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00:00Today I'm in Spain house hunting in and around the traditional whitewashed Andalusian village of Competa.
00:11I'm Ben Hillman, home designer and property expert.
00:15For the best part of a decade I've been helping house hunters find their dream properties
00:19whilst giving them a little design inspiration too.
00:22Today I'll be using all my skills to find the perfect place for Jenny and Ed.
00:26And while we get off to a pretty impressive start...
00:29Oh my goodness gracious.
00:33I think it's got it all. It's not all smooth sailing.
00:37It's not by any stretch the worst kitchen that I have seen.
00:42Well that is saying something.
00:43I get a little overexcited by a bit of bespoke glazing.
00:47The quality of light here is absolutely fantastic.
00:51This is what a lot of people are after, aren't they?
00:54But at the end of the day do I find my house hunters their perfect place in the sun.
00:58I'm excited.
01:00I am.
01:01I am.
01:02I'm excited.
01:06Newlyweds Jen and Ed have fallen in love with Competa for its stunning scenery, the people
01:12and of course the exquisite cuisine.
01:15Both teachers, they can't wait to find their dream holiday home here where they can spend
01:19those long school holidays together and of course with friends and family.
01:24Jenny, originally from Northern Ireland and Ed from Cornwall, who now live in West London,
01:31first met on a dating app four years ago thanks to a certain space explorer.
01:36Jenny is a science teacher and my name is also the name of an astronaut.
01:42Yes, the first American astronaut to go up into space so he's still saved on my phone as Ed
01:49White was the little astronaut man.
01:51With savings and some inheritance ready to go and Competa, our chosen destination, Jenny
01:57and Ed have a budget of £200,000 to find the perfect place for themselves and their pampered
02:03pooch Nancy.
02:08Competa is one of Spain's best known pueblos blancos or white villages roughly an hour's
02:13drive east of Malaga and its airport.
02:16Beautifully peaceful and traditional, yet still with plenty going on around its central square
02:21and restaurant lined streets, it's a popular place.
02:25There are also a handful of smaller but equally pretty locations nearby such as Canillas de
02:30Albaida and we're also within reach of some stunning coastal towns like Torrox, offering
02:34a more authentic Spanish beach experience.
02:38Demand for renovated properties with outside space in this part of Spain is high and when they
02:44do come on the market they can sell within a couple of days.
02:48A nice lock up and leave three bed villa with a pool and views typically starts at around
02:54£265,000 but if Jen and Ed are willing to make some compromises, I'm confident I can
03:01show them some great options.
03:03But before I give these greyhounds sight of the hair, I need a little more info.
03:08So we're meeting up down on the beach in Torrox Costa for a chat.
03:12Jen and Ed, welcome to southern Spain.
03:15How are you feeling to be here?
03:16Yeah, really good actually.
03:17I can't believe we finally made it here, it's great.
03:19How are you going to spend your time in it?
03:21What are you going to get up to?
03:22Eating, exploring, I really love art.
03:27I do volunteer at the V&A Museum and art's really important.
03:31Do you?
03:32Yeah.
03:33Do you think you'll pop down here to the beach?
03:35I would say so.
03:36Definitely.
03:37Especially if we bring the dog with us.
03:38She is a massive fan of the beach so she will love this place.
03:42Yeah.
03:43So, should we talk about what it is you're looking to find?
03:46Absolutely, yeah.
03:47What have you been dreaming of?
03:49So for me the dream is a villa looking for three beds, two baths ideally.
03:55Okay.
03:56With a pool if possible or space to be able to put a pool in would be the dream.
04:01Yeah.
04:02But top of the list for me and I think well for Jenny as well is views.
04:05Like we just want incredible views.
04:07Yeah.
04:08Is that the same group for you?
04:09I love the townhouses around Compita.
04:12Okay.
04:13But obviously you know you couldn't have a pool with those so we would have to have outdoor space.
04:19You know this is going to be a place that we host friends and family.
04:23Now your budget is £200,000 isn't it?
04:25Yes.
04:26Wiggle room, if there is any, what might it be?
04:29For the perfect property.
04:31Ah.
04:32You know that has, you know, lots of character.
04:36Don't want modern.
04:37You don't?
04:38Don't want modern.
04:39No.
04:40But lots of character with the space that just also just feels like we go in and go,
04:47yeah this is where we want to be.
04:49Maybe about £10,000 extra.
04:51Pushing it to £2,000.
04:53Yeah.
04:54Are you willing to cut corners on the brief at all?
04:57If it was a two bedroom property but there was, you know, lots of space in the living room to maybe put a sofa bed.
05:05How far out of the centre of Compita are you willing to go?
05:09We'd actually be really excited to see some of the other whitewashed villages around Compita because when you're driving up here you can see them and we do wonder what they're like so no problem.
05:20Well look, this all sounds amazing but of course none of it's going to happen unless we find you a property.
05:25So are you up for going and seeing some?
05:27Yeah.
05:28Let's do it.
05:29Then come with me.
05:30So, it's villa versus townhouse.
05:33Two things in abundance around here alongside of course the views they've over after.
05:39While we'll definitely be checking out some of the less well-known spots nearby, we're kicking off in the centre of town to bathe in all its glory.
05:47Well look, what better place to start our search than in the heart of Compita.
05:53Plata Alamekhara, I know you've been here before. How was it?
05:57Pretty great. Some of the food over there is amazing.
06:00It's so good for people watching. It's fantastic. It's the real heart of the town. It's great.
06:06Don't know how much research you've done on the square and what happens here throughout the year because there is a special night.
06:13Big celebration in the square down here. The local wine is the Muscatel.
06:18Right.
06:19So you can sample that for free. In fact there's lots of free wine flowing.
06:23Sounds great.
