Situated in the town of Ciudad Quesada, a pioneering golf development urbanization in Eastern Spain, the golf community of La Marquesa is surrounded by mountains and orange groves. A charming community is popular among tourists and an ideal place for retirees due to its vibrant multi-national community, low cost of living, excellent weather, and the lure of year-round golf. Almost 75% of the town's population came from nearby European countries, choosing this golf community as their new home.  Here are 11 things to know when buying golf homes in La Marquesa.

1. Location

The La Marquesa golf course and the popular town of Ciudad Quesada are located in the Valencian region situated 58 km south of Alicante and approximately 8 km inland from the major town of Torrevieja.

Set on a hillside, the town with its golf course has a commanding view of the Mediterranean coastline and the famous salt lakes of Torrevieja. And just 6 km away or a short 10-minute drive is the famous Guardamar del Segura, known for its 11 km stretch of blue flag beaches.

Ciudad Quesada can be reached via the CV908, close to the 745 junctions of the AP-7 motorway. By plane, the nearest airports are in Alicante and Murcia only 50 km away.

There are several international schools in the town. The Norwegian Den Norske Skolen private education, the British Willow International Academy, and the German Berlingua International School in the nearby neighborhood of Dona Pepa. Another option for education is the local state school which is free. The nearest is in the district of Rojales less than 4 km away. I Instruction is in Spanish and, as part of the EU, the Spanish education system is at par with the rest of Europe.

The amenities found in the town have improved over the years and now include a medical center, dental clinics, banks, supermarkets, numerous shops, bars, restaurants serving international cuisine, and a cultural center.

2. Security

Ciudad Quesada is not a gated golf community but a big town. The overall crime level is low, petty crimes minimal, and violent crimes extremely low. Residents feel considerably safe walking around even late at night.

3. Homes

The golf community of La Marquesa surrounds the golf course spilling across neighboring areas of Dona Pepa, La Fiesta, Lo Marabu, Lo Pepin, Pueblo Bravo, and Pueblo Lucero located within the district of Rojales. Collectively, this comprises a total of around 30,000 properties. This provides a wide variety of options available for people looking for golf houses in La Marquesa.

The development in Ciudad Quesada has a height restriction of two stories with villas and townhouses making up the bulk of these golf homes. The choice ranges from great value apartments on low-density developments to the new-build market offering a choice of modern, contemporary design or the more traditional architectural design.

Apartments may either come as bungalows, townhouses, duplexes, or quads. Bungalows are single-story properties often with gardens and solariums for sunbathing on the roof. Townhouses are modernly terraced or two-story semi-detached housing for a family. A duplex is a relatively large house or bungalow that is split in two with separate entrances. Quads are two semi-detached houses placed back-to-back with separate entrances and apartments for 4 different families. Apartment prices range from 43,000 to 370,000 euros.

Villas are beautiful self-contained properties offering more space, privacy, private pools, and some of the best views. They come as detached or semi-detached, similar to a duplex. Villas are more expensive at 100,000 to as high as 2.25M euros.

The majority of the investors who invest in a golf home are retirees attracted to the low cost of living and the beautiful sunny climate of the region.

4. Weather

Costa Blanca along with Costa Calida offers the best and healthiest climate in the world as declared by the World Health Organization (WHO).

La Marquesa located in Ciudad Quesada in Torrevieja, Spain along the Costa Blanca area has a hot semi-arid climate. It has good weather with a pleasant average temperature of 18.4°C (65.1°F) and very minimal rainfall all year long. In La Marquesa, the average annual high temperature is 26.6°C (80°F) and the average low is a cool 11.3°C (52.3°F). The warmest month of the year is August with a maximum temperature reading of 31.3°C (88.3°F). The coldest month is January with a low-temperature reading of 7.4°C (45.3°F). The rainfall in a year is around 288mm (11.3 inches). The driest month is July with 2mm (0.1 inches) of rainfall. In September, the precipitation reaches its peak with an average of 40mm (1.6 inches). On average, the sun shines 300 days a year in La Marquesa.

