Only 20 minutes from the coastal vacation resort of Salobrena, this is Moorish Spain at its finest. With the historical Muslim terracing and irrigation method nevertheless used to this working day, Los Guajares is sandwiched amongst the mountain ranges of Sierra del Chaparral and Sierra de Los Guajares.
This place offers spectacular scenery, an abundance of wildlife, and is one particular of the most unspoilt environments in Granada. Jogging away to the south is the Sierra Nevada, stretching to the Costa Tropical, a 100 kilometres extend of fairly undiscovered coastline that is total of hidden coves and resorts such as Salobrena, Motril and Almunecar. For all those searching for low costs and a rural retreat, Los Guajares is great.
Why acquire there?
This beautiful valley gives a temperate weather that is warm in the course of the winter season months but a bit cooler than inland locations due to its proximity to the coastline. There are numerous species of deer, birds and mountain goats, along with a range of climbing and strolling trails.
The valleys abound with orange, chirimoya (custard apples), almond and olive groves, although the slender streets and houses are protected in geraniums. The area is also conveniently obtainable, only 20 minutes from the coast and Motril, and only an hour from Granada, which now gets immediate flights from the Uk.
This is an old section of Andalucia exactly where the villages are whitewashed and the streets are slim and winding. There’s culture and record at every transform, with the Alhambra Palace in Granada, the Alpujarras, the swathe of coastal towns, and the ruined Arab castle in Los Guajares itself. Add authentic tapas and contemporary seafood, and you’ve received an unspoilt slice of common Andalucian everyday living.
Where by to invest in
In Los Guajares by itself, you have the 3 villages of Guajar Faraguit, Guajar Fondon and Guajar Alto. This previous rural group presents a handful of bars and restaurants, and amazing scenery. A two bed room property can be picked up for a mere 67,000 euros, while 72,000 euros can secure you a absolutely renovated, standard townhouse.
Additional to the southeast is the whitewashed hilltop city of Salobrena. Surrounded by sugar cane fields, Salobrena is a picturesque seaside town, with lots of stores and eating places. Its maze of cobbled streets are ignored by the ruins of a Moorish castle. Expend 145,000 euros and you can choose up a four bed room apartment in the centre of Salobrena, though 155,000 euros will get you a traditional property in the outdated town.
Molvizar is a different common village. Positioned on the edge of the Sierra del Chaparral, it lies in the stunning Lecrin valley, which is coated with almond and olive groves, and enjoys gorgeous sights.
Molvizar is getting to be popular with folks looking for a pretty village area but with obtain to the energetic coastal city of Salobrena. There are lots of fairly, typically Spanish city homes for sale. A two bedroom cortijo below prices 284,000 euros, while a a few bed room townhouse is 106,000 euros.
Located near Motril, the village of Velez de Benaudalla nestles at the foothills of the Sierra Nevada and is a normal mountain village, with sugar cube houses, mountain views and a conventional church. A new aspect to Velez is the newly produced dam, which claims h2o athletics, picnic parts and additional. In the not-too-distant foreseeable future it will also be a haven for bird watchers and walkers, supplying numerous elements of rural tourism.
House here commences at 116,000 euros for a 1 bedroom townhouse, whilst a two bedroom townhouse necessitating some work can be obtained for 99,000 euros.
The property market
Granada is relatively unknown when compared to a great deal of Andalucia. At the moment, about 48 for each cent of assets here sells for in between 50,000 euros and 150,000 euros, and a quarter of all residences bought are village residences. On regular, residence sells for 85,000 euros significantly less than the national average price tag of 245,000 euros.
The industry in Los Guajares is extremely different from that of a couple of several years ago, when folks were purchasing every little thing from renovation assignments to off strategy investments and luxury villas. In excess of the very last 5 yrs, charges have improved dramatically, at a price of 15 to 20 for every cent for each annum. A residence these kinds of as a cortijo, or village house, has risen in selling price from 30,000 euros to in excess of 100,000 euros. Yet, there are nevertheless bargains to be had, primarily in villages this sort of as Jete and Otivar.
There has also been an enhance in the quantity of folks obtaining and investing in the location. The market is incredibly worldwide, although modern months have noticed more qualities getting bought to Spanish clients than in previous decades, much more city centered Spaniards are searching to the Costa Tropical and inland locations of Los Guajares for second properties, in particular these from Madrid and Barcelona.
This has aided to preserve the market place for 2005 successful in what seems to in any other case be a sluggish yr, particularly in terms of the amount of British purchasers. 2005 is looking at a combine of buyers seeking the two home to enable and also home for long lasting relocation. While there are even now bargains to be experienced, this could all modify when the motorways are concluded and Los Guajares becomes far more quickly obtainable.
The lettings sector
Due to the for a longer time wintertime time than in the coastal parts, the shorter term lettings year in Los Guajares is shorter than it is in substantially of Andalucia. The region is more suited to those wanting for a walking vacation, fairly than a beach holiday. Nevertheless, some entrepreneurs do allow their house all through the summertime, and most do this privately by means of the internet. This displays the quieter character of the lettings marketplace.
The revenue created is significantly less than you would count on together the Costa del Sol, whilst price ranges are soaring in conjunction with greater desire. There has also been a significant turnaround in the variety of consumers seeking to safe a extended phrase rental in the Los Guajares space prior to acquiring. This craze started off in 2004 and has grown noticeably more than the previous 8 months.
In phrases of rental returns, a a person bed room common assets in Guajar Alto can generate 210 euros per 7 days in reduced season and 320 euros in peak year. A two bedroom townhouse in Velez de Benaudalla can secure in between 205 euros to 365 euros. In the a lot more well-liked coastal spot of Salobrena, a a few bedroom villa can create among 500 euros and 850 euros per 7 days, dependent on the period.
Dwelling in Los Guajares
There is considerably to endorse this space, not the very least the tradition, tradition and awesome scenery. Nonetheless, there are negatives too. The location has a confined infrastructure and the remote site of several villages means limited methods, such as universities and hospitals.
The streets are frequently steep and slim, which can hamper access by motor vehicle, and the weather can also be harsher during the winter season months than on the coastline. If you might be wanting to buy here, you ought to be geared up to understand Spanish, and to respect the locals and their regular way of lifestyle.
There is a solid local existence here, with a advancement of Spanish second property purchasers investing in the space. Overseas consumers have a tendency to be semi retired partners and middle aged households who are looking to escape the chaotic coastal resorts. There are still rather couple of British individuals here, and the foreigners who have acquired home are a cosmopolitan combine of Canadians, Scandinavians and People. There’s also a flourishing inventive group keen to get advantage of the area’s pure elegance.
Salobrena and the surrounding resorts are a lot more touristy and designed up than the inland villages, but the level of enhancement continues to be suitable. There is additional of an expat local community right here, and surely extra attractions, but all over again, it hardly reaches the amounts seen further more west in the Costa del Sol.
Granada in figures
Unemployment: 19%
Full EU population: 8,032 (35% of which are British)
Language: Castilian Spanish
Average home price tag: 160,000 Euros
Overall spot of Granada: 12,635km2
Inhabitants of Granada Province: 818,959
Populace density: 64.82km2
Tallest peak, Mulhacen: 3,481m
Size of coastline: 100km