Questions about this resort

Hi. We are thinking about coming to view at this resort but not knowing the Murcia area at all wanted to ask a few questions to people who know the area.

• We know it is about 15 minutes to the beach, are there buses that service this route regularly and is 15 minutes accurate?
  
• Where else can you get to on a bus from the resort?
• Is the Oasis town center shown on the resort map complete?
  
• What is the area outside the resort like, is it built up or is Condado De Alhama in the middle of nowhere?
  
• Who much does a taxi cost from San Javier airport? (I'm aware there might be a closer airport opening soon..)
  
• How much are the community fees on a 2 bed 1 bath and also the 3 bed apartments? We are not sure which to consider yet.
  
• is there supermarkets nearby?
  
• is there plenty of bars and restaurants at the resort?
  
• is it more expensive to eat and drink in the resort than outside...do you pay a premium for being on a golf course?
  
• is the resort finished or imcomplete? Is it improving?
• Will the Paramount theme park actually get built ;)

Thank you in advance for taking the time to help me out :)

This message was last edited by stonephil on 20/10/2012.

Your first few questions give the impression that you don't drive. Is that correct? Because if it is, Condado De Alhama is not for you. If I am wrong on my assumption I and others will provide the information you require I am sure. Jon Faulkner.

Guess from the questions being asked the answers are already known

 

Hi Faulky. We do drive but would prefer not to have to get a hire car every visit...we are quite happy to get on a bus to get to the brach or to Alicante, for example.

We have friends in Gran Alacant and use buses when we stay at theirs.

Anthony, what is your comment supposed to mean? I've read some of the many polaris websites and now want to find out the facts and opinion of people who know this resort. Just a bit of reasearch before we decide to come over and maybe view.

Ok, here goes. CDA is definitely worth a look as it is a fantastic opportunity to buy at almost credit card prices currently if you are quick and have the cash. However, you will need a car to explore the area and the prices of car hire will be cheaper than public transport and taxis.

The beaches which are fantastic are about 20 mins by car. There is no bus service but in the high season it is possible to arrange minibus pickup and drop off but it is not cheap. There is a bus service also in the high season to Alhama our nearest town. Out of season there is no public transport. The mountains which are equally spectacular are also 20 mins away by car.

CDA is in the middle of a fairly remote landscape but that is why we all like it. It is quiet but getting much busier now that occupancy levels are filling up. Originally the plans were for 10,000 homes. Currently there are 3000 so you will see large areas of land available for further development but not in the current climate. The properties that have been built are to a decent standard by Spanish building standards and at the money represent good value. They are kept in pretty good condition by the management company who do a good job on the whole.

Also originally there were plans for two more golf courses and the Oasis shopping and leisure complex. That all went west with the economic meltdown and the land is now owned by banks. It is available for development and at one time thought to be the logical site for the Paramount theme park.

Speaking of Paramount, depending on who you talk to you will get different opinions. There are grand plans to build a huge theme park which will be 5 mins by car from CDA. You could actually walk to it if you were keen or mad. I am actually glad that it will not be next door to us and some think it will spoil the area which is authentic Spanish currently. My opinion for what it's worth, I think Paramount will eventually arrive but not in the next few years as finances are simply not there in Spain to build it. Some people and estate agents have hung their hats on Paramount being the saviour for CDA and the local economy in general. It may be for those wishing to cash in or rent property. However, the way in which CDA has developed as an independent entity this last 12 months or so with many businesses now setting up, for me there is no need for anything further and I would want it to stay as it is as I like the piece and tranquility it provides.

Costs wise, once you have bought your property at these unbelievable prices and paid all the taxes and hidden costs, the service costs are really cheap. Some people will disagree with that statement, but work on a budget of £2000 a year for everything and you won't be far out. You can't keep a caravan in Morecambe Bay for that in the UK!

Costs wise for leisure when you visit, we'll that's down to taste, but we have no difficulty in living like kings when we are here and for a fraction of the cost in the UK. Spain is definitely a cheap place to live. There is a supermarket on site and enough bars and eateries for you to survive certainly for a week.

