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Today, I'm house-hunting around the beautiful
inland towns of the Costa Blanca.
I'm Jasmine Harman and for over 15 years
I have been helping people find their ideal homes overseas.
Today, I'm going to be using all my property skills to change
the lives of carpenter Lee and teacher Wendy.
And we do our best to get full marks.
It has got the wow factor, it's 10 out of 10 from first impressions.
10 out of 10? For first impressions, definitely. Woo!
But, we're not always top of the class.
I do see a bit of exposed stone there.
Oh! Shock horror!
It's thinking caps on at a luxury property that was once a school.
They learned them how to sew, how to cook, yeah.
I think I need to go to this school!
But, will we pass the test and find them their dream?
Oh, look at you!
It's perfect!
Wendy and Lee have dreamt of moving to Spain
permanently with their two children for a long time.
Now the finances are in place, they're ready to take
the plunge and find their new dream family home in the sun.
Wendy and Lee from Greater Manchester have been
together for 18 years.
With their teenage children Leah and Cai, they have
set their hands on inland Costa Blanca to find the perfect property.
We've been there quite a few times and we just like the way,
you know, people live, you know?
They always seem happy, they always seem laid back
and that's the kind of life that we are hoping to achieve.
I think also it's weather, as well.
I know we're going over there to work,
but to relax and in the evenings have a lot of quality family
time and now is the right time to do it
and we are just exciting about going over there and actually
making the move and I've already started packing, so we've... Yeah.
..we're just waiting to get over there now.
Wendy and Lee have a budget of £15,000 to spend
and I can't wait to help them find their new home.
Just a two and a half hour flight brings you to the Costa Blanca.
This 120-mile stretch of sandy coastline is best
known for its popular holiday resorts, with the bustling
Alicante City at its heart.
But head inland and it's a whole different story -
a landscape of hills and valleys, dotted with historic towns
and villages, enjoying a more traditional Spanish way of life.
And, by offering an escape from the more touristy locations,
it's no surprise agents are seeing a rise in the number of British
house hunters looking for a new home,
who are also attracted to the lower prices in this area.
Inland, rural properties can be up to 50% cheaper than similar
properties on the coast and they're likely to come with more land.
So, if you know where to look, there are bargains to be found.
Before we start our search, I'm meeting up with Wendy and Lee
on Urbanova beach to find out what they're looking for
in their new home.
Good morning, Wendy and Lee. Good morning. Welcome to...
..er, sunny Spain! Sunny Spain!
So, how does it feel to be here in Spain,
but this time with the mission of finding a new family home?
Like really excited, we can't wait to get going.
So, have you picked out a location?
We've picked out a little town called Pinoso,
just about 40 minutes inland, I think. Have you been there?
Never physically been there, we've been virtually there.
I mean, what an adventure,
you want to move somewhere that you've never been?
Exactly, yeah. This is a whole family move.
Our daughter Leah and our son Cai, who is also coming over.
We own a dog, so she will be coming over with us as well. Pets.
This is a whole menagerie coming then! Yes.
So, what has brought this idea on then, of moving to Spain,
lock, stock and barrel?
In 2011, I was diagnosed with breast cancer.
And then, five years later, I was given the all-clear
and a year later I was told it had reoccurred.
So, I'm actually two years now in remission.
So, we've had a chat about it and we've thought that's it now,
we need to come over here, so, it's now or never, really.
What an amazing thing to take from actually what must have been
a really, really hard, difficult time for you?
It kind of made our decision for us, didn't it?
Now it's time to just move on and start a new chapter.
Start afresh, yeah, start a new journey.
So, let's talk about the sort of property you've got in mind.
What we are looking for, a rural property,
a little bit of space, a little bit of land,
a couple of outbuildings maybe or a garage, or something like that.
Four bedrooms ideally for us.
If there's a property that's got three with the potential
of an extra bedroom, you know we wouldn't say no to that as well.
Oh, right, you're willing to do some work to extend it? Yeah.
So, do you want to be part of a community, or do you need to
have amenities near by, or do you want to be quite secluded?
A little bit of both, really.
We don't mind a small commute into a local town or village to
get our supplies and that, and, yeah, it would be nice
to be part of the community as well.
And any hobbies for you two?
So, I like doing yoga and I like swimming, so
that would be something that I'd be really interested in.
I do kick boxing, Chinese kick boxing, so...
I'll try and stay on your good side!
I'm off duty at the moment, so you're OK.
So, how much are you looking to spend?
We are looking to spend about £150,000.
I'm excited to get started!
I can't wait to get going, yeah. Shall we? Yes. Yeah.
To kick off, we're going to start by turning their research to
reality and head straight to the town of Pinoso.
