| After France, Spain is Europe's most popular | | | | does not suit everybody. |
| holiday destination, and the apparent dominance of | | | | Before buying anything, do visit the area in and |
| France is to a large extent due to visitors in | | | | out of season. Resorts that are a buzz in summer |
| transit elsewhere. In 1996 between 1.2 and 1.3 | | | | often die completely in the winter. To most |
| million European tourists visited Spain. It is | | | | Catalonians, the Costa Brava is where they go |
| therefore not surprising that many of them | | | | for their summer holidays; they don't live there, |
| become interested in buying a home there. Spain's | | | | and they don't even visit at week-ends out of |
| property market generally has enjoyed strong | | | | season. If you are buying just for summer rentals |
| growth, with the Costa Brava enjoying a | | | | and/or your own summer holidays, that does not |
| particularly large rise in values. About 20% of | | | | matter, but if you are thinking of permanent |
| foreign owners are more or less permanent | | | | residence, it is a critical factor. Never assume that |
| residents of Spain, while the remaining 80% | | | | you may be able to rent your property in winter. |
| bought their property for either holidays or | | | | It is most unlikely. |
| investment purposes. | | | | If you are thinking of semi-permanent or even |
| The Costa Brava is particularly attractive because | | | | permanent residence, you may be concerned that |
| - Summer heat is less intense than further south, | | | | you will find it hard to make friends here, and |
| - Scenery is spectacular, | | | | therefore be somewhat isolated. This is generally |
| - There are beautiful well-preserved mediaeval | | | | not so. Most residents are retired or semi-retired |
| towns like Pals and Peratallada everywhere, | | | | and it is fairly easy to meet new people, |
| - Catalonia is well run with good roads and | | | | particularly of course if you play golf. Incomers |
| railways | | | | tend to be of a similar age and background, even |
| - The A7 motorway is never more than a few | | | | if from different countries. They too want to |
| minutes drive and connects to the French | | | | make new friends. |
| network | | | | This may be an advantage or a disadvantage! |
| - Barcelona is easily accessible | | | | You will also suddenly find that you have many |
| - Golf courses are numerous and of the highest | | | | friends in England wanting to visit you. Some of |
| standard all year round | | | | them may be friends that you thought of only as |
| - In winter, there is good skiing in the nearby | | | | acquaintances. It can also be difficult for visitors |
| Pyrenees | | | | to understand that you are not there just to |
| - There are cheap flights to Girona/Costa Brave | | | | entertain them, but have your own life to lead as |
| airport and to Barcelona and Perpignan. | | | | well. |
| - Eating out is inexpensive and a real pleasure | | | | All in all though, the Costa Brava is a terrific place |
| - The cost of living generally is reasonable. | | | | to holiday or live as long as you have thought |
| That is an impressive catalogue of benefits. Add | | | | through your purchase correctly. Our experience |
| that attractive property is still fairly freely | | | | comes as part of the package, and our job is to |
| available and competitively priced and you will | | | | make sure that you make the right decision for |
| quickly understand the popularity of the region. | | | | you. This is not the Costa del Sol either in terms |
| Many different nationalities settle here, but unlike | | | | of weather or life style, but it is culturally rich, |
| further south they are all intermingled, with no | | | | welcoming, and offers a great life to those that |
| "English" estates or "German" estates. The whole | | | | respond to what it offers. |
| atmosphere is much more cosmopolitan. That | | | | |