Should I buy in condado de alhama?.help please

Hi folks

I came to look at a ground floor 3 bed apartment last week and have some questions before I make a big decision on whether to buy.

The place seemed quiet, does the town squareget busier in spring and summer.
Are there plenty of kids around.
Are there bars restaurants near by.
The living space seemed small in the villa, we are a couple with a 10year old and a new born, will the space be enough.
Are the terraces spacious enough, again they seemed a touch smaller than ones I had seen elsewhere.
We would hope to visit 4 times a year, is there plenty to do on site as well as off.
What are the sports facilities like.
Finally, are they nice places to live.

Sorry for all the questions but websites don't always give honest opinions. Any comments or stories or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.


Grant

Hi Grant

All we can say is we bought our gf 3 bed apartment in 2008 and we really love it. We visit about 5 times a year with the kids aged 15 and 11 in the holidays and cheeky weekends just us two when we can. It is quiet out of season currently but much busier in the spring and summer. Last summer there were two festivals and friendly sporting events including football golf and other games. There was a weekly on site market held on the al kasar car park and the pub and restaurant were always busy. The al kasar centre is ideal for families with kids to go have a drink and the little ones mingle in a safe environment. This will only improve when new business open up on the centre over the next 6 months.

There is a fantastic club open now that has facilities for all. Food from breakfasts through till tapas in the evenings. It has all the sport in the world shown on three big HD screens and a kids room with games and pool etc. It's run by some lovely people who really will bend over backwards to make you feel welcome.

On the sports facilities obviously the golf course is one the very best that I have played. There's a sports hard court for football & basketball etc. There's tennis and paddle tennis courts. There are three grass football pitches that are due to be refurbished and the resort is a great place for jogging or cycling. Sara runs a kids club with loads of games and sports events that are available for a very reasonable fee.

We find it a very relaxing family friendly resort and the accommodation is plenty big enough for us four (and my two aint small) especially when you think about it you're be outside mainly in the warmer times of the year.

We feel it's good now but when and if Paramount happens then it could be amazing. The one thing that most sport/golf minded people are in agreement about is that the resort badly needs a golf clubhouse to match its outstanding golf course. If that happens then the resort could end up being a real jewel in the Murcia region and you could of nipped in at a steal of a price compared to when we purchased.

 Locally the area is fantastic with loads of lovely places to explore. Murcia and Cartagena cities are wonderful and the Sierra Espuna Mountains and country park are beautiful with good place to eat  and vist. Alham town has a roman spa and there are literally countless beaches and hidden family freindly coves to discover. There's loads of restaurants to eat in locally and at Camposol. Then there's the ever improving Puerto de Mazarron where there are litterally dozens of places all dotted around a beautiful marina and beach.

Anyway that's our view good luck with whatever you decide to do.

Cheers

Jason & Lisa
 

This message was last edited by Jay05 on 22/01/2012.

This message was last edited by Jay05 on 22/01/2012.

This message was last edited by Jay05 on 23/01/2012.

At bargain basement prices and an improving exchange rate you would be foolish not to buy. The vast majority of owners love the place as it is but there are some who are dissappointed that many of the facilities initially promised by Polaris have not appeared due to the financial meltdown across Europe. But that could not be helped and we have done well to get where we are right now.

The management company Milenium Levante are very good and the resort is progressing but much slower than originally intended - although when I bought nearly 4 years ago I was prepared for it to be at least a 10 year project to get anyway near fruition.

I think the last poster meant 'Paramount' when they said Polaris - as if the theme park promised by the film franchise goes ahead then the area will resemble more of International Drive in Florida than the quiet rural place that it is now. For me I will love it in either format as there are few places in the world that are as easy to get to, have such a fabulous climate, friendly locals and great neighbours and an infrastructure that makes getting around so easy.

My advice - fill your boots as you won't get a better chance to buy something that will be an asset to your whole family and lifestyle for many years to come.

