The fashion for foreign dachas originated in the middle of the last century. Members of the Russian imperial family and aristocrats loved to spend time on the Cote d'Azur. From 1864 to 1914, there was even a luxury direct train from St. Petersburg to Nice.
Today, real estate on tempting coasts is available not only to the elite. We talked about the countries where you can buy a budget resort apartment in first and the second part of the material "Where to buy an inexpensive apartment by the sea?».
However, the choice of such real estate should be approached wisely. What pitfalls can a buyer face?
1. Apartment by the sea, but far from the sea
Land plots near the water are quickly running out, and developers are beginning to develop territories at some distance, usually compensating for this with a diverse internal infrastructure of complexes, pools with water slides, and so on.However, it should be remembered that the main thing in resort real estate is, after all, the sea. Optimal distance to the beach: no more than 600-700 meters. If the journey to the shore takes more than 10-12 minutes, then a pleasant daily walk risks turning into a grueling endurance workout, especially if there are no shady areas along the way.
One more nuance. Agents often indicate in their ads the distance to the sea by "air line," but in reality you have to loop around, and it turns out that there are not 500, but all 900 meters, and the width of the road leaves much to be desired.
The Council:choose a house at the optimal distance from the sea (it is clear that the closer, the more expensive). If the complex is remote, make sure that a shuttle service to the beach will be provided.
2. The apartment is next to the beach, but the beach is no good
The coastline of the sea in one resort can vary greatly, as well as the quality of the beaches, even located close to each other in the same area.
Be sure to make sure that there are suitable swimming spots close to your complex. Make sure that there are no large stones, slabs, or debris in the water.
The Council: before buying an apartment, read the Russian-language chat of the residents of the area. Ask the old-timers if they like the beach and if there are any problems with the water quality.
3. View apartment with a surprise
Just thinking about buying a resort apartment, many people imagine a specific apartment. The prospect of enjoying beautiful southern sunsets on a cozy terrace with a glass of wine or a cup of tea sounds tempting. However, it is worth remembering that the first and second lines are often already occupied by hotels or luxury complexes.
If the view apartment is inexpensive, then it is possible that it is located on an elevation. Think carefully, are you ready to perform the feat of climbing a mountain every day for the sake of a spectacular view?
The Council:Consider the chances that another one will appear in front of your house and block your entire view. If there is an empty space next to the complex, fields, gardens, non-capital buildings, then the chances are very high!
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4. 18 pools, or ruinous maintenance fees
How many times will you or your child take a ride from the water slide in the Olympic-size pool in your apartment complex, and is this pleasure worth the cost of maintaining the infrastructure that you will bear jointly with other residents?
Of course, large complexes with hotel-level facilities are an achievement of modern developers. They often compete by offering new spa, wellness and relaxation areas/centers. Many people are looking for just such an approach to resort housing, especially since apartments in houses with bells and whistles are easier to rent to tourists.
However, it must be remembered that the infrastructure requires maintenance, and the costs fall on the shoulders of the owners. You will be required to pay an idat/support fee (this is called differently in different countries) regardless of whether you live in an apartment or not. In some complexes, the tariff is the same throughout the year, in others it differs depending on the season.
The Council: choose a complex with an optimal range of services, taking into account the needs of your family. Do you need 5 pools or is one enough? By the way, in Turkey there is an old complex at a distance from the sea with 37 (!) pools.
5. Where is the pharmacy? There is no pharmacy!
Resort apartments are not purchased for permanent, but only for seasonal living, so the social infrastructure is not so important. However, this is not an all-inclusive hotel, and you will have to organize your life.
Make sure that there are shops, a market, a pharmacy, an ATM, restaurants, and cafes near your house. It is advisable to see what kind of assortment is in supermarkets. Talk to your future neighbors about where they buy groceries and which places they go to.
The Council: delve into the details, the specifics of the country that you are considering to buy a resort apartment. There may be moments that are difficult to see through the tourist optics, but which you will encounter during a longer stay. For example, in the Primorsky region, oddly enough, it is not always easy to buy fish, and it is often expensive.
Another example. You are used to pharmacies in your homeland working late at every turn. Pharmacies in Turkey, except for those on duty, are closed on weekends.
6. If your neighbor is playing... on your nerves
Be biased about the location where you are buying an apartment. If there is a hotel or bar nearby where a disco is buzzing every day until midnight, this can become a real problem.
A noisy or unsafe neighborhood threatens to ruin your serene vacation at the resort.Think about whether the neighborhood's community is right for you. Is there a Russian-speaking community, someone to turn to for help or advice?
7. An apartment at the mercy of fate
A resort apartment is usually used only for a few months of the year, and the rest of the time is empty.
It is advisable to negotiate with someone from your permanent neighbors whom you trust and leave him the key. This person will be able to open the apartment in case of an accident. In addition, it is desirable that he periodically ventilate the room. Otherwise, mold cannot be avoided.8. Where it's wet, there's mold
In southern countries, as a rule, central heating and ventilation are not provided, and at the same time very high humidity, and in some places temperature fluctuations. Of course, under such conditions, mold forms very quickly in the rooms, especially on the first floors and on the last, if there were roof leaks.
The Council:when choosing an apartment from the owner, carefully inspect the corners, sometimes the traces of fungus are simply covered over. Arm yourself with a flashlight so that you don't miss anything, pay attention to the smell in the rooms.
Residents of the coastal regions, as a rule, use heat recuperators and dehumidifiers in their homes. Installing underfloor heating also allows you to prevent the formation of mold to some extent.
9. Krivorukaya Management Company
Find out which management company maintains the house in which you want to buy an apartment, and what kind of reputation this company has.
Even the best complex can be ruined by poor maintenance. Non-functioning equipment, garbage on the territory and frogs in the pool - this happens if the management system does not cope.
If possible, evaluate how adequate the service fee is charged by the management company.
10. Overpaid. But why?
Don't rush to buy the first apartment you like. People are often in high spirits on vacation and tend to make emotional impulsive purchases. However, real estate does not tolerate fervor.
If you have the necessary amount, and, accordingly, there is no interest in installments, you should pay attention to the secondary market. The situation in many markets, for example, Turkey, Northern Cyprus, is such that the secondary market is full of high-quality new low-cost offers. The prices of ready-made new apartments are significantly lower than those of developers.
The Council: formulate clearly the goals of buying a resort home. If your own vacation is one thing, if renting is another choice criteria. In addition, there are legal nuances. For example, in Turkey, only apartments in licensed complexes can be rented out for short-term, and there are not many such apartments.
11. Suitcase without handle
Think about how you will get to your apartment every year, and what it will result in.
There are currently no direct flights between Russia and Bulgaria, Montenegro, Spain, Cyprus, which means that it will be necessary to plan a connecting route or partially travel by air and then by land. For example, in Bulgarian Burgas you can get there by flying to Istanbul and then taking a bus. Many apartment owners use this method, although there are many who got rid of their real estate on the Bulgarian coast.
There are direct flights to Turkey and Thailand, but the ticket prices are quite high.
Evaluate the budget of your trip and the feasibility of buying a home in another country, albeit inexpensive and good, but difficult to access.
Another aspect is that the cost of living in Turkey, Bulgaria, and Montenegro has increased significantly over the past 2-3 years. Having a budget vacation, even in your apartment, is unlikely to work. We wish you well-considered purchases and only pleasant emotions from your resort property!
Thank you for your help in preparing the material:
Anastasia Kezik, Director of MarketingAlanya Property Sales
Ekaterina Zubrilina, an expertCherry Estate, Montenegro