06:24Could be quite a heady night to be fair.
06:25But also, it's a real cultural event because you've got artists, poets, writers here, bands here.
06:34I mean, for a little hilltop village, it's got it all going on, hasn't it?
06:39It really is. That's brilliant. That's really, really good to hear.
06:42Yeah. I know you'd love to live in the heart of this town, wouldn't you?
06:45Yes, I definitely would.
06:48I'm afraid our first property is a five-minute walk from here, OK?
06:52Whoa! Excellent.
06:53Sounds all right, doesn't it? Come on, let's go see it. OK.
06:58While in amongst compter's winding streets you can find a small two-bed in need of a complete overhaul for as little as £40,000,
07:05I know these two want something that will really impress.
07:09You're wondering which one we're going to look at, aren't we? I am indeed.
07:11We're going to look at that one. Ooh! Amazing.
07:13Just there.
07:14How does that grab you? Looks good.
07:16I mean, the outside of it, love the door, like, love the windows.
07:21Yes.
07:22Look, it lacks a bedroom. OK.
07:24But what it doesn't have in terms of an extra bedroom, it has in terms of an extra kitchen.
07:29Really? An outdoor kitchen on the roof, covered as well.
07:32Oh, I like the sound of that.
07:33It's priced at just over £176,500.
07:35Oh, OK. OK.
07:38Yes.
07:39That sounds good.
07:40Very interesting.
07:41Let's get inside.
07:45The outside kitchen is located on a rather stylish roof terrace with views over the rooftops to the mountains.
07:52Inside, it's equally well-appointed with a dining room open at one end to the living room and the country-style kitchen at the other.
08:00There's also a toilet on the ground floor.
08:03And then, upstairs, off a spacious landing with storage, there's a main bedroom with an ensuite bathroom.
08:10And second, also with an ensuite.
08:15How about this?
08:18Wow.
08:19It's absolutely stunning.
08:21Yes.
08:22I'm just going to give you a no.
08:25I wasn't expecting this much kind of space in here.
08:28Oh, really?
08:29No.
08:30It's been done with such care.
08:32Like, it's stunning.
08:34So, style-wise, you two, are you on the same page?
08:38No.
08:40Well, no.
08:41Interesting.
08:42It's got more.
08:44I prefer minimalist.
08:46I think style-wise we are, but I prefer minimalist where Jenny likes stuff.
08:51So, she likes to fill places with vintage stuff.
08:54Yeah.
08:55My friends call it bric-a-brac.
08:56Uh-huh.
08:57Yeah.
08:58I love my bric-a-brac.
08:59Are they being polite?
09:00They are being very polite because, yes.
09:03Now, up into your main bedroom with ensuite, with a proper bath in it.
09:09Okay.
09:10Yes.
09:11All right.
09:12Is this the only bathroom?
09:13Nope.
09:14Okay.
09:15No.
09:16The other bedroom, on the other side, which mirrors this almost, has its own ensuite too.
09:21Another ensuite?
09:22Two ensuite bathrooms.
09:23Oh, wow.
09:24Game changer?
09:25That's, that's unexpected.
09:27That's unexpected.
09:28Yeah.
09:29You know, that landing space, there's a huge built-in wardrobe there.
09:32There is an opportunity to lose that, I think, and create a sort of a temporary third bedroom.
09:38Yes.
09:39Yeah, there is definitely.
09:42Well, look, you said it is all about the view. That is the main thing.
09:46Oh, my goodness gracious.
09:48Wow.
09:49I think, I think it's got it all.
09:51That is...
09:52I mean...
09:53Breathtaking.
09:54Yeah.
09:55And the sun sets just over that hill.
09:57Lovely sundown drinks up here with your friends.
09:59Music's playing.
10:00Yeah.
10:01Super chilled.
10:02The fact you get the sunset, that's huge.
10:04That's a huge thing.
10:05I think the kitchen.
10:06Yeah.
10:07Oh, it's like a bar, is really quite something.
10:10Yeah, it's a great sociable space.
10:12It's a great space.
10:13So, are we feeling the love?
10:15We are feeling the love.
10:16We are feeling the love.
10:17Yeah.
10:18Oh, fantastic.
10:19Well, I should probably go and let you look at the rest of it then.
10:22Yeah.
10:23Go and fall in love.
10:24Okay.
10:25I'll see you in a minute.
10:26Thank you so much.
10:27Yeah.
10:28That's exactly how you want a viewing to go.
10:30And this place is beautiful, absolutely stunning.
10:34My only worry is there's going to be a lot of other people falling in love with this place.
10:39So, if they do really like it, they're going to have to move fast.
10:42I mean, it's so nice.
10:45There's a lot of space in here and also, I really like the countertops.
10:50Yeah, you wouldn't have to do a thing to the kitchen.
10:52You really wouldn't.
10:53This ready-to-go townhouse in Compita has two bedrooms and a below-budget price tag of
10:58just over £176,500.
11:01Wow.
11:02I guess my break's over.
11:04How was it?
11:06Uh, yeah.
11:07I mean, you have ticked a lot of boxes.
11:09There's this space for potentially the extra third bedroom.
11:12Yeah.
11:13The views are stunning.
11:14Open plan, kitchen, living room.
11:16I guess the million-dollar question.
11:17I actually know the £176,500 question is, is it a contender?
11:23I think we'd be mad to say no to this.
11:26I mean, of course.
11:27Yeah.
11:28It's a stunning, stunning house.
11:30It really, really is.
11:31This is the reality of a townhouse in Compita.
11:34Yes.
11:35This is small but perfectly formed and beautiful and good to go.
11:39I think the important thing now is to contrast that with a villa.
11:43Something for Ed.
11:44Something for me with my poor.
