Seeking to buy a place in “old Spain”, Rob and Roisin from Essex had been looking for a home on the Costa Almería in the southeast of the country.
Almería is rather less commercialised than the Málaga part of the same region – Andalusia – yet perhaps that added to the couple’s woes when looking for a property.
Why finding the right property in Spain took time
Says Rob, 61, who directs operations for an engineering company: “We looked at about 20 properties. We would first look online, find a place that fit our criteria – two bedrooms, two bathrooms – but then when we went to see them, there was always some fatal flaw.
“We soon learnt that it’s as much about telling an estate agent what you don’t want – in our case, a spiral staircase or a north-east facing balcony,” he says.
The couple also registered with estate agents and would fly out to look at properties. “But we were often just shown what was on their books, rather than what suited us.”
Finding a property in Mojácar with a £110k budget
They decided to try going on A Place in the Sun and flew out in January 2024 to look at some properties with Ben Hillman with a budget of £110k.
“Properties are half the cost of equivalents on the Costa del Sol,” says Robert, revealing another reason why the area appeals.
With the search centred around the popular white village of Mojácar, the couple ended up putting an offer in on a property 10 minutes from the beach, with a balcony, for which they paid £112k.
It’s on Spirit of Mojácar, a popular gated apartment complex on Mojácar Playa, known for its communal areas with large swimming pool, sun terraces and gardens.
“By then we realised that we had to be prepared to compromise too. For us this involved having one bathroom rather than two, and the fact there’s a bit of a hill to walk up – we stated no hills as my knees are shot!”
How their Mojácar apartment pays for itself
The couple love their home, which they’ve smartened up and turned into a very successful holiday rental – when they are not using it themselves – which more than covers the £800 a year management fee, and still delivers income after running costs and income tax are deducted.
“We go there for three months at a time – I can remote work from there, but Roisin is retired.”
“We don’t go in peak summer, and it’s fully booked between July and the end of September,” says Rob, who manages the bookings himself and lists it on Booking.com. It costs from €137 per night.
What makes a successful holiday rental in Mojácar?
What’s the secret of a successful, and so far, stress-free experience?
“Aside from having one of the best communal swimming pools in Mojácar, we have a lovely house manager who does the cleaning but also meets the guests. We allow pets and give guests a very nice welcome pack with local wine and produce. I’m responsive and communicate with guests.”
He says guests are mostly Spanish and mostly stay for eight nights. “I’d rather it was used than sitting empty, and it’s a useful income.”
Could Costa Almería be your place in the sun?
Mojácar and the wider Costa Almería offer great-value property, stunning beaches and year-round rental appeal.
🔍 Search properties in Costa Almería
📘 Download your free Almería Buying Guide
📺 Apply to appear on A Place in the Sun
