ACCESS
If you are thinking of using the property yourself, ease of access will be critical to your decision. If you reside in mainland Europe, there will probably be a multitude of low-cost flight options into many of Spain´s regional airports serving the popular areas, such as Malaga, Alicante, Barcelona and Bilbao and of course San Javier (Murcia) and the new airport now under construction in Corvera, due for completion 2008/2009. However, if you live in the United States, you may be restricted in your choice of non-stop destination airport to Madrid and/or Barcelona. Most of the regional airports can be easily accessed from these two principal Spanish gateways through a very good and reliable internal flight system, a network which is attracting increasing levels of low-cost competition. You should check the airline timetables to ensure that your home in Spain can be reached relatively easily.

If you are considering letting your Spanish home, you will also need to research the ease of access for your target rental market. While a seaside apartment in north-western Spain may appeal to you and the local Spanish population, the hordes of Northern Europeans most likely to rent a place in Spain will probably struggle to get there. If this is your target market, check out the airlines that fly to Spain from these countries and pinpoint the areas with the highest frequency of flights on a year round basis.

BUDGET
Of course, your choice of location will be determined by your budget. Again, research your areas in advance. Most of the developed coastal areas will attract a premium, while the cheaper-priced properties will be found in inland areas and regions that are yet to be developed, or those that are currently under development. The major Spanish cities of Madrid and Barcelona have seen massive price increases in recent years, so if city-living is your thing, you may need to head to some of the lesser-known provinces for a bargain.Central Property Bureau can offer you financial advice if required.

In addition, don´t forget that anything on or near the beach will also attract a premium.

In Spain, all budgets are catered for - with properties in remote inland locations priced from next-to-nothing, rising to majestic palaces and penthouses that can fetch several million euros.

LOCATION
Once you have determined your budget, you can then start looking a little more closely at the different areas on offer. You will need to consider whether you are buying for investment or for lifestyle - i.e. do you need to take anyone else´s tastes into account in the purchasing decision. If you are buying purely for your own use, then you can focus on finding a property that satisfies only your needs. If buying to rent or to sell in the shorter-term, you will really need a more objective stance to try to appeal to as many potential clients as possible - this is where the advice of a good real estate agent can be priceless. Central Property Bureau will offer friendly and informative advice.

CLIMATE
Are you looking for bright sun-filled winters, or a more seasonal climate? Plenty of people think that Spain enjoys a warm, sunny climate on a year-round basis. This is certainly true in most of the areas in the south of the country, but the same cannot be said for areas further north. Indeed, the north of the country tends to be very wet and cool during the winter months, while the capital Madrid actually freezes during some of the winter-time.

Even in the south, mountain villages such as Ronda, which can become searingly hot in the summer, with temperatures approaching 40 degrees C, can become wintry and snow-bound in the winter….and this in a town that lies just 45 minutes from the coastal resorts of Marbella on the Costa del Sol, an area that enjoys 320 days of sunshine per year and a temperature which rarely drops below 10 degrees C!

INFRASTRUCTURE
The most popular areas of Spain are usually those that boast the best infrastructure and range of facilities. Outside of the cities, these areas will include regions such as the Costa Blanca, Costa del Sol and Costa Brava. You should remember that Spain is the Number 1 holiday destination for Europeans, so if you are looking for the ´real´ Spain, but away from the busy Spanish cities, you may need to head off the beaten track a little. While this is a great way to appreciate the typical Spanish way of life, this will undoubtedly take you away from the facilities, such as shopping malls, golf courses, multi-plex cinemas, international restaurants etc, and into a totally Spanish-speaking environment that may be rather alien to your normal way of doing things.

To obtain this balance between having access to the ´real´ Spain while still being able to enjoy all of the benefits of a more developed area, you may need to opt for one of the coastal areas. Here you will probably find plenty of ex-pats and holidaymakers, but choose carefully, and you should still be able to enjoy the best of both worlds. We cover a wide area of Spain with many clients enjoying a variety of locations, this is why we like to look after our clients on a 1-1 basis, we help you find the proeprty you want and the one that suits your needs.

LETTING POTENTIAL
If your target rental market is Northern Europeans, you should consider that most families will take their annual vacations during the months of July and August before the kids have to return to school.

However, there are other target markets within this potential client group. Couples, adult groups and singles are not normally restricted to the summer months, and one of the attractions of Spain as a holiday destination is that these holidaymakers may even prefer to take their vacation outside of school holidays, when the weather is still superb, but flights and accommodation is cheaper, hence the months of June and September become popular for these sun-worshippers.

A third category of potential client comes from a surprising source. Golfing enthusiasts flock to the superb courses of Southern Spain every winter. Often travelling in groups, these golfers will normally play 5 or 6 courses during their stay, and will want to be close to the facilities, bars and restaurants. The golfing season normally runs from October to May.

And let´s not under-estimate the increasing numbers of tourists who are seeking to escape the harsh winter climates of northern Europe at every opportunity, whether it´s for the odd weekend or for a more extended stay.

This all equates to Spain being the primary year-round vacation destination in Europe. To maximise your property´s letting potential, consider all of these potential client groups and try to identify locations that offer something to as many of them as possible.
Sunshine Holiday Rentals can disuss the rental potential of your chosen property and we will be pleased to introduce you to the team.