Spanish Property Hunt Blog 1

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Arrived here on Tuesday afternoon, 20/01/2014, direct from Cardiff: nice flight with Vueling although the weather at Malaga was overcast and cold. Picked up the hire car and were on our way within half an hour of landing. I had taken a virtual drive of the final leg of the journey using Google Street View and it was quite easy to recognise the junctions and turn-offs that we needed to take. We arrived at Liz's flat in the late afternoon and after unloading our gear we hopped back in the car to head downhill to the beach area to look for a supermarket or mini mart. We found one straightaway and stocked up on essentials. By this time it was raining and we were pretty damp and miserable when we got back to the flat, so we went back up the hill near the motorway junction where we had noticed a reasonable looking restaurant. The barman there was quite chatty and when we asked him where we could buy a small electric heater he described the route to a nearby shopping centre; so we left the restaurant: followed the directions, found the shopping centre, bought a heater and were back at the restaurant to enjoy a nice meal all within an hour. Apart from the weather it was a good start.

On Wednesday we had arranged to meet up with Aaron Lyon a property consultant whom Liz had used to find her flat. It was a sunny day but with a cold wind. Aaron arrived at the flat to pick us up and take us to La Duquesa a holiday resort west of Estepona and Marbella (but within a one hour drive of Malaga Airport) where Aaron assured us that we would have the best choice of apartments that met our criteria. He showed us five flats, three of which were possibles and with two of the three being especially nice: well designed, good views and facilities and reasonably well located. On the drive back Aaron took us along the coast road through Estepona and Marbella and back to Liz's flat in Fuengirola. Quiet evening with the new heater on to keep us warm .

Thursday: we drove down the coast to meet Aaron at a nice cafe we'd found the previous day in Duquesa Marina in order to do some more viewings, and to have a second look at our two top choices of the previous day. The cold wind was still around and it was also a bit cloudy. The first of the second viewings confirmed the positive impression of the first viewing, but the second viewing of the golf apartment wasn't as positive as the flat seemed a lot darker inside than on the previous day. We looked at two other flats: one of them a ground floor flat with small garden opening on to a large communal garden which was next to the beach. An excellent investment opportunity given the great position and the low cost: on account of the owners getting divorced and the need for a complete refurbishment, but not for us. We looked at another golf apartment (So called because it bordered a golf course) but it wasn't as good the other flat bordering the same course but which had a better location and was in better condition. Apart from the beachside apartment and our preferred choice all the flats we looked at were brand new with no previous owners: completed in 2007/8 - just as the property market crashed.

Friday: we went east of Malaga to have a look at the coast there and also to visit Frigiliana, one of the picturesque white mountain villages just inland from Nerja. It was an easy drive of just over an hour from Fuengirola along the coastal motorway, then inland and uphill to Frigiliana. Frigiliana was certainly very quaint and pretty, but not for us as unless one spends one's whole time in the village looking at the great view then a car is required. After a very nice coffee on a terrace looking out over the village and down to the coast we headed back downhill to Nerja for lunch. We found the Tripadvisor recommended restaurant but it was closed (as are many restaurants around here at this time of year) so we ate at a nearby cafeteria. Then we went for a walk down to the main town beach where there were quite a few visitors and about half the cafes and shops were open. Then back to the car and off to Malaga and a giant retail park/factory outlet venue that had been spotted on our way to Frigiliana, before returning to Liz's flat just after dark (7pm).

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Photos

Golf apartment in La Duquesa
With Aaron Lyon our property consultant and tour guide

Favourite so far
Penthouse apartment in La Duquesa

Favourite so far
Penthouse with large private terrace, great views. Built 2004, owned by a British couple who were returning to UK. He was a kitchen fitter here so the kitchen and bathrooms were top quality and the whole place was well fitted out. To be sold as is.

Frigiliana
Picturesque white pueblo/village

Advantages of living in Frigiliana
Magnificent views to the sea and clear mountain air

Advantages of living in Frigiliana
Beautiful clean cobbled streets