The Orange Blossom Coast - the Spanish Costa the locals like to keep for themselves

The beautiful region of Valencia, along the orange blossom coast, is one of the most desirable places to live in Spain. Valencia offers a great lifestyle shared and enjoyed with friendly people, great wine and tasty (and healthy!) Mediterranean cuisine.  To complement this way of life, you have a wonderful climate, breathtaking countryside coupled with competitively priced real estate. What more could you wish for?

Valencia’s property market is growing stronger with international property buyers coming from all over the world to purchase their homes in the sunshine province of Valencia.

To add to this desirability, the property prices in the Valencia area are lower than those of its immediate neighbours. Pricey Barcelona is to the north and the Costa Blanca region an hour south of Valencia. The international airport of Valencia has many low-cost airlines flying-in directly from the U.K and all over Europe. The immediate area is easily accessible due to its excellent infrastructure of good roads, motorways and high-speed trains.

Below, Valencia Market: image credit Azahar Properties

Unlike some overpopulated and densely-built areas of southern Spain, Valencia’s properties are generally much more charming. Once out of the city centre, dotted throughout the countryside are many charming small towns with lovely and inexpensive properties, all within a thirty minute drive of the city and coast.

For example, you can buy a detached, three-bedroom villa with a swimming pool starting from around 100.000 – 150.000 Euros. Most of these have countryside views and outside kitchens from where you can learn to cook your Sunday afternoon paella. There are so many charming towns to choose from, all providing supermarkets, coffee shops and restaurants, even an IKEA store is only 25 minutes away.

One particular area, just 30 minutes south west of Valencia city is ideally located and are very popular with international buyers. The towns of Montroy, Monserrat, and Real are three towns situated almost next to each other, offering a wide variety of amenities and properties for sale. 

Below, Bluebells in city of arts & science, image credit Azahar Properties

Further inland, are the towns of Turis, Alborache, and Macastre. Macastre is situated at the gates of the National parkland mountains and has stunning panoramic scenery. The town is white-washed and is kept immaculately clean by its proud residents. 

Other popular areas are the towns just outside the north west of Valencia, like Vilamarxante and Lliria. Here too you can still find many well-priced properties for sale, with the benefit of a metro station from Lliria town into Valencia city.

For those looking for a more cosmopolitan experience, try the city of Xàtiva, with a rich historical and architectural heritage from beautiful churches to rustic courtyards and fountains with a majestic castle overlooking it all. Xàtiva also has excellent rail connections service to Valencia city and beyond, with very fast trains!

Just under an hour south of Valencia city, you have another desirable city called Ganida, boasting blue flag beaches, a friendly city centre and a backdrop of stunning mountains which run close to the coastline.

Below, aerial view of Xativa with Basilica: Image credit iStock

There is strong demand for rental properties in Valencia. More and more people are buying properties here as part of their long term investment or pension plan that can generate an immediate return on investment. For example, an average but tidy three bedroom villa with a swimming pool can achieve a minimum of 500 Euros rent per month. Other villas can achieve much more depending on their size, the number of bedrooms, facilities, and of course their location.