Living in El Raso

Hi Ian, it is clear you are wanting to move out here but I'm not sure how much you know about the area in general as you have asked about multiple areas and urbanizations. Everybody will have their own views about different places and what they want to get out of them as it is a very subjective issue. What one person loves about an area could be the very same reason that the next person hates it.
I think the best way to find a property is to list what you want to get out of it and find the area that best suits those requirements and only then start looking for the actual property.
We did the same as you and found a whole host of places that looked brilliant online in the sales blurb but were totally unsuitable when viewed in person. 
My suggestion would be to find somewhere to rent first, move over before the end of the year, if at all possible, and then visit the different areas at different times of the year before you even start looking at individual properties.
It is very easy to look at places with your "holiday head" on without considering how real life will be. Public transport is not the best here so if you are not driving, trying to replicate a village life in the UK may not be practical. Being on top of a hill with stunning views is not so desirable when you have to struggle uphill in 40 degree heat with your weekly shop. That nice little bar around the corner may not be so wonderful when the noise is blaring out at 2 am and that dear little dog next door may not be so cute when it is yapping 24/7 because it is left outside for days on end. The handy bins just outside aren't so clever when they are spilling over and stinking in the summer. The beautiful solarium may become a no-go zone in the hotter months and may leak when it rains. The nice quiet villa with friendly neighbours may seem like you are living in a ghost town when they all go home out of season.
Lots of these properties will feel very, very cold in winter due to the inferior construction methods; single skin walls, little insulation or heating and noise will travel between adjoining properties.
I'm sure some people will say how they've moved over and found the perfect place straight away but equally, having been on the forum for just about 3 years now, you see the same things cropping up.
There are thousands of properties for sale here all the time, some taking many months, if not years to sell and who knows what will happen to property prices post Covid? What I do know is that it is very expensive to buy and sell property here and a seemingly wasted year's rent money could turn out to be a very wise investment if you don't get it right first time.

Thank you for being honest about things we are going to rent for a while to do as you said. This has been ongoing for a year now with us and we have a list of things we need, want and desire. We are trying to whittle down the areas to be near places we would feel right in.

Ian👍

Modern properties in Spain are actually structurally at least as sound as in the UK, with correct isolation and heating for the climate. They are actually built stronger, with a earthquake protection concrete frame. 

Lots of complaining on the fora here, but they are almost all pertaining to pré-2010 properties.

But of course, the cheaper, the nastier, just like everywhere. You can not compare a 100.000Euro apartment in Torrevieja with a 2.000.000Euro property at Las Colinas. 

People often want to be ‘close to the beach”, but beware of some disadvantages too. Salt corrosion is not to be underestimated, as well as noise from tourists, difficulty parking in some areas and sand creeping everywhere.

Also beware that Spanish people have a different threshold to noise than Western Europeans...Beware of loud neighbourhoods, never buy next to a bar

Most of the properties here are of pre 2010 construction which is why there are more comments about them on the forums and not all new properties are being built to the spec you mention and are hugely overpriced, in my opinion. Neither are there many of us in the market for a 2 million euro property.
Your comment about the cheaper the nastier will be quite offensive to a lot of people.

Hi Ian,

I have friends who live on El Raso.  As a visitor, I really like the place, but I understand it's very quiet out of season.  That said, it does have several bars and restaurants, and a few shops near the entrance to the urb, so you don't have to get in a car if you want to pop out for a drink or dinner.

El Raso comes under the municipality of Guardamar (one of my favourite towns in this area), so good access to facilities such as health centre, town centre shopping, markets, beach, parks and, unusually, there is a bus route on the Lemon Tree Road, which runs right by El Raso, although my friend tells me the buses are only 1 an hour.  In fact, Lemon Tree Road gives you good access to the N332 at one end and the Ciudad Quesada to Torrevieja road at the other end.

As Cheryl said, you need to get a feel for the place yourselves, but personally, I think El Raso is worth a look.

Kind regards, 

Kim

Hi.  I thought you might like to hear from a holiday apartment owner/visitor on El Raso.

We have a holiday apartment on Oasis Beach at the bottom of El Raso, and have used it mainly in the winter time since Jan 17.

We like the estate because it is quiet. For us, the peace and quiet are a big plus.  We can walk to the cafes and restaurants easily, 15/20 mins stroll. There is a small supermarket for essentials, fresh bread baked each day, and a Consum on the main road about a mile away. If you have a bike it’s an easy journey.  But a car is essential in our opinion for getting to all the lovely places in the area, and to meet friends.

I think you are looking to move more permanently, but we find the only months that it is busy is July and August, and now we stay away at that time.  But that’s our choice. We return for a few weeks at a time from September to April. It suits us.

It’s easy to get to Guardamar, and we go early to the beach, and can generally park ok. You have to pay To park in the summer, But after a couple of hours, when it gets busy, we return to the apartment and peace!  

Can’t wait for the Virus situation to settle, and then we can all return safely to our holiday homes.

Hope you can visit and find somewhere to suit you soon.

Hi yes we hope to come on a permanent basis we don’t mind it quiet in winter and as we are early risers we should get to each early. Are there any clubs on the urb for oldies like us.

Ian

Although we don’t go to any clubs, I know there are some, and have seen information about them.  We did go to some U3A meetings near Torrevieja our first year. 

The tea room (That sells cakes and teas and lunches) has events and meetings. Also has a library shelf for book exchanges.

I would think the Local Expats have meetings On the Urb.

Sorry cannot help further.

All new properties are built to that spec. as it is the National Build Code to which all new builds have to comply with in Spain.

There are lots of modern good quality apartments in the Torrevieja and Orihuela Costa area by the way. 

I would always choose a property built during the last 8 years or so.