Surrounded by a mountainous landscape, it's a
prosperous town, due to its local production of wines
and the excavation of marble and rock salt in the area.
It has a wide range of restaurants, shops,
a modern cultural centre and schools.
And where better to show Wendy
and Lee what's on offer than from the town square?
First impressions? It's lovely. I think it's lovely. Yeah.
Is it what you were expecting, from having researched online?
I think it's more. It's very quaint and... Yeah?
It's a lovely little town, yeah.
I think this town's got everything that you want -
there's even a Michelin-starred restaurant here. Is there?
There's a sports centre here as well, so they've got swimming
pool, classes, if you want to do your yoga and things. Excellent.
It feels quite nice at the moment. First impressions is lovely.
Fantastic. Well, the property that we're going to see is just
a couple of miles on the outskirts of town.
So you can get in and out quite easily.
Shall we go and have a look? Yeah. Can't wait.
Well, I'm so glad the town is living up to their expectations.
It has a good mix of properties too - ranging from apartments
and houses in the centre to bungalows
and villas on the outskirts.
The average price of a three-bedroomed home is
bang on their budget of £150,000 and I can't wait to show them
our first option in the village of Rodrigo,
just a 10-minute drive from the town.
You wanted a rural setting! Mm! Definitely rural location.
So much open space, lovely, yeah. You can hear a pin drop out here.
There's not much in the way of amenities here.
There is one tapas bar, where all the locals go.
One tapas bar's enough, if it's a good one, that's all you need.
So, what do you think about the property,
looking at it from outside?
It is not too bad, yeah.
It is a three-bedroom. OK.
But there's so much space in here, I think it will be very
easy for you to create a fourth bedroom, if you needed it.
This place is on for just under £135,000.
Really? OK. That's good.
So, it's a very good price. Yeah.
So, let's go and take a look, shall we? Yeah. Let's.
This traditional house, surrounded by countryside,
comes with its own courtyard and a built in barbecue area.
Inside, a large hallway leads to a lounge, with dining area.
A fitted kitchen with a utility room.
Two double bedrooms and a family bathroom.
Whilst, up a sweeping staircase, via a spacious landing area,
is the master bedroom, with an en suite shower room.
What do you think? Erm...
It's very, very traditional inside.
A lot more traditional than the outside. Do you like it?
I'm not sure yet. Let's see a bit more. Yeah.
So, coming through...
..to your main living and dining space.
This is a lovely room, I like this room.
I like the double windows and the stonework as well, it's lovely.
It just feels busy - bits is modern and then bits are rural.
There's a definite contrast between old and new in here.
Yeah, when you're looking at rural properties, more often than
not, you're going to see
traditional properties that have been renovated,
or part-renovated and then, you know,
the rest might be up to you to do to make it your own.
Yeah, quite possibly, yeah.
So, coming upstairs you've got this lovely landing here.
Oh, this is an excellent area, one of best features so far. Yeah.
And this is, you know, the master bedroom.
You've got an en suite through there.
This is more to my taste, without all the brick, the open brick, yeah.
All of this up here is new. Yeah.
The current owner has actually created this room... Yeah.
..and the landing. I mean, how do you think you'd use that landing?
I don't know really what you'd do with that, it seems to be
a bit of wasted space that.
I know originally your ideal preference was
to have a four-bedroom house. Yes.
Could you not maybe consider putting in a partition wall on that landing?
Yeah. There may be an option to put a fourth bedroom in there. Yeah.
Now, outside...
..what do you think of this?
It's like a small courtyard, in't it, really?
You have got a kennel there, ready for the dog! Oh, yeah!
I'd probably like more of a view, I wouldn't like to come out
and look at a solid wall like that.
This is nice, the barbecue area.
Yeah, it's a lovely little courtyard area,
but it would be nice if it led somewhere else on to
maybe you know a bigger patch of land somewhere. OK.
I'm taking all this in.
You know, because, obviously, this is our first property.
Do you want to see the rest? Go and have a little explore?
Yes. Yes, I think we should do. Yeah?
And then come and meet me outside and we'll have a chat
and figure out where we go from here. Yeah.
We will do. See you shortly.
Well who knew?
I really thought that the traditional style
and the space at this property would win them over,
but they seem to be very much on the fence.
It's all modern, isn't it? A modern kitchen.
Maybe a bit bigger would you? Well probably, a little more open space.
Hmm. It's not ideally laid out, but it's certainly usable.
Oh, this must be the garage. Oh, yeah.
That's my little workshop sorted out, isn't it?
This would be good for your workshop.
It's a good little space this.
It's a bit of a mixed response for this three-bedroom house,
on the market for just under £135,000,
so I'm keen too to hear what they think.
I like the area, I love the location,
the size of the rooms are good as well.
