 The Costa del Sol has been at the centre of the Spanish tourist trade since time
immemorial. Located on the Alboran Sea at the crossover point between the Atlantic
and the Mediterranean, its southerly aspect, amazing climate and abundance of wine
producers offer visitors and Spanish property hunters alike the best of all worlds!
The Costa del Sol coastline runs from the Strait of Gibraltar at its most southerly
point, to Motril on the South Coast near where the Sierra Nevada mountain range
begins. Famous resorts such as Torremolinos, Marbella, Estepona and Nerja lie
around the sandy coastline, basking in over 300 days of sunshine every year. Indeed,
Nerja on the Costa del Sol holds the title of "sunniest place in Spain", clocking up on
average 3,499 sunshine hours per annum.
Malaga is the Costa del Sol's capital city. It hosts the international airport for the
region and is also central to the Costa del Sol's transport infrastructure. Bus routes and
train lines to the outlying areas of the Costa del Sol are all within easy access of the
airport, as is a well-maintained road system.
Golf is a favourite pastime for residents and visitors to the Costa del Sol. The area is a
favourite haunt for winter golfers, and has some of the finest golf courses in the
world. The Valderrama golf course, just one of thirty on the Costa del Sol, gained the
region global recognition when it hosted the 1997 Ryder Cup. Since then, the Costa
del Sol has been crowned the #1 winter golf resort in Europe.
If you are planning on buying a Costa del Sol property then you're in good company.
Both Antonio Banderas and Julio Iglesias are known to have purchased property on
the Costa del Sol, and the area has a history of being frequently visited by other big
name celebrities. Property though is highly priced, especially around Malaga and
Marbella. Generally, the further east, west and north you look from these locations,
then the more affordable property becomes.
For the investor, buying a Costa del Sol property is a very wise move. The enduring
popularity of this particular Costa ensures an annual return of up to 8% through rental
income, with forecasts suggesting that this rate could be sustained for several more
years to come. It is important to understand though that the area is very tourist-
oriented. If you are looking to buy a villa in Spain to live in all year round, then bear
in mind that the beaches, restaurants and clubs will be very crowded during the
holiday season. Still, if you're determined to realise that Costa del Sol dream, but don't
want the tourist bits, then you may find Spanish property to your liking in some of the
quieter areas, such as further inland or down towards Gibraltar.
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