The Ultimate Homes Blog: October 2020

Interesting times in Spain

It's been a while since my last blog / newsletter. It has felt like summer here on the Costa Blanca right up until the storm we had Friday, though to be fair, we are now into October so it is to be expected. Also it just hasn't felt right to me to bombard readers with (another) Spanish property newsletter.

But in the many conversations I have had, I have been asked a number of times how has life been here over the last few months. Well, as some of you know, I live in Altea, and it has been busy all summer, hotels and restaurants seemed busy to me during the peak season, and parking was tricky as always! There was a fair mix of visitors to the area with perhaps a larger percentage being Spanish visitors, and not surprisingly, very few British visitors. From an international perspective, there were plenty of visitors from France, Germany and the Benelux countries, many of those making their way here by car. Other areas of the coastline have not fared so well, notably Benidorm which is only ten minutes drive from Altea, yet relies heavily on the tour operators.

And the property market?

Prices are holding relatively steady, we at Ultimate Homes were very busy up to the middle of August and only now, the last week of September, that we are seeing an increase in property viewings and realistic offers on property once again.

There is certainly plenty of interest, and I believe there to be a massive pent-up demand from the British Isles which will return as soon as travel restrictions are eased.

We have managed to upgrade a number of aspects of our business during the quieter times, looking at new technology which will enable us to do virtual viewings with clients overseas.

From the enquiries that we receive, we have noticed a change in the type of property of interest, and an increase in budget. The lockdown has meant that private outdoor space is more important than ever, whether that be ground floor apartments with gardens, terraces or solariums - in short, outside space has never been in more demand. However we are not seeing vendors reducing their prices - everybody wants a deal, and we spend a long time educating both buyers and sellers on the price of a property. Prices are not collapsing, there is still demand and whilst there is a slight adjustment, it's maybe discounts of 5% or so.

So without further ado, take a look at some our new property listings. The Autumn really is a wonderful time to visit this coastline. The days are still bright and sunny, the beaches are virtually empty during the week, and temperatures are still in the mid to high 20's. As always, feel free to contact us by email or telephone on +34 966 112 773 if one of these might be of interest to you (or of course a friend).

ALTEA