I'm not sure about the fact that it's half modern, half authentic.
So, you like the rustic feel?
I like some of the exposed stonework and you know some rustic wood and...
But you don't? Not as much. OK.
So, any other drawbacks that you can see with this property?
The biggest thing is we've just got a simple courtyard at the back. Mm.
Which is ideal for the dog and that,
but it's just not enough open space for us.
So, is this property in the running then?
We're not going to say no.
Yeah, it's too nice of a house, I think, inside just to rule it
out straight away. OK.
I'm glad I've done something right!
But it sounds like you'd like to see maybe something,
obviously, with a bit more outside space. Yeah.
And maybe a bit more of a modern feel to it? Yeah.
So, I've got just the thing... Excellent. ..in mind. OK.
Shall we go and have a look? Yeah, let's.
Whilst Wendy and Lee aren't blown away by this property,
they clearly like this rural location,
so we're going to show them another property in the village of Rodrigo.
But, before we take a look,
we're heading back to a cafe in Pinoso to meet up with expat Janet,
to tell them all about what family life is like in this area.
Hi, Janet. Hi, lovely to meet you both.
Have you two got any questions?
When we did the research, they said there was a school local
and I just wondered, you know, what's the school like?
There is a very good high school here in Pinoso
and my daughter is currently there, my 16-year-old. Oh, right.
It's a very, very similar education path to the UK.
Do they have a sixth form? They have a sixth form. Oh, that's good.
And then they've got the opportunity to move on to university.
It is very important that they get to grips with the Spanish language
and I'll tell you now it's better to throw them in at the deep end.
Obviously, we're looking to, I'm looking to get into work over here,
I'm a carpenter, so is there any work opportunities?
There is a really good opportunity with a lot of online groups
around here, a good community network via that.
You offer your services and more often than not you'll get people
coming to you, because the ex-pats love to use
somebody who's English-speaking.
Janet, thank you so much for chatting to us
and I'm sure your paths will cross again.
Yes, definitely.
Coming up, I can't wait to show Wendy and Lee my next property,
which has lots more outside space and even a pool...
..for when the sun comes out!
Today, I'm house-hunting around inland Costa Blanca
with Wendy and Lee, who are looking to relocate here permanently
with their two teenage children.
After battling cancer for many years,
Wendy has now been given the all clear, and with Lee
and children Leah and Kai, they're looking to start
a new adventure and have a budget of £150,000
to spend on a new home.
So far, I've shown them one property which they liked,
and whilst Wendy would ideally like somewhere less traditional,
and they both would like more outside space,
they did like the location.
So for my next home, we're going to stay in the village
of Rodriguillo.
There are just a couple of dozen houses here,
all owned by Spanish homeowners, which would give Wendy
and Lee the ideal Spanish community to immerse themselves in,
if they like our next property and the rain doesn't put them off.
What a shame about this weather!
It's the rain in Spain, yeah. Exactly.
Now, our next property, it's a more modern building.
Definitely a little bit more of what we had in mind. Is it?
Yes. Yeah.
Outside space, you've got all the space out the front here.
Also, the land, this little plot just opposite,
that also comes with this property. Oh, that's perfect.
The property's three bedrooms Yes.
Two bathrooms.
It's on the market for just over £152,000.
OK.
But the agent says it should be negotiable.
It's a little bit more promising, this one. Good.
I might have a little surprise for you as well. OK. OK.
This is a good start.
Not only does this bungalow come with lots of outside space
and rural views, it also has a garage.
And tucked around the back, the added bonus of its own private pool.
Inside, it has a sunroom and a modern, open plan kitchen-diner.
A utility area...
And a lounge.
Whilst on the same level, there are two bathrooms and three bedrooms.
Right, come on in.
This is your sunroom, although there's not much sun today.
But come through and we'll see the main house.
So you've got a nice open plan feel to this.
It's very modern.
This is more, I think, what we have at home as well.
It's a lot more modern, yeah.
I particularly like the fireplace.
Well, I'm surprised you like the exposed stone.
That's enough. That's enough?
Yeah, that enough exposed stone, I think it just looks really nice.
It's a nice feature in the corner of the room. Yeah.
Can imagine it with the TV on and the dog running around
and some food cooking in the background.
Yeah, it's got a nice vibe to it, this room.
So who does most of the cooking at home?
Kai does quite a lot, so that'll be nice,
because I'll be able to, like watch him and just see he's all right.
So Kai's quite into cooking? Yeah.
He has ideas of opening his own small restaurant.
Even though he's only 14, that's what he's planned.
So we're encouraging it, especially cleaning up after himself.
That's quite an issue.
So, this is the master bedroom. Oh yeah.
And you can see the en suite's just through there.
