Self-builders head to northern spain

A growing number of self-builders are heading to northern Spain, as British demand for land plots rises.

The northern Spanish coastal region of Cantabria is known for its lush vegetation and archaeological sites, as well as the port city of Santander. Despite its seeming lack of attractions, when compared to Barcelona or the Costa del Sol, the region is increasingly popular from British buyers, who are drawn to land in the area to build their own home.

New figures from Kyero reveal that  of those searching for property in Cantabria, 42 per cent were searching solely for land - far above the national average of 7 per cent. British builders are bucking the trend, with 67 per cent of enquiries coming from the United Kingdom.

"Buying parcels of land in this way can be a really cost effective way of owning your dream second home in Spain – you buy the land, then build the house that you have always wanted," explains Martin Dell, Director of the site.

"Price is certainly an influential factor on purchases in the region – 25 per cent of enquiries [in Calabria] are for land or properties that cost less than €50k and another 17 per cent are for those costing between €50k and €100k."

Spanish red tape can make the process a little more complicated than simply buying and building, but with the right checks before purchase and the right contacts for the design and construction parts of the process, buyers can end up with a home worth far more than they invested.

"Always check that the land is designated as a finca urbana," advises Dell. "And work in partnership with the local town hall to obtain the approval and certificate that you need to build. Don't expect the wheels of bureaucracy to move fast, but persevere and the results could be extremely rewarding."

He adds that buyers should work with a lawyer before making a purchase and ask him or her to investigate any conditions or regulations placed upon the land.

"A little outlay in time and expense at the start of the process could be well worth it in the long run," he adds.