11:45We'll stay in Compita.
11:46Yes.
11:47And then you'll get a real feel for what you can get.
11:50Okay?
11:51That's what I need.
11:52Let's do that.
11:53Let's contrast it.
11:54Come on.
11:55We certainly have a strong contender there.
11:57For our villa option, we will need to head a little out of town.
12:00But first, I want Jen and Ed to meet someone who's already secured their slice of Compita.
12:06Right, guys, I want you to meet Amber.
12:08Hey.
12:09Hey, guys.
12:10Nice to meet you.
12:11Welcome to Compita.
12:12Thanks.
12:14You've been here for how long, Amber?
12:15Only two years now.
12:16If it were your decision and you were looking for a property here, would you go for a townhouse
12:19or a villa?
12:21So we actually started looking for villas.
12:23We wanted to have something in the countryside.
12:25When we started searching, we realised we were quite disconnected from the community.
12:28And actually, for us and having a life, we want to be nearer and accessible to the bars
12:33and restaurants.
12:34So then we switched to townhouses.
12:36And the house that we bought for B&B was the third house that we saw.
12:39And we just said, this is the one.
12:40We just knew it was the property.
12:42So what would you say is the best thing about living in Spain?
12:45The best thing about living here is outdoor living.
12:48Having, you know, drier, sunnier climates to do more things outside.
12:53Also, it's the culture, which we feel like we're losing back in the UK, but being able
12:56to be involved in all these annual events.
12:58And for us, we came here with projects in mind that we wouldn't be able to do in the UK
13:03to start the bed and breakfast, to start the shop and to be able to have control of our
13:07work-life balance.
13:08Well, Abba, thank you so much for meeting with us and inspiring us, I would say, wouldn't
13:13you?
13:14Absolutely.
13:15We have a villa to go and see.
13:17Ooh, a villa.
13:18This way.
13:19Come on.
13:20Best of luck.
13:21Enjoy.
13:27Coming up, if Jen and Ed's big question now is, what would country life be like,
13:32then this cute little villa with a pool should just answer that.
13:38Today I'm in the beautiful white village of Competa in southern Spain, helping teachers,
13:47Jen and Ed, find the perfect holiday home to escape those busy school days and relax.
13:53And given the fact that my first property was near perfection, could my work here be
13:59done?
14:00Better show them some more.
14:02While this beautifully renovated townhouse in Competa impressed them both, a townhouse is
14:07more Jen's dream, while Ed is keen to find a villa that offers a bit more space and privacy
14:12for their £200,000 budget.
14:16So, up next we have just that.
14:19A short drive outside of Competa along the winding local mountain roads.
14:23Villas around here are currently in high demand, but this is actually one of the most affordable
14:28on the market at the moment.
14:30Right then, welcome to your villa.
14:33With the pool.
14:34With the pool, yes.
14:36There it is.
14:37Good sized pool as well, actually.
14:38Yes.
14:39This is primarily west facing, so you've got all the afternoon, evening sunsets.
14:45Yeah.
14:46All happening here.
14:47Yeah, you know, just entertaining, enjoying yourselves late into the evening on this terrace
14:52would be rather nice, wouldn't it?
14:54It would be lovely.
14:55Yeah, it would be.
14:56It would be lovely.
14:57So, we are only a ten minute drive from the centre of town.
15:00How do you feel about that?
15:01I'm actually quite torn.
15:03Are you?
15:04Between...
15:05I know that I was all about townhouse, but it is quite interesting feeling coming to
15:11a villa.
15:12It's a two bed.
15:13OK.
15:14So, you are still compromising on, you know, that third bedroom, but you have got the
15:18outside space, you've got the pool.
15:21The kitchen, outdoor kitchen.
15:23Yeah.
15:24That's lovely.
15:25Yeah, it's priced at just over £194,500.
15:30OK.
15:31OK.
15:32OK, interesting.
15:33Yeah.
15:34Shall we go inside then?
15:35Yes.
15:36Yes.
15:37The pool with views, the terrace, perfect for entertaining, and the outside kitchen have
15:42obviously gone down well here, and the garden stretches down the slope and includes olive
15:48and fig trees.
15:49Inside, there's a cosy living room, open to a dining area, and then the kitchen.
15:56Then there are two bedrooms and a bathroom.
15:59Come on in.
16:00From your terrace to your living space.
16:03Open plan.
16:04Open plan.
16:05Again.
16:06Not entirely convinced by the tea stained walls.
16:09OK.
16:10Yeah.
16:11But there's a lot of, this is all stuff that can be changed, which is stuff that I particularly
16:18love doing.
16:19Mm.
16:20And it's big.
16:21Yes.
16:22It is big, like it's spacious.
16:23It is.
16:24It's a spacious place.
16:25It isn't, by any stretch, the worst kitchen that I have seen.
16:28Well, that is saying something.
16:29Yeah.
16:30It really, really isn't.
16:31And it could be zhuzhed up.
16:34Yes.
16:35You could happily work with it.
16:36Yeah, absolutely.
16:37And the breakfast bar as well.
16:38Always a big fan of a breakfast bar.
16:39So.
16:40Um, right, two bedrooms, equal size pretty much, separated by the main bathroom.
16:48Yeah.
16:49Yeah.
16:50This is a considerably better size, I think, than the townhouse.
16:53Yeah.
16:54And you've got these nice wooden doors.
16:55I don't know.
16:56Would you like these?
16:57I would paint them.
16:58OK.
16:59I like them, but I would paint them and change the handles.
17:02But again, this is stuff that I like doing.
17:04Would you paint them?
17:05Because don't you feel like that adds a bit of depth and colour in the room?
17:08Where have you got all these white walls?
17:10What colour have you painted?
17:11She just likes painting stuff.