But, what do you think?
Yeah, yeah, it's a good size, isn't it?
The decor is to how I would have had it, you know, with the plain walls
and the flooring is superb.
That's lovely. Here's your surprise.
Aw, man, and what a surprise, as well.
What do you think? Wow! It's lovely, oh, my goodness.
We didn't see that coming.
Oh, yeah, it's lovely, look at me, I'm...
Oh, look at you.
It's perfect. You've come over all emotional.
It's just really nice, it's like Leah could be swimming
and you just have a vision of how you want it to be.
And it's just so nice.
Even in this weather? Even in this weather.
Why do you think it made you come over all emotional?
Don't know, it's just the amount of time,
when I was going through the chemotherapy,
just having to stay indoors and not get out,
and this is just...this is just lovely.
Really lovely. It is, yeah. Yeah.
Well, this is the start of a new chapter, isn't it,
for the whole family?
Definitely, yeah. Perfect.
The only thing for me is possibly it's missing a bedroom.
Would you consider may be doing something with the garage?
It's a possibility, yeah.
You could make that, you know, into a small annexe, possibly.
Do you want to go and have a little peek at the garage
and maybe see the rest? Yeah.
And then we can have a talk about it
once you've seen everything. Yeah, do that then.
All right. We'll go round and have a look, thank you.
I'll see you in a minute.
Well, I was not expecting that.
Clearly, this place this place has gotten under Wendy's skin.
Could I be onto something?
This is the garage. Oh, yeah.
This is what could potentially make a fourth bedroom.
Quite a bit of work involved in this, but it's definitely doable.
Do you think? Yeah.
Another bedroom.
Leah will probably find it a bit small.
Possibly, they have got a double bed in here. Views are amazing.
Views are amazing.
I am so pleased it's all gone swimmingly
for this property with a pool.
On the market for just over £152,000.
Still got the rain in Spain.
But, seems like it hasn't dampened your spirits for this property?
It's lovely. Not at all, you've done very well with this one.
It amazing, the outside, it was all about the outdoor space, wasn't it?
And the front is perfect, the pool is perfect,
but high up on our list was a fourth bedroom.
We've looked at the garage, it does need a little bit of money
and time and effort, which we could put into it.
And that's the only real issue I can see with the property at the moment.
OK, well, that's something we can perhaps take into consideration...
..moving forward.
From the previous property we looked at,
this is definitely top trumps that one. Yeah, yeah.
So, is that one out now?
The first one is definitely out, yeah.
The first one we looked at is definitely out and this is
top of our list.
With one in the bag, I'm feeling pretty confident.
So, for our next property, I want to show them a new area
and drive 20 minutes east to the town of Monovar.
Centred around the ruins of a castle dating back to the 12th century,
this town is known locally for its shoemaking production
and has its own hub of shops and restaurants.
It also has the Ram Muay gym close by,
a martial arts centre that I'm certain Lee and son Kai will enjoy,
as they're keen to continue kick boxing when they move out here.
So, is this the sort of thing that you like?
Fit right at home in here, I'll spend most of my time here.
And how about Kai?
Yeah, he'd love it here, yeah.
So, how into the kick boxing are you guys?
We're both black belts and we both compete at international level.
So, we love teaching as well, we love teaching the kids
and bringing them up through the ranks.
And you're running your own club?
Yeah, we run our own club back home, yeah.
This club is actually run by a father and son.
They do at least five sessions a day at different ages
and different levels of kick boxing.
And you can pay £30 a month and you can come to as many sessions
as you like. Excellent, yeah.
So, is that something you and Kai would get into, do you think?
Perfect, yeah, it'll be our first stop when we move over here,
is to pay our membership and get straight in, yeah, excellent.
Exactly. Yeah.
Now, Jesus, former European champion has invited me
to go into the ring with him. Good luck.
I don't know what I've let myself in for. I'll be cheering you on.
I'll see you in a minute.
Well, I'm certainly going to be punching above my weight here.
But when it comes to house-hunting, I think my next home
will be a knockout.
Coming up, I can't wait to show Wendy and Lee
this four bedroom villa with pool, and lots of land.
Today, I'm helping Wendy and Lee find their dream forever
home around the town of Pinoso in inland Costa Blanca.
They loved my second property but are hoping to find something similar
with an additional bedroom.
Wendy and Lee and their two teenage children, Leah and Kai,
have a budget of £150,000 to spend on this new family adventure.
And with one contender already in the bag,
I'm keen to expand their search area.
So, for our next property, we are heading to a home on the outskirts
of the town of Monover.
Property prices here can be up to 10% cheaper which is great
news for Wendy and Lee because I can now show them more space for their
budget and the extra bedroom they were hoping for.
