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Average Spanish property prices rose by 0.4% over 12 months to the end of September, but fell by 1.3% in the third quarter, according to the latest figures from the Ministry of Housing.

Taking into account consumer price inflation, which stood at 4.5% in September, the real cost of housing has fallen by 4.1% over the last 12 months.

Newly built property prices rose by 1.7% over 12 months, but fell by 0.8% in the quarter. Resale or ‘second hand’ property, which the Ministry of Housing defines as more than 2 years old, fell by 0.3% over 12 months, and by 1.7% in the quarter.

On a yearly basis, average prices rose by as much as 5.9% in the Andalucian province of Huelva, home to the Costa de la Luz, and by 4.9% in the province of Valencia, in the Valencian Region. Average prices also rose in Galicia (+3.7%), Barcelona (+3.5%), Teruel (+3.5%), Almeria (+3.3%), Tarragona (+3.3%), Cadiz (+2.8%), Seville (+2%), the Balearics (+1.7%), Pontevedra (+1.2%), Girona (+1.2%), Asturias (+1.1%), and Granada (+0.5%).

Average prices fell in all other regions, the most in Madrid (-3.7%), Cantabria (-3.0%), Las Palmas (-2.5%), Tenerife (-1.7%), Castellon (-1.5%), Alicante (-1.5%), Malaga (-0.7%), Cordoba (-0.5%), Murcia (-0.5%), and Extremadura (-0.4%).

The problem is, few people actually believe the Ministry of Housing’s figures, which show average Spanish property prices still rising in nominal terms in the middle of a property market crash. Countries with more reliable housing market statistics, such as the US, the UK and Ireland, all have property prices falling by double digits, and are probably a better guide to the true situation in Spain. It is fair to assume that Spanish property prices are down by a similar amount, and by as much as 20% in coastal areas full of holiday homes.

If the Ministry of Housing’s figures still look wildly optimistic, new data from Tinsa, one of Spain’s leading appraisal companies, looks slightly more credible. According to Tinsa, Spanish property prices fell by 4.9% over 12 months to the end of September, and by 5.9% in the first 9 months of 2008. As with the government’s figures, resale prices fell more than newly built prices, probably because private vendors have more room for manoeuvre on price than developers.

According to Tinsa, 75,000 new properties were sold in the second quarter of the year, the equivalent of 41% of the number of homes finished in the period, which drove up the inventory of new homes to 680,000.

Tinsa estimates there will no more than 300,000 transactions in all 2008, implying that the stock of unsold new homes will rise to 930,000 by year end.

Tinsa expects the inventory of new homes to keep rising into 2009, as construction on current housing developments finishes, and that it will take at least 2 years for the market to digest the housing overhang.

There are currently many property bargains on the market in Spain as people become desperate to sell their homes however, according to an industry expert, although now is an ideal time to buy if you are looking to relocate to Spain, those looking to invest should wait.

However, if you are considering buying in Spain best advice would be to considering taking out a mortgage with a UK bank as many Spanish banks have stopped lending for property purchases due to the current climate.

For those looking for a permanent or holiday home, now could be an ideal time to snap up a bargain, but serious investors are advised to wait.

For example, renting is still popular on the costas, with over 13 million British visitors a year, so demand for holiday lets is always high. Renting is a good way of covering your mortgage and during peak season you may even be able to make some additional income as well. You can then transfer any money you make in Euros into Pounds and also gain money due to the rising Euro against the Pound exchange rate.

Sources quote that Spanish property owners are making as much as 15 per profit by switching their Euro savings back into pounds sterling. In January 2007, £1 would have bought you €1.52. Today £1 will get you only €1.25. Even with the currency transfer costs you should still make a profit.

His contact details are 950 573 278 or 659206206.

Monarch 958 245 245

Easy Jet 902 299 992

British Airways 902 111 333

Iberia 902 400 500

Make a note of these useful airport telephone numbers:

Almeria 950 213 272

Granada 958 245 200

Malaga 952 048 838

Tapa in Spanish means a cover and was originally a little plate to put on top of your glass in a bar so the flies couldn´t get to your drink.

It became popular to put some snacks on the tapa and when I first came to Andalucia some 40 years ago it was common in all Spain.

Now, in Granada Province, there is still a tradition in bars to give free tapa with alcoholic drinks.

Well, not exactly all drinks but beer, wine and the likes.

(It doesn´t come with coffee and brandy and in some places it doesn´t even come with long drinks either.)

Anyway, I have decided to live dangerously so I always order “Costa wine” – that´s the local stuff.

There is no such official denomination and it is not sold in bottles so the only thing you know about it is that it is a strong wine – about 16% alcohol!

What arrives in your glass can vary from a tasty, Sherry-like wine that goes very well with seafood or olives to a rancid or sweet homebrew that upsets both stomach and brain.

The tapas also varies from peanuts to elaborated creations with perhaps a quail egg and Serrano ham or miniature skewers. Along the coast it´s often a grilled sardine on garlic bread, clams or langostinos.

The thing is – you can´t complain whatever you get because you didn´t order it and you don´t pay for it, right?

As a matter of fact – often you get the best free tapas at the cheapest places.

I think this is one thing that made me settle down in this area – the true generosity!

This willingness to share also appeared in the mountain village where I lived before. Often I would find a carrier bag full of avocados, oranges or tomatoes hanging on my door. Brought there by a friendly neighbour just because.

Back to tapas: Some of my friends inform me where there is a bar with good tapa, good wine or good prices in the surroundings. And naturally I do my own check-up – “it´s a tough job but someone´s got to do it!”

(I intend to mention the names of my favourite bars on this blog but not in form of lists or with addresses – if you want more information, just e-mail me!)

©Leif Svensson

According to reliable sources the planned changes are to begin on the 1st October 2008 and last for around 10 months.

This will increase the size of the beach, strengthen the sea defences and make it possible to walk along the beach further.