5. Golf Course

Situated on a flat valley between mountains with excellent views, this 18-hole golf course was designed by the town's developer Justo Quesada Samper. A course with flat terrain and wide greens, it has undergone several technical improvements and designs to improve its playability. The course consists of ramps, blind holes, protected holes, well-placed bunkers, streams, and lakes. It has the reputation of having the longest par 5 in the Costa Blanca area. Also, the the16^th hole is the exact replica of the 17^th hole at TPC Sawgrass. An island green surrounded by a water hazard. Overall the technical difficulty of the course is rated at 4 out of 5 or moderate-hard.

The facility also includes a covered driving range with 18 tees, putting greens (2 greens with 9 holes and 1 green with 18 holes), and practice area for pitching, and 3 practice bunkers. Golf lessons are also available upon request.

6. Membership

The course is open to visitors every day but advance booking is essential. The club also offers an option for membership where players can enjoy the course year-round for free. An annual membership for a single person is around 2,000 euro and for a couple would be about 3,500 euros. There may also be subscriptions based on different lengths like the 3, 6, or 9 months option. Check the club for the exact details.

Another option is to join a Golf Society. This allows you to play a variety of courses within the Valencia region. Price varies depending on the society. But a sample price would be 45 euro including the buggy rental (the regular fee is 59 euro and buggy rental is a separate fee) and they play once a week.

7. Clubhouse and Amenities

The modern clubhouse has a bar and restaurant. It has locker rooms and a sauna where you can relax after a game.

There is also a fully stocked pro shop with the latest merchandise. For-hire services include clubs, buggies, trolleys, electric trolleys, and caddies. And a charging system where guests can charge their trolleys.

Other amenities include a conference room and a children's playground.

8. Home Owners Association and Fees

Due to urbanization, La Marquesa has transformed into a town and there are now a large number of golf communities in the surrounding areas. The community fees vary depending on the size of the development in the community and the amenities the residents commonly share like pools, gardens, and other common areas. A large golf community may cost less than 150 euro a year while a smaller golf community may cost more going as high as 750 euros a year. On average, community fees would be in the range of 400 to 500 euros a year.

Other fees to consider are:

IBI (Impuesto Sobre Bienes Inmuebles) Tax is also called Suma Fees or commonly known as the property tax payable annually. The amount will depend on the size of the property or around 240 euros for a plot size of 150 sqm.

IRNR (Impuesto Sobre la Renta de No Residentes) commonly known as “La Renta” is a Resident or Non-Resident Tax payable each year per person. About 150 euros per person per annum.

Other fees to look out for would be utilities (water, electricity, and gas), house insurance, and fiscal fees in case you retain the services of a company that calculates your taxes.

9. Other Sports Facilities

The town of Quesada has a broad range of entertainment and local facilities. It has free municipal tennis courts, numerous walking and cycling routes, and the second-largest water park in Spain, the Aquapark. The water park is situated at the highest point of Ciudad Quesada with magnificent panoramic views overlooking the Mediterranean and is a favorite destination of families living around Torrevieja. There are also two saltwater lakes located a few kilometers away offering various water sports activities.

10. Dining Options

Ciudad Quesada has a wide selection of shops, bars, and over 70 restaurants offering diverse international cuisine including Spanish, Greek, Italian, French, English, Thai, Indian and Chinese. You will find plenty of options to satisfy your cravings.

11. Social Activities

Aside from the golf club, Quesada has numerous social clubs where people can meet and develop friendships. Clubs from all walks of life like lawn bowling club, bridge club, billiard and dart leagues, tennis, squash, and badminton clubs, running, cycling, and fishing club, and various dance classes including aerobics, line dancing, belly dancing, and Zumba fitness and Spanglish to art classes.

In summary, the golf community in La Marquesa is more of a cosmopolitan destination rather than a local town. With its multicultural diversity, foreigners wishing to relocate and reside will find it easy to blend and adapt and make new friends in this environment. There is a wide range of golf housing options available to choose from depending on one's budget. This is a recommendable place for everyone including families with children seeking a great and exciting quality of life in the sun.

 Images Courtesy of: Property and Villas in Spain, Costa Blanca Up, Quesada Golf, Quesada Holiday, Property for Sale Ciudad Quesada