Moving to Almeria

Good Morning,

Well, we live between our 2 properties one in Almeria Province (Mojacar) and one just 100m  into Murcia Province near Puerto Lumbreras. So the Mojacar property is a 3 bedroom apartment with all mod cons but as you inferred noisy in Summer/Easter, etc while the rural cottage is 150 yrs old and was a part reform when we purchased in 2003. This is my idyll whilst Sandra my wife loves the apartment.

So for the price you are thinking of paying then no problem. May I suggest that you look at a number of Estate Agent/Inmobilaria websites for suggested prices (long term always cheaper than short but you loose mobility). So for Mojacar I would suggest Spanish property Choice (we purchased the apartment through them in 2013) and for the rural properties then Voss Homes in Huercal Overa about 45km from Mojacar and 16km from our cottage.

Now non-ex-pat I can fully understand and sympathise with, but the more rural/isolated you are the more difficult becomes transport. Bus services are not good on the whole just running between the main hubs.If you are going to buy a cheap car then all well and good but you will need an NIE and for that you need a Solicitor. Having said that we have a friend who is relatively new to the area and is currently renting in Vera Playa. He goes everywhere by bus, bicycle and on foot. At 70 I feel that a car is essential.

Not sure what you have heard ill about Turre apart from the fact there is a large Brit population but so has Mojacar and Arboleas and Albox, further inland, are absolutely stacked out with Brits. It sometimes feels you may as well be in UK. Sandra, my wife, originally lived in Albanchez a smallish village near Albox but with a huge Brit Urbanisation. She worked in Albox which, with due apologies to its residents, has to be one of the most ghastly places imaginable. After travelling the globe for most of my professional life and with my main residence being in Goa, India, I termed it 'armpit of the world' and you see a lot of armpits in the Army!!!!!!!!!!

So long term renting, excellent idea and one I always suggest. Do an initial short term one so you have ample time to explore all the areas, and it's a huge Province. So transport may be a MUST. Perhaps hire car. Pity you are coming out in June as really the start of the holiday season proper and so rentals will be scarcer and more expensive generally. What a shame you aren't a motorhomer as that way you could travel in your home to assess all your options. Just a thought as we purchased one in 2004 and have been all over Spain & Europe. Lots of freesites now, so no rent. We have had a DIY motorhome parked 25m from the apartment for the last 2 months and the Police have turned a blind eye.

Well, best of luck as it certainly is a challenge.

Anything specific then please feel free to pm me.

If you look a dozen or so posts back you will see friend David Lowe asking for electronics for the animal charity PAWS/PATAS where he works part time as a volunteer. He is long term renting so maybe a pm to him for his personal slant?

Dr. Bob & Sandra 

Hi Bob

Thanks very much for that comprehensive response :)

Starting from the top, I've already contacted a number of estate agents in the general area and got a mixed response (or no response). Voss Homes was on my list and I did get a response from them, but the general feeling is I'm looking a little too early bearing in mind that the move will be towards the end of the year, which is reasonable. 

Rural and isolated I don't mind too much, although I don't want to adopt a hermit lifestyle! I couldn't survive without a car, regardless of where I was, so that will be first on the agenda (after somewhere to live!). I remember reading somewhere a while back that long term car hire in Spain is quite cheap, but I'll investigate that further nearer the time.

I read that the expat population in Turre was a bit higher than I had thought, but I'll take another look when I'm out there again. Rental properties in the area seem to be at a bit of a premium as well having spoken to Linnetts, the agents in the high street. 

I investigated Albox when I was out there in November (I was staying in a one horse town called Almanzora, just outside Albox). I got as far as the supermarkets in Albox and crossed it off my list - might as well stay in Reading! I was told that Arboleas may as well be in the UK, so that went. The only place that took my fancy was Turre (Vera and Huercal Overa are large towns, and I don't much fancy that)  But then again there's a lot of Almeria I haven't seen :)

I'll look up David Lowe as you suggest and drop him a PM.

Appreciate your help Bob. :)

Best regards

Doug

I am renting in Garrucha and find it much nicer than Mojacar. Not nearly so many Brits living here and this fishing port is typically Spanish and is famous for its gambas! Well worth a visit while tou are out here. Has a great market on a Friday.

Hi Kate 

Thanks for that 😊 I had heard nice things about Garrucha but never got the opportunity to visit when I was out that way last November. Maybe I'll put that right in June. 

Did you use an agent to find your property, and am I in the ballpark for a 3 bed place around £550 in that area? 

Thanks Kate :) 

Doug

Rental properties very hard to find at the moment, I love Turre and Mojacar, we also lived in Arboleas but found it to far out from the coast, as we like to sit on the sea front for lunch or just a coffee , so Turre is ideal. But I struggle to find a detached property in the area I want, I've asked all agents but no joy at all. 

Thanks Itsme. Yes I was kinda getting that feeling having enquired with Linnitt  in Turre. I'll settle for an apartment though - not setting my sights too high at the moment :) 

Hi. When we started looking last year we initially looked in the Arboleas area simply because there seemed to be such a great selection of 3 bed 2 bath villas with pools that fitted our specs.

We visited Garucha but what was on offer "withharbour views" consisted of apartments with a very narrow balcony view nothing like you might have imagined.

Lots of nice bars/cafes and a lovely promenade, marina that unfortunately has a deep water harbour that ships out some kind of building material and is fed by a constant stream of heavy tipper trucks, Mojacar is a short drive along the coast.

Very very busy in summer, hardly anywhere to park.

Villaricos has another small harbour/marina but nicer views, most property we were pulling up was back from the harbour front, apartments with courtyard views and shared pools.

We eventually settled in Urcal, 6 minutes from the A7, 12 minutes from Huercal Overa, nice small village, Colonel Bob n wifey Sandra's place can be seen from here, villa has an 8x4 pool which right now in this heat is a godsend, 40 mins or so from the coast, feels nice n safe with night time street lights on all night etc, ok some brits but some Spanish as well, restaurant/cafe menus predominantly in Spanish with english sub menus, theres 2 bed 1 bath, 3 bed 2 bath villas with pool available with Voss who we bought from, plus there were new builds and off plans, legal ones for sale recently, quite a few villas are holiday homes but a new couple just arrived are renting as well as one of our very near neighbours.

We're almost done with metriculation as Bob mentioned, yeah you need an NIE for any major purchase, car, villa etc,  but not rental, partners car is rhd and we needed new headlamps, Honda Insight hybrid, €500 each !! Rest of metriculation is a Spanish MOT, ( (ITV) car tax and bits n bobs.

Best thing as Bob n anyone else with say is get over here and check things out.

Best of luck.

Your €500 budget should get you a nice plave and most usually with a pool.

Thanks very much for that 😊

Hi Doug,  just been reading through these posts as we too are looking for the same sort of advice.  Didn't notice first of all though how long ago it was !!  Out of interest did you rent in Almeria and where did you choose?

Thanks, 

Tracy