Apartment purchase advice please

Rent  before you Buy,   no 1  rule,  if  you have address  of something  you like  visit  area yourself  get  talking to  local  visit  near Pubs  and Restaurants,,  ask  plenty of  questions, 

Local knowledge 👌  is  all way   the best, pass  no  heed of Estate agents, 

Do  you intend living  here or Holidays  if  you are from UK  Check out  90 day  rule

Thanks for reply

I will work around 90 day rule until I retire in 3 yrs, have just an found airbnb live in host in same block with 5* review in same block I was looking at so will book and plan a visit, I get so see area at all hours and hopefully some positive input from host on area and general consensus, I’m not after a palace, just somewhere reasonable to make a permanent base near airport 

Regards

Steve

As you mention you have a bit of time (3 years) available before you are thinking of taking the plunge and making the move permanent, I'd certainly recommend you take the opportunity to visit a number of areas which are within easy travel distance from the airport.

Alicante city may be the perfect destination for you but so may others either north or south of the city/airport. I probably didn't use public transport for 2 years or so because of an irrational fear of public transport in another country/language but now you won't get me off the thing - it's great value!

It sounds as though you've found an ideal place to stay for your first "assessment" of the area and hopefully it meets all the criteria you have - visiting at different times of the year etc are a must to see whether what is busy/quiet in winter is a cacophony of noise in August - everyone has different desires as to busyness, peacefullness etc etc.

If you're wedded to been close to the airport, there are still good transport links around to other areas nearby - I wouldn't necessarily commit to the city itself but as I say that could be the place for you just as it could be the thing of nightmares for me!

Hi Stevie.

I am 4 years away from retirment too but looking to move to Alicante within 12 months. I live in a 2m+ conurbation so alternative places that people suggest when you mention Alicante city, like Altea, Torreviaje, Denia, Santa Pola etc hold zero appeal to me, I find Alicante city a compact place and I'd have cabin fever in a week in a small town!

Back to your post....I've walked and cycled all over the city getting a feel for good and bad areas, your apartment street is defintely leaning towards the latter. It's poor, it's rough, the buildings were mainly built 50 years ago for incoming manual workers as the city grew. Too many negatives for me, no old squares to sit in, no beautiful buildings, too far from most things really unless you take the tram, positives are the tram line and the park. There are a lot of "cheap" apartments up there but they are cheap for a reason.

I've decided to move much nearer the historic quarter, shops, train station, theatre and the beach, walking distance from everything I like and need. Generally I am looking at anywhere south of a line joining Plaza Espana and Plaza Manila, probably Carolinas altas/bajas, Altozano or Campoamor. However, even though I know the city very well I would not buy without renting in the area first.

If I was younger I'd maybe take a punt on a cheaper area because there is an accelerating mis match between wages for the young and purchase/rental prices, the amount of airbnbs and apart hotels has rocketed downtown in the past 5 years, maybe these kids will uplift the rougher areas?