Which Areas Should We Consider for Longer Term Rental?

Vera Playa and Garrucha I can speak to.

Garrucha is predominantly Spanish, great sea front, but primarily apartment living, with not much in the way of readily available on-street parking - less in the summer, although there is unlimited free parking at the dock parking area.  Many apartments DO come with assigned underground parking spaces, but not all.

Garrucha has a superb selection of Cafes and Restaurants and whilst busy in summer, its not insane.  All the large supermarkets are readily available and there is good public transport from Garrucha.

Vera Playa is a bit more spread out, and is well served by the centro comercial with many restaurants and cafes and of course Consum supermarket.  Many more amenities and bars etc on the Las Buganvillas roundabout.  Vera Playa is more tourist / migrant focused than Garrucha and also boasts Europes premier naturist area - a few urbanizaciones, a hotel, a few chiringuitos etc all dedicated to naturists

What sort of information are you seeking so I may better assist?

I live in Palomares but couldn't recommend it.Too many clicky little groups of ex pats and you need to be part of the " in crowd" and I am not.Think most of them around here are bored out of their little minds..that and there are loads of migrants( legal?) who work in the fields. Wont worry me much anymore as soon I am moving permanently to the Phillipines 😁👍

Hi Gary, With respect, I think you have much more work than you realise. You’re right, this forum provides some excellent advice. Trawl through the many helpful threads of the past which will give you much information and from people who are now living the dream. I’m guessing, by your post you’re confining your choice of property to the whole of the province. Here’s my suggestions before you take on the challenge:- 

1. Buy a cheap notebook and use it to take notes on your adventure. Everything you write is changeable, but write down your “musts, mights” and don’t hold back.

2. Allow much space for your Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats I.e SWOT Analysis.

3. First Decision:- If things go pear shape, can you sell what you’ve bought? Not easy to answer.

4. Second Decision:- Do you need to rent out your property when you are not using it? If so, you are confined strictly to coastal areas where you can pick up rental income. Inland rentals pose more non earning risks.

(Handle points 3 and 4 honestly and you won’t end up skint) 

5, Rent in the area in which you intend buying for a few weeks. It’s money well spent. You can pick up  helpful information passively. Even Bob-down-the-pub can contribute. If somebody gives you the cackle “The new high speed rail link completion is near” just shoot him or her. At least, you’ll know who to ignore.

6. Keep an open mind and you cannot be dishonest with yourself. Now for the €100,000 question:- Would you be better off renting than buying? Depending on what you’re prepared to pay this could be even the €300,000 or more question.

7, Allow room for a dignified retreat. Don’t sell your house in your home country to finance the adventure - a rock on which many have foundered. 

The foregoing is only a start, I wish you the best of luck. Learn through your mistakes. Get that notebook fast and take notes as often as you can and be open to change.

Matthew raises a good point about the high speed rail link - it’s been promised and completion is now due 2026 … but it’s been decades in coming.

THAT BEING SAID … there is a massive amount of construction at the back of Palomares and Vera Playa where rail bed is being dug and laid, likewise La Cabuzana and the back of Valle Del Este where tunnels and bridges are being constructed; and work on the rail station in Vera is very well advanced with much construction there (along from the new Mercadona, and straight down from the Centro de Salud)

Two of my clients are Engineers on the project and both say it is progressing well … I haven’t pushed for completion date though.

So will it happen by 2026 as promised? Hmmmm not going to comment on that, but it IS happening at long last.

Thanks for the information, Dario, very useful. As we are in the early stages at the moment any information on areas to avoid and recommended letting agents would be appreciated. We plan on possibly renting in a few areas before we make a decision on whether to make the move permanent or just a break from the chilly winters over here. Any recommendations on areas for a base would be useful.

Hi Biggles, thanks for the local info that’s the sort of stuff we need. Clicky Brits eh? Who’d have thought 😉 Having read many posts on here I have noticed you were heading off to even sunnier climes, “Biggles Fly’s to the Philippines” must be a book in there somewhere 😊 Hope things go well for you. 

Hi Matthew thanks for your comprehensive reply and wealth of useful information. After doing our research and reading many posts on here we have decided to follow your advice and rent, probably in a number of areas before making any sort of decision to make the move permanent. We will be just coming over out of season initially and spending our summers here in the Lake District which is just stunning, although a little damp at times.  (I will right that down in me new notebook) I already have loads of notes and may even create a spreadsheet, I do love a good process, and will be analysing my SWOT’s regularly 😊 We are looking to come over in the next couple of months to explore the area, any recommendations for a base? 

It's difficult to recommend AGAINST areas, because what one person doesn't like, another would love.  An example for me is that I wouldn't want to move to Albox;  As far as I can tell there's nothing really wrong with the area, but for me it is too far inland and is overrepresented by British migrants - I didn't come here to live in little England - but that's just me, many others obviously love it.

Same can be said for Mojácar Playa - although the migrant influence there is not quite as concentrated as Albox; it does however get insanely busy in the summer.  Mojácar pueblo is very very pretty indeed and has been given the prestigious Ferrero Rocher award - judged the best town in Spain, I believe on a certain set of criteria.  It's not for me though - lovely to visit but a tad too hilly for my liking :-D

Where I am in Vera Playa (and business in Vera) many would absolutely detest - but it's what suits me, so as I say, it's difficult to advise either for or against an area, only say "well, it has a,b,c etc etc"

Matthew's advice of renting and looking around is absolutely rock solid - and I would add to that, before committing yourself to an area, once you find an area you think you like, try stay there for 3 or 4 weeks at different times of the year to get an idea of how it changes throughout the seasons.  

In Vera Playa for instance in Summer, it's absolutely alive, thronged with people, Artisan night market for June through September but come October the hotels start closing up for the off-season and it becomes very very quiet.  Still plenty to do, but just lacking the buzz and vibe of a busy tourist spot, and looking a bit .... odd .... I suppose with all the hotels closed and shuttered.

Garrucha I absolutely adore - its busy in Summer, much less so in the off-seasons but always plenty to see and plenty of restaurants and cafes to go to

Yes,I am currently back here at the moment.What Dario says is very good advice about the various locations.Rent intially and go to various places and see for yourself.I personally wouldn't want to live in Albox,Turre or even here in Palomares....Mojacar pueblo too hilly..I would go to either Garrucha or Mojacar playa.Can I recommend Alphonso at Zar 2010 in Garrucha as a estate agent you can rely on to help you,he is a good honest sort of guy and I have bought and sold using his excellent knowledge.He wouldn't rip you off at all.