17:13Yeah.
17:14She has a real thing.
17:15Change the door handles, paint everything, and then Jenny's put her touch on it.
17:24Outdoor kitchen time.
17:26Great.
17:27Yeah.
17:28And the difference of being out here, as opposed to in town, is it is really quiet and you're
17:34not overlooked at all.
17:35Yeah.
17:36You're not.
17:37It's so private.
17:38The only thing I'm thinking is I can't walk to a taverna.
17:41Sure.
17:42Can't walk to, you know, a restaurant.
17:45But I'm starting to question myself as to whether or not that's important.
17:51And also you can jump in a cab.
17:53There are a number of cab companies in this village alone.
17:56They will take you into town for about eight pounds.
17:58Oh, wow.
17:59Yeah.
18:00That's important.
18:01And the more you use them, the more competitive their rates become.
18:04So there you go.
18:05That sounds good, right?
18:06That does sound really good.
18:07All right.
18:08Well, look.
18:09I'm going to let you go and discover the rest of it, all right?
18:11Cool.
18:13See you tomorrow.
18:14So similar.
18:15Yeah, almost.
18:16The size of the other one.
18:17Almost identical really.
18:18And plenty of light coming in from outside as well.
18:20I love the olive trees.
18:22It's really cute.
18:23It's not too big, though it would be unmanageable.
18:26It would definitely be used.
18:28And the fig tree is also great.
18:30Yeah.
18:31100%.
18:33This villa, a short drive outside of Comter, has two bedrooms and is on the market for just
18:38over £194,500.
18:41There is a lot to like about this place.
18:44The pool is great.
18:46We do just have some niggling concerns that I think would be an issue.
18:50Which are?
18:51The driveway, for one.
18:52Yeah.
18:53It's steep.
18:54It's stone.
18:55It's just too much.
18:57Do you not think that's something you acclimatise to?
19:00Because everyone else with a villa here is...
19:02Yeah, I'm not entirely sure you would do, though.
19:05It's one of those things with one slightly wrong turn and your car is rolling all the
19:09way down the side of the hill.
19:11Yeah.
19:12It's quite steep.
19:13And for other people coming here...
19:14You think that might put them on?
19:15It might put them on.
19:16And also, I am not saying that there's not views here, but they're not...
19:20Yeah.
19:21They're not take your breath away views.
19:23Yeah.
19:24So, is this now not a contender or is it?
19:27I think it's not.
19:28It's not.
19:29Really?
19:30Yeah.
19:31It's not a contender, but it's been...
19:32I shouldn't have let you walk off and go and have a look on your own.
19:35It was all good before I left you.
19:36No, but it's been extremely useful coming here.
19:40Yeah.
19:41But it's a no.
19:42We're going to leave town now and see if I can mix things up a little bit and go for
19:47a bit of a medley of the two.
19:49How does that sound?
19:50Sounds interesting.
19:51Something that works for both of you.
19:52Yeah.
19:53Yeah, yeah, yeah.
19:54Compromise.
19:55I think so.
19:56Come on.
19:59While the townhouse versus villa battle was fun, of course, as with everything in life,
20:04there's an in-between.
20:05In this instance, I believe it's to be found in the neighbouring village.
20:09This is the perfect opportunity for a little walk out into the countryside.
20:14This beautiful path takes you from Compita, which is just behind us, to Canillas de Albaida,
20:21which is the little village over there where the next property is.
20:24It takes about 20 minutes.
20:26Not far.
20:27Not at all.
20:28Nice little walk for the dog.
20:29Yeah.
20:30Fancy would love this.
20:31Yeah?
20:32Yeah.
20:33Fancy Nancy.
20:34Is she fancy?
20:35She's terribly fancy.
20:36In fact, the kids at school call her Fancy Nancy.
20:39Fancy Nancy.
20:40I love that.
20:41They do.
20:42That's so sweet.
20:43I mean, when the weather is like this, this is...
20:46Oh, this is beautiful.
20:47Yeah, and the views here are pretty sensational.
20:50Mm.
20:51Yeah.
20:52You could be right in the heart of Compita there, you know, with all the bars
20:55and the restaurants and everything going on.
20:56There could even be a fiesta going on.
20:58Mm-hmm.
20:59But moments around the corner is this tranquility with these views.
21:04So it's nice.
21:05You've got this real beautiful balance.
21:07Yeah.
21:08Yeah, absolutely.
21:09Even if you're in town.
21:10Yeah.
21:11This is great.
21:12So that you don't necessarily have to have a villa to get the tranquility.
21:14Well, I didn't want to say that, Ed.
21:16It's what you were implying.
21:17Ding, ding, ding.
21:18It really was.
21:19Yeah.
21:20But we are going to walk to the next village because that is where the next property is.
21:23Just over there.
21:24Come on.
21:25That's exciting.
21:26Coming up with the pressure on to find Jen and Ed.
21:33That all-important third bedroom, plus the space, plus the views, plus a pool.
21:39Look at my next property.
21:41This amazing duplex.
21:42Do the trick.
21:43Today I'm helping Jen and Ed find the perfect holiday home in and around the beautiful white
21:57village of Compita.
21:58Just ten miles inland on the Costa del Sol.
22:01And with the two of them still so torn between a townhouse and a villa, well, the only way
22:05to progress this search is to show them something completely different.
22:10Working with a budget of up to £210,000, we've seen two two-bedroom properties and have one
22:17contender in this character-filled townhouse in Compita, which is what Jen originally asked
22:22for.
22:23But our villa option just outside of town, Ed's preference, was rejected because of its winding
22:28access road and lack of views.
22:31We've now come to the neighbouring village of Canillas Albaida, where property prices
22:37are about 10% lower than in Compita, for what I've labelled the perfect in-between for
22:43Jen and Ed.
