WHAT AM I ACTUALLY LOOKING FOR

The 10 most important points to consider before falling in love with your dream home!

Many people dream of buying a property in Spain. But how do you turn this dream into reality thoughtfully, without being wiser only “after the fact”.

The most important thing is to become aware of what you actually want exactly.

You should think through the following points and use them as a guide and inspiration:

1. Are you looking for a vacation property or a permanent new home?

From our perspective, this is probably the most important question that must be fundamentally answered to decide which things should be given particular importance. If you completely relocate your residence, some criteria that should definitely be met compared to your German property might shift. Some criteria remain, some are added, but some may also have no meaning anymore. The beloved sauna in the German house certainly takes a backseat in the warm south, while the pool should now not be missing. In a vacation home, you might use the kitchen less than if it’s used year-round and not just on vacation. Do I want to grow old in this property and focus on completely barrier-free living, or is a bedroom on the ground floor sufficient for now in case of need? What surrounding infrastructure do I need (schools, hospitals, etc.)

2. How many people will use this property or are affected by it?

Even if you’re buying alone and want to live or vacation alone, your family and friends might want to visit you. It might be worth discussing your idea with them. Make sure everyone agrees with the basic idea before you start looking for a property, so there are no disappointments later. You might have planned everything around visits from children, grandchildren, or friends, which might not materialize as planned. Make sure you feel comfortable in your dream property even when alone (or as a couple).

3. Is this an investment or fulfilling a life dream for you and your family?

Most people tend to buy in Spain for a specific reason: to have a vacation home there. But beyond that, it’s worth asking whether you want to make money with this property purchase. Should this happen through a later resale or through rental income, or do you want to at least cover the costs through rental income? Many people particularly want to change their lifestyle with the vacation home, but if you can’t afford to lose money with your investment, it’s worth knowing that now.

4. How often do you travel there?

Do you commute often or do you tend to stay for several weeks? Consider whether you absolutely want to be near an airport or its metropolitan area. Also weigh whether you might occasionally want to travel by car, as then a property on the mainland could be advantageous.

5. How much integration do you desire?

Spain is a huge country, and the very different regions have different appeals for international travelers. Some parts of Spain are still completely rooted in traditional Spanish culture, while in other areas English is spoken more often than Spanish. If you’re moving completely with children, do you want to place them in a Spanish or international school? Do you speak Spanish or would you like to learn Spanish?

6. What will you do with your time?

Work, childcare, and education all follow different daily schedules depending on where you want to live. In some parts of Spain, the siesta break is observed, in others it’s not. What will you do in your free time? Are there new leisure activities you’d like to take up, or sports you want to continue? What kind of infrastructure do you need? Schools, hospitals, a public swimming pool? Playgrounds, golf, tennis, riding facilities? Please consider what you definitely don’t want to give up.

7. Tourism… good or bad?

Are you happy to live in an area that is heavily frequented during the summer months? Some people like the hustle and bustle and are glad that everything is spruced up again for visitors. Others want a quiet life. Tourism can affect daily life; tourists cause noise pollution, traffic jams, parking problems, and litter. On the other hand, tourism brings money to areas that offer residents opportunities they might not get elsewhere.

8. City, town, or village?

Spain offers many types of properties, from simple country houses to ultra-modern new city apartments – everything is possible. Villages vary in size from tiny, small mountain villages to sprawling urbanizations. Cities also vary massively. Coastal cities often have great beaches, busy ports, or large shopping centers, while smaller towns offer a cozy old town center, important shops nearby, and incredible charm. Often a larger city is not far away and suitable for a day trip.

9. How important is the sea or the first sea line?

Spain offers many types of properties, from simple country houses to ultra-modern new city apartments – everything is possible. Villages vary in size from tiny, small mountain villages to sprawling urbanizations. Cities also vary massively. Coastal cities often have great beaches, busy ports, or large shopping centers, while smaller towns offer a cozy old town center, important shops nearby, and incredible charm. Often a larger city is not far away and suitable for a day trip.

10. Do you set important priorities?

Do you know the “jack-of-all-trades” – surely comparable to the house that really has EVERYTHING.

Not impossible, … but some criteria unfortunately partially exclude each other or are at least more difficult to fulfill in combination than others. We are sure that we will find a property that meets a large part of your desired criteria and it’s certainly also a matter of price. Nevertheless, you should perhaps think in advance about which of the exemplary criteria you might be able to do without, or what priority they have for you.

Because in the end, emotion so often decides and many things fade into the background.

So don’t fixate right from the start on things that can perhaps still be changed through small renovations or that you might not really need.

Feel free to discuss all these things with us. We have lived through all these considerations ourselves and are happy to be at your side!