How to choose

You need to decide  what you are looking for, close to bars and restaurants, close to beach etc, then look at what is available that is within your budget allowing around an extra 10-20% of the price to cover taxes legal fees etc. Whether renting or buying consider are you so close to nightlife that noise may be an issue. Good to come out at least once to view and get to know the area, even rent for a couple of months while looking at properties to buy. Good luck.

Hi

I’m sure you will be given advice by many, but all I’ll say is we have holidayed in the area (Villamartin) 4-5 times and ended up renting in a community we have found to suit us perfectly. Every year, we had the ‘will we buy?’ chat, deciding that only if a house came up in that particular urbanisation, we would pursue it further. 

Sure enough, a townhouse came up for sale privately, and we will be completing the sale in January! 

So, we already know many of the residents, know the orientation of the house and the sunshine, know that it is a short stroll to the plaza, and can’t wait to be part of a lovely community. 

Good luck in your search! 

Woah, that´s a bit of a big question there!
North/South, coastal/inland, Spanish/ex-pat, urbanization/town/country, golf/not, nightlife/peace, new build/traditional?
Make a list of things that are important to you and we can try to give suggestions. Although I think it very important to see everything out of season, depending on where you are, it could be totally different in summer. Villamartin area urbanisations are very popular for ex-pats with La Zenia boulevard nearby but the N332 is often a car park in the summer.
Don´t know how long you will be here for but I would suggest making multiple trips and signing up with a few agents. There are hundreds of properties for sale and new builds are starting up again so it really is a buyer´s market but never use the agent´s recommended solicitor and never put down a deposit until your independent solicitor advises you to.
From Alicante, all the way south to Cartegena in Murcia, you will be spoilt for choice and properties on the coastal side of the N332 are generally more expensive than the inland side but parking is a nightmare in the summer.
Narrow it down for us and I´m sure you will get a lot of information on living in individual developments. All the very best for this new chapter in your life.

My advice would be to ignore people's views. Do some online research. Come out here for two weeks and spend time in your shortlisted areas. If your not sure come back out at a different time of the year.

Asking for people's opinions on areas is like asking what the best type of food is. Totally subjective.

I have a HH in Villamartin but don't like the Plaza area, whereas there will be people on here who love it. You see my point.

Thank you for your reply.

We are coming in December. Will we need cold weather wear?

We want to look at Torrevejeca, Orihuela, La Marina, Callosa de Segura and

Playa Flamenca. We want to be on the outskirts but in walking distance to amenities.

Somewhere quiet but able to take a bus if we want to go out.

Any suggestions. We want a townhouse and our budget is £85000.

Kind regards

Chris

In December still pretty warm during the day, cooler at night ( fleece or coat needed ).

You need to check agents websites because there are so many properties in all areas.

Public transport may be limited in some areas.

Hi, we narrowed it down to torrevieja area, but didn’t want anywhere to built up or noisy. But did want to get to amenities easily so we looked around the little urbanisations, and fell in love with La Siesta , there pretty little bungalows and villas and a good bus service plus taxis are easy also to get. You can reach the beaches in 10/15 minutes and there are plenty of shopping malls within easy distance. Big ex pat community and the people we have met are so friendly and helpful. And as someone else said make sure the property has a habitation certificate, don’t use the agents/sellers solicitor and definitely don’t believe there are lots of interest in this property jargon, and do speak to local people, just sit in a few bars and get chatting, I wish you the best of luck with your search, and one agent that is brilliant ( plus have patience of a saint) is Orange Casas, Tracey and Rob, they really listen to what you want and definitely no hard sell.