Buying a 2 bed terrace property

I actual fact, the entire area is choc a bloc with cats and dogs. Seems every household has at least 1 of each these days. Just ask thye agent about which neighbours have them when looking for a property.

Thanks for the info.  I guess I will have to be very aware of this 'nuisance problem' when purchasing in La Marina.  For me there is nothing worse than badly behaved dogs barking all day and night and cats thinking that they can pee n poo wherever they want.  Does this make me a bad person lol.

I agree. on a lighter note, take a look at today´s link:

Just an Idea 2
lol

V

It's those badly behaved humans talking all day that really annoy me. 

I have three dogs. Dogs bark. All dogs bark. Some have bad owners who don't care and let them bark all day and night. The problem here is human not K9. 

If noise from neighbours bothers you, you maybe shouldn't be looking to live on large developments. Spain has loads of remote(ish) houses where the only sounds are the insects, these are often cheap too. 

If you're looking at one of the many cheap properties currently for sale my advice would be to avoid any of the styles that are "back to back" (typically the Josefina, Fina and Noventa types) - most Spanish houses have poor sound and heat insulation qualities and these "back to backs" are prime examples. Noise on three sides is no joke and in the summer they can be absolute sweat-boxes as there is no possibility of creating a through draft by opening a front and back door / window.  Of course, you could be lucky and find the neighbours are mostly absent, which would cut down the noise but it wouldn't help the heat problem and air con is not practical for 24 hour use during the summer months. These properties are cheap for a reason! If you are considering La Marina urb (and it's not a bad place at all if you choose wisely) my advice would d be to go for a property with a front and a back - the Rosita style is good in my opinion (that's what I went for!).  Another option would be an Evita - smaller and cheaper but with a back window in the bedroom and bathroom. Also, be aware that the parques on which the majority of these properties sit are not adopted by the local council so they can become very unkempt. Happy to give more advice if required, feel free to PM anytime. Good luck with your search. 

No, doesnt make you a bad person at all.

It can however make you a very good shot with a .22 rimfire rifle fitted with a supressor !! ;-)

I completely agree with this!  When we were searching for our home we rented one of the little properties in Parque del Nervion right beside Mel's Kitchen for 10 days. The property was beautifully done, a great landlord (who lives in the street) and nice and private. HOWEVER, you could actually hear kids dropping marbles and toys on the floor from about 4 houses away. Normal day to day sounds are amplified due to the structure of the buildings. One night we heard our neighbours arrive home and start to open their shutters. Got up in the morning and the shutters were closed - it was a neighbour 3 houses away arriving and it sounded like it was actually our own bedroom window shutter being opened.   You can hear people talking in another house from inside your own house too. It taught us the lesson that we needed to have more privacy. Eventually opted for one of the Rosas on the forest road and we're really happy with our decision. I'd advise to go for a walk or a drive through the different areas at different times of the day and evening and be really sure before you commit to buying the type of property you want in any given area.

Very sound (excuse the pun) advice - I really think most people totally underestimate the problem of how sound travels in these places. It's just a fact of life and as long as people are realistic about the extent of possible noise intrusion (notwithstanding the lack of through ventilation) and are absolutely sure it won't drive them mad then you literally get what you pay for and good luck - a cheap as chips shoebox that may well suit your requirements, great if it does. Internet research showing decent looking properties at under 40k euros is very seductive, it's a shame there isn't an acoustic rating gi en for houses, similar to energy rating (although most agents ignore this in their advertising by copping out with a bland "in progress" statement). I love La Marina and wouldn't want to deter anyone from buying there, I just feel it's worth sharing experiences and if they help people make informed decisions, job done!