Country Article / Postcards

Jaén Province–Andalucia

Date: 01/29/2007

The Costa del Sol in Andalucia has always been a favorite playground for Brits and northern Europeans thanks to its minimum 300 days of sunshine a year and warm winters. But the overpopulated and overpriced coastal strip that has emerged to meet rising demand has steadily advanced further inland. This “Little Britain” phenomenon has crawled along the coast and eaten into the rural life of the southern towns and villages. A phrase book is unnecessary here and, from the accents heard, you might think you were in a sunnier version of Britain or Germany.

Don’t forget your number... To buy property, you now need to have an NIE, or n umero identificacion extranjero, obtained at the Comisario de Policia with your passport. There is a considerable amount of paperwork required in Spain and many properties have been sold privately, thus by-passing legal payments and the paperwork processes entailed. It is in your best interest, however, to follow the legal route and to use an independent Spanish lawyer rather than one the realtor suggests—in this way the lawyer’s loyalty is primarily to you.

The province of Jaén is a more traditional region. This is one of the most northerly provinces of Andalucia, bordering on Castilla la Mancha, a land of fertile soil, silvery green trees, and unique gastronomy based on its own liquid gold—olive oil. Although the provincial capital Jaén is worth a visit, its famous neighbors, Cordoba and Granada, have overshadowed it in terms of tourism. As such, this unspoiled agricultural land seems unlikely to be affected by the mass tourism of the coastal areas, where a smattering of the language is a necessity.

Property prices have risen 17% over the last two years, mainly due to Spanish second-home buyers—and the advance from the south of English buyers catching cheap flights into Granada airport.

Town houses can still be found from $32,000 (24,000 euro). I saw a nine-bedroom, four-bathroom house, with 1.2 acres of olive trees and other fruit trees plus a pool and views, priced at $582,000 (450,000 euro), and an impeccable three-bedroom chalet was on the market for $187,000 (144,000 euro).

Save money—go local Several British estate agents operate in southern Spain, sometimes bumping up property prices and pocketing more than a property is worth. To get local prices go to Spanish estate agents—you’ll probably need a translator, but this will be to your advantage and may save you money in the long term, enabling you to buy property at its local value.

Access
There are talks of Jaén having its own airport, thus opening up another area of cheaper properties toward Castilla la Mancha. At present, the nearest airports are Granada, about 90 minutes from the provincial capital; Malaga, a drive of two and a half hours; and Madrid, a four-and-a-half-hour drive to the north.

Estate agents
Inmobilaria Hidalgo,
tel. +(34) 953-553321
(Spanish speaking)
tel. +(34) 953-564211 (English speaking)
Inmobilaria Jaén Casas, tel. +(34) 610-931921