Where are the best places to buy a winter sun property?
Dark, damp days, seasonal affective disorder and sky-high energy bills: are there three better reasons to escape the UK this winter?
The average household energy bill is expected to approach £2,000 this year, so it could really make financial sense to spend some of this winter in the sun.
Northern European ‘swallows’ – the name given to those who habitually winter in warmer climes – have long known this is a canny idea. Instead of swaddling up indoors, they will spend their time walking on a sunny beach, playing golf (or more likely padel these days), even having lunch outside.
Here we pick out seven popular locations for winter sun.
Canary Islands
The budget classic for many, the Canaries are reached by plenty of flights every winter and offer well-established tourism and property markets. Only four hours away, the islands are easy to navigate, and you can enjoy temperatures around 20-22°C.
You can find a one-bedroom apartment with change from €150,000 in Lanzarote’s Puerto del Carmen, or maybe one for €170,000 in Fuerteventura’s buzzy hub of Corralejo. You will pay more in the big resorts of Tenerife – around €250,000 for a property on a good development with a shared pool in Los Cristianos, for example.
PROPERTY FOR SALE IN THE CANARY ISLANDS
Cyprus
Enjoying mild winters and only a 4.5-hour flight away, Cyprus is a good choice for many of those who wish to escape the Northern European winter. There are flights to Paphos and Larnaca throughout the winter.
The island’s Anglo-friendly culture and lack of a language barrier are other big pluses. For a budget of €250,000 to €300,000, you can get a two-bedroom apartment with a shared pool in an area of Paphos such as Tala, or a three-bedroom home in a village in southeastern Cyprus, where your money goes a bit further. You can find second-hand apartments and townhouses for €150,000 in the Famagusta/Larnaca areas.
Crete
The largest, most southerly and practical-to-live-on Greek island, Crete has some of the warmest winter weather in Europe, with average highs around 15-16°C and lows around 9-11°C in winter.
Some parts are much buzzier in winter – choose carefully, as a town like Chania will suit most people better than a resort area like Elounda – and be aware that you may not get direct flights from the UK and may need to connect via Athens.
In Chania, you can find the perfect lock-and-go apartment on a small complex with access to a shared pool for around €150,000, or a cute one-bed stone house.
Malta
One of the most accessible options, Malta is only three hours away by plane. You might not be swimming, but days of up to 18°C mean mild winters and plenty of blue skies.
Malta offers a compact version of everything you might want, with an Anglicised culture (English is an official language of Malta) and the perfect kick-off point to explore the Med by boat. It offers a high standard of living and a well-oiled property industry, plus residency programmes.
You won’t find much for less than £300,000 – this will buy you an apartment in the St Paul’s Bay area or St Julian’s on the north coast. Foreigners can only buy freely in certain designated areas.
Dubai
The stop-start nature of the Iran-US war continues, but life has been getting back to normal in Dubai and the rest of the UAE, and tourism is projected to bounce back this winter.
The property market has proved surprisingly resilient, but in Dubai there are certainly some deals to be had on apartments, though less so on villas. You are still going to need the best part of £150k for a studio or one-bedroom apartment in areas such as Dubailand or Dubai South, despite the ‘mild correction’ in prices.
If you are considering the long term rather than short-term gain, now could be a good time to buy before prices recover.
Florida
The Sunshine State remains a favourite US destination for overseas visitors (bar some Canadians), and a great go-to for UK families.
The Disney area is hard to beat for well-organised things to do, from theme parks and sports to shopping malls, with beaches within reach. Many families decide to let out their villa when they are not using it to cover running costs – a win-win.
Prices are ‘stabilising’ after a boom. A mid-range villa starts from around $330,000, with a five-bed one from $430,000 in popular communities around Davenport or Kissimmee. Alternatively, a condo on the Gulf Coast, around Sarasota, might start from around $280,000.
Antigua
The yachting capital of the Caribbean is less expensive than Barbados but shares the advantage of being reached by direct flights from the UK (around nine hours) – and the airport is just coming out of a major upgrade.
The Commonwealth island is also very Anglo-friendly, and the regattas of Falmouth, English and Jolly Harbours make these good places to escape the Northern European gloom.
There are also new beach clubs – our hot tip is to look at Jolly Harbour in the west of the island, which is seeing a wave of new investment.
Currently, you can still find properties there for £250,000 plus – including a two-bedroom townhouse overlooking the marina with a private dock. This won’t always be the case.
Find your place in the winter sun
Whether you’re looking for a winter base in Europe or somewhere further afield, start exploring what your budget could buy.
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