As Spain's last Moorish stronghold the Costa Calida has a fascinating history, and this is reflected in the ancient architecture of its cities and ports. Murcia City, the Province's capital, combines a vibrant social scene with a beautiful Old Town – primary attractions include an ancient Baroque cathedral and Almudi palace. Other important urban centres on the Costa Calida include Cartagena, an important base for the Spanish Armada, and Puerto de Mazarron, a beach town and tourist mecca. Both have their own unique allure – Cartegena boasts a number of museums and a recently excavated Roman amphitheatre while Puerta de Mazarron is best known for its bars, shops and restaurants.

Perhaps the most important attraction of the Costa Calida, however, is the Mar Menor lagoon. This 170 square kilometre lagoon is separated from the sea by a small stretch of land known as 'La Manga' and its mud is reputed to have important therapeutic properties. The area around La Manga has been the focus of huge investment over the past four years, and tourists now have a large number of resorts to choose from, many also offering first class golf courses. The Costa Calida has the benefit of cheap and easy access. Both Easyjet and Ryan Air fly to the region, and a new airport currently under construction at Murcia is expected to bring in more tourism.

The Costa Calida has always been popular among tourists and property buyers, and it seems that this popularity has been beneficial for the area's property market. The Spanish Property Insight report for the third quarter of 2007 noted that Murcia, the main region of the Costa Calida, had seen a 10.7 per cent annual growth over the past year, compared with 2.1 per cent in Alicante on the Costa Blanca. "A lot of thought should be given as to which areas will provide a consistent return on your investment as you look for the perfect location for your holiday home," says Conrad Bedford, Managing Director of the Overseas Property Shop. "The area of Costa Calida offers 250 kilometres of some of the most beautiful coastline you can find in southern Europe. Costa Calida has many beachfront properties that are sure to rise in value over the next few years." He adds that the investment value of Costa Calida property is not the only reason to buy in the area. "Some of the things that draw people to Costa Calida are its abundant sunshine – the Costa actually gets more sunlight than most areas in Europe.

Another attraction is the amazing food. In Costa Calida you will find some of the best Mediterranean food in the area and there is plenty of it. Consider this area for the site of your holiday home and you will not be disappointed." The region of Murcia is set to benefit in coming years from a population surge. A Barclays-IESE Barometer report predicted that the regional population will grow by 35 per cent over the next decade, while the Spanish daily ABC recently predicted that 200,000 new properties are currently planned for the Mar Menor area. Holiday home owners interviewed in a Holidays Rentals report warned prospective buyers to be aware of those factors, while also noting that Murcia still has a distinctly 'old Spanish' feel. Most felt that an embargo against high-rise buildings would help retain this traditional feel and prevent the Costa Calida becoming an eye sore.

Two of the home-owners interviewed in the report were Charles and Breege Burke. They recently bought a property in the Costa Calida and have some sage advice for prospective buyers: "Clear your head, know exactly your reasons for the purchase and what you plan to do longer term. Choose your location very carefully. Buying abroad is fun, exciting and challenging if you plan to rent it out, but very rewarding too! A property overseas is more of a bumpy ride than a UK property, however as you lie by the pool in the sunshine, all the bumps fade into insignificance!"

The prime Costa Calida investment areas are the Mar Menor golf resorts, and buyers should be aware that these properties are likely to be more expensive than the regional average. However, golf properties have the advantage of attracting off-season rentals and can therefore be more profitable in the long run. A budget of £100,000 to £150,000 will get you an attractive apartment on the Costa Calida close to a golf course.

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Article published July 2008