thinking of buying in torrevieja holiday home is it safe

As you haven't visited I would recommend booking a holiday (in a legal, licensed holiday let) and spending a bit of time driving around the areas in and around Torrevieja.  In my opinion, crime is no worse than anywhere else.  

You need to decide what type of surroundings you want.  And budget will play a big apart in your decision.  Do you want a 'lock-up and leave' apartment in a block of apartments with just a balcony or something with more outside space?  Your best security is always neighbours that live there all year round as they will be aware of anything unusual going on.  You can also employ a keyholding business to check on the property when empty.

Will you always have a car when visiting?  If not then you need to be walking distance to amenities.  If you visit in the winter a pool isn't important, but if looking to use the property in the height of summer then you would probably want access to either a pool for cooling off or be very close to the sea.  Also you will want to be where there is plenty going on all year round.  

Visit and talk to locals.  Ask lots of questions.  When you have narrowed down what you want, budget and preferred areas then start the property hunt.

Torrevieja has a large sewage treatment plant south of the salt lakes and north of the N332, the smell at times can be terrible around late evening or early morning, I know it affects one area of Acequion around urbanisation El Paraiso and other areas depending on which way the wind blows. 

Thank you so much Davebev1 this is so helpful, planning a short trip soon to look around the area and get a feel for where we think we might like.  It  was a bit of an after thought about security and safety especially as we have never had any issues in our family home of 35 years we forget not everywhere is the same. No offence to any expats on here.  Thank you again.

Peter373, that is good to know we will keep that in mind, this forum is very helpful and thank you for the reply.

Presume there is an increased mosquito problem because of that?  It's bad enough sometimes in La Siesta although there were none to speak of during my last visit (Oct 20-Mar 21)

Hi,

We have had a townhouse on a gated complex for the last 7 years in Torrevieja, coming over a few times a year, but not of course recently. On a personal level (I am now 47) I have come here often with just girlfriends and also by myself. I have never felt worried for my personal safety alone, or with my family or friends. I think having a gated complex with the residential fees makes us feel more secure as well - if you can get a number for a neighbour even if you don't want to go down the keyholder route (which we did at the start as we rented it out for a couple of years) you will feel happier about leaving the property. What we also did, as we have wifi, was put up a couple of live feed cameras on the patio, which is very reassuring (though it does make you a bit wistful!). In my opinion Torrevieja is a safe family town, and you would be no more at risk than in any place in the UK.

Best of luck, Helen 

I've sent you a Pm

Helen,  thank you for your reply, this helps a lot, our plan is to visit for a couple of days to get a feel for the area and then work out where we might like to buy.  My husband and i want to spend winter months there and our daughter will do the summer months,looking forward to going over and hopefully Shopping for our new adventure.

Ailish

Don’t forget though that the option to spend “winter months” in Spain is now severely restricted, unless you get Residencia.  Only allowed 90 days there in any 180 as a non-resident.