| Set against the backdrop of sparse mountains and the | | | | 17,000 Euros to 300,000 Euros, and on average, |
| region's distinctive red earth, Alcala la Real offers a | | | | 100,000 Euros will secure you a townhouse with four |
| unique opportunity to enjoy traditional Spanish life and | | | | bedrooms, a garden and a garage.Typical |
| cultureAlcala la Real and its surrounding villages are | | | | propertiesThe hilltop towns have steep streets flanked |
| located in the province of Jaen, a sweeping landscape | | | | by whitewashed houses, offering a mixture of historic |
| of green vines that stretch as far as the eye can see. | | | | architecture and small apartment blocks. Generally, |
| Part of the Andalucia region, Jaen borders the | | | | you'll be looking at resale homes to renovate in this |
| provinces of Granada, Cordoba and Ciudad Real. It | | | | area, with very few newly built properties cropping up. |
| has a blend of Moorish and Renaissance culture, with | | | | Property tends to fall into two distinct groups, terraced |
| many historical sights, such as the baths in Jaen city | | | | village houses, which boast a patio or roof terrace, or |
| and the palaces of Baeza and Ubeda.Jaen produces | | | | country properties, which are sold with land. There are |
| ten per cent of the world's olive oil, and it is said that | | | | also a number of apartments available in Alcala la Real |
| there are over 150 million olive trees here, scattered | | | | and the nearby villages.The rentals marketAndalucia |
| around a number of whitewashed villages and | | | | attracts Spain's largest number of tourists, receiving 14 |
| traditional townhouses. For those seeking striking | | | | per cent of the country's 50 million foreign visitors |
| scenery, a traditional lifestyle and bargain prices, this is | | | | every year. Jaen itself isn't recognised as a popular |
| the place to be.Why buy there?Alcala la Real is the | | | | rentals market, especially as it borders the region of |
| province's main property hotspot. Boasting a population | | | | Granada, where there are a number of popular |
| of just over 21,000, there are plenty of amenities, such | | | | resorts.However, the area's rural tourism market is up |
| as schools, restaurants, bars, doctors and swimming | | | | and coming, and Andalucia accounts for 7 per cent of |
| pools. The scenery is striking, with La Mote castle | | | | this market, with 14,080 visitors every year, an increase |
| overlooking the cobbled streets, and views stretching | | | | of 7.2 per cent on 2004. Combine this with increased |
| away over the olive groves to the Sierra Nevada. The | | | | flights into Granada from Liverpool, Stansted and |
| locals are extremely friendly and life here is as | | | | Gatwick, and with more flights planned, tourist numbers |
| traditionally Spanish as it gets. There's also a significant | | | | are guaranteed to rise.People's perceptions are also |
| cultural presence. The El Llanillo district, which surrounds | | | | changing. Many no longer want to be crammed onto a |
| the town hall, is noted for its historic buildings, such as | | | | beach with thousands of other Brits, especially since |
| the convent, which dates back to 1639.Given the | | | | Jaen offers easy access to ski resorts and outdoor |
| relatively isolated location of Alcala la Real, which is | | | | pursuits such as walking, cycling and birdwatching.The |
| situated 25 minutes drive away from Granada, the | | | | Sierra Nevada is only a 90 minute drive away, and the |
| cost of living is much lower. Crime rates are low, there | | | | low investment outlay for purchasing in the area |
| is a good education system with small class sizes and | | | | makes setting up a tourist based industry here a |
| an excellent healthcare service. The lifestyle is healthy | | | | shrewd move. There is also a significant increase in |
| and generally al fresco and the province is dotted with | | | | people holidaying in the region of Jaen and in Alcala la |
| cherry groves, natural parks and mountains.Only 90 | | | | Real. Many are locals or city dwellers from Madrid |
| minutes from Malaga and 40 minutes from Granada | | | | seeking a rural holiday.Living hereAgents in the area |
| airport, it is possible to travel here for a long weekend | | | | say they are mostly selling to permanent relocators, |
| in the sun. There are also a number of areas of | | | | the majority being couples in their 30s and retirees. |
| interest close at hand: Granada, Alhambra Palace, the | | | | However, there has been a trend for families seeking |
| ski slopes in Sierra Nevada, Cordoba and Jaen, as well | | | | a home in Jaen, with parents seeking to bring their |
| as the natural parks, such as Parque Natural de | | | | children up in a safer and healthier environment.As |
| Cazorla, with its woodlands and lakes. Distant from the | | | | mentioned, this is traditionally a Spanish destination, and |
| lager louts and Costa del Fish and Chips phenomenon, | | | | Jaen has Andalucia's lowest number of British |
