What a brilliant site this is. Answered all my questions plus others I hadn’t even thought of. Everything is here.
Emigrating to Spain next year (just one more British Winter to endure) and have chosen Nerja and the surrounding area as an initial base. Don’t really know why and it may not be the final resting place. Strangely. an estate agent based in Denia said a couple of years ago that a lot of people were moving from the south to the east and didn’t really find out why this might have been. Prices and climate appear to be similar. Anyway, be grateful to the residents of Nerja if a few decent estate agents could be recommended in and around the the Nerja area specifically concerned with long term rentals.
Many thanks in advance…..

geetarman - 20 July 2008 11:34 PM

(just one more British Winter to endure)

That`ll be the first suprise.

  an estate agent based in Denia said a couple of years ago that a lot of people were moving from the south to the east and didn’t really find out why this might have been.

That`ll be the second.

Good luck with the move.

lot of people were moving from the south to the east 1 it nicer 2 lot off mafiain cost de sol

jurdyr - 23 July 2008 11:06 PM

lot of people were moving from the south to the east 1 it nicer 2 lot off mafiain cost de sol

120 Active Mafia style gangs, these arn`t the type that local officers view as a threat, thats the number of Multi Million $ seriously kill you, your family and your dog type of groups that have the attention of International law enforcment officers.

In Marbella 2006 there were 50 Assassination’s`s that ranged from shot in the back of the head at 9pm in Nueva And to chopped up body bits thrown of the Estepona viaduct.

If anybody is driving in Marbella and a car cuts you up, its not a good idea to stick your fingers up.

Then there`s the terrorism link, rumour has it there are a lot of UK spooks around due to the Arab`s in the area and one of al qaeda biggest funding bosses lives in Banus area.

Then there`s the perv link from the UK, most peeds have moved to the costa del sol area, it has easy links into africa.

Then there is the drug connection, the US apparently have one of the largest groups of agents operating outside the America`s in southern Spain.There is a large amount of surveillance on the coast, nightly drugs are boated in high speed craft across the straights in operations similar to ones seen in Florida.

WOW!  Well, I guess the next and obvious question is “which part of Spain is regarded as the safest/least dangerous to live”.

Saying that, I wouldn’t expect to get involved in anything of an illegal nature and Marbella and the like is not for me.

Thanks for the insight guys.

Well, that shows how a thread can go off on an unexpected tangent!

Nerja is as safe as Eastborne if you ask me.  I know it qualifies as Costa del Sol as it’s within Malaga, but in character it has more in common with the neighbouring Costa Tropical, over the border in Granada.  It’s too much of a resort for me and has a lot of Brits both resident and visiting, but if that’s what you’re after then it’s definitely much less spoiled than most resort towns and bits of it are charming. Inland from there is the Axarquia which is a pretty collection of hillside villages. Some are dominated by Brits (Competa) or Germans (Torrox) but others are still authentic. 

Don’t know any estate agents down there but remember that most vendors in Spain put their houses on with multiple agents, so you might as well do the same and see a good few of them. They will all be biting your hand off at the moment so hold out for a very good deal when you know what sort of thing you’re after.

I don’t know the East very well, but you should be aware that in Valencia region you have an extra language to cope with.  There’s also been difficulties there with land-grab laws and illegal building (in Andalucia too, but not as much and not around Nerja).

MartCross - 24 July 2008 07:44 PM

Well, that shows how a thread can go off on an unexpected tangent!

Yes, however, its important to have a balanced view “warts and all” (not sure if Cromwell actually said that). Its just as vital to know about the bad bits as well as the good bits. Your comments have afforded some comfort on my choice of Nerja as a starting point that’s for sure. Don’t know how safe Eastbourne is these days but I know exactly what you mean. Been to Torrox and did feel it was a bit false in some way and the locals appeared a little bemused by the daily invasion of tourists. A small out of the way and unspoiled mountain village would be perfect but I guess that’s what most of us would like eh?  One day there won’t be any left but hope that doesn’t happen in my lifetime.

Many thanks for your comments, its really appreciated.

Nerja is in Axaquia, which starts about 6 kms east of Malaga city to about 10 past Maro in the West and spreads uo to Alfarnate around 40 kms in the north.

Nerja is as safe as any other town in Spain, it has bar life and the issues associated with drinking.

You may stumble upon a Russian Mafiosa, but your more likely to bump into Fred and Jean from Newcastle, giving it large.

The weather isn`t as bad as the UK, it rarely drops below 13 degrees in the winter, although you are surronded by snow caped mountains, which make it chilly if the wind blows.

Saying that though, at the moment the temp in Malaga city is 43 degree`s and its 6.55pm, yesterday it got to 45 Degrees, it`ll stay on average around 30 degrees from now till mid/end Sept.

Which means that 13 degrees in January feels like minus 5 in the UK, along with no double glazzed windows and no central heating, means that 90% of the residents in this region live under several layers of cloths.