So, here we are. This is our next property.
It's definitely got the wow factor. Yeah. Has it? This is amazing. Yeah.
The walk up from down there, goodness me, that's amazing.
I mean having a drive lined with olive trees.
That's got the wow factor. It's 10 out of 10 from first impressions.
Ten out of ten! For first impressions, definitely. Woo! Yeah.
We are looking at this four bedroom... Oh, four.
..detached house. Mm-hm, gorg.
Now, this property is on the market for just under £148,000.
Really? Goodness. Wow, that's a shock.
I think it's an absolutely fantastic property.
So I'm excited to show you around inside. Yeah, I can't wait. I can't.
Come on, then.
This bungalow not only has a sweeping driveway,
it also has a wraparound patio,
its own swimming pool,
complete with outside changing block,
some outbuildings and a garage.
Inside, it has a bright sunroom leading to a modern lounge
and a fitted kitchen with its own well.
Also on the ground floor is a good sized bathroom and the four bedrooms
Wendy and Lee were hoping for.
So, you've got this lovely sunroom. Goodness, me. Do you like it?
Yeah, that's really bright. Wow, this is an amazing room.
It's so bright. Getting better and better. Oh!
And through to this really spacious... Wow. ..sitting room.
Yeah. It's a massive room, this, isn't it? It's really good, yeah.
I can see our furniture in here, already. Really? Perfect, yeah.
And this would work really beautifully, wouldn't it,
for family time? Yeah, course it would, yeah. Yeah, this is,
you've got this room in here and the sun lounge out there. It's almost
three rooms in one. Yeah.
So you've got the four bedrooms that you wanted, here.
Yeah, this is a good sized bedroom. Yeah, this is perfect.
Great. I mean, the only thing this one doesn't have which the others
had was the en suite and you have only got the one bathroom in...
Right, OK. ..the main house. OK. If it's got no en suite, I'm just
thinking about, you know, with a teenage daughter, a 14-year-old son.
I mean there is another facility outside. OK. In fact, should we
go and have a look at the outside? Yeah. Yeah.
So, ta-da! Here we are again!
Whoa! Goodness.
It could almost be a public swimming pool, it's that big.
And you can see just over there you've got another WC.
And you've even got an outside shower.
I know that's, kind of, not the same as having an en-suite but...
Like being on holiday, as well.
..I mean, you said you like your swimming, don't you? Yeah.
It's lovely. I'm not going to go.
You're not going to go again are you?
You need to stop showing me pools!
Just doesn't seem real at the moment.
That it could potentially be our pool.
Do you two want to go and have a look at the outbuilding?
Yeah, sure. And then come and find me when you're done? Yeah.
All right. Thank you.
Well, this one has got pretty much everything they've asked for,
but will they be willing to compromise on only having
one bathroom?
Oh, wow. Look at the size of this.
Oh, it's not just the garage is it?
It's another building.
Yeah, definitely my kind of spaces.
I'm moving in here, me.
It's obviously the kitchen.
Oh, it's a good size.
Big enough, innit? Get a dining table in here.
Yeah, it's really nice, this kitchen.
Are you happy with that?
Maybe that's an old well or something but I don't think it's
going to be an issue. Not sure about that one.
This bungalow on the market for just under £148,000
ticks so many of Wendy and Lee's boxes and I can't wait to hear their
thoughts.
Do you like it?
Well.
There is a well... The well! ..in there.
It's not unusual, especially in country properties.
It can be quite useful, actually, if you want to use the water for
irrigating your garden or if you've got the swimming pool. Yeah.
It can cut your water bills.
That might be an idea.
So it doesn't put you off the property as a whole?
It doesn't put me off in the slightest, no.
So have we got another contender?
It's head and shoulders above everything else we've seen in my
opinion so far. Yeah, number one.
So, are you ruling those out in favour of this one?
In favour of this one, I think we've just ruled the last two out,
so we have one contender at the moment.
Right, so how am I going to beat this?
Perhaps an en suite.
Yeah, a second bathroom would be quite beneficial for us.
OK, well...
Well, well, well!
THEY LAUGH
I'm going to have to have a little think... No more wells!
..make sure we've got no more wells!
THEY LAUGH
Now we have one strong contender in the bag I'm feeling pretty
confident, but I'm determined to find Wendy and Lee another option.
So next, we're heading back towards Pinoso,
but en route, stopping off at the award-winning El Seque vineyard
for a spot of local wine tasting,
which I hope Wendy and Lee will enjoy.
Now, are you wine fans? Yeah, yeah.
Yeah, we've brushed shoulders with a bottle of wine or two in our past.
Made friends with a bottle! Of course, yeah.
The reason I've brought you here is the 2014 vintage of this wine
was awarded the best wine in the world.
