Should I buy in condado de alhama?.help please

Hi Grant

I agree with Cappielow. The only thing I would add is that unless you absolutely need to have 3 bedrooms then the upstairs Jardines apartments offer a lot more outside space and, since most of my own time there is spent relaxing on balconies and terraces rather than indoors I would advise that you opt for the 2 bed. You can, of course, always have a sofa bed in the lounge if need be. Another plus on the 2 bed is that no one is gawping onto you from above as you relax on your terrace in your smalls!

I would not advise 2 bed apt

1.  a lot less smaller living space

2 up and down the steps every-time to you need to go anywhere

3 roof terrace too hot in day time if covered marterial will rip with the wind , unusable in winter (you could fly a kite)

4 every-time you require something from apt you will have to go back down the narrow steep steps (can of pop,beer etc)

5 not very child friendly ,would not leave children unattended up there ,possibility of climbing over

6 while you are on the roof every one on the other roofs can see one and another

7 no patio doors (waking up in the morning opening the bedroom patio doors wonderful ( or the smell of damp in the 2 bed not all of them i may had 

8 bikes are a joy on condado but would you want to drag them up 2 sets of narrow steps every night ?

i understand the 2 bed are a lot cheaper but ask yourself why ,best of luck

 

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

Horses for courses me thinks.

Some people prefer the large roof top terrace and the views etc some prople prefer the terraces and the gardens. It's all personal choice and it certainly not a matter of which one are better. It's a matter what you suits you and your's personally.

We love our little garden at the front and the easy access all being on one floor suits us. I pull up out the back and hand my kids the shopping and they take it straight through to the kitchen, simples.

Also on the privacy point you can now get the awnings for top and sides for about 1000 euros fitted which is a blinding price if you prefer the shade a little more seclusion.

Jay

Hi Grant

There are some very good points mentioned in this thread and I agree with most. but as already mentioned you have to decide what you really want the apartment for.

Is it just a holiday home and you are not trying to make a buck by renting it out because you can afford to buy and run it without the hassle of renting, then in the long term I think it will be a good investment but if you do manage to rent it out then this will be a bonus. If paramount takes off, then again this could be a huge bonus and Condado has the potential to become a goldmine. Plan for the worst I say and anything positive will be a bonus.

We were originally buying an apartment on Condado at El Mirador that was not built due to the current economic collapse and were worried with what would happen to the resort and although it can be quiet we love it so much that we are moving over permanently in the next couple of years. I was a bit apprehensive the first time we planned to stay a week as I did not know the area or anyone but loved it so much that I did not want to return to the UK and everyone that I have spoken to at the pool have said the same thing. It's a place to chill out, relax and unwind and pamper yourself. and where in the UK can you get these views and weather at the low prices that are being offered.

We don't play golf but it's a beautiful golf course with five small lakes and lots of resident birds, we have seen many varieties including egrets and as the course becomes more established it will become more of a nature reserve so that can only get better. I do believe that the club house will come soon even though it may only be temporary to start with but that will enhance the resort more and this will encourage golf tournaments to be played there.

I have been told that there are 14 swimming pools and even if that is not accurate there are lots of them as well as the other play areas. As the resort gets more established when things do eventually pick up I imagine that there will be more tennis courts etc built. Even though Polaris ran out of money they did not leave any unfinished apartments and the resort is very clean and the gardens etc are well attended, I've visited other resorts that were not built by polaris and their places looked grubby and untidy compared to us.

We cycle and have had our bikes flown over from the UK and use the service roads that are all over the area all the time, they are fantastic and safe to cycle on with children to get away from the main roads, I get knocked off my bike in the UK not just by drivers but also by dozy pedestrians. We have been scuba diving and snorkling in Mazzaron 20 minutes away and horse riding at Meta 5 minutes away. Yes you need a car to get to some of these places but when ever you are in countryside in which ever country you are stuck without a car. The Sierra Espuna is about 10 minutes away and has beautiful views if you have the bottle to drive to the top, the Spanish cycling team apparently train there for the Vuelta and possibly Tour de France. We never have enough time to see all the sights but everytime we visit we find another beauty spot and Mazzaron and the coastline in that area is so beautiful.

