I would recommend that you rent first to see if you like the area. Have a look at other areas while you are renting, then you can then choose the appropriate section in that area. Do you want to be near bars and amenities? Do you need to drive to get to and fro? There are a lot of questions you need to have answered. Remember, it's a buyers market. Good luck and we hope to see you here soon.

Thanks for comment. I would like to be near facilities, but not right beside bars or communal swimming pools, as I've read on other sites that can be a problem. I'd like to be where there is a year round community living there, as I'll be on my own with just my little dog, although at 52 I'm fairly active and I'd like to be invo!ved in the community and join clubs. If I don't find anything suitable in September, I'll be doing back to rent in January till probably March.
If anyone has any hints of things to look out for when I'm viewing property I'd appreciate it.

From what I have gathered noise is an issue, not only from the entertainment at the bars, but also by the communal swimming pools and also noise travelling along the properties in a terrace.

Things I would look out for are maintenance issues in cul de sac and the parques , parking restrictions outside a property and maintenance of any green areas nearby. Another thing I wasn't keen on having was the refuse bin outside a property.

Having said this I love my little house in La Marina Urb and the time we spend in it but we were very fortunate in having friends who know the area very well to guide us. Good luck in your search.

Thank you for your advice Flora, I hadn't thought about the refuse bins, good tip ! Yes I noticed some of the roads had not enough room to park cars outside or drive down, must bear parking in mind alright. Who is liable for the tarmac outside the houses, I noticed some were well kept and others not ? Having said that I did like the feel of the place and seemed like good little community, everyone I talked to were lovely and friendly. I had put a deposit on a Josefina but then found out no sums or taxes bills had been paid...I was heartbroken. Having said that, I'm coming back in September to look around and possibly buy. Hopefully I'll be luckier this time.

Oh dear Julia, I hope you didn't lose the deposit. I have just thought of something else, when I was looking I viewed an extended Josephina, we walked in and said wow! Then we realised that to fit the staircase in the stairs were extremely narrow with much higher risers than usual. Not even a handrail, when I look back I can see that this was an accident waiting to happen. I am sure you will find the house that is right for you come September.

Thanks Flora,
Yes some builders seem to be right "Bob the Builders"...LOL . One property I viewed the neighbour had built the supporting wall for their 2nd story extension, a good 8-10" on the roof of the Josefina that was for sale !!! I saw a couple of botch jobs alright

I Suppose it helps not to go in with rose coloured glasses and be observant. You were lucky you spotted the stairs Flora. Any other little gems of advice would be gladly appreciated, thank you Flora.

Just a quick point, if you intend to live here at all in the winter months DO NOT buy a North facing terraced property. Because if the building receives very little direct Sun in the winter I can assure you that firstly you will be rather miserable and secondly your fuel bills will be through the roof. Watch out many agents will not ever warn you of that. North facing properties are for those who spend a few summer months only over here.I have never had the problem but have met many people who have in the end just had to move again.

Thanks Douglas, great advice, I do intend to live in La Marina all year round. So that's sound advice and a point I will bear that in mind when I'm viewing.

Hi, I'd advise also looking at Evita properties as well as Josefinas; reason being that a) the living area is a bit bigger and b) as they have a front and rear elevation to the outside, you can get a nice breeze flowing through the house in the summer. As regards cracking walks and patios, I'd be wary unless very minor looking as this could be an indication of foundations moving. Some have cracks that have stabilised and are just settlement, but best to be careful.

Thanks Steve, suppose that's a good point, with the air flow I'd save on air conditioning ..lol. Can Evita's be built up if i wanted to at a later stage eg. extra bedroom, solarium ? I noticed a lot of people had built up their Josefinas to include extra floor and solarium.
Yes some of the properties had quite large cracks and the estate agents dismissed them saying they were normal. One i viewed had a palm stump right infront of the terrace, the roots had obviously grown under the terrace, as the tiles were all lifted and cracked and the crack continued up the front of the house. The palm tree was obviously cut down because of this, but the estate agent said "ah no it's no problem, sure loads of them are like that" I wondered though. Thanks for the great tips, there really helpful, much appreciated.