Final comment. I paid top dollar for my top floor penthouse in prime location. It is simply the best thing I have ever bought and whilst it may not be worth as much now as I paid for it, the value in having your own place in a beautiful area like Alhama is priceless. Best thing come and have a look. CDA is not for the typical s**t Brit who just wants to drink lager and eat curry then fall out with their neighbours. If you want that there is another urbanisation not far away that has just had its bridge washed away that will provide that kind of entertainment.

If you have got cash, and can afford to maintain a second home in a foreign country, then get out here quick as the bargains will not be here for long! JF

Thank you faulky. I will digest your information and decide what to do. Thanks very much for taking the time to give detailed info.

If anyone has any more to add i would love to hear it. Thanks.

I agree with Faulky...everything he said is truth!

Most important: "try and feel" CDA. It's the only way to make the right decission!

 

Good luck.

 

Regards,

Onno, Penthouse 1622

Hello, we bought our 3 bed earlier this year and are just about to come out tomorrow for our 3rd visit and can't wait!
We absolutely love our place in the sun. It is a beautifully kept resort and our modern spacious apartment offers everything our family of 5 could ask for.
The grounds and gardens are really well maintained and the pools are a fantastic size which our kids love!
The Al kasar town centre offers everything you need and new bars and restaurants are opening up all the time. Currently there's an Irish Pub, Bulgarian/ Italian restaurant, a tapas, another Spanish restaurant and an ice cream parlour. There's also a well stocked, reasonably priced supermarket, a furniture shop and a new gift shop which I can't wait to visit next week.
The complex also has a sports bar with a function room, which puts on various shows and a club house for the golf course.
Two new restaurants are due to open up in Al kasar as well, an American diner and a French bistro, so it's really growing and improving all the time.
It's a really lovely mix of nationalities that own here too, our boys loved playing football with Soanish, French, Irish, English and Belgium children last time we came out.
I agree you definately need a car, as it is remote, but we love that peacefulness. The nearest beach is an easy 20 min drive away, the roads are all new, but it's worth it as the beaches are gorgeous.
Our community fees are around 80 euros a month, not sure of price of water/ electricity yet as we haven't had bills yet.
I would definately recommend coming out and renting a property for a weekend to see if CDA seems right for you. That's what we did in May and fell in love with the place, we kept looking for the catch but couldn't find one. We put a deposit down then and were all completed and able to come out for the first time at the end of July. We bought from Andy Young from Condado Invest, he was absolutely brilliant and would recommend him as an agent.

So I guess my advice is come out and see it for yourselves, but quick coz I believe the properties are selling really fast at these bargain prices.

Hope this helps :-)

Liz

Thats a big help! Thanks Liz and Onno :)

I think we are going to try and visit in a couple of weeks.

Can i ask if the Jardin section of the resort is furthest away from everything? And can anyone advise approximate cost of car hire from airport? Just a small car for two is fine. Thanks!

Jardin 13 is one of the closest to al Kazar (4-5 min walk). The higher the Jardin number the closer it is to al Kazar. Jardin 1 may well be a good 20-30 min walk. Naranjos are similarly numbered so it just depends on which Jardin number you choose on either section as to how close it is to the main amenities.

Jardin 13 is one of the closest to al Kazar (4-5 min walk). The higher the Jardin number the closer it is to al Kazar. Jardin 1 may well be a good 20-30 min walk. Naranjos are similarly numbered so it just depends on which Jardin number you choose on either section as to how close it is to the main amenities.

Car hire, allow 100 euro for the week. Watch out for hire companies that charge for fuel up front as they may well offer cheap rates for the car but make it up in fuel charges. Just used Easycarhire from Alicante, 90 euro all in. JF.

By the way, there are Jardines properties on both sides of the resort. Currently Jardines 5 in the Naranjos area is very popular with new buyers and is a very nice and well located.

This message was last edited by faulky444 on 21/10/2012.

Just wanted to pop back and say thanks for the info given previously. We did not visit in the end as all the apartments got reserved quickly and we did not feel there was any point. However, as I was on the waiting list we are now in with a shot at an apartment on Jardin 1.

