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It was always an idea of mine to have a home in the sun, as I was raised in both Ireland and the US and returned to Donegal to live over thirty years ago. Although we don’t have hurricanes or severely cold weather in Ireland, neither do we have much in the way of winter sunshine!
It was an idea that just wouldn’t go away, and eventually my husband Paddy agreed with me. For him it was the thought of being able to play golf in warm sunshine in January that clinched it. So the task of finding somewhere that fulfilled all of our requirements began. In essence, it came down to three things: climate, location and quality.
Climate
For us, warm winter weather was of paramount importance. We learned that the only desert in Europe is located in the Province of Almeria in
Southeast Spain, which has a micro climate. It undoubtedly can boast the best winter weather in all of Europe. Almeira is protected from the cold and rain in the winter by the surrounding mountains. In summer, the refreshing sea breezes keep it cooler than elsewhere in Spain. All year round conditions are dry, which is an important factor for us Irish! Even in the height of summer, Almeira has little or no humidity. In winter, a pleasanter climate is not to be found anywhere else in Europe. This fit the bill exactly. Going back to our first priority – climate – we had found our “place in the sun”. Click here for more information about climate.
Location
On the fringe of the Tabernas Desert is The Almanzora Valley, a beautiful and dramatic place set between the mountains and the
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Paddy in the Almanzora
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Mediterranean Sea. We were overwhelmed by what was to be found there: diverse scenery of rugged mountains and rolling fields of orange, olive and almond groves; plentiful beaches and coves, located near nature reserves and thermal springs; an authentic traditional Spanish lifestyle based around family celebrations, fiestas and always the sharing of food with lots of time to enjoy it. Combined with the near perfect climate, we were truly seduced and knew that we had found the location we were looking for. Click here for a map of the region.
Quality
We were satisfied that the Almanzora Valley was the area in which we wanted to purchase, and our quest for quality led to one company that stood out above the rest. That was The Almanzora Group, which is a subsidiary of the Robert Hitchins Group from Cheltenham, a company with a proven track record of excellence in the U.K. They were developing a new golf course resort as well as building projects in a small fishing village and a privileged beach position close to each other in the Almanzora Valley.
Although then the project was in its infancy, we were so taken with the overall concept and apparent quality that we invested in property on the golf course, as Paddy is a keen golfer. The fact that these developments are the personal vision of and under the careful attention of the owner, Stephen Hitchins, who is committed to providing an exclusive product, makes this company different from other overseas property developers.
My motto is “seeing is believing”. In order to appreciate the reality, you have to see it yourself. The beauty of these developments lies in the attention to the smallest detail by the owner himself, and my advice is for anyone interested in purchasing a property abroad not to miss out on investigating what is a unique product in a unique environment.
Contact me to arrange an inspection visit, and I will be delighted to help you to achieve your own dream of owning a place in the sun.
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