22:44All righty.
22:46How do we feel about this?
22:48I mean, if it's all of this...
22:50It's not.
22:51It's huge.
22:52It's been a little bit risky here.
22:55OK.
22:56OK.
22:57Like a...
22:58There's you that wants a townhouse.
22:59Yes.
23:00Ed, you want a villa.
23:01What I really think you want is a duplex.
23:04OK.
23:05OK.
23:06So, above is your neighbour.
23:08Below, your front door, plus the next level down, is a three-bedroom.
23:15Three-bedroom.
23:16Three-bedroom.
23:17It has a garden.
23:19Oh, right.
23:20OK.
23:21We're in the market for just over £199,000.
23:25OK.
23:26Open to negotiation.
23:27OK, right.
23:28We like that, don't we?
23:29Oh, we do.
23:30Love me a bargain.
23:31We will definitely be negotiating, I think.
23:33OK.
23:34If it's something you like.
23:35Yes.
23:36Shall we get inside, then?
23:37Let's do it.
23:38Yes.
23:40While they don't exactly seem blown away by my duplex option, but the garden area here
23:44is great.
23:45And did I forget to mention that it's home to a lovely pool?
23:48There's also a first-floor terrace with views that were missing at my last.
23:54Inside, there's a spacious living room open to the dining area and a separate modern kitchen.
24:01The main suite is huge with built-in storage and a shower room.
24:06The second also has the storage and there's a third.
24:09Finally, there's a family bathroom.
24:13Look at this space, guys.
24:16There's lots of space.
24:17Yes.
24:18Loads of it.
24:19It lacks character.
24:22I know.
24:23But it could be brought in in some ways, but it does lack character.
24:28It does.
24:29I knew you'd say that.
24:30Yes.
24:31We're essentially looking at a new-build property.
24:33Yes.
24:34You know, it isn't, you know, it isn't the first house with all that kind of period charm.
24:40Mm-hmm.
24:41But looking at the villa we've just come from, where you were willing to inject that character,
24:47do you think that's something you might be able to do here?
24:51Yes.
24:52Possibly.
24:53Never say never.
24:54It's a lovely blank canvas, even though it does have a little bit of leopard print there.
24:58I caught that.
24:59Glad you picked up on it.
25:00I want the cushion included.
25:01Had that flown in, especially.
25:04No, but it's a great, it feels like a solid, well-built house.
25:07Yeah.
25:08Which is great.
25:10It's a good-sized kitchen.
25:11It's got everything you need.
25:12Yeah.
25:13Yes.
25:14Let's talk about the panoramic view.
25:16I wasn't even looking at the view.
25:18I was looking at the kitchen cupboards.
25:20I feel like I'm in a house in the UK, and at that, a very basic house in the UK.
25:29When you said basic, it just means in terms of like, what it does often style-wise.
25:32Like, I'm a boring house in the UK.
25:34You're bored.
25:35I'm bored.
25:36Ah.
25:41Guys.
25:44How about this?
25:45The pool's lovely.
25:46The pool is actually a really good size.
25:47It is.
25:48It is lovely.
25:49And there's space for deck chairs around.
25:51But it's overlooked by the property above.
25:54Yes, it is slightly overlooked by the property above.
25:59Okay.
26:00I mean, I would say I like it.
26:02I don't love it.
26:03No.
26:04I...
26:05It's a place that you could forget about.
26:08You could forget it quite easily.
26:10Okay.
26:11It's just not us.
26:12It just doesn't really have the character.
26:14No.
26:15I think it's best to end that one there.
26:17This is a great property, ticking a lot of Jen and Ed's boxes.
26:20But perhaps it's not the Spanish Liddle that they've had in their mind for the last few years.
26:24It's on the market within budget at just over £199,000.
26:33It's time to turn this search on its head once again with a trip down to Torrox.
26:38While it may not be what they originally asked for, I think it's worth the risk.
26:43It's a large town split in two with the centre a couple of miles inland and on the coast, Torrox Costa, its beach area, which is where we're heading first.
26:53Right, real change of scenery now, we're down at the beach.
26:57We are.
26:58Hell's the breeze.
26:59Interesting.
27:00You've got swathes of beachfronts here.
27:02And also beyond the lighthouse behind us is a little doggy beach.
27:07So I'm thinking...
27:08I'm thinking Nancy.
27:09Yeah.
27:10Nancy loves the beach.
27:11She wants to wet her paws.
27:12Yeah.
27:13She does.
27:14Meet up with some Spanish friends.
27:16Absolutely.
27:17Like, she would love that.
27:18Would she?
27:19Oh, yeah.
27:20She's like Pamela Anderson on Baywatch.
27:22Cheers.
27:23We're not staying at the beach.
27:25We are heading 11 minutes inland to Torrox, Pueblo.
27:30Okay?
27:31That sounds really good.
27:32I've been dying to see it actually.
27:33You've not been?
27:34We've not been.
27:35We've driven through it, but we've not actually been.
27:37And we've heard about it.
27:38So this is exciting actually.
27:40Let's go and see what it's all about then.
27:42Perfect.
27:43Property prices in Torrox are officially higher than in Compita as we're closer to the coast.
27:48But with more on the market and plenty of different property types available, if you have a good dig around there are some good deals to be had.
27:55How lovely is this?
27:57There's a street with these beautiful balconies and the plants tumbling down.
28:02It is a very, very pretty street indeed.
28:04Yeah.
28:05Lots of curb appeal and there's no motorbikes, there's no cars going up and down here.
28:11So that's really quite lovely.
28:13Yeah, it's beautiful.
28:14We are...
28:15When I say we, it's not we at all.
28:17You are going to go and have a look at this huge three-story house.
