I bought a home in Florida 12 years ago and I couldn't agree more with the guy who owns in Spain. I now spend 6 months every year living in Florida much cheaper than in the UK playing golf in the sun and boating and fishing on the area lakes and intr-coastal water ways. The comment about pleasure strikes a chord especially as we see the UK shrouded in snow and my golf club in the UK is closed ...who would want to play in those temps anyway ...hitting the low 80's here today !!! If you've got the money go for it ...but the American legal system is a lot more robust than the spanish one.

I love reading this sort of thread because it confirms my view that very few people have given any serious thought to a future where oil (the only fuel available for aircraft for the foreseeable future) is going to get very expensive. It's not going to run out but it is going to be eye-wateringly expensive, and once air fares have risen enough there will be a dearth of operators on those routes which depend on cheap airfares. For that reason I would not invest in holiday rental property abroad but I am wondering about living permanently in a warmer climate which might make sense in a world where oil is very expensive. Of course anyone who does that needs to hedge their currency risk somehow, it's dangerous to receive your income in one currency and pay your bills in another.
http://www.peakprosperit...ally-really-big-picture

I consider buying this aparment in southern Costa Blanca to live there - do you know if it's fairly priced ?

According to The Bible, the real Messiah threw down the tables of the moneylenders.
This 'Messiah' charges an interest rate of 2670% per annum according to the fine print in his/her website.
A curious name indeed.

My personal inclination on the original question leans towards those who say 'rent rather than buy' and 'why have the hassle of managing a property at arms' length', but I accept it's a matter of personal choice and certainly different if you intend to spend more than just a few weeks' holiday there. (I personally dealt with the issue via a 'co-ownership' scheme which gives me access to up to 10 properties in different locations without the bother of management, but I'm treating it more as a convenient holiday arrangement rather than an investment!). But in relation to the question of buying in Spain now whilst there are perceived to be 'bargains' to be had, surely the greatest risk is in the Euro? The problems of the Eurozone have not been resolved, they have just been deferred by Mario Draghi's OMT and if his bluff is called or, more likely, interest rates rise, pressure will be right back on Greece followed by the other 'usual culprits' including Spain. If, (and I know it's a big if), these economies are forced out of the Euro, then they will revert to their own currencies and your Euro-paid villa is suddenly valued in de-valued Pesetas. Ouch! Buy it if you want it but the risk is in the currency.