Wow! Wow!
So, I thought we could come along and maybe,
you know, have a little try.
Yeah, yeah. Let's! So, this one is a 2012.
Which I'm told was a very, very good vintage.
Give it a little taste. Very fruity.
That's lovely. Lovely, yeah.
That's really nice. Do you like it? That's very nice, yeah.
Oh, it's a lovely wine!
I can see myself sitting out of a night-time, having a glass of this.
Yeah, drinking some of this. Quite easily!
Well, perhaps we should drink up and get on with our house-hunt.
Although, I'd be quite happy to stay here, wouldn't you?
Quite happily! Salud! Salud!
To find our next property, we've driven ten minutes
north of Pinoso town.
Set in the foothills of the Sierra del Carche Regional Park,
homes in this area are more secluded and lesser-known to foreign buyers.
Being more rural, prices can be up to 15% cheaper
and though our next property is a tad over budget,
it gives Wendy and Lee more bathrooms
and the biggest plot so far.
So, we're along the end of a little country track.
What did you think of the approach? I thought we'd got lost!
THEY LAUGH
I mean, you wanted rural. Yeah, yeah. We wanted rural.
Right, and look at the spectacular scenery.
But still only a ten-minute drive into Pinoso. Yeah.
So, you've got a lovely amount of land here.
When I say lovely, it's actually over 4.5 acres... Wow! Wow!
..of land. So you see down there?
Yeah?
That whole olive grove is part of this property. Wow.
Well, it's nearly as far as you can see, basically. Yeah, yeah.
And this is actually an eco house. Oh, right.
So you can be completely self-sufficient
and self-sustainable here.
Wow, so you are off the map, aren't you, up here, yeah?
I think it's a different prospect.
Just have to take it all on board and have a look round
and make a decision.
It's on the market for just over £152,000.
OK. It's an awful lot of land, isn't it?
I'm going to let you two explore this one on your own. OK.
Come and find me when you're done and we'll see what you make of it.
OK. All right, thank you. All right? Yeah.
Enjoy! OK, thank you.
I actually think this could be an amazing prospect for them,
but I'm wondering if I might have taken it a step too far.
With just under five acres of land, this eco friendly house
comes with its own pool and a barbecue area,
with far-reaching views of the surrounding countryside.
Inside, it has a modern, open-plan kitchen-diner,
a downstairs bedroom and shower room.
Whilst upstairs, there are two further bedrooms,
one with an en suite bathroom.
It also comes with its own self-contained annexe,
which gives them a fourth bedroom and a third bathroom.
DOOR OPENS
There we go, must be the living room, obviously.
Open-plan again, quite cosy. A nice fire... A fire!
..going in the background there. Beautiful.
A basic kitchen, isn't it, really?
I like the blue. The blue looks nice. Yeah.
One of the bedrooms. Good size.
Good size room, yeah. Very good.
Has it got an en suite as well, yeah? And a bath.
It's not too bad, open room. These are a bit low.
Possibly, yeah, a little bit rustic for us.
Very nicely done, though.
And welcome to the pool area!
This is amazing, Lee, look at the terrace area as well.
What a great area there, you've got the pool,
you've got the barbecue area.
Get the kids up there sunbathing, keep them out of trouble.
Wild parties. Well, I don't know about that but we'll see!
Really good, isn't it? Nice little one person annexe, isn't it?
I like that up there, that's good, isn't it? Hmm.
Well, it's all sounding really positive for this eco friendly
house, on the market for just over £152,000.
Hello!
Are you all done exploring, then? Yeah. And, what did you think?
You've got plenty of space for outdoor living there,
the barbecue, the pool.
Really, really love this area and these views.
I think the views are amazing.
But I think there's a little too much land.
To manage? Yeah. OK.
And also the journey in, just think it's a little bit
too remote, this one.
It's just a little bit off the beaten track for us, you know?
It's a shame because it's got so much going for it.
We've still got the third property, which is definitely top of our list.
Yeah, yeah. Well, I've got one last chance.
Mm, just the one. You have, yeah. Just the one!
And I want to show you something that is going to give
that previous property we saw...
..some stiff competition. Mm.
That's the property you need to beat, yeah. Yeah.
Coming up, will my final home with the perfect layout
be too hard to resist?
Today, I'm house-hunting with Wendy and Lee
who have been dreaming of moving to Inland Spain for years
and are now in a position to make that dream a reality.
Wendy and Lee and their two teenage children have a budget of
£150,000 to spend on this new family adventure.
And after showing them four properties,
we have one contender and one more chance to top it.
So, I'm hoping my final property could be just the ticket.
But, before we head there, I'm taking a detour south
by the town of Aspe
to look around at a luxury property with a difference.