28:22Lovely.
28:23What's special about this house?
28:26And I think something you two as teachers might like.
28:28Oh.
28:29It's an old school.
28:30Oh, okay.
28:31It's been converted.
28:32You could be the perfect inhabitants.
28:34As long as it's not too school-like so that it's not like a bossman's holiday.
28:39Oh, no, it's rammed full of children.
28:41Oh, no.
28:42Ah!
28:43Ofsted.
28:44Yeah.
28:45Yeah.
28:46Exactly.
28:47This particular property has all the space you need.
28:52Four beds, three baths.
28:54It could even be three beds, one dressing room.
28:57Even better.
28:58Yes.
28:59Yes.
29:00Who are you going with that?
29:01So, price-wise, this is on the market just under £217,000.
29:06But the agent has said it should go for around about £203,500.
29:11£203,500?
29:13Yes, £1,000.
29:14Oh, okay.
29:15Fair.
29:16So, just into your wiggle room there.
29:17Yeah.
29:18Shall I leave you to it, then?
29:19Yeah, indeed.
29:20Yes.
29:21Get inside.
29:23Well, this has certainly got all the space they need to host all those friends and family.
29:30But will I get a gold star for effort?
29:34I think I deserve it.
29:35I think I deserve it.
29:37The outside space here consists of a first floor terrace and one on the roof.
29:43Inside, on the ground floor, there's a living room that leads through a space currently used
29:48as an office to a dining room and then a modern kitchen.
29:52Upstairs is the main bedroom with an ensuite bathroom and two further bedrooms that share
29:58a shower room.
29:59Then, on the top floor, the fourth bedroom is actually part of a self-contained apartment
30:04with a living and kitchen space and a shower room.
30:08Ooh.
30:09Okay.
30:11Straight into the lounge.
30:14Yeah.
30:15It feels quite dark.
30:16It does feel dark, but it is quite spacious.
30:19It's spacious and probably, I mean, we are in Spain, so we'd probably be quite welcome
30:26to this.
30:27Yeah.
30:28On a really hot day.
30:29Oh, wow.
30:30What a hallway.
30:31Oh, it's quite impressive.
30:33It's, I feel like I'm in an art gallery.
30:36Yeah, I love that natural light coming in.
30:38It's fantastic.
30:40And tiles as well.
30:42Oh, wow.
30:43That is quite a view.
30:45It is.
30:46You're right.
30:47It is a nice view.
30:48Plenty of space for sun loungers and a table.
30:52This townhouse closer to the coast in Torrox has four bedrooms and is on the market for
30:57a negotiable asking price of just under £217,000.
31:02It's a really interesting house.
31:05There's lots of really cool quirks in there, lots of interesting character, which, you know,
31:09quite a lot of we liked.
31:11This is, I was just going to say, that is the main reason for you being here.
31:14Yeah, yeah.
31:15The character plus the space.
31:16Yeah, the thing that we feel about this house is it's probably somewhere that I might
31:19like to come and stay once, explore Torrox.
31:22Would we want to own it?
31:24I don't think so.
31:25No.
31:26It's neither here nor there.
31:28I don't really, it feels very disjointed.
31:31It doesn't flow.
31:32It makes us even more, I think, appreciate property number one.
31:37Yeah.
31:38And there is, at the very back of my head, property number two, the villa.
31:43What is in the running still?
31:44Just the first one or are you bringing back into play the villa?
31:48I'm not sure we're bringing the second one back in.
31:50Uh-huh.
31:51But it's definitely, we'd like to see something of that.
31:54You feel like that lifestyle would work?
31:55Yes.
31:56Yeah.
31:57Given the right villa.
31:58Yeah, definitely.
31:59Definitely.
32:00I do have a villa to show you, in the interest of fair play.
32:03Excellent.
32:04Let's go and see it.
32:05Back to Competa.
32:06All right.
32:07Coming up in this epic contest, can we give Team Townhouse a run for its money?
32:11For me, it's right up there.
32:13Ooh.
32:14So far, it's right up there.
32:15Yeah.
32:16Today I'm house hunting around the stunning city.
32:22I'm house hunting around the stunning white village of Competa in Malaga province with
32:28teachers, Jen and Ed, who are in search of the perfect holiday home for the whole family.
32:33And with only one property in contention, I've got to pull the stops out with my last one.
32:39Working with a budget of £200,000, that front runner is this character townhouse, fitting
32:45Jen's original brief.
32:46Ed has a preference for villas, but while our second place just outside Competa did impress
32:51them, the steep access road and lack of views means it's not on the list.
32:57So, coming up in an attempt to make this a two-horse race, it's another villa we're
33:02going to see.
33:04But before heading there, I'm slipping away to check out a rather stylish pad down on the
33:10coast.
33:11That's listed for just shy of £1.5 million.
33:14While this villa is fairly new and filled with contemporary touches, it manages to blend
33:19in beautifully to its surroundings.
33:21And I can't wait to get inside.
33:24So Ben, welcome to Villa Romana.
33:27Oh, what a place.
33:29Yeah, especially with that view out toward the sea.
33:33The quality of light here is absolutely fantastic.
33:38This is what a lot of people are after, aren't they?
33:41But my only worry is, how do you deal with the heat?
33:43Because this is a lot of glass, south facing.
33:46The thing is, we have good isolation in this property.
33:49We also have AC units, which are both warm and cold.
33:53Yeah.
33:54And it's all powered by our thermical system.
33:56Right.
33:57So it's very easy to control the temperature and it's all fully built in.
34:02I really like this fireplace, which acts as a divider between this wonderful living space
34:08and then of course the kitchen dining area.
34:11So Ben, what do you think?
34:13I love it.