My final point is that the people are so helpful and friendly and we find that in general the locals have a lot of time for the Brits. Twice we got lost and the police directed us, once by drawing maps and the second time when it was after midnight escorted us all the way back to Condado. The local garden centre insisted in dropping over the plants for us instead of us struggling to fit them into our car, and the pharmacists have always been helpful when we've called in to them with our health problems. There is also a lovely guy on Condado called Gregori who rents out cars that are much cheaper than the usual hire places, and he will pick you up and drop you off at the airport. The cars may be older than some of the ones at the hire places but he is legal and you could not meet a nicer guy.

The ultimate decision is yours but I'd say visit again and meet some of the other owners if you are undecided.

Good luck in your decision.

Bee

 

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

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

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

I agree with Jay, the 2 bed vs 3 bed discussion is a bit pointless as at the end of the day it's just down to personal preference. Some prefer the extra bedroom and a bit more space indoors and some prefer the views and more space outdoors with the roof terrace. There are no rights and wrongs.

May I just add, that if you extend the tiling downstairs instead of grass and have the front, side and overhead awnings fitted, when added to the back terrace area you have actually more floor space on the downstairs patios, complete privacy if you want it, no dangerous stairs etc for the kids and a bigger apartment inside, for not a lot of difference in price. But like everyone says it is personal preference.

Dakey

Grant

My advice would be to stick with a 3 bed.  Considering the makeup of your family.

We have now had 3 babies through our place and it has been great.  The easy flow through the apartment makes it great for watching younger ones.  I personally love the terraces upstairs of our friends but the stairs are too much to worry about with kids.

I wouldn't leave young children up on the terrace by themselves so if you are supervising solo and are downstairs cooking etc do you leave them up there or bring them inside with you.  I also find the steps upto the apartments quite steep for kids...bear in mind the kids may also have wet feet etc from the pool on a regular basis.

I think the 2 beds are great for a couple or maybe with older kids that don't need the supervision.

Shane

I wonder if Grant is having a right laugh- has he responded to any of our comments or are we all talking to ourselves? This is all about personal choice. The apartments are what they are and we buy for our own reasons.

However I take issue with Barri:-

We love our two bed.

We wouldnt leave children unattended anywhere- wandering children can fall into pools, beware if you have a groundfloor apartment.

2 beds are not all damp and its wonderful to open the door and not be observed by passers by.

 Upper floors are generally more secure and security screen are available for more privacy. Fit a ML recommended gate for safety and security.

They have a neat design and they have an upper and lower terrace so heat isn't an issue. Plus many people prefer not to have an apartment above them.

Canopies should be closed or taken down, 2 or 3 bed, to avoid them getting ripped- when unattended.

Less than 10 seconds to get bikes upstairs but you can lock them on the groundfloor.

NB- We love our 3 beds for lots of other reasons too.

Horses for courses!!

 

Hi folks

 

I would like to thank everyone for all their comments, it has proved one thing that there is certainly a lively community of people over there. I think knowing there are plenty of people in Condado at various times of the year was one of my biggest concerns, we wouldn't like to stay in an isolated place which is why we looked at apartments as opposed to villas.

For those that like to know conclusions we decided to go for it and have put a deposit down on a 3 bed, they make much more sense when the baby becomes a toddler.

I am hoping to visit in the next few weeks to measure up and see solicitors so any guidance on furnishing/moving in would also be appreciates ( I know more help- cheeky blighter!).

 

Thanks

 

Grant

May I be the first to congratulate you on your purchase, I know you won't regret it. This forum is designed to provide quick access to those of us who have made mistakes and learned the hard way so late comers don't get caught out. Don't be afraid to either post questions on here or PM (Private Message) people for answers to all your issues.  Remember, there is no such thing as a stupid question.

Best of luck.  Jon Faulkner

I don't know how easy it is to search the "threads".

But if you can do it there will be a few on furniture shops...from local places in Mazzarron to Murcia and quite a few in San Javier.