Hi Julie
We bought a Josefina with the same ideas as yourself.
We also looked at the Evita's which is best left as a One bed, as the Estate agent showed
us around both properties that have been modified and the Josefina works best when modified.
Location is important and the Evita's are to far over one side of the Urbanisation.
Best location is Parque del Duero as its a 6 min walk to the Consum and a 8 min walk to
the Super Value super area and a 5 min walk to the Satellite Swimming pool and the Pharmacy

Trouble with the older properties, is that they have not been kept updated
and a lot need to be painted and re modernised . IE new Kitchens and Bedrooms

Thanks Fox, that's really super advice, most grateful. I have the map of the Urb, so must look up that road so. As I'll be on my own, I don't want to be out on the sticks so to speak.That's fantasic advice.
Yes my intensions are if I like the place I buy,I'd like to have the scope that in a year or 2, to add an extra bedroom and solarium. Or may just a roof top terrace, if I find that I need it. So again great advice about that Fox.
I don't mind painting though, I'm a dab hand with the paint brush. Might give me something to do, ...lol. How often, on average, would people have to paint the front of their houses ? Hopefully not every year though..lol. Although I've notice a lot of people are getting a thing called, "cotto or gotto grain" not sure I pronounced it right ? To the exterior of their houses. Seems to be the way forward ?

They advise every 5 years on the brickwork and every 2 years
on the woodwork. The sun is to punishing

Hmmm, that's a lot on the woodwork. I'd certainly be kept busy alright. Thanks for that Foxy, you're certainly a mind of very useful information. I'm most grateful for your advice.
I noticed some of the houses had the old wooden windows and shutters, are they sufficient to keep the heat in during the winter months ? Or would you advise if I bought one with wooden windows to change them to double glazing ? Sorry I hope I'm not pestering you.

Complete the opposite, I once came over in March and it is very cold in these places.
As space is a premium.
we borrowed a Calor gas heater but the heater was to big, but i don't like
the fumes these give off and if you don't leave a window open the fumes are dangerous.

some people use an electric blanket in the winter as you can have it on a timer.

we installed and inverter air con system that gives you
warm air for the winter and cold air for the summer. One unit is all you need for the Josefina.

You could put small electric panel heaters on the walls too.

Wonderful advice Fox, I have to agree with you, I wouldn't be a fan of the gas heaters, as the fumes affect my asthma. Must look into one of the devices you got, hot for winter, cool for summer, sounds perfect. I'll certainly be on the ball when I hit La Marina with all the wonderful advice you've given me.Thanks Foxy, if you can think of any other nuggets of information, if be grateful, as I'd like to have all my homework done an not buy blind.
I'm really looking forward to moving out there now, there's such lovely helpful people on this site.

Evitas can still be up built on... My next door neighbours has been done and they now have 2 bedrooms upstairs plus a huge solarium with amazing views (I'm jealous lol). Downstairs they've moved the kitchen into what was the bedroom, and been able to enlarge the bathroom to accommodate a corner bath. It's been a well thought out extension. Also, they're not that far away from amenities... 3 minute walk to super valu down at police station, and about 10 minutes to the main strip. I just mentioned as when I was looking at properties I looked at loads of Josefinas (which I really like incidentally) but as soon as I walked into an Evita I could see that there was a bit more living space which would be important for year round living. Anyway, you pay your money and take your choice, etc...

Hi Julie,
We have been here 6 years, and the best investment we made was.oil central heating about 3 years ago. It cost us about 3,000 euros, but we love it.
Also we have bins outside our house, and there are benefits as well as downsides. They do not smell, and it is convenient having a bin just outside the front door. One of the downsides is the rubbish van picking up at 2.00am every day, but we now sleep through that. I would actually rather have a bin outside!
When we moved here, we rented for 6 months first, and when we were looking to buy, I carried a small compass around with me.
Well worth it.
Good luck!

