying into the local airport. Málaga Airport's long-awaited Terminal 2 - able to cope with 9,000 passengers / hour - is scheduled to open before the end of 2009.

So if you're looking for your very own home in the sun... this is the place, and there's no time like the present!