Original subtitles

Today I'm on Spain's stunning Costa Blanca,

house-hunting in and around the seaside town of Gran Alacant.

I'm Jean Johansson, and over the last 15 years I've been buying,

selling and renovating properties both in the UK and overseas.

Today I'll be using my skills to help Marcia, who's brought along

sister Paulette to help, and Marcia's putting family life

centre of her house search.

Quite a big space out here. What would you do with it?

Gaming table for the boys, perhaps. And all the deckchairs,

the barbecue, it's lovely. And for this lady,

it's all about instinct where property is concerned.

Are you the type of person that gets a feeling when you come into

a property? I do. Yes, definitely. I think we both got the feeling.

This is really lovely. Fantastic.

I get to look around a luxury villa with some unusual horticulture.

Where do you start with this?

Wow, a cactus farm over there!

It's very nice. It's very beautiful. But at the end of the day,

will I find Marcia's perfect place in the sun?

So, should I just call the agent now?

Almost. Oh, great!

Marcia has always dreamed of owning a holiday home in the sun.

And now that the funds are in place,

she's decided there's no time like the present to find a property

that can suit her and her whole family.

And she's brought sister Paulette, who knows her better than anyone,

to help with the search.

Marcia, who works for a charity, and Paulette, a retired children's

nurse, are as close as sisters can be.

We're not argumentative. We've never fallen out.

And we get on really well and we like similar things.

We go on vacations together. She's like the glue,

so she always remembers birthdays

and anniversaries and she's very organised.

So I like that. You could call her up and, you know, there's nothing

that... She won't say no. If she can do it, she'll do it. I love that.

Paulette owns a holiday home in Valencia,

and Marcia has decided now is the perfect time to buy her very own

in and around Gran Alacant on the Costa Blanca.

She has a cash budget of £100,000 to find it.

A two-and-a-half-hour flight into Alicante and just a short drive

takes you to Gran Alacant in Costa Blanca on the east coast of Spain.

This fast-developing town is split into three levels -

top, middle and lower - and there are two beautiful beaches close by,

both with blue flags and gorgeous golden sand.

The area is made up of around 25 urbanisations,

each with their own shops, bars and restaurants, but it's also really

near to other traditional towns such as Santa Pola.

This part of the coast is definitely a holiday-maker's paradise.

This area has always been popular with European buyers

looking for holiday homes, but Alicante Airport, which is just

a 50-minute drive from here, is expecting its busiest season ever,

meaning prices are rising. But you can still get good value

for money in this area. A two-bedroom apartment close to

the beach with a pool starts at around £95,000,

so I should have some good options for Marcia and Paulette.

Before we start the search, I'm meeting my house hunters

to find out exactly what they're looking for.

Marcia and Paulette, welcome to Gran Alacant!

Thank you. It's nice to be here. It just puts a smile on your face,

doesn't it? It does! Look, you've not been to this area before,

so it's going to be my pleasure to introduce you to it. Lovely.

And why did you pick Gran Alacant? It seems to offer all the things

that we needed, because we are a multi-generational family.

Are we talking about a big brood here? Like mine!

THEY LAUGH

It is a big brood. I've got two other sisters,

beside Paulette, and three brothers. I also have two sons,

but I do have seven grandchildren. And we do like to holiday together.

Exactly, the same as me. I've got three sisters myself.

I have to say, I probably wouldn't bring them on a house hunt with me,

because we're just going to argue the whole time.

So is that going to happen with you two?

I'm just the voice of reason and, yeah, vision. Definitely.

And how will you spend your spare time when you're on holiday?

I like to go out for a walk in the mornings.

Keeping fit, that's my thing. So, yeah.

So, what are you looking for? Two bedrooms, absolute minimum.

Two bathrooms, if at all possible,

due to the amount of us there are that would be visiting at any time.

A sofabed might be a good set-up, then. OK. Lots of outside space,

so a big balcony or a solarium.

A pool on site would be really nice for my grandchildren.

Walking distance to amenities. If I could walk ten minutes to the beach,

I would love it even more. Oof! This list is getting longer!

Please tell me that's it. Yes. You are really setting me a challenge

there. So, how are you at compromising? I'm very good.

I think, you know, I do recognise that I have to be flexible.

OK, let's talk budget, then. You've got £100,000.

That scares me a little bit. Is there any wiggle room on that?

10,000 wiggle room? But for the perfect property. OK.

I have been coming to this area for a few years now, and what I have

noticed is, A, the prices have gone up,

and, B, properties go really quickly. The market is hot.

It's a real seller's market here right now. So space does come

at a premium. What I can show you is different variations of space,

different ways for you to use it. And I think when you see

all five properties, you'll know what you want for the family.