Another thing to look out for is has the property been lived in by smokers, or has there been pets the smell of both things will be hard to get rid of, unless you are a smoker and have pets then you may not notice it

Thanks Steve for that useful advice, I won't rule Evita's out yet then. Frizzy I suppose a bin is handy on cold winter nights or rainy days, no trekking to far, but I'm a light sleeper and bins emptying at 2am might wake me. Though I could catch up on sleep lost by a Siesta in the afternoon, ...lol. Thanks for the pros & cons Frizzy and your honesty, I never thought about the bins being emptied out.
2nd Casa, yes smoking would be a major point with me as being asthmatic I wouldn't like the smell of tobacco. While i dont mind rolling up my sleeves and giving a place a good ol wash down, i wouldnt relish trying to paint over the nicotine stained paint.
Thanks for all the valid, informative advice, Steve, Frizzy, & 2nd casa. I certainly will be prepared for my house hunting in La Marina.
I'm most thankful to everyone for that gave me advice, your all such lovely people, its nice to know that people take the time out to offer help and advice to me and I'm certainly looking forward to having you all as neighbours. I have to say I owe you all a big thank you and if I can help anyone when I get out there, just let me know.
I'll be letting you all know how I faired out ;-) fingers crossed and wish me luck, XxX

Hi Julia,
If you buy a property with the old wooden windows beware! I thought these windows were quaint and typically Spanish but as ours opened inwards I bumped my head one too many times. I now think the replacement windows complete with blind, mosquito net and double glazing are the best improvement we have made.

Pp Thanks Flora, yes like you I thought the wooden windows were quaint and cute, oldie worldie. But humm, I'm reconsidering, there cuteness, as I've been informed by a very helpful chap on this site that they need painting every 2yrs, so with the bumping of the head scenario as well, I think I'll have to budget new windows into the mix. ;-)
Thanks Flora, I'm glad of all this information, as these little niggles wouldn't become apparent to me until I moved in. It will also make take note when I'm viewing, to look out for what is installed already. That will help give me a guide to the true value of a house if one has windows installed and heating/aircon vs one that doesn't.
Well done Flora, and thanks, another helpful piece of knowledge I'm truely grateful for. :-). X

Hi Julie
Found this two bed Fina for 45,000 euros
http://www.barclaysproperties.com/property.php?prop_id=3058
Unsure where it is but seems to be close to amenities.

Have to agree with Flora the windows are a pain in the butt
and is on my list to do's

Just noticed that the bath in the Fina linked above appears to be rusting. Ours rusted right through to make a hole, so that needs factoring in to the mix as well. We had a local builder take out the bath and construct us a shower tray with the lovely iridescent swimming pool tiles, his advice was to steer away from a screen and use a curtain as the screens make these tiny bathrooms seem claustrophobic. I am very pleased with our budget bathroom. However the original kitchen cabinets are still sound and have had a lighter colour wash on them so they are good for a few years yet.

Def rent first to see which area you like

Thanks Foxy, that looks lovely. Will check it out, seems nice n clean and in good order and the terrace looks lovely. Thanks a mill Foxy.
Hi, Flora, yes a shower would be nice in the hot weather alright. So I think, I might look for that builders ph no off you, when i go over. If you can recomend him Flora, because, I wouldnt like to take a chance and be ripped off by a cowboy builder. Thank you Flora. X

Perhaps one more thing to add to this flood of information for you, Julia, is something that I was warned about when I bought 4 years ago. Don't buy down in the gullies, or the bottom part of La Marina - think about being as high up as you can for water run off, as most of the properties lower down are plagued with damp - which wouldn't be good if you have asthma. Believe it or not when it rains, it rains here, and because there is little street drainage, the streets can flood at the drop of a hat. So the cheapest Rosa, Lola or what have you isn't necessarily the best if the location isn't right.

Thank you Alison,
That is really sound advice. I would have never taken that into consideration or thought about that when viewing. I'm really delighted with that you thought to share that advice with me. Being as one of the main reasons I'm moving to Spain is because of my asthma, a damp house would certainly not be benificial, most indebted to you Alison, thank you.

