Realistic price for 2 bed apartment?

One thing that is very good at Las Terrazas is our security. Anyone who enters our complex is generally detected very rapidly and apprehended before they break-in or are caught in the act. There has only been one occasion in the time where I have been here where the thieves have got in and out without being detected.

Not bad for almost two years and 1,500+ apartments. You will find much higher percentages anywhere in Britain to be honest.

We have high perimeter fencing that is monitored.  24x7 security that patrol the complex, floodlighting, monitored CCTV etc.

The quality of build on Las Terrazas is also good. I have heard of some small issues in some apartments with the air conditioning pre-installation or electrical appliances, but you would expect this in any new build and these can be detected with a survey of the property. With respect to drainage etc, we have had a couple of Gota Fria events since I have been here and the drainage system has coped well. I believe the worst case was that one of the pool pumping systems got flooded and some mud was left around the resort but other than that, no significant damage. If you look on YouTube at similar events at La Torre or Camposol etc, you can see that these things can be a nightmare if proper drainage is not in place

Again, if you want horror stories around corruption of offcials and communities built without appropriate habitation certificates or even planning permission, subsidence etc there are plenty around but Las Terrazas is not one of them.

All I can say is that I researched everything pretty thoroughly before I bought on Las Terrazas hence all the information that I have at my fingertips to answer the kind of questions that you ask. I am not saying that there is nothing wrong here, but nothing that I know of.

I am not an estate agent or connected with the property market or Las Terrazas in any way and am only helping people answer questions that I asked when I was looking at various properties in the Murcia region.

With respect to Las Terrazas, we have two airports that serve us. Alicante and San Javier. Neither are likely to close soon. Alicante is a very busy airport that serves the costa blanca with areas such as benidorm being popular tourist attractions as well as the costa calida. San Javier also operates as a military airport and would continue even if the commercial routes moved away. There is also the much anticipated opening of Corvera that would also be a15 minute drive from Las Terrazas.

If your friend raises other concerns, land slippage, earthquakes, pig farms etc then I am happy to share my research on these too :)

Your friend is correct of course. When buying property anywhere the words caveat emptor are applicable. If you don't do proper research any number of the horror stories that you mention could happen.

Your friend is also correct in that you should not be buying something that won't sell should you need to. Personally, I am under no illusions in that space. If I was forced to sell tomorrow, I accept that if I wanted a quick sale I might have to sell for less than I paid, but anything will sell if the price is right. The higher the price the longer you may have to wait and location is very important when buying or selling too. Even location within a Golf Resort.

Others will give you very good advice to rent before you buy. Good advice. Having said that, there is always the risk that exchange rates move lower and property prices move higher and suddenly your dream 1 bed apartment in the sun becomes that - just an unaffordable dream.

Good luck whatever way you decide.

Great advice Duncan and thank you. The advice about renting is sound advice I must say. We would not be re-locating though, just short holidays for now as we both work and hopefully extended holidays when we are retired (assuming we both live that long lol). We are in our forties now (well I am, my husband is in his 30's so I would be retired before him). I'm thinking that, other than renting a holiday apartment on Las Terrazas for a couple of holidays, the need to rent before buying would not be as much of a "thing" or am I misguided? 

Do you happen to know Duncan, is it easier to sell a 1 bedroom apartment or a 2 bedroom apartment in terms of demand? My reason for asking is that if in the future, god forbid, we needed to sell our property for whatever reason, would we find it quicker/easier to shift a 1 bedroom apt? In reality I think a 2 bedroom place would put us under pressure to repay to the bank as well as the community and maintenace costs so a 1 bed apt will realistically be our target purchase. That's fine though, as long as we get to have our own little place in the Spanish sunshine.

Hi Paul & Laura,

Can you tell me what direction your terrace/patio faces please? I think we would be going for a 1 bed as I don't want to be under too much pressure financially. Our budget is 50k (max 52k). I saw from your earlier reply that you bought a 1 bedroom ground floor apt. for 50k, I am assuming that was unfurnished. Was it a bank property? What agent did you go with?

Sungoddess

Can't really say what is more in demand to be honest. Having said that, there are far more 2 bedroom apartments on las terrazas de la torre than 1 bedroom apartments. Supply and demand ....

Hi Sungodess. In reply to your queries, our apartment is South East facing and we worried that there wouldn't be enough hours of sun on the terrace but to be honest you wouldn't want all day sun in the summer months and we put our sun beds out on the grass in front of the apartment so you can have as much sun all day as you want. Plus don't forget there is a roof terrace on each block for serious sun worshippers but it is pretty hardcore up there!! We purchased through Murcia Invest. Our agent was Oscar Sinah, very nice chap and not at all pushy. Ours was unfurnished (bank repo), 50,900 euros. Don't forget the additional fees for buying etc. Oscar was honest and upfront and will tell you what to expect to pay and running costs.  We have been twice son , daughter and grandchild and there was plenty of space with two single beds in the bedroom and two sofa beds in living room and ground floor have bigger terraces. Hope this is helpful. Good luck with your search. Laura and Paul.