34:14This is really well executed, especially down to this very sociable space here, which
34:20I haven't seen before actually.
34:22This kind of informal seating area next to the kitchen, the dining space.
34:26You can grab a coffee with your mates.
34:27Super cool.
34:28Chatting.
34:29Yeah, it's really nice.
34:30I would spend probably most of my time there.
34:33If I'm not outside, it would be there.
34:35But I want to come out there.
34:36Let's go out.
34:37Yeah.
34:43How nice, Nils, to spend your time every day stepping onto this, enjoying that view.
34:49Yeah, this view is amazing.
34:51You can see the pool down there.
34:52That's so stylish.
34:53Isn't it nice?
34:54That is so well done.
34:55And you can enjoy it the whole year round because it's heated.
34:58Yeah.
34:59And a big part of the success of the house is having this planting which softens these
35:04white walls.
35:05They're the perfect backdrop.
35:07It feels like space you want to be in.
35:09What do you mean?
35:10Well, look, I could probably stay here for at least the rest of my life.
35:13I don't know.
35:14Better get back on with my search.
35:16Which way should we go, Nils?
35:17I think we should head this way, right?
35:19Come on, then.
35:21Oh, yeah.
35:22Looks like Nils saved you from the sight of me and my budgie smugglers there.
35:28And that's not a bad thing as I'm keen to get back on with the search with Jen and Ed
35:32anyway.
35:33My final offering is just outside Competer.
35:36But before heading there, as I know Jen loves a gallery or two, we're heading to one.
35:43We're back in Competer.
35:45Yes.
35:46Back in the arty, well, the arty hub of Competer.
35:50This beautiful light of life gallery, which I know you've been to before, haven't you?
35:53We were on holiday here.
35:54They've got some wonderful pieces.
35:56We met the owners.
35:57They're really nice.
35:58We came out into this part of the gallery and we know that they've had like art symposiums
36:02and other events here.
36:04Exactly.
36:05And that's something that if it was on, we would be very interested in.
36:08In the autumn, they have the art festival, which was founded by Luca, who has this amazing
36:14gallery.
36:15So you could become part of this art festival and the art walk here, where you stroll around
36:20town, meeting all the resident artists, international artists coming into the town as well.
36:25It's just unbelievably sort of amazing to see all this creativity going on.
36:30Yeah, definitely.
36:31It is.
36:32It's a melting pot of creatives out here by the sounds of it, so.
36:33Yeah.
36:34Yeah.
36:35No, that would be excellent and it would be something that is very important to us.
36:39Okay.
36:40So we are going to head off now, go and see this Villa Ed in Competer.
36:44Yep.
36:45Yes.
36:46Let's go and do it.
36:47Super.
36:48I think my final place is as good as the Villa we saw earlier, but with a couple of
36:53concerns Jen and Ed had, rectified.
36:56Fingers crossed.
36:57Oh, well guys, it's our fifth and our final house, our Villa Ed.
37:03And look at the view from the front door.
37:05Yeah.
37:06Gorgeous.
37:07I mean, location wise, you've got us very excited here.
37:09Have I indeed.
37:10Yeah.
37:11Short drive from Competer, beautiful scenery.
37:13Yeah, and an easy drive too.
37:15The drive in here was, I mean, it was totally perfect.
37:19Let's just go over what this property needs to have given everything we've seen so far.
37:24Character.
37:25Character.
37:26Yep.
37:27Which already, I mean, I love just everything that I see so far.
37:31That's great.
37:32The three bedrooms.
37:34Four.
37:35Four.
37:36Yeah, four.
37:37What you haven't mentioned is a pool.
37:39Yeah.
37:40We'll wait for you to say it.
37:41Yeah.
37:42That's the only place I may have let you down or, or maybe not, because it hasn't got
37:49a pool, but they started building a plunge pool a number of years ago.
37:54It just needs completing.
37:55Okay.
37:56And you'd have the money to do it.
37:58I was about to say the other P after pool is price.
38:02Yeah, pool price.
38:03That's it.
38:04So this is just under £185,000.
38:06Oh, wow.
38:07Okay.
38:08Okay.
38:09It's a surprise.
38:10Well, look, we should probably get inside and have a look at this, shouldn't we?
38:15There's that terrace at the front and one at the back with gardens that extend
38:19down a slope with room for the pool.
38:22Inside, the living and dining space is open plan with lights coming in from both sides
38:27and the kitchen is a good size.
38:30The main bedroom has access to an en suite.
38:34The second and third share a large shower room.
38:37The fourth, with its en suite, is in the annex next door.
38:41All right.
38:42Here we go.
38:44Okay.
38:45Yes.
38:46Lots of space.
38:47Loads of space.
38:48I'm excited.
38:49Are you?
38:50I'm excited.
38:51Yes.
38:52Yeah, yeah, yeah.
38:53Love the floor.
38:54For me, it's the villa equivalent, perhaps, of the townhouse.
38:59What I see so far, I really like.
39:04Now, look at this.
39:06The main bedroom, the main event.
39:09The vintage.
39:10Loving that.
39:11Yeah, I'm loving that.
39:13I mean, look at that view.
39:14Yeah.
39:15Great.
39:16You can even see the sea.
39:17I can see that some of the paint is peeling away up here.
39:20I don't think they're huge issues.
39:23I'm not going to let that put me off.
39:25Okay.
39:26Because I'm still very excited.
39:27Mm.
39:28Yes.
39:29As long as you wouldn't uncover a mountain of stuff to do.
39:34Mm.
39:35It would actually be really exciting to do up this place.
39:37Yeah.
39:40Well, look.
39:41You can access the terrace from a number of the rooms, but...
39:44Wow.
39:45How about it?
39:46Wow.
39:47Yeah.
39:48Isn't it?
