For many years, Murcia has been seen as a backwater of Spain and has subsequently missed out on the property market boom and tourist destination of recent years. However, now things are changing in Murcia: Murcia is becoming a popular place for those looking for a permanent home in Spain, for real estate investors and now, Murcia is putting itself on the map as a beautiful holiday home destination. and now it’s appealing to those looking to buy a holiday home abroad – things are really hot here in Murcia!
Having said that about Murcia losing out as a holiday destination in recent years, according to Mark Stucklin the idea of a holiday home resort in Spain actually started in the Murcia region a staggering 35 years ago in 1972 with the creation of the popular The Sleeve Club. Stucklin claims that the club was really born by accident when Gregory Peters, a California hiker, stumbled upon the area and instantly fell in love with the wild landscape that overlooked an extraordinary saltwater lagoon known as the Mar Menor.
La Manga Club was born, the first residential golf development in Spain, and even today, the club retains its reputation as a class resort. Although no new properties are being built in the complex, the resale market is very dynamic. However, property here does not come cheap, recognized as an exclusive resort, property starts at around €1 million, which is not the usual price you pay for property in Murcia.
So while only La Manga Club has come into the limelight in Murcia in recent years, the region is now definitely a popular destination with foreign buyers like never before, and it’s not hard to see why. Murcia has an excellent climate, with sun almost all year round, beautiful temperatures, low rainfall (suitable for holidays throughout the year), magnificent landscapes, warm and welcoming people, low cost of living and, unlike other regions, the area It is still little exploited. such as the Costa Blanca and the Costa del Sol.
And now, new developments: fabulous new golf courses and residential developments that are almost small towns in themselves are springing up in the beautiful inland area of Murcia.
The real estate developments of Santa Ana del Monte Golf Jumilla Resort and Golf Resort El Castillo stand out. Both complexes are located on the outskirts of the town of Jumilla, nestled between mountains. The Resorts will have superb sports and leisure facilities to rival those of La Manga Club, including professionally designed golf courses, equestrian centres, heated indoor pools, outdoor pools, gyms, tennis, badminton and basketball courts, shopping malls with a variety of world-class shops, bars and restaurants, 5 world-class hotels offering spa treatments, prestigious clubhouses and much more.
Alan and Elaine Ablett, owners of Rest Assured Properties, moved to Murcia from the Costa Blanca in 2005 after purchasing a three-bedroom, two-bathroom villa in the La Zarza valley. They have also purchased a two-bedroom apartment in the El Castillo golf complex for investment purposes. The golf property was purchased off plan and should be ready in December 2008. You have already seen the price of the apartment skyrocket by €20,000 in a short space of time.
“We knew we didn’t want to live permanently in a coastal region like the Costa Blanca because it’s too touristy and overpopulated and built up. We wanted to experience the ‘real Spain’ so we started looking in different areas.” ” said Elaine – “we always wanted to move to an inland region and we found this area in the northwest of Murcia. We knew that this area was right for us and we are sure that we made the right choice: sunny days. in December and a relaxed way of life, now that’s what I call quality of life.
Resale properties in this inland region of Murcia are also popular with buyers as coastal properties have generally been left off the market. Rising crime and overcrowding are also issues that are driving shoppers inland. The types of resale properties buyers are looking for vary, as does their budget. Three-bedroom, two-bathroom villas with land are popular, as are townhouses in traditional towns and cities such as Pinoso, Jumilla, Cañada del Trigo and La Zarza.