Is it really a 20 to 30 minute walk to the ameneties such as bars and restaurants? Is there no transport options in resort such as a bus service or one of those little noddy trains you often see in use in Spain?

We are really keen based on price but due to the nature of these sales we may not have time to view and have to do the unthinkable and consider buying unseen (although we would try to get a third party to try to view for us, maybe an independant property specialist).

Can I also ask about fees on this resort. Someone mentioned a figure of 80 euros below and the Polaris agent has said it would be 100 euros but not sure whether that is correct..can anyone confirm what the actual community charge for a 2 bed apartment in Jardin 1 would cost in 2013?

Also they mentioned a 500 euro per year tax, are there any other taxes to factor in?

Thanks again

sent you a pm

 Crashtester,

 

yep it is a 25(ish) minute walk from J1 to Al Kasar but there is the Sports center ( Condado Club ) between J5 and J7,see http://thecondadoclub.com, where you can get food and drink.  There is no bus or any other type of public transport on the resort so you really do need a car out here.

DO NOT buy a property without viewing it or at the very least getting someone else to view it first.  All these properties were sold by the bank at the end of last year, the half a dozen or so that have come back on the market are those were the buyer failed to complete and some of these were due to the bad condition of the property.  remember that these are being "sold as seen" by the bank so ensuer that you are not paying out for spmething that will need mega work.

The fees in J1 are around €82 for a bed bed and €98 for a three. ( Per month )

Other taxes are IBI around €100 and non-resident again around a €100, then insurance

 

Hi CT, glad you are still on board. Don't deliberate too long, I know it's a big decision to buy but not at the prices currently which are in the credit card range currently. Supply is now struggling with demand for the unoccupied and unfurnished apartments which will need some TLC initially to get them back up to spec internally.

Jardines 1 is a good 20 mins walk to the Al Kasar centre and is probably one reason why one is available, but it is the most established area of the resort and in a nice quiet spot. Don't forget there is the sports bard and restaurant with all the sports facilities including the gym only 5 mins away from you. Many of us have to do the reverse trip from the other side of the resort and it really is no problem if you are fully mobile.

Bicycles are a good option if you are fully mobile. The resort is flat- Ish and you don't need to be Bradley Wiggins to get around quick, and even with a few sherbets in you after visiting the Al Kasar you could sill get back easily.

Fees wise, remember what I said earlier in the post. Don't get hung up on the CDA community fees they are cheap at between 60 and 80 euros per month. The overall costs per year including all fees, taxes, water and electricity is around 2000 sterling.

Go for it. I am out next week, if you want me to cast an eye over the outside of an apartment and give you an honest opinion, drop me a private message. Jon Faulkner.

 Hi TC,

 

I've just been over to J1 and taken a peak through the windows, all seems ok in a quick look but I can only see the front room so cannot comment of the rest of the apartment.  There's a little bit of work to do on the roof but not too much.

I have a couple of pictures if you drop me a line with your email.

hi

We too bought in the early days but still have no regrets. We average four / five breaks per year & are lucky enought to be able to choose when to fly out according to flight prices.

My advice is maybe to rent for a few days or even a week. This will give you an idea of how the things work &  which  jardin etc would suit you best.

Some owners, our selves included rent out their property on a " Try before you by" so you really do get a good insite.

We have a two bed in Jardin 5 opposite the pool.

we normaly offer a special rental price to friends of owners and " try before you buy ers.  Please PM me if you are interested & i qwill send you photos etc.

Ps as we are in 5 it will give you a good idea of walking times etc.

I went over to Condado alone in August last year.  I do not drive & so carrying shopping from the on site super market, though ot normaly a problem became so as I badly sprained my ankle. David Ringman has an on site Taxi company. Each time i needed a lift back with my shopping he would collect me ( i did give him good warning. from the suppermarket & drove me to my apartment for very little cost.

Great

Jan

Thanks Jan, will bear your place in mind if we come over.

And thanks Phil for stopping by the place. What sort of work did you note on the roof? I  have PM'ed you about the photos.

Thanks all!