Jon Faulkner

Jon

Good point I did mean Paramount and definitely not the mob!!!

Sorry I've corrected it now.

Jay

Grant,

It's not he place if you want a busy place with access to several bars etc on your doorstep. 

In the summer there seems to be more than enough kids running around and it can seem quite busy. 

If you're willing to drive 15 minutes there are numerous restaurants outside CDA plus all the ones that deliver from Campasol.

To be honest if you're worrying about your living space then don't pick CDA.  We are in a 3 bed with 3 young kids.  Doesn't bother us as we are always outside but if for some reason we got stuck inside for a few weeks (hard to imagione with something like 330 sunshine days a year) the place would be too small.  We have been to CDA every summer for last 3-4 years and most easters with friends and family filling in the gaps. Personally I think we may have had 1 days rain during the summer and only a few days outside this.

Fantastic family place but the shopping etc is not on your doorstep.  If you want to relax and kick back brilliant.

And as Jay said...a golf course to die for.

Shane

Hi Grant

Like those comments below we are more than happy with our purchase, we have a two bed with a great roof terrace

 Re your comments about room size.

Remember you will spend an lot of time outdoors during the warmer months, My suggestion would be to rent a 3 bed in the area of Condado you looked @, that will give you a much better idea. I am sure that there are may owners of three beds that rent out.

Idealy the apartment would have air con for both warm & cold air and ample of good facilities to give you shade when it is too hot which is a must when you have very young children. I see you have two children are they the same sex. if they are, do you really need a three bed.  I know there is an age gap  but  I have two boys, well they are men now, with an eight year age gap but they always shared a bedroom when we went away until the oldest was of an age that he didnt want to holiday with us any more.

What ever you chose to do. all the best

Jan 

 

This message was last edited by Hamibabe on 23/01/2012.

Grant

I'm afraid if you are looking for reasons not to buy then I cant help you....!

We committed to buy in 2007 when prices were high and the exchange rate was good and therefore would have good reason to grumble but we bought for the long term and can not be more pleased with our decision.

Our garden in Naranjos is excellent - a good mix of nationalities and in the summer children range in age so our three (12 and 10 year old girls and 5yr old boy) have a fantastic time meeting old and new friends every year (and skyping texting etc when home) and I'm sure a similar experience is had in other gardens around the resort.

For supermarket shopping we tend to fill our boots from one of the major supermarkets enroute and top up at either camposol a few minutes down the road or the on-site although it is a little more expensive. For evenings we tend to head down to the coast which is only a short drive away. 

The resort is as quiet or buzzing as you want it during the school holiday weeks. During the day we chill out around the pool with the kids going off with their friends (after breakfast and cream) and they seem to migrate around the garden from apartment to apartment playing. Although we hardly see them during the day we have never once been concerned with safety. Ours always ask if they can go out of the garden and it appears that all their freinds parents have similar 'rules' so there is never a problem. If you want to do some people watching with a nice drink or even meet a few new people the Al Kazar is great. Our problem is that we use the place as a great 'chill out pad' so tend to relax so much that we get lazy and have yet to explore properly.

The apartment is plenty big enough for us as we are outside all of the time. Last year when we had 2 or 3 days of unseasonal rain we headed up to Murcia rather than be couped up but I can say that we never felt on top of each other in the apatment. We've also never had air conditioning and have managed with fans. We thought we'd see how we go the first year and have never felt we could jusify the expense since although I expect if we had it we would never look back! Bit like a dishwasher - never thought you needed one until you get one!

All I can suggest is rent for a couple of weeks and enjoy!

 

Grant,

I dont find my 3 bed apartment too small, but there is a simple relatively cheap solution. We extended the patio tiling and got rid of the grass, there is more than enough grass in the main garden outside your hedge. We then had overhead and front awnings fitted along with side curtains and when these are closed it gives you a big living area add on. We then bought a big whicker 3 peice suite and large dining table and chairs plus a barbeque for outside and most of the time we live in that area and it makes the apartment seem twice as large. Some people on the resort who have done that have even positioned a TV outside as well.

