Buying property in Almeria
Almería is a city, province and coast at the eastern end of Andalusia in southern Spain. It still has the sunshine and Mediterranean coastline of the Costa del Sol, but is a little wilder, quieter, less developed and cheaper to buy a home in.
The city is home to 200,000 people and is beautiful and historic, something of a well-kept secret.
As a province, Almería is about the size of Norfolk and Suffolk combined and has a coastline of 200 kilometres, which includes both a national park and interesting towns such as Mojácar and Vera.
Almería doubled as the Wild West in films such as A Fistful of Dollars and The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly and you can go on guided hiking walks to visit film sets. For even more distant history, discover the Muslim influence in Almería via a visit to La Alcazaba, which dates back to the 10th century.
Why Buy Property in Almería
International buyers love Almería for its guaranteed sunshine, unspoiled beaches and low property prices.
Almería also contains Europe’s only desert, the Tabernas Desert and is the perfect spot for sun-seekers to look for an overseas home. It receives just 200mm of rainfall a year (to put that into context, the UK experiences between 800 and 1,400mm a year).
It can get hot in the summer, of course, but even in the cooler months the weather remains pleasant enough to enjoy beach strolls, cycling and golf. Almería’s countryside may be dry, but when it does rain the desert is suddenly transformed into wild flowers.
The western end of Almería joins the Sierra Nevada mountain range, offering skiing in winter. It is also close to the beautiful walking country of the Alpujarras.
Costa Almería has plenty of well-facilitated beaches with fantastic water sports, restaurants and loungers, but it also has unspoiled areas too. These have made it attractive to naturists and it has a thriving alternative and slightly hippy vibe in towns like Mojácar.
Almería’s property market
Almería is one of the more affordable costas to buy a property. For fans of traditional Spanish homes, fincas, cortijos, villas and townhouses, Almería has fantastic choice. Plus, if you are up for renovation project there are plentiful houses for as little as €50,000 that you can upgrade.
For €100,000, you can buy a small apartment with mountain or sea views and be in walking distance of the beach. For the same price, by looking more inland, you can find a renovated country villa.
Cave homes are popular here – usually with rear rooms built into the hillside and a normal townhouse on the front. These have the benefit of being cool in summer and cosy in winter.
With a budget of around €250,000, you can buy a spacious villa with a private swimming pool and garden.
While Almería is not the most popular spot to look for a new-build property, it has a growing number of options. For a new-build apartment in Almería, you can expect to pay upwards of €200,000, these come with benefits such as a communal swimming pool and gardens, high-quality materials and modern appliances. Prices for a new-build in Almería will cost upwards of €400,000.
Is a property in Almería a good investment?
Almería is in Andalusia, which has one of the lowest transfer taxes in Spain. It is levied at 7% for resale properties and the same in VAT for new builds.
Property in Almería is much more affordable than the other Andalusian coastal hotspot, the Costa del Sol. Therefore, for home hunters on a tighter budget, Almería is a superb place to look.
While Almería is not as popular a holiday destination as the Costa del Sol and the Costa Blanca, and hence has a shorter season, you can still have a successful holiday home there, especially if you own a home close to the sea.
How to Get to Almería
Almería is slightly less easily accessible than other costas. There are international flights into Almería Airport throughout the year, but fewer than into Malaga or Alicante, for example. The flight duration is two to three hours from central and northern Europe.
The airport is well-connected with public transport routes, making it easy to reach your property in Almería. Plus, the airport is just an easy ten minutes from Almería city centre.
Where do most expats live in Almería?
Along the coastline, property buyers in Almería will find resort-style apartments and villas. However, in the wider province of Almería, property buyers often search for an affordable, pueblo blanco home.
Pubelo blanco is the name for the traditional, white-washed village homes that Andalusia is famous for. As well as these, buyers are drawn to houses nestled in the countryside (fincas or reformed farmhouse) that promise privacy and peacefulness. You can even purchase a cave house in Almería.
Almería city
Almería city has about the same population size of Brighton, England; just under 200,000. It is a mid-sized city and the best place to buy in Almería if you’d like galleries, museums, tapas bars on your doorstep. The best for shopping is the beautifully manicured, tree-lined streets of Rambla De Belén. While property is more expensive in Almería city compared to the rest of the province, it has much more affordable options compared to other major Spanish cities.
Mojácar
Mojácar is split between an old town on the hills, with outstanding views, and homes right by the sea. Mojácar Playa has a growing number of shiny new-build properties for sale. It is a lovely beach with a choice of bars and restaurants.
Vera
A little inland, Vera is a lovely small town on the way to Almería city. It has a mix of the old and the new with plentiful bars and restaurants and the 15th century Church de la Encarnación as a centrepiece in the Plaza Mayor. Playa Vera is known for the popular nudist section of the beach.
Arboleas
Further inland, Arboleas is well-suited to those looking for somewhere with a more rural, traditional atmosphere. There are local bars and restaurants but otherwise few amenities. It has great access to the sea via the A-7.
Lubrín
Lubrín is a fantastic choice for those after a typical pueblo blanco and a low-key atmosphere.
Steps to buy property in Almería
- Search online: The Your Overseas Home property portal has over 2, 000 listings in Almería. Determine what you can buy for your budget, as well as a list of features you would like in a home (close proximity to the beach or golf, mountain or sea views). You may want to narrow down your search to specific towns, such as Mojácar or Vera.
- Form a team of experts. Once you have chosen a handful of properties that tick your boxes, reach out to an estate agent. They will be able to talk through the area and what you are looking for in a home in greater detail. You will also need an English-speaking lawyer to ensure that the purchase is legally secure. Plus, a currency specialist like Smart Currency Exchange can help you to transfer your funds over to Almería. You may also want to connect with a financial advisor and a mortgage specialist.
- Book a viewing trip. Once you have your team in place, head out to Almería to see your pick of properties. If you haven’t narrowed down to a specific town, check the journey times between each home.. If you find a home that ticks your boxes, then reconnect with your professional team and make an offer.
- Once you have made an offer: If the seller accepts your offer, you will sign a reservation contract and pay a fee to take it off the market. While surveys are not the norm in Spain, many international buyers prefer to have one. Then, you will sign and pay the deposit, around 10% of the purchase price. As you’ve now committed to buying your dream Almería home, lock in your exchange rate to ensure that you do not lose out on thousands. Meanwhile, your lawyer will contact the notary to ensure the legality of the sale.
- Hold the keys in your hand: You will need to sign the sale contract, escritura pública at the notary’s office. Finally, pay the balance of the purchase price, minus the deposit you have paid. You must also pay the relevant taxes (ITP), stamp duty, notary fees and legal fees.