I’ve been living in Spain for a few years now, always in a city center Piso (apartment). While convenient, I always dreamed of having a small villa with a yard. I’ve recently gone through the whole process, from house hunting to moving in. I made quite a few mistakes along the way but also gained some valuable experience, which I’m sharing here as a heads-up for friends with a similar ‘villa dream’ so we can all learn from each other.
My House-Hunting Journey
When I first started looking, like many people, I was only focused on those shiny, glamorous villa communities in the urban suburbs. The pros are mature communities, good neighbors, and relatively convenient transport. But the cons were also clear: high prices, small yards, and houses too close to each other, which meant a lack of privacy. Later, I broadened my search and visited a few towns a 30- to 40-minute drive from the city, and it was a revelation. For the same budget, the houses were much bigger, and the yards were several times larger. It felt like this was the ideal life I was looking for!
Urban Suburbs vs. Rural Towns
Here’s a simple comparison based on my personal feelings, just for your reference:
| Feature | Urban Suburbs | Rural Towns |
|---|
| Price | Higher | More affordable |
| Space | Generally smaller, tiny yards | Ample space, large yards |
| Convenience | Well-equipped with amenities, convenient transport | Car-dependent, fewer amenities |
| Privacy | Average, small distance between neighbors | Excellent, enjoy the tranquility |
| Maintenance Costs | Community fees | Usually no community fees, but you handle garden/pool maintenance yourself |
A Few Pitfalls Worth Mentioning
Property Legality: Especially in rural areas, many houses have extensions or modifications, such as an extra room or an enclosed balcony. When viewing the property, you must ask the owner for the property deed and cadastral information to verify that the official plans match the actual structure. Any non-compliant parts could risk fines or even a demolition order in the future. It is absolutely essential to have a lawyer check all this
!
The ‘Looks-Great-on-Paper’ Swimming Pool: A villa with a pool sounds fantastic, but the maintenance is a real financial commitment. The pump, filtration system, cleaning, water, and electricity bills… it all adds up to a significant amount over a year. If you’re not an avid swimmer, you should think twice about this feature. I ended up choosing a house without a pool and plan to get an inflatable one for the kids to splash around in during the summer, which is more than enough.
Loan Appraisal: The loan amount from the bank is based on the property valuation provided by an appraisal company they appoint, not on your agreed purchase price. Sometimes, the appraised value is lower than the purchase price, which means you’ll need a larger down payment for buying a Spanish villa
. I ran into this exact problem. Luckily, I had set aside some extra funds, or I would have been in a really tight spot.
That’s pretty much it. The whole process was exhausting, but moving into my dream home and watching my kids run around in the yard makes it all worthwhile. Buying a house is a big deal, especially a villa, which involves many more details than an apartment. I highly recommend that you look at many options, ask lots of questions, and compare thoroughly. Definitely don’t make an impulse buy. I also welcome anyone with experience to add their own tips. Let’s all make our lives in Spain better and better together!