We used a mixture from Mazzaron, San Javier, Roldan (I think), and Alhama. 

First thing you need to figure out if you want it all delivered and set-up for you or you are willing to some building!!

 Hola Grant

It is geat that you have chosen Condado as the place to have your holiday home. As yu will have read , we are all very pasionate about our homes no matter how many bedrooms there are.

You will soon have lots of people sending you info re purchases of furnitue etc.

We found the easiest way to make friends is to arrange to be in the Condado Club. Jardin 6 one evening.

Start a new thread saying you will be there on..... @ about .......... People will soon make them selves known to you & you will find that we are all a happy bunc.

Hope to see you & your family @ some time.

Jan & Ham

 

 

TQM   We wouldnt leave children unattended anywhere- wandering children can fall into pools, beware if you have a groundfloor apartment..  .your comments..............................................................................................................................................................................................................

what a childish and stupid thing to say .  safety is at at the uppermost of importance to any parent where ever they live you silly old man.

 

This message was last edited by barri on 26/01/2012.

Not so Childish .

When you see  young children running into other gardens with their friends. Of course there is every chance that the childrens parents know each other but they have to be out of sight when running along the alley ways & you never know who is around even with security. We live in a very nice area in the UK but to our horror the very polite man who lived in the next street to us & who had a large house & a good job working for the council was jailed for child related pornography two years ago. 

Jan

Whoops. Dont know how this got through as I had edited the last one.

Not so silly when you see children of all nationalities running  from Jardin to Jardin

Yes they may know these children & their parents may also know each olther but you never know who lives or holidays on Condado

We live in a very nice location in the UK ( location, location, location) but to my friends horror (she lives five  doors away from us) The very nice man who lived in a very large house & had a well paid job with the local council & who`s  garden backed on to hers was sent to jail 2yrs ago for making child related dvd`s

Jan 

This message was last edited by Hamibabe on 26/01/2012.

I regret I have annoyed you Barri but I did feel your comments were unfair to 1st floor apartment owners and I do think people need to keep a good eye on their children in groundfloor apartments, it's wrong to assume all is well because there's no stairs,upper terrraces or even balconies. We see very young children wandering at will around the jardin's and the pools aren't secure. I was merely making a similar point to your point 5. i have had the sad experience in Greece of a very young child having a fatal accident whilst his parents where busy booking into their hotel and he wandered away and fell into the busy Hotel pool. So maybe that just increases my awareness.

I'm in my 30's by the way so hardly old (well, I think hardly old) but maybe you are just a young whippersnapper and so that may seem old to you.

Anyway I see Grants has got the info he needs and has made a wise decision.He can see from the forum we all like a lively debate and are willing to come up with responses. Prices at the moment are so good that if one can afford to take a punt they should.

TQM   I do think people need to keep a good eye on their children in groundfloor apartments, your comments.

you are Right on one point YOU DO ANNOY ME

Why is it that people have to start a criticising peoples choices, TQM made a good point in response Barri's post, and it always seems to be people who don't have many posts, alot of these so called residents only post to wind other people up, So TQM I would ignore silly comments and stick to facts as you always do

I refrained from responding to Barri's pit bull-like retort at my previous post. I can annihilate each of his points one by one but can't be a**ed getting into this. I have been on this forum almost since day one - 5 years or so ago. Of course both styles of apartments have their merits and I simply expressed the opinion that if they were not on CDA full time then the extra outdoor space would be beneficial.

Barrie - you seem hell bent on aggravating folk. Wind your neck in until you at least know what you are talking about. And for the record - this is the first time in all those years I have been annoyed enough with some Johnny come lately to respond in such a forthright manner.

Grant

Welcome to club. I hope you and your family enjoy many fun filled holidays at our wonderful resort.

In terms of furnishing you can do it yourself at IKEA and loads of other furniture people about but if you want someone with loads of experience of doing CDA apartments then you could do a lot worse than DFS in San Javier. They offer good quality at what we found to be the best value. If you go down the air con route definitely Polar Air.

Anything else dont hesitate.

Cheers

Jason & Lisa