Yes, Julia, and the agents would never tell you that either.. That is why the houses up top of the 2 "mounds" are always a bit dearer than down in the "dumps". And the price difference can confuse if you don't know why that is. Of course the views are generally better too the higher you get, and in a lot of cases nearer to the shops etc.

Seen this one in a good area just up from the police , doctor & tourist office its an extended Evita , but like said previously 2 terraces and I note the back one if from the bedroom with patio doors also noted bathrooms been done .
http://www.barclaysproperties.com/property.php?prop_id=3000

Thanks Wee John,
It looks lovely and fresh, the bathroom indeed looks new and the views are stunning. Thank you Wee John for the link.
Thanks Alison, for such informative and helpful advice

Hi Alison,
would Parque del Tajo, be high enough up the Urb for this dampness/flooding not to be a problem ? and would Parque del Poo be in the area where this might pose these risks ? Thank you and I really appreciate your honesty on these matters.
Hoping I'm not offending anyone on the Urb with these question's, in advance and i bow to everyones superior knowledge on La Marina and helpful advice, thanks everyone.

Hi Julia! To be honest I don't know either of these streets, but I'll try and have a look at the map. Surely the agents can be honest and tell you though..Someone else on the forum might know of them. Another source of damp and mould can come from second floor tiled terraces that need regrouting. Look for signs of damp around window frames and ceiling. It can also come from neighbouring overhanging roofs dripping onto your terrace if you are looking at town houses, if your terrace is not properly drained and sealed. Get an expert to look at any prospect for you!

Thanks Alison,
Will bear all of the above in mind, that's sound advice, thank you so much.

Julia - I live near the bottom of the Urb and I have no problem with flooding. It all just runs straight past me and down onto "the bottom road" (sorry - don't know its real name). I think you need to view each property on its own merits, looking at where the rain water can drain to and from. And remember - rain here is NOT like the UK. When it hits, you can get 5 cm / 2 ins an hour!!! And sometimes it comes sideways!! Parts of the Urb are also quite windy, depending on where you are. Great when it's hot - like now - but damn cold in February.

Thanks Janine, yes I remember when I was in La Marina in May, a lady in Parque de Arga told me its very windy where she lives, she told me that its so windy she doesn't use her roof top solarium. She jokingly added ..."great for drying clothes though !"... We had a chuckle over it, lovely woman she was.

Hi Julie, Parque del Tajo is higher up and depending on if you drive and will be having a car this is much closer to the shops bars and restaurants. Good luck with finding your new home.Nikki

Yes Nikki! I saw that too when I eventually found them, del Tajo is better, but still a bit to walk, eh....If you don't intend having a car, waterwise the rain would run off downhill there too I reckon.

If you buy on one of the parques ask the solicitor if they have a committee, if it is a PRIVATE PARQUE, nobody tells you this. We did not know and it cost us money when we had problems with the sewerage, none of the neighbours, apart from one, wanted to know. We landed ourselves with a 300 euro bill of which, the one neighbour gave us 20 euros. So beware find out which of the Parques on the Urb are private.

Thanks Alison & Nikki,
OMG ! Caroline, that's something I'd have never thought of, or heard of, I really will ask bout that ! Im really sorry to hear of your predicament. I certainainly hope there can be a solution found to your situation, that's awful ! Its something that you would never think to ask when buying a home. I really appreciate you informing me of that one Caroline. I hope it can be rectified on your behalf. Your very kind to tell me.

Caroline maybe in grattitude for your kindness, I can offer my services in the animal Charity shop or anything to do with the animal charities, as I was a voluntary veterinary assistant for the Blue Cross for many year's.

Your help would be very much appreciated, please keep in touch when you come over via this website. At the moment we have not got any more problems with our property and I love where we are living but its best to be aware of these situations as it could be a problem if someone did not have the money to carry out this work. Best of luck with finding your home.