Are you guys ready? Yeah! Excited. Let's get started. Come on.

They might not have been here before, but I think they've chosen

a great spot for Marcia's holiday home. I'm looking forward to showing

them around almost as much as seeing the properties themselves.

So first, I'm taking them to Santa Pola, around a ten-minute drive

from Gran Alacant, to give them a bit of a feel for the area.

This would be your nearest kind of hub to Gran Alacant.

I've been at this square loads of times where it's buzzing

with people, coffees, glass of wine. Is that the kind of thing you like?

Definitely. I'd love to come and have coffee

or stop for lunch, and it looks like there's enough around

to actually entertain us as well in the evenings,

enough restaurants and bars. It's a lovely little area, and you've got

modern life happening here and then a 16th-century castle there,

a chapel inside and a museum, if you like a bit of history.

Well, I think for the grandchildren as well, just to be able to visit

and learn something more, what's going on in the area,

that would be really good. Right, time to see the first property.

Great. Looking forward to it.

A ten-, fifteen-minute drive back towards Gran Alacant. Come on.

We are kicking off the house hunt around four miles from here,

in the commercial centre of Gran Alacant.

I've managed to line up a fabulous property,

and although it's around a 45-minute walk to the beach,

I think the stunning pool that comes with this apartment will go down

a treat with Marcia's grandchildren.

So, I've brought you to a gated urbanisation. I really like it.

It looks very nice. It's clean. I like the area around it

for sun loungers. It's nicely kept. It's nicely kept, isn't it?

It is. And it's nice and enclosed as well for the children.

And this is one of two pools that covers all the properties

in this urbanisation. Wow. That's nice. Yeah.

Would you like to see the property now? Yes, please!

Let's go back inside. Come on.

So, what were we? Under a two-minute walk from the pool,

and this property is in a great location. Look, you can see

the supermarket there. You've got shops, bars, restaurants.

Really short walking distance is great. Let's have a look at

the property, then. Look, here. What I've got for you is a two-bedroom,

one-bathroom apartment. You can see some nice outside space there.

And it's got a solarium as well. Great. This property is on the

market for just under £104,500.

The agent has said that could be a bit negotiable.

I've got a lot of the things that you put on your wish list.

Yeah, definitely. Yep. Can't wait to go in. Come on.

As well as the communal pools, the urbanisation has a small

playground, too, that I'm sure Marcia's grandchildren will love.

There's a fabulous balcony overlooking the complex to the front

of the apartment and a spiral staircase up to a huge roof terrace

with space for all the family. Inside is a lounge/diner,

a separate kitchen, two good-sized double bedrooms and a bathroom.

This terrace is south-west-facing. A lot of sun out there. Lovely.

Come in here, tell me what you think. Not sure if I'd fit

all six of us if six of us was here, but, yeah, it's a nice space.

I mean, for this budget in this area, I think it's quite a good

size. You've got your two bedrooms. If you get a sofabed in here,

you're already sleeping six. This space would work, really,

just as a functional room for one thing. Right. For living,

great. For living and dining,

not so great. It's quite cramped. I hear what you're saying

about a dining area, but you've got a great solarium upstairs

that I mentioned. You could put a dining space outside there.

I mean, you've got a property in Spain.

How often do you eat inside? Not often!

Thank you! Yeah. When the sun's out, you want to be sat outside.

What about the style of it, how it's decorated?

The decor, it's neutral. As a starting point,

I think it's actually really, really good.

You seem to be on the same page with this one, which is nice.

Is this how my whole search is going to go? Are you just going to agree

on everything, because you're sisters? ALL: No!

What are you like personality-wise? Similar. I think Marcia's

really conservative. She's very conservative and she's very kind of

level. Me, not so much, so... A bit more outgoing,

a bit more loud. Nice to hear that you complement each other.

So why don't you go upstairs,

have a look at that space, see if that could work for you,

then come back in and look round the rest of the property?

Then come and find me and tell me what you think.

Yeah? Good. Take your time. Off you go.

Hmm, I think I've got a pair of cool characters on my hands here!

I can't really tell what they think of it. Let's see.

OK, so this is a really nice space. Yeah, it's got good views.

This creates that extra living space. It is, it is, definitely.

It's a nice size. Really good size. Just needs refreshing, isn't it,

really, to our taste? Yeah. That's all it really needs.

This Gran Alacant apartment, on the market for just under a negotiable

£104,500, was definitely good for Marcia on paper.

In reality, will that mean I've got a contender?

So, you had to look round that great solarium and the whole property.

So what do you think? The bathroom size is really good.