Just another thing to consider when you are looking.

Dakey

Good point ....We have an awning (no sides) and so the table stays outside. Don't think we've ever eaten other than a sandwich in the apartment so no need for table and chairs inside.

Brett

 

We don't have table and chairs inside either.

Have a table with Umbrella for shade out the front which is what we use for meals.  Even have a little table for the kids that we position on the grass.  We would BBQ 95% of the time in summer so no need to go indoors except to bring out the plates etc.

Also have a smaller table (4 chairs) out the back which is great for a coffee and a sandwich etc.  We either have sun at the back or the front so its good to have an option depending on whether you want a bit of shade or sit in the sun.

Although the apartment isn't spacious I do think the kitchen is well designed and gives good storage for its size.

Good idea to wonder around the gardens and see what people have done to their places out front and back...some of them are impressive while some are um, well, a bit different.  Also people have posted ways of utilising areas such as the understair storage outside.  We have a small shelf inside our water cyclinder cupboard that stores all the coffees, teas etc after being shown by someone who had done it to theirs. 

I very much like the two bed Jardines style apartments on Jardines and Naranjos- got to go a long way to get a roof terrace that size elsewhere. The apartments are very neat and are perfectly adequate for 4 people on holiday- possibly compact for 4 full time residents but 2 with occasional guests I think would do fine. Many have great views and all have garden views.

Originally CdA apartments were advertised as 'holiday homes' or retirement apartments and in Spain as 1st homes and the idea behind that is that they dont need to be huge as a holiday home as you are going to generally be there in good weather and outside. As a 'first home ' you're likely to be a newly married couple- maybe one child, so have a spare room for guests, as a retirement apartment probably a couple with spare rooms for guests.

I know some people who have taken down the wall between the living area and the front bedroom in their 3 bed ground floor . I think that makes a genuinely liveable apartment- for full time residing couple and creates a proper dining room.

However, there are plenty of Spanish families with children living full time in the three bed apartments- for most of the year they dine outside, relax outside. Just got to get your head into that way of thinking. Some have had new worktops fitted to the kitchen and created a proper breakfast bar so 4 stools store underneath and you don't need a table but you loose minimal space unlike if you try to get a table into the 3 bed. Isn't there someone who has transferred the kitchen into the small bedroom and put a dining table where the kitchen used to be?

Outside canopies and side curtains also work well- I'm sure I've heard of someone who has them that are quite rigid and lock at the base so they make a proper outside sitting room. This is fine except for in the autumn when they get rain and its cool and in the winter when it does get much cooler and they do get ground frost and last year some snow. But it does extend the living area.

Obviously the apartments aren't the same size as on other Polaris resorts like La Torre- that was part of PW's plan. They built slightly smaller apartments on CdA but pricewise more achieveable to a wider audience.

Have you considered the Penthouses that look over the golf course- great views but small terraces(my view, I've been in them) but the open living room and dining area is attractive and you can put in a bed settee- however very rentable due to the views.

Condado is a young resort people forget that, there was originally a 10 year plan which would have incorporated 3 golf courses, a massive lakeside shopping mall, golf clubhouse, hotel and several shopping parades with bars and restaurants- but the financial downturn has put paid to much of that. However, what we do have is very nice, Polaris actually finished buildling everything they started and got the 1st golf course finished and we have no half built concrete skeletons on the horizon- which is more than some developmnts. I think the best is yet to come and Paramount might be part of that and hopefully getting more units open in Al Kasar with the Clover reopened will attract more owners.

The management company appear to be very good and we have hard working Presidents- so it's definately a resort with potential.

By the  by- we have air con, couldnt manage in July/ August without it. Don't have it on all the time but sometimes you just need to cool right down, fortunately there's always a breeze at CdA which means in the day with windows and doors open you can keep things fairly moderate a lot of the time.

This message was last edited by TheQuietMan on 23/01/2012.

