Elaine and Paul from the New Forest had long talked about having a place in Spain.
"But things kept happening and we never quite got round to it," says Paul, 64, who once lived briefly in Mijas after visiting during the 1982 World Cup, when Spain hosted the tournament.
"Now the grandchildren are heading to university, it's our time. We've watched prices going up and up, so there was no time to dilly-dally."
The couple, who had run a taxi company specialising in school transport, are now retired and set about finding a home.
"We first did our research – watching YouTube videos and webinars – and we visited the A Place in the Sun exhibition at Ascot a couple of years ago."
How do you choose the right location to buy in Spain?
They first considered the Costa del Sol, thanks to Paul's history there.
"I thought I wanted a mountain home with an olive grove and the sound of goats, but a trip to some areas of rural Andalusia was a reality check. Being isolated and reliant on a car was not practical.
"We also realised that the Costa del Sol might be beyond our budget."
A rethink led them to the Costa Blanca and a couple of viewing trips to Alicante.
"One was a disaster, the other definitely not."
Why are viewing trips so important before buying abroad?
The one that worked out was with MASA International, which they had first seen during an A Place in the Sun webinar.
They felt confident about heading to Alicante for five days to view properties with the company and were delighted to meet Paul Payne, who had featured on the webinar. Their budget at the time was £250k–£300k.
After discovering what a great place Alicante City is to dip into, their search centred on new-build apartments around Punta Prima and Ciudad Quesada, south of the city. It was actually a penthouse apartment they fell in love with on a development called Marella Gardens in Quesada.
"The solarium sold it for us. The apartment itself is not huge, but the extensive outdoor space was perfect," says Elaine, 70.
The two-bedroom, two-bathroom apartment cost €313k. It was a shell when they bought it, but it's due to be completed this month (July 2026).
"We were impressed with the quality of the finish, the classy-looking development and the aftercare on offer."
Why did they choose an apartment instead of a villa?
She says she feels secure and relaxed when she's there, with some of the apartments already occupied. Community charges will be around €1,200 a year, and the large swimming pool and gardens are immaculately maintained.
"I wanted a detached villa with a pool but realised the costs and upkeep would be too much to worry about. I think it's key to be realistic about what type of property is practical," she adds.
"We can just lock the door, and we know it will be safe when we are away."
The couple work within their Schengen 90-day limits and visit outside the peak summer months.
"It's too hot for us between June and August, so we'll enjoy the New Forest then and head to Spain for blue skies during the UK winter!"
The area has great beaches, excellent amenities and all the practical things they realise will make life much easier. Their family will also use the apartment, and they are looking forward to spending more quality time together during visits.
They would certainly recommend a viewing trip, especially with MASA.
"If you can't speak Spanish, going around looking at properties on your own is very hard. We needed the handholding. Good agents will really listen to what you want and understand what might work for you."
Find out how to make the most of a viewing trip
Planning your own viewing trip to Spain?
A well-planned viewing trip can help you narrow down locations, compare properties and find the right estate agent to guide you through the buying process.
🔍 Search for properties in Spain
