There are many reasons why a person would want to settle in Spain – a dream retirement, perhaps, or an exciting new business venture. Maybe something so simple as a growing disillusionment with British weather! Starting again on this beautiful coastline is a wonderful opportunity for anybody – but it is important to be careful. The only sure way of evaluating local conditions is to come down beforehand and see for yourself, talk to other ex – pat residents, to a lawyer and possibly to an estate agent.
The Costa del Sol runs for 161 km along the south of Spain, with Malaga marking a central point dividing east and west. The area also contains 7,276 square kilometres of mountainous regions. The entire area benefits from a sophisticated and accessible road infrastructure, although it is still important to be careful while driving, as fatalities on the roads are depressingly common.
The city of Malaga is the capital of the province, and with a population of 549 135 is by far the largest urban centre in the area. By comparison, the population of Marbella is 53 071, Fuengirola 41713 and Estepona 37 557. Lesser populated towns can still be found in the region, for example Nerja and Rincon de la Victoria, that are by no means lacking in the facilities any ex-pat would expect for an enjoyable lifestyle!
The Costa del Sol is currently enjoying a revival within the tourist industry, and is hoping to recover the position it held in the 1960s as the ‘in’ place to holiday. This has been evidenced by the increased investment in the area over recent years, for example the massive landscaping drive initiated in Marbella by former mayor Jesus Gil. All in all, things bode well for the future, and there are few reasons why the Costa couldn’t become the ideal location.
