Turn holiday home dreams into reality

Spanish market is popular investment, with plenty of property to pick from

Sun, sea and sangria, not to mention value for money in the property market, make Spain the most popular destination for visitors to A Place in the Sun Live.

That’s been the case since the very first show in 2005, and with the market now recovering from the financial crisis of 2008, prospective buyers are eyeing up Spanish villas and apartments with more enthusiasm than ever.

“Far and away the top destination at the moment is Spain,” says A Place in the Sun presenter Jonnie Irwin.

“Even with the fluctuations of the pound against the euro, Spain is still offering tremendous value for money. It’s easy to get to from Glasgow airport and the property stock is plentiful.”

On 28 and 29 October, A Place in the Sun Live will be at the SEC Glasgow, offering visitors a chance to take the pulse of the market, quiz industry professionals and plan their move abroad.

“For me, the best reason for anybody to go to A Place in the Sun Live is to get information,” says Irwin.

“It’s a great first step for anybody who is even dreaming about buying a property abroad.”

With expert seminars on buying property in Spain, it’s a fantastic opportunity to meet estate agents, drop in on advice sessions in the A Place in the Sun Hub, and learn about everything from where to buy to any tax or legal considerations that need to be taken into account.

When it comes to dream destinations, Spain is closely followed in terms of popularity by Florida, Italy, Portugal and France.

“The emerging markets like Cape Verde and Turkey have fallen away in terms of demand because people are seeing that these wonderful destinations closer to home offer good value for money again,” says Irwin.

“Now is a good time to buy. The ultimate prize isn’t just to buy a property to make money, it’s to buy a property that you can afford, that you can afford to hold in the long term, and that you enjoy living in or having holidays in.

“It’s about buying something that you enjoy using.”

Exhibitors from around the world will be at the Glasgow show ready to showcase their collections of beautiful overseas homes.

Spain will be well represented with agents at A Place in the Sun Live from the Spanish mainland, the Canaries and Balearic Islands, as well as France, Italy, Portugal, Florida and many more destinations.

“There are lots of seminars, informal talks, exhibitors discussing what it’s like to buy a property abroad, but also telling people what to look for,” explains Irwin, who will be at the show to share his top tips and meet visitors.

“For everybody you speak to it’s a dream, an aspiration that they are trying to realise.

“It’s a long-held ambition and people are looking for an increase in their quality of life.

“They are looking for somewhere of their own in their dream destination.” n