I agree. And the kitchen is ample - for my needs, anyway.

The solarium is a great space. Does it work for dining outside

as a family? It definitely does. What about you, Paulette?

What doesn't work for me is the transition point from A to B,

which is a spiral staircase, because we've got young children.

So the biggest point is the safety aspect. Yeah, I hear you.

I've had an active child myself, so that is a valid concern.

But it's a contender? Not for me, I think. Ohhh!

I think there's just not enough room in there.

So, for moving on, I want to get that contender.

I can offer you a bit more space - a BIT more space.

I'm working with £110,000 here.

And I promise you, no spiral staircases. That'd be great.

How does that sound, Paulette? That'd be great. Come on, ladies.

I feel like I'm starting to get an idea of what Marcia is really

looking for. But before we do anything else, I think there's time

for a bit of a break, and I have a perfect place in mind.

For my next property, I had to bring you to one of my favourite beaches.

This is Carabassi Beach. I really like it.

I like that it's very natural still,

without being hemmed by little shops and things.

Yeah, you've got the sand dunes. This is all protected land here.

There's a great promenade, so you can have some nice walks.

If you want to get active, I think paddleboarding's a really

nice thing for kids of all ages, and for about 35 quid you could hire

a paddleboard. Ever tried that one, Paulette? Yeah. And I fell off.

Well, it's nice here because it's quite shallow, so it's nice

for younger ones. Right, my next property is about a 20-minute walk

from here. There's also a bus that can take you up the hill.

An exercise coming down and a ride going up there.

Yes. Lovely!

Coming up, if Marcia and Paulette want something with

a bit more space, then this fantastic two-bedroom apartment

with this huge roof terrace - and no spiral staircase! -

should be right up their street.

Today, I'm helping Marcia find her dream holiday home

in and around Gran Alacant on Spain's stunning Costa Blanca,

and she's brought her sister Paulette along

to help with the search. Property one just wasn't quite right.

Well, they both liked aspects of it. They felt the living space was

too small and weren't too keen on the spiral staircase to

the roof terrace. But although Marcia's budget of

up to £110,000 is quite tight and her wish list rather long,

I'm definitely up for the challenge to find a property that would work

for her whole extended family.

So I've taken them to Upper Gran Alacant on the hillside, where the

views are spectacular. My next property is in a complex where

around 40% are permanent residents, so there's a buzz here

all year round.

Right, follow me. We are still only about 20 minutes from the beach.

A five-minute walk from here, you've got a whole strip

of all kinds of restaurants. Sounds really good.

What you're looking at is a two-bedroom top-floor apartment

and uninterrupted views. Yeah, looks good. I think you felt

with the previous property things were a bit tight.

I think this one gives you just a little bit more of everything.

You've got this space down here, you've got a lovely terrace,

and then you've got a solarium as well. I feel like the first

impressions are good. Yeah! Promising. OK. It's on the market

for just over £108,500. Again, that is a bit negotiable. As a package,

how is this sounding to you? It's sounding really good, actually.

And I like the way the outside looks. It looks really clean

and it's got really good kerb appeal. Let me take you in. Lovely!

There's a fabulous communal pool in this urbanisation,

perfect for Marcia's grandchildren. And the private outdoor space will

also work well for the whole family, with the ground-floor terrace

at the entrance, a large balcony and a much more conventional

way up to the huge roof terrace with lovely views.

Inside is a large, bright, open-plan living area with a lounge,

dining area and modern kitchen.

There are two good-sized double bedrooms and a shower room.

Up the stairs, straight into the living room.

This is lovely! What a surprise! It's really good.

The zoned areas are... Defined. ..usable. Yeah.

Really usable spaces. Yeah. No, this is really nice. I think

if you've got a group of people here, that is nice, just to have

the wider living space. You've got the kitchen, open-plan. I like this.

You could feel the space around us. You know, it doesn't feel cramped.

I think everything is just, like Paulette says, well defined.

I can tell you're both happier with this one.

Are you the type that gets a feeling when you walk into a property?

Yeah. What feeling are you getting with this? I think we both got

the feeling. We both felt this and we thought,

"No, this is really lovely. It's fantastic."

Bathroom. Second bedroom across the hall. What do you think

of this one? It's spacious enough. It's got the bed,

it's got bedside tables, built-in wardrobes.

I love the view out the window. That is so good.

Again, nice outside space here.

Lovely. What do you think of these stairs, Paulette?

Yeah, I like it. Good. Come on up.

What do you think of this? What a great view! It's fantastic.

This is the Costa Blanca, you know, nice and green.

You've got the mountains and you've got the sea.

It's lovely. Quite a big space out here.

