Advice please - buying a property

Dear Members,
We are seriously considering moving to Murcia and I would like to ask you for advice regarding the following limited research and the numerous assumptions, (sadly mostly negative). I would appreciate your frank response and advice.

I see three possible options to Murcia property ownership, in a gated community around a golf course, open access urbanizacion like Camposol, a country property. Each has its pros and cons, below I have listed some of the thougths so far.

Gated community built around a golf course
Pros:
Secure location
Golf course/clubhouse, a nice place to meet others
Cons:
To some degree cut off from the outside world
Seasonal occupation
High maintenance costs
Smaller sized properties
A large number of half finished locations under bank ownership with long term issues but cheap
New and existing developments are hugely overpriced, for example new build like Lorca Resort

Open access urbanizacion, the comments below are based around Camposol interent research so may appear a little specific. And please accept my ignorance, I have not visited the location.
Pros:
Strong community spirit
Open access bringing in outside world
Well developed commercially eg banks, supermarkets, restaurants, local market etc
Cons:
Some properties do not have Buiding Inspector sign off
Developer modification to the drainage channel affected clay base resulting in localised subsidence
Development not adopted by the local authority eg watering and upkeep of open spaces, street cleaning, lamp columns maintenance
Highway assets not adopted by the local authority eg no mention of indemnity insurance, footpath and pot holes maintenance, white lining renewal
Property prices appear not to reflect the seriousness of the above
(We really like Camposol, how it reflects a Spanish spirit of urbanizaciones, the strong UK ownership, CRA, numerous clubs, community spirit etc. What scares us are the infrastructural problems.)

Country property
Pros:
Lots of space
Possible agricultural income
Cons:
Impossible to integrate into local community
Away from everything

So as you can see from the above, we appear to be no closer to finding a solution.

You have obviously done your "homework".

Your assessment of the options are fairly accurate.

Your ultimate decision has to be based on what YOU actually want.

Lets get down to some basic facts –

1. The properties on Urbanizations are cheaply constructed and built basically for holiday accommodation – the walls are “paper thin” – cold in the winter – hot in the summer!
2. “Developed community and infrastructure” -  in general there are very basic facilities available – do not expect any level of sophistication – the communities have developed around the type of people living there. For example:-

1. Camposol has finally been integrated by the Ayuntamiento of Mazerron – this is excellent – but it is still going to need a lot of expenditure to sort it out – the CRA  are doing a good job, but “Rome was not built in a day” as they say.
2. Condado – “The sinking ship of Polaris” -  cheap basic housing – facilities, very bland, no character – they love their summer markets but do not realise they are paying 50% above the rate! Has a management  infrastructure that has to be seen to be believed – lots of chiefs, the Indians just keep paying, or not as the case maybe!
3. Country Club – sorted out their  running problems, few facilities, but a nice urbanisation.
4. Hacienda del Alamo – this has the potential to be the best – well planed – finished – the center could be fantastic on a hot summer evening, it could develop into a community – do not know anything about the infrastructure.

3. Living in the “Campo” – yes you have your privacy and space, but be very careful about your purchase – is it legal – where is it built – what is going to crawl out of the “woodwork” – you need 1^st class advise to avoid the pitfalls.

I my estimation the best place to live would be in an old house (warm in winter – no A/C in summer) on the periphery of a medium sized village.

You should visit the area and investigate the possibilities before you part with your money!

Thank you for your advice Elarado. It appears there are a number of urbanizaciones that are half finished with residents desperate to sell and move out, and that includes banks. I agree, we need to visit the area and understand the scale of the problem. Once again, thank you for the response.

We purchased a property 4 years ago on Camposol A. It took 8 months for the purchase to be completed to ensure we had all the legal paperwork in place but it was well worth the wait. We will move out permanently in two years time and cannot wait. Camposol is great as it has nearby facilities you can use but is on the doorstep to so many places. I would say it is more a place to make a home than a holiday place. We love it. Ensure you have good legal presentation and a good honest bank, by getting a small mortgage you are guaranteed of your banks support. Our bank would only consider mortgage for sector A at the time of purchase. Good luck with your search.

Hi all Im looking at a villa in Camposol across the main road north from Camposol Golf, Is this a good place to be, it is not new so would hope its all legal ect but what does it cost a month for council tax ect and do you have comunity fees to pay.

I have read alot of these reports from you guys and it sounds great would really appreciate some help thanks 

Hi Graham,

I take a look here from time to time for information and updates but find that Preguntas Y Mas group on Facebook is brilliant. I own a property on Camposol and love the place so am rather biased. Best to join the above group and post on there.

All the best,

John  

hi thanks for that im coming out on mon 29th to see some places there and we are very excited ;)