Buying a cave in the Andalusian mountains may not sound like a rock-solid investment, but these unusual homes are hot property by Tracey Calvert
High in the Andalusian mountains of Southern Spain, hundreds of Brits have quit the nine-to-five rat race in the UK for a Yabba-Dabba-Doo time - in their very own cave. These real-life Flintstones enjoy all the mod cons of 21st-century living, it´s just that their homes were carved out of a cliff face more than 1,300 years ago. Once the hideout of Moorish invaders in the 8th century, these remote caves were used by local shepherds and farmeres as recently as the 1960s. Now enterprising developers hae moved in - and the result has been a boom in unusual des res properties and holiday homes for the ex-pat community more accumstomed to modern villas on the Costa Del Sol.
Relocation, relocation
Modern-day cavemen include legal secretary Sally-Ann Crane and her partner Sean Lummis, who upped sticks from Chelmsford, Essex for the village of Huescar, five years ago.
They bought a run-down cave in the mountains for just ‬60,000 (£40,000), and spent ‬30,000 (£20,000) lovingly transforming it into a three-bedroomed bolt-hole far from the madding crowd, complete with smart tiled floors, plastered walls, electricity and even its own swimming pool. And with the same sort of property currently selling for as much as give times that amount in Britain, they reckon their new home in the mountains is a bargain. “We wanted a better quality of life for ourselves, one that wasn´t about material things†explains Sally-Ann, 32. “We were getting more and more fed up with living in England because of all the commuting, overcrowded public transport and the soaring crime rate. “The laid-back lifestyle is the best thing about living there, and the fact that we are near to such stunning sceneryâ€. “We´re only a few hours´ drive to the coast, but we still have all the advantages of the Spanish lifestyle. The locals are so friendly, and it´s virtually crime-free.â€
Living la vida loca?
Sean admits he got some strange looks from his friends back home when he told them what he was planning. “I got all the usual stuff about being like Fred Flintstone   but as soon as they see the place they all agree it´s a fantastic place to live, and they´re really jealous.†Sean and Sally-Ann are just two of an increasing number of Brits who have found a cave home to be an attractive   and cost effective   alternative to more expensive properties on the coast and in the big cities of Spain. Not only are they cool in the summer, but they´re cosy when the temperature outside drops to as low as -15ºC in the winter. Most homes have outdoor patios, some have swimming pools... and if you need more space you can always dig yourself out another room!
According to Les Edwards, of estate agents Spanish Inland Properties, more and more British people are taking the plunge and investing in some literally rock-solid real estate.
“Cave homes represent the real Spain, where there are no tourists or tacky souvenir shops, only friendly locals willing to lend a hand,†he says. “Don´t be put off by the thought of leaving your warm, comfy semi-detached to live in a cave. These are unique and charming properties, that can have a bright and cheerful interior and are fitted with all of the modern amenities you would expect in a home in the UK.†These days, it seems, taking a step up the property ladder for some market-savvy investors may also mean taking a step back in time.
