PENINSULA | WHAT THE MEDIA SAYSHOMES OVERSEAS

The UK’s leading international property magazine since 1965 - December 2007

Popularity is a double-edged sword. On the one hand, lots of people want a piece of you; on the other, you

risk people getting fed up with the very sound of your name and looking for newer, less done-to-death talent.

The Costa del Sol and Costa Blanca would tell you this, if costas were capable of such a things. Despite their

enduring attractiveness to overseas buyers, they’ve been around so long that they have something of a tired, has-been

air about them, with the unfortunate, and not always deserved, reputation of overcrowding and overdevelopment. Investors

get scared off by the fact that the big gains are a thing of the past, those looking for a relaxing home away from home

are deterred by the thought of crowds, and those seeking a genuine overseas lifestyle are dismayed by the loss of

authenticity.

Enter the Costa de la Luz. “Investment-wise”, it offers undervalued property, which is significantly cheaper that

you’ll find on the western Algarve and the Costa del Sol. There also a solid rental market in Seville which is just less than

an hour away […]

Strict planning rules keep the supply of new property to a minimum, and the unspoilt nature of the area at its

finest. Other highlights include low crime levels and a booming local economy, great beaches offering a variety of water

sports, well-established local towns with good services and amenities plus excellent golf courses. It also has a year-round

average temperature of 20ºC, with more sunshine and less rain than the neighbouring Costa del Sol.

As a former banker with Deutsche Bank, A. Benitz sees the investment potential on the Costa de la Luz as key

to its appeal. […] “The region is 30 to 40 per cent cheaper than the Portuguese Algarve and the Costa del Sol, so new

entrants to the market have the reassurance that they are buying under – rather than overvalued property,” he says.

[15 minutes from the sea is Jerez quoted by the Sunday Times as Spain’s new hot spot – March 07]. Chris Mercers,

[an established local estate agent] says: “We are seeing a lot of interest here and not only are these properties great

value in excellent locations, the rental potential is also really good. If you search for rental property in Jerez, you’ll see

that there is a lack of […] product available. Once again, this is complete opposite to the main costas, where there are

probably thousands of unoccupied […] properties, as there is simply too much stock available […].

Costa de la Luz, SpainSandwiched between the Algarve and the Costa del Sol, the Costa de la Luz has long-been overshadowed by its neighbours – but not any more, says SARAH RODRIGUES.

Let there be LIGHT