What would you do with it? Gaming table for the boys, perhaps.

And all the deck chairs, the barbecue. I'm just looking around.

I don't see privacy screens, but I think that some privacy screens

would be really helpful. And it's really a lot of what we've

asked for. So go back downstairs, look at the second bedroom,

check out the kitchen,

and then you can come and tell me what I think I know!

Take your time. Thank you. Thank you.

They are all smiles. It's obvious to me they love this property.

Result!

This is the second bedroom. It's not a bad size,

actually. No. It's got some wardrobes in here. They're ample.

So there's plenty of storage as well, actually. And there's

a nice window, so there's a lot of natural light in here.

Mm! This is really nice.

It's a really big, spacious kitchen for a holiday home.

It's got lots of countertops, plenty of cupboards.

I think it's got a lot going for it, a real lot going for it.

It's all here.

I don't normally say this, but I'm feeling very confident about

this Upper Gran Alacant apartment on the market for just over £108,500.

Hi, Jean. Hello! So, should I just call the agent now?

Almost. Oh, great! Great. What did you think

when you looked round the whole thing? Really nice. Really like it.

Nice and spacious. And it really does offer everything.

What did you make of the pool area? It's a really nice pool.

It's really clean and it's really quiet.

So, yeah, lovely pool. I'm really, really pleased that we've

stepped it up several notches. So, no, I think it's a great property.

Excellent! I mean, this is all sounding good.

So is it a contender? Definitely. Yeah!

Definitely on the list. Fantastic. I'm not surprised.

It's a great property. This is the one to beat now.

So, I'm going to take you to a new area,

one that I think you'll like. Looking forward to it. Come on.

As Marcia has never been to this part of Spain before and we now have

a very strong contender in the bag in Gran Alacant, I think it's time

to explore elsewhere, so I'm taking them

around a half an hour's drive south of here, to Ciudad Quesada,

as I think it could be a brilliant alternative location.

But before we see the property, I want to introduce them to Caroline,

who knows this particular spot very well.

Hi, Caroline. Hi! Nice to meet you. I want you to start thinking

about how your life can be here when you've got a holiday home.

And, Caroline, you've been in Quesada ten years.

I have been in Quesada for ten years. Great person to talk to.

How have you managed to sort of integrate into the community?

What I found was the best way to connect in this area,

because it's so multicultural

and there's so many people with so many different languages,

is to follow your passion. There's lots of access

to hiking and walking groups, wellbeing groups.

You can be on the beach in the morning, you can be in the mountains

in the afternoon. Tell me how far it is to the beach, Caroline.

Maximum ten minutes. But one of the nice things about this area is

you have a choice of beaches. You've got your beaches

with your promenade and your restaurants, but then you've also

got more rural beaches with the dunes and the pine forest.

So you have the choice. You run yoga sessions here.

What kind of yoga is it? I run yoga classes, wellbeing days

and yoga retreats here, yoga and brunch.

In summer we do Yin & Gin. Ooh!

THEY LAUGH

Sounds fun. Great chatting to you, Caroline. We need to scoot off.

We've got another property to see, girls. Thank you, Caroline. Bye!

Coming up, will my next property,

which offers even more space and this fantastic communal pool,

be just what Marcia is looking for?

Today I'm in Spain with sisters Marcia and Paulette,

helping them find the dream holiday home

that can work for the whole family in and around Gran Alacant.

And, yes, I've bagged myself my first contender.

They have a large family, and so Marcia is looking for as much space

as possible for her maximum £110,000 budget

close to the beach as well as shops and restaurants.

She loved the spacious townhouse in Gran Alacant,

but as this part of Spain is totally new to both of them,

I'm keen to show them some other areas, too,

so I've taken them around a 30-minute drive south to

Ciudad Quesada and to an apartment

close to a popular golf course with lovely views over the town.

Slightly further from the coast, Marcia will get more bang

for her buck here, and while it does mean they'd have to drive

to the beach, the property has a fantastic pool.

What are your first impressions? I think this is a nice area.

It's got a great view. And I think, while I like this pool area,

I'm not sure I quite like the fact that it feels surrounded

by all these houses. Yeah, I mean, it is a built-up area, and I think

with the previous property you saw a little bit more green.

But Quesada does have a lot going for it.

About a 50-minute drive to Guardamar, which is a great beach

with a lovely promenade, and it's a 15-minute stroll

down to your nearest shops. I think my next property offers improvements

on the previous one, but let's see what you think.

It's right there. Let's head over. Lovely.

So, I've got a two-bedroom, one-bathroom first-floor apartment.

Let's start with kerb appeal for this one. From the front, yes,

it looks pretty tidy, actually. Yeah. Yeah. Nice. Paulette? Yes.

