Spain’s new golfing hotspot
October 16th, 2008 by Rachel Newcombe
Spain continues to be one of the top location choices for overseas buyers, but do you know where you can find an area with the best coastal property price growth rate in Spain, great transport links and a coastline that’s well protected from overdevelopment?
The answer lies in Andalucia and the Costa de la Luz, which stretches along the western coast of Spain.
In the province of Huelva, property prices rose by 7.6% in 2007, which was the best property growth out of all of the coastal areas of Spain. Yet it remains one of the least built-up coastal areas in the country, with less than 13% of the coastline affected by urban development. Although several new developments are occurring, retaining as much of the natural environment and beauty as possible is an issue locals are keen to uphold and there are strict environmental controls in place.
With 417km of coastline and great beaches to choose from, it’s the perfect location for both a beach holiday and a holiday home. Compared to the beaches in the Costa del Sol, the sand in this part of Spain tends to be finer in texture and have a more golden hue, and the beaches themselves are often picturesquely backed by pine trees and sand dunes.
There’s good news for golfers too, as the area already boasts a number of great golf courses and neighbouring golf property developments and more are on the horizon. The average price of a round of golf in Huelva costs up to 50% less than it would in the nearby Algarve or Costa del Sol, so you can get more rounds for your money. Many experts have dubbed Huelva the ‘fastest growing destination for golf tourism in Spain’, so buying in the area now could get you in at the forefront of a golfing revolution.
One of the reasons Spain always appeals to UK property buyers is its close location – only a short haul flight away. Huelva is easily accessed via the airports in Faro, Portugal, Seville or other local airports, but earlier this year it was announced that it would finally be getting its own International Airport. It’s been a while coming, but should be functioning by 2012 and will be a blessing for property owners.
