Rental Advice - Spanish Homeowners

What type of property should I buy to let?

As with most things in life, your budget will play a big part in your choice of the type of property in Spain you ultimately decide upon for your buy to let.

Next, will normally be your personal preference and finally the real reason why you are looking for a buy to let.

Here are a few points to remember when you are looking for buy to let property in Spain.

• What do holidaymakers want from a property? Will my renters want a swimming pool? Would they like that to be private or communal?

• What do I want from my holiday home? Should I cater for the masses to increase my target audience or aim for a more specialist market such as walkers, cyclists or climbers?

• If your aim is to attract families to your holiday home, then at least a two bedroom property should be considered, preferably close to beaches and child friendly attractions.

• If you want to maximize rental income then a year round location suitable for everyone, such as an apartment in Tenerife or on a golf resort, could be the answer.

• Consider paying more for a property which will 'sell-out' easier. Beach front or stunning views are selling points which will appeal to holidaymakers and which can be charged extra for.

Some types and styles of property in Spain to look at include:

• New / Off Plan:  Buy straight from the builder who, sometimes, gives extras such as a free  swimming pool or kitchen white goods as an incentive to buy - plus the purchase price is normally paid in stages as the property is being built.

• Resale:  Buying from the previous owner can often be a cheaper method of purchasing a buy to let property as price reductions can normally be negotiated and it is not uncommon in Spain for the property to be bought 'as seen' - including ALL furniture, etc. ready to start letting.

• Coastal:  Property in popular coastal regions of Spain tend to cost a little more, but your rental property can be presented to a larger audience and therefore can be easier to 'sell'.

• Inland:  More and more independent travellers are looking to 'get away from it all' which means that properties in inland Spain are becoming more popular. Look at the areas which are tipped to be the next big thing, such as Cuenca in central Spain or the Costa Calida region, from the coast to the city of Murcia.

All types of property can be found in Spain such as villas, country houses, farmhouses, apartments, fincas and even cave houses amongst many more. The choice is yours but remember that with a buy to let - the main occupants of the property will be someone other than you, so you have to cater for your target market in order to maximize your returns.