I think that the wall's obscuring, possibly, some treasures behind.

This is a little garden with the privacy of the wall.

At the other side of the house is a nice terrace with views,

and then you've got a great space on the roof.

So how does that sound for you? Well, that sounds really promising.

It sounds like you've given us what we've been asking for.

Good price for this one as well. It's on the market for just under

£103,500. Great price. Sounds great. Yeah. Let's get in. Come on.

I think they're a bit on the fence about this property so far.

But despite feeling that the communal pool area is built-up,

I'm hoping they'll love the private space with this apartment.

There's that walled garden area at the front and a pretty balcony with

room for some alfresco dining. Plus, there's a great-sized roof terrace

with gorgeous views. There's a bit of a bonus space up here,

too, a room that could be used for storage

or Marcia's grandchildren to hang out.

Inside the main apartment is a kitchen and dining area

open to the lounge.

There are two good-sized double bedrooms and a family bathroom.

Step in here. This looks very nice. Nice and airy,

bright, lots of light and a fantastic view out of the doors.

Told you! What about in here? How is the space working?

I like that things are compartmentalised so that, actually,

it's proper living. Yeah. You both feel a little bit lukewarm,

to me. What's going on? I do like it, but compared to

the other property, I do feel that it feels a bit smaller.

I knew I was going to have a battle on my hands.

To beat that last property, I think the outside space up here does that,

so let's go up and check out the roof terrace here.

This is a really nice space. I can see that they've got

everything - barbecue tables and chairs. So there's day beds,

so there's really plenty of room for everything here.

And of course it has this fantastic view once again.

But to be honest, Jean, I don't feel it offers

as much space on this solarium as the last property.

But if you just look, there's a structure. Have a look in there,

just walk round and talk to each other, then come back and tell me

what you think. OK? I'll see you soon.

This is a great property, but it's becoming clear to me

property two is the one to beat.

This is a great area, Marcia. I mean, it's a great space.

Shame about the height, but I think it's a great space

for the overspill of the younger ones.

I think the teenagers would love it as a hang-out.

This must be the master bedroom. Yeah, it's a bigger space.

And it is clean and it's well maintained.

Yeah. I'm not getting that feeling of "this is where I'd want to be".

Marcia and Paulette didn't seem to warm to this Quesada apartment,

on the market for just under £103,500.

Has the temperature changed now that they've seen it all?

Hi, Jean. Hi! Nice to see you again. I feel like you two are

buttering me up with those smiles. What's the verdict?

Is it a contender? While I like the property inside, I think what's

outside doesn't really give me that feeling of somewhere I'd want to be.

A bit too built-up for you. You kind of alluded to that by the pool.

Yeah. I know I've got that great contender in Gran Alacant that I

have to try and beat. So how can I do that? How can I improve

for my next property? Definitely a second bathroom or even a half

of a bathroom, a toilet. I'm hearing you, Marcia! OK. That'd be so great.

There are going to be compromises. You're giving me some good notes.

Let's move on. Lovely. Come on.

To give Marcia that extra bathroom she'd ideally like, my next option

is a little further inland. We're heading to Daya Nueva, a small

village with all the essentials for Marcia and the family.

It's a 20-minute drive from the coast, but I think it has

one of the best beaches, so we're going to stop off there en route.

Now, I wanted to bring you to the nearest beach to my next property,

because it's a good one. This is Guardamar. Oh, it's really

fantastic. Look at this lovely sand. And with the palm trees,

it's almost Caribbean-like. It's a beautiful beach.

And we were at Carabassi Beach earlier, which is a bit quieter.

You want the hustle and bustle of July and August, come to this beach

and this promenade. Yeah, there's bars and restaurants.

It goes on for seven miles. I know you're a walker,

so I wanted to bring you here, to see that you can just go

for some lovely, nice walks. Doing a couple of miles, just

the sort of thing I like. If you want to get active with the kids,

you can hire a bike for about £15 a day.

Have it for the whole day. Up and down you go. Fancy that, Paulette?

Yeah, I would fancy that, actually. It's more my kind of vibe.

For my next property, we're going a little bit inland,

but you are never too far from the beach. This is just 20 minutes

away. Thank you. OK? That's good. That's a good thing.

Further from the coast and a much smaller village,

house prices in Daya Nueva can be up to 35% cheaper than Gran Alacant.

So I've managed to line up a property with more space

for Marcia's family to bed down.

This is what I've got for you, a bungalow. This has got

three bedrooms, two bathrooms.

Hitting those points!

And I think this is the one, of all the properties I've shown you

so far, that could work for you and the family.

