Looking to buy a property

Why have you decided on Yelca ... when it seems ... when reading your post that you know nothing of the place ..if this is the case I would highly recommend that you take a holiday in Yelca before you buy...Yelca is inland Spain and is known as wine country British people are very few and far between property is very cheap to buy for this reason...you would definitely need to speak Spanish ... ( I am 64 myself  )... personally if I was you I would look around the Costa's within British Expats communitys as at your age you will probably find it near on impossible to learn the Spanish language.

Frequent Flyer , I would like to buy abroad and I`ve spent lockdown browsing but not visiting , obviously, the areas that I imagine I would like . I would like to be within an expat community , possibly close to the sea , but could spend a year touring and miss my ideal spot. Mar Menor seems idyllic and yet Camposol seems to have a thriving expat community . If anyone has any thoughts , they would be much appreciated . ( I`m 62 and retiring this year btw )  I drove in Spain last year , which I dont mind but would prefer to have everything within walking distance . 

I have a villa on Camposol and in Los Balcones ... Camposol is highly recommended for amenities and expats and you will get value for your money with property it is around a 20 minute run by car to the nearest beach around 15 KLM away ...the Los Balcones property I also own is on a gated community and is only  3 minutes from the beach with lots of expats around .. this type ofproperty is far more expensive to buy than Camposol... good luck enjoy.

I have a 2nd home in Villena, 70kms from coast, 20kms from Yecla. I cant honestly answer your questions re Yecla as I,ve only visited maybe 3 times in 15yrs. However I,ve heard there is a thriving expat community and they have a good weekly market(good place to meet other expats) moreso than my own town. Property is mostly in campo (countryside) with large land, which is ok for solitary minded people like myself but for a close knit sociable community, not good.

We are in our 70,s (hubby now 77) and now mindful it will become more difficult as you will need a car and properties with a lot of land require a lot of maintenance which if you have to pay workers to look after it is another cost as you wont have many younger expat neighbours to help. I pay more here (Im in Villena now) than at home for any jobs necessary. Spanish houses in campo always need something doing.

While it is very hot mid summer its really cold in the winter, nothing like the temps on the coast. Sometimes colder than our temps in the north east of Uk, and the houses very difficult to maintain warmth given the building often just single brick and no insulation at all. Heating can be very expensive.We have oil heating but use a wood burner instead as much cheaper. We rarely stay from end November to start of March, preferring our warm central heated insulated home. We had to use heating(evenings especially) from March, through April to May almost every day this year and it rained for weeks. English is rarely spoken but google translate is your best friend.

If you are single, I wouldnt recommend it, for safety and security you need a partner(preferably younger) lol. Yes Alicante is nearest airport about an hour away, and workmen are hard to get unless you're happy conversing in spanish.

We bought in 2006 here when properties were double the price, and remember you need to add approx 15% on top for buying fees, after being unhappy with our coastal urbanisation property we,d had for 3 years, but realistically ours is only worth half price we paid (with buying fees added in) and there are so many properties all over available that if buying now, I,d recommend somewhere closer to coast maybe within 30kms max, not nearer 100kms as weather would be better especially in winter and you would have more expat support but I would not buy on an urbanisation personally. I like tranquility and love it here but getting older makes you realise you are more vulnerable.

Have you thought of Almeria? Drier, and properties generally cheaper than Costa Blanca? We didnt have flights to Almeria from Newcastle 20 years ago, but now do. Watching the "selling houses" programme on Ch 4 every day the prices are more comparable to this area like for like or Murcia inland but more south. Properties in this area are cheaper but harder to sell. I have neighbour with property on market for over 5 years. They bought at 214k€ in 2005, wife in poor health, price now 139k€ but they wont reduce further as couldnt afford to buy in Uk old area, and estate agent fees on selling is expensive 5% plus their other fees so stuck. Another has just returned to a park home in Cornwall, paid 190k€ also in 2005 sold at 110k€ and ended up with £90k, had to buy park home as no properties single floor, available for price. 

Research, research and think hard, location is everything, we lost 36k€(not counting the buying fees either) selling coastal one and it was in a desirable area.

Regards

Pauline.

Thank you for your reply

Thank you very much this is indeed helpful

Thanks for this - I will have a think on it 

good luck , hope you find your ideal place :-) 

Try looking in el Alamillo right by the sea 10 min walk to the port shops bars but a little more peacfull than than the port .New Tesco , Garage big Chinese shop Where you can buy everything for the home, English People always around 40 min drive to The new Mercia Airport . Do take a look at Alamillo . Good luck .