“I paid 243,000 euros for my penthouse, which is now worth at least 300,000 euros.”
THE WINTERS “My parents had it easy in life and I wanted the same,” says Andy Gryson. The West Flemish man has been enjoying his second home for a few years now, which has proven to be an excellent financial investment. He also benefits from lower prices in his day-to-day life. “In the interior of the country, I pay half as much in restaurants as I do on the coast. The only extra cost is heating my jacuzzi in winter,” Andy laughs.
Andy's plans to buy a second home in Spain gained momentum after a visit to the Second Home fair at Flanders Expo. “The range of properties on offer was incredibly extensive and that made me curious to visit some projects on the spot. The Costa Blanca was my favorite. In most places I went to have a look, everything was too densely built and too crowded.”
What the Torhout resident did like, however, was the Oasis Beach residence in El Raso, half an hour south of Alicante. This particular development, with a number of low-rise blocks around a spacious communal garden with a swimming pool, is so popular – especially among Flemish people – that sixteen phases have already been built in various locations. Whereas the sale price for an apartment with two bedrooms and bathrooms, an underground parking space and storage unit initially started at barely 98,000 euros, in the last phase it had already more than doubled.”
“It is always said that real estate is a smart investment, but that does not apply to just any purchase. The location and the facilities play a bigger role in Spain, and in that respect Oasis Beach scored points. As the son of a contractor, I also paid attention to the quality of the construction. Everything I saw reassured me. So I bought with complete confidence. I paid 243,000 euros for a duplex penthouse with a large roof terrace, located on a corner and with a panoramic view. Six years later it is already worth at least 300,000 euros.”
“With the help of my real estate agent, Carl Vorsselmans of Nieuwbouw in Spanje, I even managed to have several things in the apartment adjusted within the price, including reinforcing the terrace floor to install a jacuzzi. I absolutely wanted that. I can assure you that it is fantastic to enjoy wellness in the sun with a view of the surroundings, knowing that it is currently freezing in Belgium. To keep the water at the right temperature, I do use more electricity, but the monthly bill of 90 euros is not too bad. In the summer, it is a lot lower at 60 euros.”
Andy spent the winter in Spain from November to the end of February, occasionally accompanied by his wife who still works in Belgium. “I fly back occasionally for a doctor's appointment, a visit to my daughter or a Club Brugge match. But to be honest, I'm thinking of moving to Spain for good. Next week I will pack my bags again. How will I fill my days there? Walking, cycling with the e-bike or riding my chopper into the mountains. That is where I will see the real Spain, where people live a lot less comfortably than the tourists by the sea. They earn modest wages and that is the main reason why everything is cheaper here.”
Andy also has an extensive social network in his residence in El Raso. “Eight out of ten owners are Flemish and I know almost all of them. Because I was the first one here, I was able to assist them with all kinds of practical advice. Most of them only stay here during the school holidays. At other times it is relatively quiet, especially in winter, but I don't mind. Then I have more time to update our Facebook group with restaurant tips and reviews of local establishments. Steak and fries are still my favorite, but I have come to really appreciate Spanish cuisine. The beauty of this region is that you have the best of both worlds. There is even a Belgian butcher shop, although the prices are Belgian.”
Bron: HLN