Why do you not look excited? Well, I think because I can't see

the bars and the restaurants. You've got bars and restaurants within

a five-minute walking distance of here. Oh, OK. Yeah.

I know you're a person that goes on feelings, so if initially you need

some time to take this in, that's OK. I think definitely.

This is on the market for, unbelievably, the same price

as property two. This is on for just over £108,500... Oh, wow!

...with the extra bedroom and the extra bathroom.

And the extra bathroom. So, yeah. So more for your money

when you come more inland. It's a little bit of a compromise,

because I'm working within your budget.

I think it's a compromise that's worth it,

but it's really down to you two. So look round this one on your own,

then come out, tell me what you think. We will. Yeah? Thanks, Jean.

Oh, I can't believe it. They seem underwhelmed.

It's time to start sorting out priorities.

Is it space or is it location?

There's a great communal pool that I think Marcia's grandchildren

will love and a large private garden to the front

with a dining area at one end. There's also a staircase

leading up to another terrace, with charming views

and access to one of the bedrooms, which has an en suite.

Inside the main part is a bright, open-plan lounge/diner with

the largest kitchen we've seen so far.

The main bedroom is a good-sized double and the third bedroom

is a double, too. Plus, there's that second bathroom.

Yeah, it's a nice space. Yeah. Nice dining area. Yep.

And it looks like a really good kitchen. This looks like something

that is very, very workable. Don't you think? It is. And I think

it is where the compromise comes in, in the location. Yeah.

So, I suppose this is the main bedroom. Pretty standard bedroom.

Same size as the last property. Same size. But, um, yeah,

but a good size. Yeah. Yeah.

This is a nice space. Of course, you've got the great view

of the mountains. Yeah. And I think this is really private.

Yeah, it's probably one of the most private ones we've seen so far,

actually. And this is still usable space, isn't it?

This is really usable space. Yeah.

Oh! Ooh! That's a bit of a surprise, isn't it? Yes, it is. Crikey.

This is a really good-sized room. And there's also a shower room.

I think at the moment I'm not quite feeling it.

Love the space, not the location. Agreed.

They seemed unsure outside this Daya Nueva bungalow,

on the market for just over £108,500.

I wonder what they're thinking about it now.

Hi. What did you think of my three- bedroom, two-bathroom bungalow?

Love the space. Mm. The third bedroom and bathroom

was a great surprise and an absolute bonus.

The location is what's not really grabbing me. All right. OK, so

the space is good. I'm glad. That's what I wanted to give you.

Location, you're not sure. What about you, Paulette?

I'm really glad that you brought us to a property that was

so different from the others, because I think it's really

helped us to kind of pin down what Marcia wants

and what she doesn't want and what she's willing to compromise on.

Is this a contender? That's in the balance. Mm!

Well, the space is great, but I'd have to really discuss it

with my family to see how they would feel about this location.

That is really sensible. I'd be a bit sad if you sort of

threw this away, because to have three bedrooms for the same price

as the property you love... Good. Just keep it on the back burner

for now. I've got one last chance. I've heard about a property

that has just come on the market. It's in your favourite,

Gran Alacant. So let's get in there quickly.

I need to show you this first. Great. Sounds good. Come on. Great.

Coming up, will I nail it with my final property?

Ooh! Very nice!

Looking good.

Today I'm on Spain's Costa Blanca, helping sisters Marcia and Paulette

find their dream holiday home in and around the popular town

of Gran Alacant. Marcia's looking for an apartment with space for

her whole family, and she's got a big brood.

She also wants lots of outside space and to be close to shops,

restaurants and ideally the beach, too. But with her maximum budget

of £110,000, it's a lot to ask of this area.

I do have a strong contender, though, this spacious apartment

in Gran Alacant. And this bungalow in Daya Nueva is on the back burner,

too, but they weren't too sure about the location.

I don't think that will be a problem with my final property, though -

a townhouse, no less, in a fabulous spot that could top the lot.

Before that, I'm heading off to visit an unusual property

in the heart of Alicante. This five-bedroom, five-bathroom home

is on the market for £6 million. Set in beautiful gardens with plenty

of places to choose from to relax and soak up the sun,

I'm meeting agent Elia, who's going to show me around.

Hi, Elia! Hi, Jean. How are you? I'm good.

Oh, wow! This is a unique property. It's called Casa del Sol,

House of the Sun. Oh, lovely. Can I see inside?

Yeah, let me show you around. Wonderful. Look at this!

Oh, wow! I feel a real Asian influence in this room.

Yeah. The owners, they travelled a lot,

and they brought many things from the travels.

And then this marble, it goes throughout the whole house.

It's Italian. It's called arabescata.