Grant, 

I have answered your questions below, offering maybe less of a rosey picture than some may paint. However they are my genuine feeling:-

 

The place seemed quiet, does the town squareget busier in spring and summer- The town square did get busy last summer as we had a restaurant and a bar, however as we now have neither, I wouldnt anticipate it being busy next summer.

Are there plenty of kids around - Hundreds, they run wild all over the place, especially in summer.

Are there bars restaurants near by - You will need a car, the closest one is about 5 miles away, be prepaired to travel further for nicer places. Not ideal if you like wine with your food.

The living space seemed small in the villa, we are a couple with a 10year old and a new born, will the space be enough - I find the place just about big enough for two of us, wouldnt like to squeeze in any more, but it would be possible.

Are the terraces spacious enough, again they seemed a touch smaller than ones I had seen elsewhere - I have an upstairs with a very large terrace, downstairs you have a much smaller terrace, but an extra bedroom? If you want a large terrace, the upstairs apartments "currently"do offer great value.

We would hope to visit 4 times a year, is there plenty to do on site as well as off - Again, not a great deal on site so you will need to drive at least 30 minutes, each way, to find places were there are things going on.

What are the sports facilities like - There are now a few open, padle tennis, Squash, swimming & Tennis... Oh and a golf course, but no clubhouse, I wouldnt expect one any time soon, although others may claim to know differently.

Finally, are they nice places to live - I would get terrabily board, I bought hoping for the bustling resort Polaris planned. I ended up on a ghost town, bring a good book.

Hope you make the right decission.

Grant

 

Darren's not well

 

Jay

Jay - you have never met me and have no idea about my current state of health. Is it not possible to have an opposing view to you and still be "Well"?

Did I write anything in my last post that is not 100% correct?

HI again

May I add a few comments to Darren`s thread

The place seemed quiet, does the town square get busier in spring and summer- The town square did get busy last summer as we had a restaurant and a bar, however as we now have neither, I wouldnt anticipate it being busy next summer

There is a great bar etc with Childrens activities & food in Jardin 6 where the tennis courts etc are,

Are the terraces spacious enough, again they seemed a touch smaller than ones I had seen elsewhere - I have an upstairs with a very large terrace, downstairs you have a much smaller terrace, but an extra bedroom? If you want a large terrace, the upstairs apartments "currently"do offer great value.

I agree with Darren on this. We have a two bed too & the roof  terrace is great for the views & all day sun if you want it.

We would hope to visit 4 times a year, is there plenty to do on site as well as off - Again, not a great deal on site so you will need to drive at least 30 minutes, each way, to find places were there are things going on.

 Do you really want to stay on site all of the time.

Surely the whole  purpose of buying abroad is to get to know the area, the people & its cultures. Yes, it is probably difficult at this stage whith a baby but buying abroad has to be a long term thing where ever you buy & with great new motorways & very little trafic it is great  to get out & about.

Maybe you fancy some wind sufing or underwater diving. There is a wide range of water activities near by & in the winter you can go Whale watching too. No of these a far away

Finally, are they nice places to live - I would get terrabily board, I bought hoping for the bustling resort Polaris planned. I ended up on a ghost town, bring a good book.

A holiday. no matter where you go can have its ups & downs & there are some great places to go with children in mind

Entertainment is what you make of it your self

There is a great riding school called Meta not far away & comes highly recommended. Ideal for adults & children & the non rider two.

Sorry that Daren never seems to be able to entertain himself & his family. maybe he isnt looking???

What ever you choose to do, I wish  you well.

Jan

edit this post

On the idea of being bored and needing a book.

Actually thats what I do and its what I actually plan to do.  And if Grant has a newborn I can nearly guarantee sitting in the sun reading a book or dozing off might sound quite appealling.

I find the resort enough for me except for shopping and the odd trip to the beach....but I do enjoy just relaxing.