| this is a peaceful and rural region, untouched by foreign | | | | residents, with approximatley 200 times more foreign |
| cultures.Where to buyIt's not just the town of Alcala la | | | | residents in the nearby Malaga province. However, |
| Real that offers fantastic prices. Many agents are also | | | | there has been an increasing number of British buyers |
| recommending villages within a 30 kilometre radius. | | | | interested in the Alcala la Real area.As with many |
| Some of these have experienced price appreciation | | | | places, there are downsides to living here. Many |
| of up to 60 per cent in recent months, and demand | | | | properties will need some work to bring them up to |
| has recently intensified.The town of Alcaudete is built | | | | date, which is an important consideration if you're |
| on a series of springs, situated on a hill around the 13th | | | | seeking to let your property out. There are also very |
| century castle. Surrounded by two natural reservoirs, | | | | few English speakers in the region, so it's important |
| the village offers bargain prices, with a four bedroom | | | | you get a grip on basic Spanish and make an effort to |
| townhouse going for as little as 40,000 Euros.The | | | | integrate. It's also impossible to find English products in |
| village of Frailes, only ten minutes from Alcala la Real, | | | | the shops, so you need to be prepared to adopt a |
| is built around the church of Santa Lucia and has been | | | | Spanish diet and learn how to cook Spanish style! Of |
| the site for a number of important archaeological finds. | | | | course, locals claim that you can buy anything at the |
| Home to only 1,800 people, property here can cost | | | | weekly market.Some of the villages can also feel |
| from as little as 26,000 Euros for a ruined two | | | | remote, especially during the winter months when the |
| bedroom townhouse.Castillo de Locubin is a pretty | | | | weather is very cold. Finally, you're 90 minutes from |
| whitewashed village, located in the foothills of the | | | | the coast, which can be a drawback for those who |
| Sierra Sur. With a Moorish castle and 16th century | | | | are keen on Spain's beach culture.Of course, there are |
| church, the village is famed for its locally produced | | | | many positives to living here. The region offers a |
| pottery and cherry fair. With only 5,000 inhabitants, | | | | traditional lifestyle, coupled with low property prices and |
| three restaurants and a few bars, a one bedroom | | | | low cost of living. There's also an excellent |
| apartment can be purchased from 90,000 Euros.Other | | | | infrastructure and daily budget flights, making it easily |
| areas include Moclin in neighbouring Granada, famous | | | | accessible. It's easy to see why an increasing number |
| for its castle, where a country house can be | | | | of British buyers are being seduced by the traditional |
| purchased for 160,000 Euros; Puerto Lopez, where | | | | appeal of inland Spain.Valerie and George Whincup |
| you can buy a townhouse with two bedrooms and a | | | | retired to Alcaudete from Liverpool, paying 54,000 |
| garden for somewhere between 100,000 Euros and | | | | Euros for a five bedroom family house in June of this |
| 160,000 Euros; and Bobadillo, where a townhouse can | | | | year. They decided to buy in Alcaudete as they had |
| cost under 100,000 Euros.The property marketThe | | | | spent over a year looking to buy on the coast of the |
| Jaen region offers property prices 65 per cent below | | | | Granada region, but they had problems finding anything |
| the national average, at 123,981 Euros, and is the only | | | | within their budget, prices having inflated rapidly over |
| Spanish region to offer consistently low prices. | | | | the last couple of years. They're now busy getting a |
| Compared with much of Spain, which has experienced | | | | swimming pool fitted in their spacious garden. Valerie |
| price hikes of up to 17 per cent, Jaen property prices | | | | says: "I'm totally happy with the house and the locals |
| have stayed remarkably stable.In relation to prices on | | | | have been fantastic." Valerie and George are quickly |
| the coast, this area sees property retailing at a mere | | | | adapting to village life and both feel very settled in the |
| 30 per cent of the average selling price on the | | | | area.Jaen statistics |
| Northern coast and the Costas. Around the Alcala la | | | | Unemployment rate 19% |
| Real area, some villages have experienced price hikes | | | | Population 654,458 |
| of up to 56 per cent over the last eight months; in | | | | Population density 48.01/km2 |
| Alcala la Real the average has been 12 per cent.With | | | | Area 13,484 km2 |
| an increasing number of budget flights into Granada, | | | | GDP per capital 12,892 Euros 14.2% |
| this trend is set to continue as the area is discovered. | | | | Number of foreigners 602 (registered) |
| Agents report that they are selling an average of two | | | | Average house price 123,981 EurosMartin Dell is |
| properties here a week. Property prices range from | | | | Managing Director of Kyero Media S.L. |