39:49It's a lot of terrace and a lot of views and a lot to take in.
39:54It is.
39:55Big garden.
39:56You might not believe it at the moment, but it is a big garden.
39:58Is it?
39:59Yes.
40:00Well, it's terraced down the side of the hill.
40:02Okay.
40:03The next level down is very usable.
40:04That's where you'll find the half-started pool.
40:07Okay.
40:08Oh, okay.
40:09And then the rest of it is more kind of olive trees tumbling down the hill.
40:13Right.
40:14It's really interesting.
40:15Yeah.
40:16It's really intriguing.
40:17Yeah.
40:18I'm feeling good about this.
40:20You've got so much to take in.
40:21So much to think about.
40:22So much to see.
40:23Still.
40:24Yeah.
40:25So go and see it.
40:26Yeah.
40:28Oh.
40:29Right at the very end, I think we do have another contender with this one.
40:33But what will it be?
40:35Will it be Team Villa?
40:36Or will it be Team Townhouse?
40:39Who knows?
40:42I mean, another perfect, like, great bedroom.
40:45Yeah.
40:46Yeah.
40:47Good size.
40:48100%.
40:49Yeah.
40:50Yeah.
40:51Stick some cupboards here, wardrobe baby.
40:52Yeah.
40:53Well, this is pretty dreamy.
40:54It is.
40:55It's got potential written all over it.
40:57Yeah.
40:58The pool is good for size for a plunge pool.
41:01It would be great to see if we could possibly extend that.
41:04Yeah.
41:05This villa with potential four bedrooms and a below budget asking price of just under £185,000
41:11seems to have got Jen and Ed excited.
41:14Not going to lie, I've been soaking those bad boys up.
41:17I mean, you could just sit here all day and not move, couldn't you?
41:20You could, actually.
41:21Yeah.
41:22How have you found the rest of the property?
41:24You really feel something here.
41:25Yeah.
41:26We can basically see loads and loads of stuff that we want to do here, which could make this
41:29place absolutely amazing.
41:31And I think the question is, you know, is that kind of work that we want to undertake?
41:37Yeah.
41:38Does it then become a little bit too much for a project rather than a holiday home?
41:43But also, at the same time, it could be sensational.
41:46Yeah.
41:47It really could be.
41:48Yeah.
41:49So this is definitely a contender, right?
41:50Yeah.
41:51Two great ones.
41:52Both entirely different.
41:54Yeah, we've got a lot of thinking to do, but we're in a really lucky position.
41:58So you're probably going to want to take the evening, maybe a couple of drinks.
42:01You do that.
42:02Yeah.
42:03Let's meet up tomorrow.
42:04Brilliant.
42:05You can tell me what you want to do.
42:06Absolutely.
42:07All right.
42:08Yeah.
42:09Come on then.
42:10Yeah.
42:11If you'd like more information on any of the properties featured on today's show,
42:18you know what to do.
42:19Go to aplaceinthesun.com forward slash programs.
42:24We've come to the end of our search for Jen and Ed's perfect holiday home around the Puebla
42:29Blanca of Compita, working with their budget of up to £210,000.
42:33While I tried a few different options from the start, this one has been a battle between
42:38Jen's preference for a townhouse and Ed's for a villa.
42:42With one of each in the mix, I can't wait to find out what they've decided to do.
42:47Oh, guys.
42:48Good morning.
42:49How are you?
42:50Looking glamorous, by the way.
42:52It's been a long night.
42:53It's been a long night.
42:54Has it really?
42:55An emotional night.
42:56And, yeah.
42:57An emotional night.
42:58Yeah.
42:59It's been an epic search.
43:01The beautiful villa just outside Compita, it really blew us away, didn't it?
43:07Yeah, it's property then.
43:08Yeah.
43:09And it was romantic.
43:11It had emotion and, yeah, really, really special property, that.
43:17So where are you guys at then?
43:19Because you're talking so positively.
43:21It sounds a bit mad, really, but we have decided not to put an offer on Property 5.
43:28Yeah.
43:29Really?
43:30Yeah.
43:31So it would have been Property 5 for you?
43:32For both of us.
43:33Yeah.
43:34Definitely.
43:35So what's happened?
43:36Well, you know, being teachers, we get certain holidays and what we wanted to do with new
43:41kitchens, new bathrooms, landscaping, stripping the walls back, new tiles and finishing the
43:45pool, it was going to take a lot of time for us to be out here organising that, sorting
43:49that, and we just, we don't know if we can give that much time.
43:53Do you feel like that would be biting off more than you could choose?
43:56That's exactly what we felt it might be.
43:57It would be.
43:58It would be time, but also money.
43:59The positive of this is that we do know now what we want.
44:02Yeah.
44:03We know exactly what we want.
44:04Something like Property 5, but that is a little bit more ready, a little bit more
44:10closer to completion perhaps.
44:12And what this whole search has taught us, that in order to do that, we are going to
44:15have to up our budget.
44:17I'm sure that right property is just around the corner for you.
44:20Okay.
44:21I'll keep my fingers crossed.
44:22Yeah.
44:23In the meantime, keep us up to date.
44:24We will.
44:25Hopefully you'll be finding a place soon.
44:27Cheers, guys.
44:28Cheers.
44:29Sláinte.
44:30Sláinte.
44:31Well, as they say, every day is a day at school.
44:37And my goodness, has this search been an education?
44:40Okay.
44:41It hasn't happened quite this time for newlyweds Jen and Ed, but the love affair with Compita
44:46continues.
44:47And I'm sure their happily ever after is right around the corner.
44:51If you'd like help with your property search and want to be on a place in the sun, then
44:56go to channel4.com slash take part.
44:59.
45:21.
45:22.
45:24.
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