By the time I've been swimming 3-4 times each day with the kids and to the playground or the open areas a similar time there's enough time for a walk to get fresh bread, and maybe a bit of a nap or a read in the sun, before lighting up the BBQ and seeing which few of the €1 bottles of wine are in trouble for the evening.  Throw in a few beers on society nights and a couple of games of golf then thats what I do on CDA and I love it!!

Darren

I hope I have not upset you. I was merely having some fun at your expense and I apologise. I genuinely feel very sorry for you as you clearly are still very bitter about your lot and what the current CDA has to offer you. It's a shame that you can't seem to get the same joy nor see none of the benefits that a lot of us can and I know that from your postings your totally entrenched in that mind set. If there was a way that I could wave a wand that would make you see things from a slightly more positive view point I would but in honesty I think my arm would fall off before that would happen.

The thing about life is....it is what is. If you can not accept things for what they are then you are in real trouble. Polaris have not delivered what they said initially but it's not their fault. To keep on moaning and being negative must be having a detrimental effect on you. If you are so disappointed with what you have why don't you do something about it. It's clear the market is not going to change anytime soon, would it not be best for you to sell up and cut your losses at least then you would be free of the property that you obviously are not happy with?? There are a growing number of buyers looking for amazing value deals and you could get a sale quite quickly if you really wanted to. Maybe Grant will buy it!

I suppose if not you could continue to feel hard done by and blame your situation on circumstances that you have absolutely no control over. That's a position I would not advise anyone to adopt as there's only misery and frustration there and that's unfortunately what a lot of your postings have the flavour of. I'm not suggesting you put a positive spin on things for the sake of it. If you feel as you say you do then it's down to you to do something about it but being negative about it will not help you and if you believe in the laws of attraction you will only get back what you transmit out.

Good luck mate I really hope you can find a way out of your predicament it must be driving you bananas.

Cheers

Jay ;-)

 

This message was last edited by Jay05 on 24/01/2012.

Grant Hello

Not wishing to put you off your potential purchase, yet by your questions it would appear that you did not have a long enough look around.

Not wishing to add to all the other replies to your questions, I would just like to say that we bought in 2007 and completed in Nov 2008 and we have been very pleased with the appartment and the resort.

Hi Grant,

We have been owners on CDA since 2008 and despite a lack off the original facilities promised we have never regreted our purchase and even bought a second property which we rent out.

We visit 4 to 5 times a year normaly with several children of various ages and they always have a great time, and they quite often do not wish to leave the resort to go to the beach as they would rather hang out with their friends. We had our neighbours stay in our rental property who enjoyed it  so much they bought a vacant property next to ours. It is a great place to chill out and relax, and in the summer months gets busy especialy in August when the Spanish have their main holidays. If you want things to do away from the resort there are more than enough activities places to visit within easy distance.

As regards the the size of the apartments one week my wife and I had 5 teenagers stay in our 3 bed apartment with us for a week and we had few problems. The apartments are more than large enough for a holiday property, and one day my wife and I would like to be in a position to live there.

PaulS

Hi Grant,

I think it all depends on what your main reason for purchasing is. If it's solely for quiet relaxing family holidays then it could be ideal for you for all the reasons already given below. That's mainly what we bought ours for and like most on here we have absolutely no regrets.

If you're thinking of buying it as a financial investment however, then that's a bit more tricky to advise. They're certainly selling for a very good price right now, but if Paramount doesn't materialise then personally I can't see the value rising from that level for a very, very long time. Same applies if you're buying it as a holiday rental property, don't expect high occupancy rates without Paramount unless you're willing to offer rock bottom rental rates. Having said that if it does materialise (and that's still a very big if) then you'll have picked up a bargain and could be sitting on a potential goldmine for renting in a few years time. So if these things are part of the consideration then I don't think anyone can really advise you, it's a gamble that only you can decide if it's worth taking or not.

Hope this helps, and whatever you chose I hope it works out for you. Good luck.

 

This message was last edited by Cappielow on 25/01/2012.