TYPES OF PROPERTY IN MALAGA, SPAIN

TYPES OF PROPERTY IN MALAGA

Types of property in Malaga – The Spanish real estate market is full of attractive, very diverse properties, of all shapes, sizes, and budgets. Depending on your circumstances and requirements you can easily find a house to live in permanently, a holiday home, or a property to rent out.

The price range of property within the Malaga region varies dramatically, which is great for those with a slightly smaller budget. Property in Malaga will help you find your dream property, from an Apartment to a Mediterranean villa with a sea view, we can help.

In Spain, there are a wide variety of different types of properties for sale on the market, something which can be overwhelming in a different country and a different language. Here at Propertyinmalaga.com, we are here to help, we have put together a simple guide to the different types of properties in Spain and the advantages and disadvantages of each one.

What are the types of property in Malaga?

The most common type of property for sale on the Costa Del Sol include:

• Apartments/flats
• Villas
• Townhouses
• Residential Housing Estates
• Country properties
• Quad Houses
• Bungalows

Apartment / Flat

Apartments for sale in Spain – If you live in a city in Spain, then the most common housing option is an apartment/ flat, known in Spanish as a piso. Apartment blocks are very common throughout Spain, and the quality and size of these properties vary enormously, from a tiny studio to a 2-storey duplex (maisonette), or luxury penthouse.

Advantages:

• Lower maintenance than a house
• Good security, this is especially the case if the block has 24-hour security or a concierge (portero)
• The use of communal areas

Disadvantages:

• Noisy neighbours
• Badly maintained communities
• Crowded communal areas during the holiday season

Villas

Villas for sale in Spain – Compared to the UK, for example, it is a lot less common for people in Spain to live in a detached house or villa and in many large towns and cities it’s difficult to find a large, detached villa. On the Spanish coast, however, detached houses or villas are a lot more common than in other parts of the country and are associated with holidays in most cases.

Advantages:

• They’re not attached to other properties
• More Spacious
• Quieter as they are generally located outside urban areas

Disadvantages:

• Higher running costs
• Being located outside urban centres may make the villa isolated

Townhouses

The townhouse, translated to Spanish as “casa adosada”, is the equivalent of terraced or semi-detached houses in Spain. Once again, townhouses often have communal gardens and a shared swimming pool, especially if they are on the coast. You will normally find townhouses on the outskirts of towns and can often be a more affordable option compared to buying a villa.

Advantages:

• Cheaper than villas
• Often come with communal facilities
• More spacious than an apartment

Disadvantages:

• Thin walls between properties can mean more noise
• Less privacy
• Residential Housing Estate

Residential housing estates/ Urbanisations

Residential housing estates or urbanisations, known in Spanish as “urbanizaciones” are purpose-built housing developments which can be made up of apartments, townhouses, and villas. They are common all over Spain and form an essential part of Spanish coastal resorts while being a great option for all budgets because one urbanisation can be home to a mixture of apartment blocks, townhouses, and individual villas. – Also see, Golf properties for sale in Spain

Advantages:

• Security
• Good for foreigners wanting to live in a community

Disadvantages:

• Less privacy
• Can be very expensive

Country properties

Rural properties in Spain, whether they are small village houses (casa de pueblo) or larger farmhouses or estates with land (casa rural/finca), here you will get an authentic experience of the Spanish countryside. Property here can be very spacious and is generally cheaper than coastal resorts in Spain, as well as being widely available, however, keep in mind that you will more than likely must renovate these properties unless you pay more for a property that’s already been modernised.

Advantages:

• Cheaper
• Quiet lifestyle

Disadvantages:

• A Property with a lot of land will require a lot of maintenance
• Properties tend to be older and in need of work

Quad Houses

A quad house is a type of property which is becoming increasingly common in Spain and simple terms is a house attached on both sides, like a terrace house, each one with a private entrance via its front or side garden.

Advantages:

• Spacious
• Normally a private garden

Disadvantages:

• Noise from other properties
• Less privacy

Bungalows

Bungalows are also popular in coastal regions in Spain but don’t get confused between the Spanish version of a bungalow and the typical meaning in English. Whereas in the UK a bungalow refers to almost any detached, one-storey house, in Spain, there is some confusion. Sellers may advertise a bungalow with the English meaning, however, in Spain, you’re also likely to find a bungalow referring to an apartment in a 2-storey house with a large veranda, flat roof and adjacent land or in a campsite, often made of wood.

Advantages:

• Cheaper than a villa
• Lower maintenance costs

Disadvantages:

• Little or no, outside space