This whole place just feels very international,

and every piece I can tell has been picked out very,

very carefully. What a beautiful job the architect has done.

That sweeping staircase is just stunning.

Can I go up there? Yes, of course.

Oh! So pretty. I love all the fabrics and colours here.

Velvet, silk. It's gorgeous. It's beautiful.

Yeah. Lovely desk there as well. Yeah. It's a make-up desk

of the owner. That is the most fabulous make-up station

I've ever seen. It is so beautiful in here.

And to wake up to those views every morning!

They are very beautiful. It's my favourite part of this house.

Yeah, I really want to explore that garden, please. Let's go.

Where do you start with this? Wow! Yeah, it's gorgeous.

We've got a pool here. This has obviously been inspired by Bali.

It's beautiful. And then a cactus farm over there!

It's very nice. It's very beautiful. The garden feels as international

as the house. Yeah, yeah, yeah, because the trees come from

all over the world. Mm. It's so beautiful and exotic

and so nicely done. Thank you so much for showing me around.

Let me show you out.

It's back to the house hunt, and I'm taking Marcia and Paulette

back to Gran Alacant, as it's become clear that this

has been their favourite location so far.

And en route, there's somewhere really close by I want to show them.

Marcia, I know you love to walk, so I had to bring you guys to

El Clot de Galvany natural park. This is over 300 hectares

of unspoiled land that goes from the dunes near the beach

up to the mountains,

and it is a great place for you to spend as much time as you want.

It's beautiful. It's really, really lovely. I could see the children

sort of playing here. They'd love it. Yeah, they'd love it.

If you want to learn a bit more about some of the plant life

and wildlife, you can do a two-hour guided tour for free. Yeah.

And then once you know all the info, you can pass it on to other people.

That's great. My next property is about a nine-minute walk from here.

Excellent. I can just picture you visiting this place quite a lot.

Let's take a walk through the park on the way. Come on.

We're heading to a new residential area of Lower Gran Alacant.

And while this location does mean losing that third bedroom

and pushing her maximum budget, I think this property

has got everything else Marcia had on her wish list.

I'm excited about this one.

You have a cafe within two minutes' walking distance,

great restaurants within seven minutes, the beaches within ten.

Have I nailed it location-wise? Definitely a great location,

a great location for the family, because it just offers so much

of what everybody would be interested in. So I've nailed

the location. I just need to nail the property now.

So, what I've got for you is a two-bedroom, two-bathroom...

OK, great. ..townhouse. Yes. Very nice. I really wanted to offer you

a townhouse, because I think it will give you that sense of space

you've been after throughout the search.

It's on the market for just over £113,000,

but the agent has said that they'll listen to offers

around the top end of your budget at £110,000.

It's in this lovely urbanisation, and it's overlooking the pool.

Great. Shall we? Come on.

The communal pool here is set in lovely grounds.

The townhouse itself has a small terrace at the front and a balcony

upstairs with a gorgeous view. Inside is a lounge/diner which is

open to the kitchen, and there's a shower room on this floor, too.

Upstairs are two double bedrooms and the bonus of a second bathroom.

Now this terrace is north-east facing, so in the summer, you'll get

your morning sun here. What do you think of the size of this?

Is this enough space? It's a nice little space, actually,

for a table and chairs or barbecue. It's adequate, yeah. Yeah.

Now look at this, a townhouse. I know, it's lovely. Yeah.

Let's get in.

Right, in you come.

Ooh! Very nice. I like that noise! Yes. There is a wee bit

too much furniture in here for my liking, but it is included.

That means you can keep and throw away what you do and don't want.

That's a real bonus, isn't it? Yeah. We could actually reconfigure

it... Of course. ...and just have more space.

So, yeah, I think it's a nice-sized room. Mm.

I think I'm throwing in a property that's really going to give you

something to think about. I think you have. Excellent!

That's a good position to be in.

Nice and bright in here.

More spacious. By far. Yeah, the biggest of the main bedrooms

we've seen as well. And what about that terrace overlooking the pool?

Ooh, yeah! So, that is another nice place to go and sit

and watch the children. Yeah. What are you thinking, Paulette? Are you

happy? It feels like a really nice development,

and I think the property offers the most flexibility

in terms of accommodation. I'm really glad that both of you like

this one, because it is a great property

and it is hot on the market. Look round the rest.

We'll meet for a chat. Yeah? Thank you.

Right, so, this is the second bedroom. It's not a bad size.

I always think about how much time do you spend in the bedroom.

So, it has what you need. And you've got the two beds in here,

so you're not going to be... That's quite good.

They seemed excited about this townhouse in Gran Alacant,

on the market for just over a negotiable £113,000.