An eight bedroom B&B on the market for just under £1 million.
This five-star story building was built in the 18th century
and sympathetically restored by its current owner Alex,
who's going to be showing me around.
Wow, this looks impressive.
It has been built by a military architect.
That's why you have this idea of, like, a castle.
It has got a feel of a castle.
It's extremely grand, sweeping staircases.
So impressive and going all the way up to the stained glass up there.
So, is this your home?
It was my home for ten years.
And since 2014, part of this building is a B&B.
I must remember the next time I'm in the area...
OK. You're invited.
..because it would be lovely to stay somewhere like this,
it's absolutely superb.
And what a stay that would be.
This traditional property is packed with original features throughout
and I'm keen to hear more about its opulent drawing room.
Ooh.
Wow, this is a beautiful room.
This was the family room which we used for many, many years.
Our children, they grew up here.
And very typical for this room is the chapel.
Was the chapel original?
The chapel has been built by the convent
about 100 years ago.
Oh, wow.
It's more like a school for young ladies, for rich families.
A finishing school. Like a finishing school,
they learn then how to sew, how to cook,
let's say, to become the perfect housewife.
Yeah. I think I need to go to this school.
Well, I'm actually amazed by how much outside space you've got here.
We found the house quite dark so we created this big terrace.
It's like a little oasis, isn't it?
Yes, it is.
Must be quite unusual to have a swimming pool in the centre of town.
Yes, it was dug out by hand.
Oh, my goodness. It was a hell of a job, yes.
But it's worth it? Exactly, yes. It's really worth it.
Well, thank you so much for showing me around.
It's been a real pleasure to see this...
You're very welcome, Jasmine.
..stunning and very unique home.
Whilst I'd love to stay,
it's back to the house hunt with Wendy and Lee.
With one in the bag, I'm determined to give it a run for its money.
So, next, we're heading back north-east
but this time, to the small picturesque town of Sax.
Steeped in history, it has a wide range of facilities on offer
and where better to take them all in than from the views en route
to the ancient Castillo de Sax overlooking the town.
We have now come to a different town.
It has pretty much got everything that Pinoso's got.
You've got local schools, all the amenities, bars, restaurants.
One thing you do have here that you don't have in Pinoso
is the train station.
So, it's about 40 minutes, direct train into Alicante
four times a day.
And it costs about £3.50 each way.
And also, it's a very historical place.
You've got the castle, they do guided tours
and medieval re-enactments...
OK. All right. Very good.
..which might be nice if you've got visitors
and you want to show them a bit of the Spanish history and culture.
The property that we're going to have a look at
is a couple of miles outside of the town.
It's about a five to ten minute drive from here.
So, shall we go and hop in the car and have a look?
Yeah. Yes. Yeah? The last one.
Let's go and have a look.
Come on, then.
So, it looks like we're flying the flag for this town,
but we're not the only ones.
Agents have reported a recent increase in interest
from foreign buyers and prices are on the rise too.
So, now would be a good time for Wendy and Lee to buy
if they like our final property.
Initial thoughts are wow again.
You've absolutely nailed it right on the head again.
I like all this landscaped garden.
The land is about 1.7 acres,
so it's not anywhere near as big as the last one.
But it's still big.
The location is, as we were driving in here,
it felt like a country park.
It's a tarmac road all the way.
Glad to see that, yeah. That's nice.
Now, this place has got four double bedrooms.
Double? All right.
Three bathrooms. OK.
It's on the market for just under £156,500. Yeah.
But the agent has mentioned that they would potentially be
open to sensible offers.
Right. Yeah.
It's got a lot to offer at the moment,
from what I can see, definitely.
This was the reaction I was hoping for.
This bungalow not only has a delightful garden,
but also a large swimming pool and an outside sauna.
Inside, it has a bright sunroom,
a large lounge,
a fitted kitchen,
four double bedrooms
and three bathrooms.
Ideal for the whole family.
So, again, you've got a nice sun room here,
which is quite spacious
and there's a bedroom through there with an en-suite.
So, as well as having that sitting area,
you've obviously got this.
Cosy little room, isn't it?
It's really pretty.
It's been done immaculately.
I'm sensing you're liking it, but, like, it seems you're holding back.
I need to look at the rest of the rooms, the rest of the house,
because, obviously, I have one that I really like.
The property in Monovar. Is it that one that you're thinking about?
It's giving it a good run for its money so far.
That was my intention, so, you know... Yeah.
So, there's two bedrooms just there, and this one,
which has also got an en suite.
Well, do we see a bit of exposed stone there?
SHE GASPS Shock, horror!
It's not too much and it complements the room.
Are you going to start crying on me again?
I don't want to, no.
