Is investing in a beautiful country house in the idyllic Spanish countryside something you’ve always dreamt of? Living in the middle of nature offers peace, tranquillity, privacy, and space around you, while keeping you within a short distance of the stunning southern coast.
From vineyards, rolling groves of olive trees and rugged sierras to golden beaches along the Costa del Sol and Costa de la Luz, this sun trap offers remarkable landscapes and views unrivalled by many other regions.
For the last 20 years, we here at Fluent Finance Abroad have dedicated our lives to understanding how to finance properties in Spain. With this in mind, we’re excited to announce that we are collaborating with Villas & Fincas – a leading estate agent that has a focus on exclusive Andalusian country homes, fincas, and rural properties.
We sat down with Anita Schmidt, owner and founder, who boasts years of experience and expertise in luxury rural homes in Andalusia. Throughout this interview, Anita shares her invaluable insights into buying, managing, and living in a country/holiday home in southern Spain.
Where It All Began for Villas & Fincas
Anita first came to Andalusia back in 2001 with her family to get away from the hustle and bustle of urban life back in the Netherlands. She’d always been drawn to the allure of living in the countryside, and knew others would share the same dream, given everything nature has to offer.
So, with a wealth of experience in real estate behind them, she and her partner set up Villas & Fincas, specifically for sun-seekers searching for a private retreat rather than one in a busy beachfront destination.
Having started in Casares, the agency expanded to Gaucin and then to Ronda, growing with the demand for breathtaking rural houses in Spain.
What are rural home buyers looking for?
Domestic and foreign buyers are drawn to rural properties and holiday homes in Andalusia for its relaxed lifestyle, desirable climate, and investment potential.
Owing to her many years in the industry, Anita instinctively knows what her clients are searching for, including:
- Privacy – if they’re famous and can’t just walk on the streets of Marbella without the paparazzi following, a bigger estate for their family provides a retreat where they can walk around freely.
- Accessibility – People need to stay connected to the world, meaning internet access and modern comforts are a must.
- Proximity to amenities – Accessibility to shops or health care is important, and should be no more than a 45-minute drive away.
- Weekend escapes – Some clients desire a finca de Recreo, which is a home for the whole family to spend time at weekends and escape from the busyness of day-to-day life.
What makes Villas & Fincas different from your traditional real estate agency?
Unlike many other agencies that take whatever they can sell, Villas & Fincas is very selective when it comes to the properties they list – each has to fit their niche specification because they know what their clients are looking for.
They don’t have a thousand houses, as Anita wants her staff to know them all personally, so you don’t get someone on the phone who doesn’t know the specifics of the property. Everyone who works for the agency has to have visited it and know it inside out.
As for sourcing, the most beautiful properties come to them, given their longstanding authority in the real estate sector. If you search for a country property in Andalucia, Villas & Fincas are quite high up in the Google search results page.
Then, to check whether the property meets their standards, they consider documentation on the property, such as deeds or licences, and the location.
Location
Location is key as the agency knows that their clients buying in the countryside are looking for the tranquillity and stunning scenery. So, if there are pylons running over the plot or a big telephone mast, or it’s situated on a busy road, they don’t take it on.
What’s more, the area must offer easy access to a local shop within a 45-minute drive, and some entertainment like local bars or restaurants – there has to be a bit of life around it, not complete seclusion!
How should potential vendors market their Spanish rural property?
At Villas & Fincas, rustic property marketing begins with a stager, full photo shoot, and walkthrough video to catch the way of living.
Technology such as 360° cameras and drones has enhanced real estate marketing, giving clients viewing the property online a greater look into its layout, decor, and size. Instead of having to take shots from a mountain far away from the property, flying with a drone overhead gives you better insight.
What type of clients do Villas & Fincas work with?
Anita works with numerous types of clients considering buying rural property in Spain.
With the larger properties and the estates, it tends to be people who have closed their business or are semi-retired, want to enjoy the good weather, and have a place to join with friends or family. Very often, if the rates are good enough, these buyers have a mortgage to avoid putting all or a lot of their assets in there, or to spread a little bit of the risk.
The types of clients are pretty financially literate, so they understand that if the rates are good, then leverage. They also understand that the bank will do its due diligence on the property as well.
What’s so special about Andalusia?
For Villas & Fincas and the team at Fluent Finance Abroad, it’s the warmth of the people as well as the sun within the Andalusia community that makes it so appealing to expats.
The area is an international melting pot, and the Andalucian people themselves offer a rich culture – you find it in their houses, in their food, and in their hospitality. This spirit of Andalucia is what makes it such an incredible place for people looking to experience the real Spain for themselves.
Because of this, properties in the Spanish countryside are a magnet for buyers seeking both tranquil countryside retreats and sun-soaked holiday homes.
Speak to Fluent Finance Abroad About Financing Your Luxury Home in Spain
If the lure of the Spanish countryside is proving hard to resist and you’re seriously considering rural properties for sale in Andalucia, Spain, we would recommend contacting Villas & Fincas and Fluent Finance Abroad to make your dream move a reality.
Working as a crack team, Villas & Fincas can find your ideal countryside retreat, while we help to streamline the property-buying journey by securing the right mortgage, explaining all costs and financial requirements, and guiding you through Spain’s lending rules and documentation.
To start a conversation with a knowledgeable and experienced financial expert, call Fluent Finance Abroad today on 34 952 853 647, or you can get in touch online – we’ll get back to you ASAP and offer the most valuable advice and guidance.
For a deeper dive into life and property in rural Andalucia, you can watch the full interview with Anita here.