I wonder if they like it enough to put it on the shortlist.

How did you like the townhouse? Very nice. Mm.

Love the space, being on two floors. It gives you that bit of separation.

Of course. But also really love being able to overlook the pool...

I thought you would. ...and keeping an eye on the kids.

Yeah. Yeah, it really does offer quite a lot.

Yeah, being on two floors just gives you that sort of feeling of space

that you've been after this whole time. Is it a contender?

I think it's something to be considered because it just offers

so much, so much flexible living, yeah. That's great news.

I think it should be. It is a really good property for you.

And what about the three-bedroom on the edge of the village?

You weren't too sure. Not a contender. Not in the running?

Didn't like the location. Gran Alacant is the location for you,

so I'm glad I've got two great properties there -

the favourite with that lovely roof terrace,

great solarium... Yeah. It is. ...and then we've got this townhouse

that overlooks the pool, with that extra bathroom.

It's not going to be easy. It's not. I'm going to give you the evening.

Think about it. You've got your sister here. Phone home to your

sons, and hopefully you'll be able to make a decision.

I hope so. Yeah. Come on. Thank you so much. Thank you.

If you'd like more information about any of the properties

featured on today's show, go to:

It's been an interesting search trying to find Marcia's

dream holiday home that will work for her, her children,

grandchildren and Paulette, too. Balancing the priorities

hasn't been easy, but it became clear that being in Gran Alacant

was number one. Firmly in the running are this spacious apartment

with the huge solarium and this townhouse with a pool view.

I'm intrigued to see what she's going to do next.

Good morning. BOTH: Good morning. How are you both today?

Yeah, good. Yeah? Good. You've had a lot of thinking to do.

How did last night go? A lot of talking,

erm, calling back home. I've spoken to my sons,

just to get their feelings and how they think about it.

So, they were quite positive. So, when I left you yesterday at the

townhouse, I saw a real dilemma forming, you know,

because you loved that two-bedroom with the roof terrace

but then you seemed like you loved the townhouse as well.

Yeah, I did. So how did you come to a decision

between those two great properties? The apartment with the solarium

offered just way more outside space, and even though there wasn't

a second bathroom, you kind of have to balance it all out.

So it's all about outside space for you, then?

For me, yeah. But you loved the townhouse that you could look over

the pool and watch the grandkids play. Yeah, I definitely did.

But having the second bathroom didn't make up for the outside space

of the apartment with the rooftop.

So the two-bed with the solarium went. Yeah. Yeah.

So what would you like to do? I would like to make an offer.

That property's on the market for just over £108,500,

so what offer would you like me to take forward to the agent?

£97,750. OK. Yeah. So 97,750.

And you're cash buyers, so that should be in your favour. Great.

I'll take that forward. Love it! Keeping our fingers crossed!

Good luck.

Hello, Louise. It's Jean from A Place In The Sun.

I have some good news. Marcia would like to make an offer

on your lovely two-bedroom apartment with that fabulous solarium

in Gran Alacant. Marcia is a cash buyer,

and she would like to put forward an offer of £97,750.

OK. Thanks for that. Bye.

So, Louise, the agent did say she thinks it's too low,

but she will take it forward to the seller. Great. Oh, right!

Well, we'll just wait and see what happens.

How are you feeling? Nervous, definitely.

I feel the butterflies going. Me too!

It's because it's within touching distance,

it's within reach. Yeah. Finally! You could be flying back to the UK

as the owner of a Spanish holiday home.

How nice. PHONE RINGS

Oh! There's the agent.

Hello.

OK. Ooh!

Thanks for that. OK.

There's been a counter offer... Right. ..of £102,609.

So, what should we do? Counter offer?

I don't know whether they'll accept another offer for you.

You can give it a shot. Go in 102. Yeah.

So, we'd like to offer 102. Last and final.

Yeah. Last and final? Final.

It's me again, yes. So, I have a last and final offer from Marcia,

and it's for £102,000.

Thanks, Louise.

Your offer's been accepted.

All right!

Oh, that's nice. Oh, lovely. See, you're emotional there.

A little bit. A little bit. Yeah, a little bit.

I am delighted for you, because that is the perfect property for you,

and I can imagine your whole family up on that roof terrace.

Huge congratulations.

Thank you. Cheers, girls. Cheers! Cheers! Lovely. Thank you.

Well, it's been an incredible journey for Marcia. And with the

help of her sister Paulette, she found the perfect property

in the perfect location, and for a great price.

I just know they're going to have some wonderful family holidays

here in beautiful Gran Alacant.

If you'd like to be on A Place In The Sun

to find your own dream home, then go to:

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