10 Best Places in Spain to Buy a Villa

With an average 300 days of sunshine a year, coastal Spain is a beloved overseas destination for holiday-makers as well as a desirable place to buy retirement and investment property. In spite of recent downturns in the property market, many Britons still dream of owning a home in a Spanish beach town. Here are ten towns where you can make that dream of a Spanish villa a reality.

The Costa Blanca offers gorgeous beaches, spectacular scenery and easy living. The southern end is flatter, less green and more touristy, with a profusion of high-rise apartment blocks crowding the beachfront. The tiny seaside villages of the northern Costa Blanca are more spread out, mountainous and greener. The largest British expat community in Spain lives here.

Moraira is an ancient fishing village set amidst craggy mountains, with both sandy and rocky beaches and interesting coves. There are dozens of lovely villas for sale in Moraira just right for a retirement home or investment property.

A festive town with spectacular views, Javea offers beautiful villas, a lively community of about 12,000 British expatriates and excellent beaches. Javea feels remote but is located about an hour from the Alicante airport.

The largest of the northern Costa Blanca towns, Denia boasts the 18th century Castillo de Denia, twenty miles of first-class beaches and excellent scuba diving.

The Costa Del Sol has recently been termed the “Costa del Golf” for its many high-quality golf resorts and courses. You can find a wide variety of holiday experiences here, from small quiet fishing villages to hard-partying tourist destinations.

A wealthy beach haven, Marbella boasts the most golf courses per capita of anywhere in the world. Some of the richest people in the world own property here, so expect prices to be high.

A tourist town with a seedy reputation, Torremolinos has been tidied up somewhat in recent years. You can still find raucous pubs and nightclubs, but sophisticated restaurants and boutiques have started to appear along the Calle San Miguel. Torremolinos gets a steady tourist trade, so is a good place for investment property.

One of the most popular locations for expats is the Balearic Islands where expats account for 12.5% of those living on the islands (approx 134,000 people).

15 years ago most EU residents were retirees over the age of 60 but now only 5,175 are of retirement age with over 15,000 being of working age and this is reflected in those buying property on the islands. No longer is it just an area where people relocate to for a peaceful retirement in the sunshine. Today, whilst that market of course exists, they are joined by younger couples or families looking for a change in lifestyle and attracted by low crime rates, good schools and a good sense of community...as well as the year round warm weather.

Mallorca is another prized destination for expatriates and has one of the biggest international communities in Spain, with many German and British expats in residence. Buying property is a fairly simple process, though new builds are scarce. Preservation rules put a limit to how much property can be built on the island and have kept property values stable. An international airport keeps the island connected with the European mainland. Mallorca’s capital city, Palma, has about 300,000 residents and a lively nightlife.

Though not the first choice for those wanting a quiet life, it is popular with younger travelers looking for freedom and club culture. There are other choices, however, outside of the main towns and tourist areas. Ibiza’s tranquil rural areas, especially inland, are ideal for retirees. Again, as Ibiza is an island, property prices are likely to be higher than on the mainland.

Reputed to be the quietest of the Balearics, it’s a popular family holiday destination. The island is kept unspoiled by new development and has only one major highway. The capital city, Mao, has an international airport but offers limited flights outside of tourist season. It is a good choice for retirees looking for a quiet way of life.