Looking to buy a holiday home

Mark   

It's the 64 000 euro dilemma. ! Live in a village ..we did balsicas 5 years . Great value big house..lots in walking distance..train station on doorstep..superb..used it to Madrid alicante valencia and locally . Fabulous..loads of shops bars . But it's a working village so it's busy and not quiet..we wanted more quiet ..lo pagan is fab ..Great place but busy in the season and water quality in Mar Menor a continuing and real issue ...golf courses you probably still need a car although some have more facilities than others but they carry heavy service charges and are not traditionally spanish ..the general perceived wisdom in Spain is you need access to a car although we used our bikes a lot and it is well organised for cycling ...car hire is an extortionate racket at the airports and second hand cars are dear in Spain but we have one.. electric and fuel costs have gone up here considerably too so we are now considering a property with solar and agricultural water ...my advice would be and its easier said than done is rent some where for 3 months ...we loved balsicas but in the end it wasn't quite enough..unless you have a bag full of money there is always a compromise..you need to decide what you really want as priorities and even then over the years your wishes and desires can shift.

Best wishes Mike

Consider  roldan.  10 miin from airport large supermarket doctors chemist golf on the door 

Thanks for your in depth and helpful reply Mike.  Basilcas is somewhere we have thought about due to the train service, although your point about it always been busy is definitely noted. We love walking and having bikes would make sense. I know ultimately it's what we really want even though it's only a holiday home. But I have the opportunity to spend a lot of 90 in the 180 days there. Thanks again. 

Roldan is not somewhere we have really given too much thought to so thank you.  Are there many bars/restaurants in the area? 

As a holiday home Balsicas has a lot to commend it ..I successfully rented there in summers also so that's a factor when it's sitting empty maybe. Spanglish bar sensational..Best in the whole area..El Rey very good too....loads of eateries and shops ...if you can get a good location there it's a contender..

It does sound like it has a lot of appeal. We would be there in winter and happy to try and integrate and learn better Spanish . Like you say, a  contender. 

Hello Mark 

Can only speak from personal experience. We bought our apartment in Lo Pagan after a whole heap of searching from Torrevieja down to Mazzaron 

LP has a nice balance 

Goo

Hi Goo

Lo Pagan is definitely on our radar.  Our budget is modest but if we can afford close to the sea most people appear to be positive about this area judging by previous posts I've read. 

Many thanks 

Yes plenty I suggest renting in the area and have a look around