But you've got to admit...
It's perfect. ..it's lovely, isn't it?
This is perfect. Absolutely perfect.
Look, do you know what that is just there?
A shed?
Sauna. Oh, is it?
A sauna! Really?
Well, it's turned into a health spa.
You've got your pool, your sauna.
It's like a spa retreat.
Wow, it is. What have you done to us?
It seems like this one makes a lot of sense. Yeah. Yeah.
But I know you've got very strong feelings towards the other one
in Monovar, so, go and just make sure you've seen everything
and we'll speak in a minute, OK?
Thank you. All right.
It's quite a small kitchen for the size of the property.
I think it's just right.
I think it's just manageable.
Another bedroom.
Oh, this is a nice size.
Another double bedroom, isn't it?
Lovely views. Look at your views. Outside, yeah.
I am so glad Wendy and Lee are falling for this property.
On the market for just under £156,500.
And I'm keen to know if its knocked their favourite off the top spot.
So, what are you two thinking?
We've had a good look around.
I'm still carrying the wow factor around with me.
The outside space is amazing.
It's up there with the other property.
Is it? Yeah.
This has got things the other property hasn't and vice versa,
so, it's going to be a difficult decision.
Yeah, we've got a lot of brainstorming to do.
You know, take as much time as you need and think about it overnight.
Sleep on it. Yeah.
And let's meet in the morning
and see if things have become any clearer.
Yeah, we will do. Hopefully, they may have done, yeah.
Perfect. Shall we head back to the hotel? Yeah.
If you'd like more information on any of the properties
featured on today's show, visit:
We've shown Wendy and Lee five homes in inland Costa Blanca
for their budget of £150,000.
And I'm delighted that they like two of them.
They fell for the layout and pool in our third property,
but they also liked our final home,
with all the bathrooms their family require.
With so much riding on this move, after a night of discussion,
I can't wait to find out what they've decided.
Good morning.
Good morning, Jasmine.
When we spoke yesterday,
you were still very much undecided, weren't you?
So, tell me, how did your conversation go last night?
I mean, were you weighing everything up?
Yeah, we sent pictures to Leah and Kai.
Kai favoured the Monovar with myself and Leah favoured Sax with you,
didn't she? Yeah.
Oh, my goodness. So, have you managed to make a decision
as to which property is your joint favourite?
Erm...
It's property number three.
Monovar? Monovar.
Oh, my goodness! Really?
The pull was just so strong there, wasn't it?
It just had every single thing that we needed.
Except the extra bathroom.
Bar one thing, yeah.
So, have you had any thoughts
about how you might be able to overcome that?
I think it's possible to maybe put an en suite onto
one of the bedrooms, maybe both of the back bedrooms.
And then that would provide the two en suites,
a bathroom and the outdoor toilet as well.
Wow, it sounds like you've got it all sussed then.
We weighed out the pros and cons
and we're quite happy that we've made the right decision.
Amazing. So, what is your plan then?
What's the next step?
I think we're going to put in an offer, I think.
Oh, my goodness! That's so exciting!
Now, obviously, it's on the market for just under £148,000.
So, it's already within your budget.
So, what are you thinking of going in at as a starting point?
We've discussed it last night
and we're going to make an offer of £136,000.
OK.
I'll give the owner a call,
because this is a private sale,
so we should be able to know fairly quickly
what she says, so...
Good morning, Christina, it's Jasmine.
I've got some really exciting news for you.
Wendy and Lee would like to make an offer on your house.
They are cash buyers.
They would like to offer £136,000.
OK.
All right, thanks, Christina. I'll give you a call back shortly.
All right, bye-bye.
So, she hasn't accepted £136,000.
However, she's come back with a counter offer of £139,000.
Right. Mm. OK.
Still under budget and it still gives us a little bit of room
to do the work that we need. Yeah.
I think we'll go with the 139 offer, I think.
We're going to accept.
I think so, yeah. Well, I know so.
Oh, my goodness!
That's amazing!
Really pleased.
Oh, my goodness. Shall I call her now?
Yeah. Yeah? OK.
Oh! This is just so exciting.
Hello, Christina.
I have got some news for you.
Wendy and Lee said yes, they will accept £139,000.
So, we have a deal.
Thank you.
All right, bye-bye.
Congratulations!
We're moving to Spain!
Oh, I've got to give you a hug.
Come on.
I am so happy for you. Thank you.
Honestly, it's amazing.
And we've got to thank you as well for finding us our dream property.
It's a real privilege.
We couldn't have done it without you.
Yes, thank you.
After everything that Wendy and Lee and their family have been through,
I could not be happier for them.
They found their dream home in Spain
and they're ready to start their new life.
I wish them the best of luck.
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