Where's hot on the Costas

COSTA DE LA LUZ

Where?

The `Coast of Light' is nestled between Gibraltar and Portugal on the Atlantic coast and has over 300km of beaches. Major towns in the area include Cádiz, Jerez de la Frontera and Huelva. Seville is about a 90-minute drive away.

Why?

George: "It's a gorgeous area and a lot of towns are untouched which means you get lovely traditional white villages in the hills. There is some development going on but it's being sensitively done. It appeals to people who want a more authentic Spanish lifestyle."

Tony: "It's really un-commercialised and prices in the area reflect the fact that it's not an ex-pat ghetto. Depending on what and where you buy it is 20-30 per cent cheaper than the Costa Blanca. Tarifa is popular with surfers, Cadiz is lovely and we are selling a lot of holiday apartments in Huelva."

What's on offer?

Houses with no garden in traditional Spanish villages away from the coast can be picked up for as little as £25,000. Surfer town Tarifa is very trendy so little can be had for under £100,000.

AGS are selling one, two, three and four-bed apartments in a new block in a village 30 minutes inland from Gibraltar with prices from £47,000. In Chiclana they are marketing a two-bed apartment, five minutes from the beach, for £116,000.

Getting there

Nearest airports are Gibraltar, Seville and Marbella.

COSTA AZAHAR

Where?

The coastal area between Valencia and Barcelona.

Why?

Greig: "Valencia is going to host the Americas Cup in 2007 and the whole region is benefiting from the development that goes with it. A new airport is due to be finished at Castelló de la Plana before 2007 and some really good marinas are going up in preparation too. All of this is helping to open up the area and attract new buyers."

George: "It's quite a Spanish area and you've got easy access to both Barcelona and Valencia. So far the number of overseas buyers has been limited because while it was between two airports it wasn't particularly close to either. That's all going to change and there's a huge range of properties on offer. I think prices will go up."

What's on offer?

Two-bed apartments in purpose-built complexes from £80,000. Oyster are selling two-bed beach apartments in the upmarket spa resort of Marina d'Or, 20km from the new airport, for £124,000.

Getting there

At the moment, until 2007, the nearest airports are Valencia and Barcelona.

ALMERIA

Where?

Sandwiched between the Costa del Sol to the west and the Costa Blanca to the east. Almeria town is the main centre but other popular destinations include Mojacar, Vera and Roquetes de Mar.

Why?

Cathy: "It's so exciting there at the moment. It's where they used to film all the old spaghetti westerns and all of a sudden they've decided to play catch up with the Costas. It seems to be quite trendy at the moment; it's certainly getting a lot of attention from the big boys. It's a place for the pioneers - you can still get apartments there from £80,000 and for £140,000 you can get beautiful three-bed villas."

Adrian: "Almeria is going to benefit directly from a new airport that is being built at Corvera in Murcia which will cut 20-30 minutes off the journey. Most people buy in the northern part of Almeria, around Mojacar which is a little town with a coastal strip that has everything you could need - bars, restaurants, cafes."

What's on offer?

Two-bed apartments in Mojacar start at £90,000. For a villa you would need to have a budget of £150,000-plus.

European Villa Solutions are currently marketing a three-bed villa near Cucador, 25 minutes from Mojacar, for £125,000.

Getting there

Currently airports at Almeria and Murcia.

COSTA BLANCA NORTH

Where?

From Alicante up to Javea and Denia on the northern tip of the Costa Blanca. Agents are also tipping the inland region along the Route of Castles from Alicante to Alcoy and the Jalon valley that stretches back behind Javea.

Why?

Greig: "The Route of Castles is attractive to people who want to be in the Costa Blanca but want better value for money than you can get on the coast, yet still be close to the airport. A typical two-bed, two-bath villa on the coastal part of the Costa Blanca would cost about £150,000; for the same money inland you get the same villa but on a plot four times the size. It's less crowded around there and you can buy plots or ruins which you can knock down and rebuild, it's so much cheaper."

Cathy: "There is definitely still room for growth up there. It's fantastic - particularly around Altea and Javea. But it's not cheap so it's appealing to people who might once have bought on the Costa del Sol but now want more for their money than is on offer there. It's quite upmarket and a few celebs like Honor Blackman and Michael Caine have places up there."

What's on offer?

Around Javea do not expect to find anything for less than £175,000, but if you move inland things get cheaper.

Oyster are currently marketing a five acre plot near Biar with planning permission for a villa covering in excess of 200sqm for £107,000 - building costs are expected to be another £90,000.

Getting there

Alicante airport is your nearest, but some people might use Valencia as well.

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