Posted: Sat Sep 5, 2020 12:08pm
Condado del Alhama is a lot more than 45 minutes drive from Alicante, probably about 90 minutes. All golf courses resorts are also car dependent for getting to amenities other than those on site, which is a big financial consideration, especially in summer months, for yourself and visitors.
Legally friends and family can use the apartment for FREE, but if money changes hands, even at 'mates rates', then it technically becomes a rental and you need a Tourist License, specialist insurance, declaration to the Guardia Civil of your guests, do a Spanish tax return (quarterly if you are non-resident) and ensure the property is appropriately equipped and maintained with an emergency contact person (usually the keyholder). You will also need to employ a keyholder/cleaner who is working legally.
A lot comes down to your budget (sadly, most things come down to that!). Some of the inland Murcia golf resorts have some low priced apartments at the moment - a lot is unsold stock from years ago, advertised a 'new' but not actually just built, just never sold. The old adage of "if it is cheap then it is cheap for reason" still applies to property. Some (and I stress the word some) golf apartments are cheap because they are difficult to sell - too far from town, community fees high, too far from the airport etc. Properties on the popular and well established resorts nearer the coast are higher (Mar Menor, Roda, La Manga and La Torre for example). So, equally "location, location, location" applies! Finding the right area that has property within your budget is key to your search. You can update a property bit by bit over time to change it to suit your taste, but you cannot change the location of the property.