Everyone’s reasons for buying a property in Spain is different. It may be a permanent residence, a holiday home or an investment for letting as a holiday rental.

Buying a property in a rural location does, however, come with something of a responsibility.

Many rural villages in Andalucia, where we live and work, are in danger of becoming obsolete. Young people feel compelled to leave the villages of their birth and their families to migrate to the larger towns and cities in search of employment. As older people die, there is little temptation for younger relatives to take on the old properties, as there are few opportunities in the villages. For this reason, there are many homes to be found for sale, or abandoned, in rural villages and in the surrounding countryside.

Rural Andalucia relies on agriculture, construction and tourism as the principle sources of income and the residents of these villages and rural regions live in constant hope of new opportunities for work, revenue and a future.

It may sound trite to say that when you buy a village house, you are investing in the future of the village and picking up a thread of history. Our advice would be to consider what part you would like to play in village life, as the more you invest, the richer your rewards. Don’t worry if your Spanish is poor; there are many ways you can integrate into village life with just a few words of the language. However, if you make the effort to fit in and contribute in some way, you will quickly be welcomed into a warm, generous and appreciative community.