In winter when were watching tv, were usually under blankets or a duvet.My OH misses our gas central heating, but most of malaga region including the city, don`t have piped gas to the homes, we buy it in bottles, cheap at 12.58 euros a bottle, which lasts about 3 weeks in winter.

Your second surprise will be the people, still unsure if there stupid, arrogant, ignorant or all three.But that mainly applies to the city of Malaga and the surrounding villages.

Thats why many expats leave.

Having said that Nerja is a pretty little village, with lovely cove beeches and great coastal view, for that reason though it attracts lots of visitors in the summer and winter.

Torrox is less touristy and I prefer it of the two.Property in torrox would be a good investment long term as its tended to be less popular and therefore cheaper.

geetarman - 24 July 2008 08:11 PM

A small out of the way and unspoiled mountain village would be perfect but I guess that’s what most of us would like eh?

Ha, ha, just so happens we’ve a place in an unspoilt mountain village not that far from Nerja which is available to rent, good rates for medium to long term.  Please have a look at http://www.casasierra.co.uk or our blog below.  Seriously, check out the nearby mountains even if you’re not interested in our place.  Nicer, healthier, cheaper and quieter than the resorts, with more year-round life and although initially it may seem harder to do than the coast, it’s only because the infrastructure down there is geared up to accommodate and make money from guiris, whereas up in the hills it’s just real Spanish rural life.  Also please do rent somewhere - anywhere - before you buy, and get to know a few areas a bit.  You’ll regret it if you rush into something, I reckon.

Hi Martin. Many thanks for the info. That’s exactly what the plan is, to rent for a couple of years. Can’t afford to buy at the moment anyway having given most of my money to my ex-wife. I have some property interests in Slovakia which I’m hoping will eventually provide the funds to help purchase somewhere in Spain. By then I will probably have found my ideal location. Nerja is just a safe-ish starting point and a place and area I have been to before.

Had a look at your house and its lovely. Exactly what I would like to aspire to. Its a little expensive for me though as I’m trying to budget on a ceiling of ?500 pm or preferably less. That way I will be able to ‘survive’ for a couple of years before starting to panic. I will not have a job or any other form of income when I arrive. Not sure if the ham industry is for me either!

Currently I work in the IT industry in London but that’s exactly what I don’t want to be doing anymore.

I take it you have links to Scotland ?

Thanks again to everybody for your informative comments…...

Hi we have lived in Nerja since Jan 08 and find it beautiful (more of a town than a village).  It is very friendly and has night life if you want it.
As for Estate Agents there are loads, we rent long term from a company called C&G;imobilaria and have found them very helpful.  The prices do vary quite alot here if you are prepared to live out of town a little you could expect to pay around 500-600 euros but it depends on the size you need and if you want a pool.  You can pick up an apartment in the town center for about 400-500.
Also check out Nerja Realty estate agents.  The best site is Kyero.com where all the estate agents advertise.  Also take into consideration most places want 2 months deposit and a month up front but you could maybe negotiate.
Hope this helps.

Hi, that’s encouraging. I know about C&G;imobilaria and the Kyero site. Don’t know Nerja very well but have been there and around there and feel its a safe enough place to start off. Also been to Torrox and Torre del Mar, both close to Nerja and both very different.  But its further inland I’m interested in eventually. Be popping over for a few days late October (20th -25th) for a bit of a reccy with my partner coz ultimately we both need to be sure about it before taking the plunge. Be cool to say hello even if just over a coffee if you will be around then. Did you chose Nerja for any specific reason ???

Hi Geeterman,
We choose Nerja because it wasn,t Benidorm which we love by the way but not to live there.  It is a lovely place to live with plenty of inland villages one of them being a village called Frigilana (has won the nicest village award for several years).  You don’t say if you have kids as my 2 go to Spanish local school.  They are doing ok but it is hard with the language thing.  Also what line of work are you in and do you speak Spanish as most jobs here are seasonal.  I would imagine that if you started in Nerja it would be doubtful you would move much further afield as it is easy to fall for.  Would meet up for coffee just let me know.

Hi again,
Yes I know about Frigiliana but have not been there. No, don’t have kids in tow which makes things much easier. Not sure what I will do just yet. Probably nothing for a year or so (with regard to paid employment, that is). No intention of working in a bar or owning one that’s for sure. I work in London as an IT business analyst but that is exactly what I DON’T want to do anymore. Have lots of hobbies which potentially can provide some income at some point but am not relying on that. Spanish is basic and although we are currently learning as much as possible at the moment that would be a barrier anyway initially. Nerja or somewhere nearby is only a starting point really but as you say, its more than possible we will like it and stay.Have you been able to interact much with the locals (Spanish, I mean). I know there is only about 30% local Spanish in the area. Is there any way of giving u my emai address on here without the whole world seeing it ?

pm you mail and do this way yourname at gmail dot com ( then you sould get spamed here ) most time i would take down email and change then around to repost them

if you in IT you could still do it from spain via net

jurdy

Hi Geeterman, If you click on your pm you should have my email addy.
Never done this before if it doesn’t work let me know.