Hi Paul  Laura,

Many thanks for your help. I agree with you about not having the sun all day long in the summer months. I find the heat of July and August a little much so I certainly would be glad of a little shade. My husband however likes it as ht as possible and has mediterranean colouring even though we're Irish so the option of the sun terrace would appeal to him. I think the 2 words "hardcore" and "sun" are his middle names ha ha ha. The way you describe the sun being on the grass out front of the terrace sounds perfect for us. Oscar is indeed one of the agents I have emailed for available properties so I would be happy to use Murcia Invest based on your positive experience. I have done our budget based on 15% taxes and fees so hopefully that will turn out to be accurate. It's both exciting and scary at the same time, isn't it? We won't be ready to put down money for a few months due to business projects but I would like to have all m research and budgets done early so we can move quickly when the finance becomes available to us. Good chatting to you.

Yes Duncan, while researchng properties, I noticed that there are a lot more 2 bed resales than 1 bed. We could see this fact as a good sign - people who buy them tend to hold on to them or a bad sign - there were fewer of them built because they aren't as popular. Either way, if they suit our circumstances and needs then that's what we'll go for. Thanks again.

Paul & Laura,

Could you give me the names of your solicitor and surveyor please? Were they recommended by the agent or were they independant?

Sungoddess

Hi Sungoddess

Our Solicitor and Surveyor were arranged by Oscar. Dawn at Legal Solutions in Mazzaron was Solicitor but can't remember name or company of Surveyor. No problems with either. Let us know how you get on in the coming months. 

Laura and Paul.

Thanks Paul & Laura,

I wanted a personal recommendation because everything you read tells you, the buyer, to get independant legal advice and surveyor. The advice out there is never to let your agent organise them for you so you can be sure you are getting good, independant advice and professional services. I was terrified to go against that advice because it comes up over and over again but by the sounds of it you had no trouble with your surveyor and solicitor thankfully. Maybe there is a little scaremongering going on..............

Hi Paul & Laura, and Duncan................

Could I be cheeky and ask you to send me a photo of your living room with the sofas positioned so I can see how I would fit them in to my 1 bed apt please? Send by PM if that would be better. I had a picture in my head of 1 sofabed as I thought that was all I would be able to fit in the living room but I would love to see photos from people who have fitted more in.

Many thanks

I've got pictures of my apartment on my facebook page. I have made them public. let me know when you have looked and I will make them private again. I also have floor plans of all the different apartments on Phase 1.

PM me your email address and I will send you a link to my facebook page and also the floor plans.

Hi sungoddess I can email you some photos if you pm your email address paul and Laura 

Hello Sungoddess,

we used Dawn at PALS in Mazzaron when we bought back in 2014 on TLDT we were told to use PALS by the agent who we bought through she set up bank account got the national insurance numbers we needed etc yes this goes against all the advice you get but we can not recommend them enough any problems a quick email and usually if in office hours we get a reply with in 1/2 hour or phone call same on that front as well.

They do all our tax etc for a  fee every year very handy for us .

Duncan/ everyone is right you need to look in person the Internet looks good but the same generic photos seem to be used over and over again for different properties one in particular sticks in our mind a mosaic table on the terrace on one of the penthouse apartments over looking the golf course might be TDLT or Condado that came up time and again and still does I think sometimes the photos are not of the resort the property is listed about.

There are so many agents who are actually finders for some of the bigger agents a middle man so to speak it just means they get a finders fee should you buy if they have recommended you which would go a long way to explain the constant use of generic photos.

Murcia golf properties, for one we know do the photos of the property/resort the advert is about,there are many others we just know them as we have used them.

The fact remains though you need an inspection trip what we thought we wanted when we came on our trip was not what we ended up buying.

We love it our there in fact got back home (UK) at 02:00hrs this morning and going back out for 3/4 days end of September hopefully.

Best of luck with your search .

Tina .

Hi Tina,

Clearly, an inspection trip is needed, as you have suggested. Can you tell mw what made you pick TDLT over other golf resorts like Corvera, Condado etc?

Sungoddess

Hi Sungoddess

We mainly chose TDLT because of the feel we got when we visited - it was actually the first resort we visited on our trip over - apart from Mar Menor Golf Resort where we were accommodated.    The apartment we chose was the third we saw on the resort and we fell in love with the views and the large terrace, it's a penthouse style.

Although Corvera apartments are really spacious and have loads of extras such as central heating the resort itself was too far from the coast really and also at the time very empty - I think it has filled up somewhat since then.  Le Torre was more expensive and what we could afford was tiny with views over the roads.  Although the resort itself has lots of facilities we were still in love with the TDLT views.

We also saw Condado and loved the jardin apartments and the town centre with all its bars etc, however it is a long way from the coast and the current airport - it will be awesome if Corvera airport opens.

lastly there was the Boulevard at Mar Menor - the problem is the Mar Menor resort is amazing but the boulevard is actually outside the perimeter and the balconies are really enclosed which made them feel dark and again they just did not match up to TDLT.    As an investment TDLT will not gain quickly but it will gain I have no doubt as the resort is lovely and very well positioned for both the old and new airport, the coast and the town of Roldan.

Good luck with your viewing trip - I am sure you will love whatever you chose.

Tina