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RELOCATION TO ANDALUCíALOCATION: Andalucía is Spain’s largest county or Comunidad Autonoma, and incorporates a huge swathe of land from Portugal to the east coast, including Almeria, Granada, Nerja, Malaga, Torremolinos/Fuengirola, Marbella, Cordoba, Seville, Jerez, and Cadiz. It is much more than just the Costa del Sol and has more true Spanish culture in it than probably everywhere else put together. CLIMATE: It is difficult to generalise about the climate in Andalucía, as it has the wettest part of Spain in Grazalema and the driest in Almeria, the hottest in Seville and one of the coldest in Granada. It is important therefore that anybody considering buying property or relocating to Spain should research the climate and seek advice from those who know. Marbella however is recognised as having the best climate in Europe with mild winters, heaps of sun, more rain than London and not overly hot summers. LANGUAGE: The people in Andalucía people speak ONLY Castellano which is the Spanish we all recognise and learn. There are NO complications from other Spanish languages which impinge on life around Alicante, Catalunya, Valencia and Mallorca. Schooling for your children is therefore made easier and everyone speaks the same language, with little parochial bias or interference. The accent can be pretty difficult to fathom at first, and don’t go trying it on anybody from Madrid either !! AIRPORTS: We shouldn't just think of Málaga as having the only airport offering international flights, Granada, Sevilla and Jerez also have good airports and will open up more and more to international flights. SCHOOLING: For families with children, all areas offer Spanish state schools and in some places, International schools or schools which offer a Spanish education with a strong accent on learning in English, teaching up to 50% of the curriculum in the English language. Schools also provide a good avenue for making new friends. The Costa del Sol does have a good mix of State and Private schools making choice easier. HOSPITALS: There are too many to list here, but all major towns have a fully equipped hospital and villages mostly have well equipped medical centres. Ask a Stacks officer for any particular place’s facilities. PROPERTY PRICES: Again Andalucía is too big to generalise about property prices. Marbella area and the “Golden Mile” has some of the most expensive property in Spain, whereas Almeria is relatively cheap, as are some of the more remote villages inland. The Costa de la Luz along the Atlantic coast is up and coming and there are good investment opportunities to be had if you only know where to look.
Ask Rhona Hutchinson of Stacks Andalucía for her opinion on a particular area or town. (Click here to contact Rhona ).
FURTHER INFORMATION ON ANDALUCíA There are many good websites for more information on Andalucía, so try a look at some we recommend:- |
Click images for larger version
Our Location in the Andalucía Region
Beautiful Beaches in Andalucía
The Sierra Nevada in Andalucía
The Spring Beauty of Andalucía
The City of Sevilla |
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WHY RELOCATE TO ANDALUCíA ?? by RHONA HUTCHINSON; STACKS REGIONAL DIRECTOR FOR ANDALUCíA Many people who relocate to Spain are seeking to live in what many call "real Spain" away from the usual coastal areas yet in or near small villages or one of the cities such as Sevilla, Córdoba and Granada, which offer a true Spanish way of living, all the comforts and plenty of culture. All these cities are steeped in history and have lots to offer in the way of culture, sightseeing, shopping and communications. Couples retiring to Spain may wish to be far removed from all the hustle and bustle of cities for which there are many areas to choose from. If they have no young children to cater for and want to truly integrate into Spanish village life, Andalucía has plenty to offer. They can choose whether they wish to be in a largely ex-pat community or away from such an environment, in an old farmhouse somewhere inland. Andalucía offers opportunities for renovation of tumbledown properties in the deepest countryside, yet with excellent communications. There are also very attractive country properties for those interested in keeping horses in the rolling countryside around Jerez de la Frontera and Sevilla. For families with school age children, these provide a good avenue to making new friends. However, if sport is high up on your wish list, be it golf, tennis, paddle tennis, etc. these are all good catalysts for making new friends and mostly available in the coastal areas. Whether you are a couple on your own or a family with children, you may find the ideal home for you is in a coastal area within easy striking distance of the emblematic city of Granada and the ski slopes of Sierra Nevada. If you are retired, something rural yet a little nearer to the Costa del Sol might suit. Ronda is becoming well known and prices are climbing, however the pueblos blancos, within under two hours of the coast, still have some attractive properties to offer and if running a bed and breakfast is your choice, inland Andalucía is attractive both to the B&B owner and the visitor. The Costa de la Luz, is one of the current growth areas in South West Spain, with the long sandy beaches the Atlantic coast has to offer. It is still relatively unspoilt and prices are not yet as high as those of the Costa del Sol but are climbing, so there are investment opportunities to be had here. Buying off plan can be a good investment, on the other hand an old house in a typical Spanish village or an old farmhouse in the country can be quite lucrative for those with a bit of flare and who are not averse to a bit of DIY. For holiday makers looking for a retreat in the Andalucian sun, the world is your oyster. You can choose between the busy and well established Costa del Sol, which has gone from strength to strength over the past couple of decades and offers all the comforts and facilities one is used to at home with a plethora of supermarkets, restaurants, sports facilities and beaches and visitors are spoilt for choice. The Granada coast also offers an interesting coastline which is far more dramatic than the Costa del Sol or Costa de la Luz. Coastal and country properties are plentiful and prices here too are still lower than on the Costa del Sol. There are so many reasons for moving to Andalucía, other than the weather, golf and the seaside and it has so many places to explore and enjoy other than those which regularly hit the news headlines. Andalucía offers history, culture, modern living, country farmhouses, horse riding, micro-lighting, hang gliding, wind surfing, sandy beaches, skiing, country walks, wild flowers, beautiful drives in the hinterland, bird-watching, National Parks and much much more. Rhona Hutchinson has lived and worked in Real Estate in Andalucía for over 25 years and few people on the Costa del Sol have her experience or in-depth knowledge of the area. Her reputation and knowledge stand before her and you will be in very safe hands if you choose to work with her.
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Photo Gallery Click photos to enlarge |
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A huge choice of Marinas along the coast |
Typical pretty whitewashed Andalucian village. |
Stunning scenery in the town of Ronda |
A traditional Spanish bullring in Andalucía |
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The Osborne Bull, seen on many Andalucian hilltops |
There are many interesting architectural styles to see. |
Relocate to Andalucía and Enjoy Beaches Like this one |
Typical large finca in the Andalucian countryside. |