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Sometimes the best adventures begin with a dream – and that was exactly the case with us. In 2022, we fantasized about a tiny house in southern Europe. We imagined it all: a converted shipping container, minimalistically furnished, placed on a private plot of land somewhere in Spain or Portugal.
But dreams and reality are two different things….
🚧 From dream to obstacles: Why the tiny house didn’t happen
Although the idea of off-grid tiny living appealed to us greatly, we quickly encountered a number of obstacles:
We didn’t want to give up on the dream, but we felt everything: this wasn’t the right route for us. Still, it kept itching to have our own place in the South. And at the end of 2022 that feeling became so strong that we decided: it’s now or never!
🏡 From tiny house to bargain apartment in Spain
With our tiny house plans on hold, we started looking for an affordable home in southern Spain. We heard stories about apartments that had been for sale dirt cheap since the 2008 banking crisis. That sounded like an opportunity we couldn’t pass up!
🚗 So we got in the car and drove toward Murcia, Spain.
The first two weeks were a rollercoaster of disappointments. Many apartments were in abandoned resorts, surrounded by empty properties and atmospheric streets. But on our penultimate day, it happened: we found our dream place!
🏡 Las Terrazas de la Torre – a resort that did feel alive!
We immediately saw a cool apartment, but felt it was not yet the one. The day before we left, we decided to schedule a final viewing with a real estate agent. And then it happened…
There it was. Our penthouse.
🌅 What makes our apartment so special?
✔️ Southwest facing – the sunsets are magical!
✔️ Views of the golf course & pool
✔️ Plenty of space (2 bedrooms) without too much work on the furnishings
✔️ Spot price: €62,500 – a real no-brainer!
We immediately felt: this is it!
🏦 Financing: How we paid for our apartment
One small detail: we didn’t have that money just sitting in our account. But fortunately, we had a house in Belgium with that amount already paid off, so the bank gave the green light for a loan that itself held more than the purchase amount. 🎉
The paper mill took longer than expected, but in April 2023 (just before the Easter vacations) we finally got the redeeming message:
✉️ “Everything is complete. You can come and get the keys!”
The dream became a reality. 🚪✨
In the next blog, I’ll share how we decorated, refurbished and rented out the apartment – including all the highs and lows!
🌍 Do you also dream of a place in southern Spain?
Want to know how we handled the buying process? What pitfalls to avoid? Or just get inspiration for your own adventure?
📩 Feel free to send us an email and we will be happy to help!
🔹 Have you ever considered buying a vacation home in Spain? Let us know in the comments! 👇
