One of the healthiest year-round climates in the world combined with a stimulating coastline and scenery, and great access from the UK have helped make the northern Costa Blanca popular with British expats over the years – and now could be an ideal time to buy there.

Prices in desirable resorts such as Javea, Calpe, Altea and of course famous Benidorm, with their mountainous backdrop and golden beaches, have historically been higher than the flatter southern Costa Blanca or Murcia further south. Given the downturn though, anyone who previously was out-priced of this corner of Spain might want to go property-hunting there. Reaching the northern Costa Blanca from the UK is easy, with flights from the UK to Valencia in the north or Alicante in the south.

In Altea, an old hilltop town that overlooks newer seafront developments and a large marina, leading agent in the area HomeEspana is currently selling apartments for less than €100,000. Apartments in Calpe, famous for its imposing Rock of Ifach and old fishing port, are currently available for less than €70,000. Meanwhile in quieter Javea, often dubbed “the jewel in the crown of the Costa Blanca” and with a pretty port and old town, apartments start for less than €60,000.

“Prices have fallen – and continue to fall – all over Spain,” said Richard Way, Editor of the Overseas Guides Company. “Some of the best deals are in established, desirable areas where homes that were previously just out of financial reach to many Brits, who now may find they can afford to buy there.”

For details of property for sale in Spain, visit the Spanish listings on Rightmove Overseas. One way to save money when buying in Spain is to use a currency specialist when transferring your pounds into euros to complete the purchase of your property. For more information on this, contact Smart Currency Exchange.

To understand the full step-by-step process to buying a property in Spain, collect The Overseas Guides Company’s ‘Spain Property Buying Guide’