Established in 2000. When considering purchasing a property in Spain the choices in terms of property style and location are often overwhelming and beginning the search will often result in far more questions than answers. Looking for a property and coming to view, for many, will be the start of a life changing experience. At Calida Homes, over the last 15 years, we have successfully been sourcing both holiday and full time homes in Almeria, Andalucía an extremely beautiful region of Southern Spain. During this period there are very few questions we haven’t been asked and have lost count of the numerous issues raised. Over the next few pages we have put together a summary of the most commonly raised questions along with some useful area information which we hope will both encourage a visit and ensure, should you discover the property of your dreams, the discovery and purchase will be a smooth/trouble free experience. It is by no means an extensive guide, simply enough to cover the most raised questions/issues. INDEX. A) Our area an overview. B) How can I find the right property? C) Legalities. D) Property running costs E) When should I start viewing properties?. F) Planning viewings. G) When should I make and offer and what level of offer should I make? H) Why do I have to pay a holding deposit? I) The purchase process and associated buying costs. J) Mortgage finance. K) The rental market and rental potential. L) Renting to buy. M) Cars. N) U.K. Television. O) Furniture/Electrical Goods. P) Pets. A) Our area an overview. Almeria, Andalucía. Situated at the southernmost tip of Spain and with the countries warmest climate. Neighbouring both Malaga and Murcia regions. The capitol Almeria city is a smaller yet very historic city perched on the edge of the Mediterranean. It has all you’d expect from a city great shopping, airport, international rail and coach station, many great bars/restaurants and a wealth of historic building and monuments. Skirted by some truly beautiful beaches it offers the rare opportunity to partake in the city buzz and on the same day hit the beach for some well-earned relax time. Very few overseas buyers though opt to buy property in the city instead opting to settle some 35 mins to an hour away. Almeria regions most beautiful beach areas such as Mojacar, Vera, Villaricos, San Juan de Los Terreros and Garrucha have for years proved most popular with those wanting a charming and unspoilt seaside location, All of these locations are as popular with the Spanish as they are with ex-pats and provide a wonderful slice of real Spain that these days is tough to find elsewhere. Of course you have a number of top flight golf courses, swanky beach bars and nightclubs but these blend in perfectly with the more historic and long established areas. You won’t find pretentious Marbella but you will discover an extremely beautiful laid back and welcoming community. Coming inland from these beach areas by 25 to 40 mins you’ll find a cluster of small, pretty and popular market towns the most popular of which are Arboleas, Zurgena, Albox, Cantoria and the county town of Huercal Overa.. Then if even further inland and perhaps a more mountainous setting is more to your liking towns such as Oria, Chirivel, Velez Rubio and Velez Blanco won’t disappoint. From for example, Arboleas, Murcia city a sprawling hugely cultural very friendly city can be reached within the hour and Lorca another beautiful city within 25 mins. Both these cities have huge shopping malls, great eating places, all night long entertainment essentially all you’d expect from a Spanish city and Murcia again has an international rail terminal and an airport. Villaricos and then San Juan de Los Terreros are the last beach towns before Almeria region joins Murcia region and between them you have the small yet exceptionally beautiful beach areas of El Calon and Pozo de Esparto. Two other locations which maybe worthy of note are Los Gallardos and Turre. Both reasonably sized towns with all amenities and a lively atmosphere which have become popular over recent years as they are situated just 10 to 12 mins from some of the regions nicest beach areas yet have property available at prices well below similar properties on the beach. Coastal video 1 Coastal Video 2 Inland Video 1 A little more info on each location with area maps. Mojacar Playa. Click to view location. Arguably the jewel in Almeria’s beach crown. Miles of sandy beaches along which are literally hundreds of great beach bars/chiringuitos, restaurants and craft shops. Mojacar has been a long established beach area and is renowned for its beauty and non spoilt environment. It is an all year round location with many homes here being full time residences. Because it’s been established for so many years it has a great and always improving infrastructure including two great golf courses, public transport, tennis, lawn green bowling and much more. Atop of the beach area you have the picture postcard Mojacar Pueblo, birth place of Walt Disney (supposedly) and an ex Moorish stronghold. The pueblo provides a myriad of small cobbled streets that teem with bars, cafes, restaurants and many artisan shops. The main plaza is an ideal place for a leisurely lunch/dinner and affords amazing views. A visit to Mojacar will quickly reveal why so many have decided to make it their new home. Vera playa/Pueblo. Click to view location. Vera playa, over past years, has undoubtedly become one of the most desirable of Almeria’s beach areas in which to own a 2nd home. Its beautiful sandy beach that boasts a 2kmtr long pedestrian promenade connecting to the next town of Garrucha has no doubt played a big part in this but Vera has so much more to offer. The pueblo has a coach depot with routes over Spain, it will soon play host to the new high speed bullet train connecting Almeria in less than 3 hours to Madrid, the extremely popular aqua park, bustling Saturday street market etc. Prices in Vera for apartments especially those set around 1-2 kmtrs back from beach are amongst the lowest in Almeria yet many of the complexes here are the best established and offer the best on site facilities. The pueblo/town though, unlike Mojacar and Villaricos, sits some 7 kmtrs back from the beach area and although this has all year round life you’ll find that outside of the summer high season the beach area is exceptionally quiet with lots of the bars and restaurants closed over the entire winter. In the summer months though boy does it spring back to life. A much raised issue concerning Vera is the nudist beach and community which makes up only a small percentage of Vera beach and is situated at the far end of Vera playa where it joins Palomares. In this area you have a large and well established naturist community who wish to keep themselves to themsleves just as many who enquire about property in Vera wish not to be confronted with Naturists. If a property is on or overlooks the naturist area this will be highlighted in the property details. Villaricos. Click to view location A small yet exceptionally beautiful town which, centuries ago, grew on the back of a rich silver and tin mining industry. It was here Hannibal landed with his elephants and army, took some respite before beginning his epic crossing over the Alps. The remnants of the old mines are protected and can be viewed scattered around as you approach the town. It is a residential town with a small fishing port, two marinas and two beautiful beaches one sand and one stone. It remains a wealthy town due to the fact much of the property within it is owned by people from Barcelona who keep a second home here. Some exceptional properties come on to the market here but only ever in dribs and drabs simply as the town is so small in the first instance. The properties which do come on to the market will often be priced higher than those in neighbouring beach areas and will most likely be apartments or duplexes as there are hardly any villas in the town. Despite its small size it has a wealth of great places to eat out or enjoy a night on the town and has a fantastic market each Sunday which runs the whole length of the beach. Get there early as people travel for miles for this one and parking spaces though free are at a real premium. Garrucha. Click to view location. A good sized town which neighbours Mojacar and as well as its popular beach has a large and picturesque Marina, working fishing harbour and a wonderful promenade. Hugely popular with the Spanish, both residents and holiday makers, due to its lively and extremely friendly atmosphere. A real magnet to sea food lovers from all over Almeria ( Garrucha Red Prawns are to be found on the menu of many a fancy Madrid restaurant at equally fancy prices) who are able to visit and take advantage of the many great seafood restaurants situated up and down the sea front. Perhaps part of the towns appeal is that this is a real lived in working town which just happens to be right on the sea. It’s not been designed for the tourists though these days it attracts plenty who pour in over the summer months to enjoy the nightly street market and great entertainment on offer.