The best retirement homes on the beach - where are they?

To retire is to leave work behind, to disconnect, to forget about the routine, to begin the peaceful life of the wise old man who advises and guides young people.

The main objective is to make the most of the time we have left. Will this be a good excuse to SELL YOUR HOUSE and buy or renting a flat to retire on the beach? 

Where are the best retirement homes on the beach?

In Spain, where tapas are in the process of becoming Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO, the wisdom is that of enjoyment, of good eating and good living. Perhaps this is what we learn from our older adults when they retire. We decided to take a closer look at this interesting group of retirees, since in a certain way, they anticipate and teach us about our not-so-distant future.

The retirement community doubled

In Spain, the average age of retirement is close to 64 years and it is estimated that the average age of retirement is around 64 years. life expectancy ranges from 80 to 82 years. More or less, two decades. Statistics show that, in addition to increasing the life expectancy of retired people, the population of older adults has also doubled in the last 30 years, from 5.25 million in 1990 to 9.34 million in 2020.

Year 1990

Year 2020

This means that our major They are no longer alone. They are a community with interests, problems and challenges of their own. Popular belief would say that at this age, the lack of responsibility makes everything "rose-coloured".. But living with the lack of routine and giving up the things that have long given meaning to our lives can be challenging.

According to the American Psychological AssociationThere are six groups of pensioners:

1. Continuers. They seek to continue to use their skills and knowledge through part-time or voluntary work.
2. Adventurers. They start completely new activities or learn completely new skills, unrelated to their previous job.
3. Search engines. They do not decide their identity before retirement, but experiment during the early years and look for activities that suit their tastes and interests.
4. Unconcerned. They enjoy the absence of routine and the abundance of free time, letting themselves go about their daily lives.
5. Spectators involved. They maintain a high interest in their previous field of work, but do not have a professional role.
6. Withdrawn. They are unable to find activities that match their interests and give up, even falling into depression.

So, with the exception of the withdrawn group, it is clear that the rest are active and eager to do things. This is very good, because the vast majority are aware that life does not end with retirement, in fact, depending on how, it begins! It is in retirement that people start to prioritise their more personal interests over their children or work responsibilities, and often begin to look for those things they want to do. retirement homes on the beach.  

What are the reasons for retiring to a beach house?

It seems obvious, but in general, what you are trying to find is a better quality of life than in the city. And especially if you aim for a small place. At a certain age, you value avoiding traffic and long distances. It is important to have the sea nearby, to enjoy the warmth and the water when you feel like swimming. You try to maintain a much slower pace of life, without pressure or commitments.

Enjoy the sunsets, do a bit of exercise or take long walks on the sand. Meeting new people, having fun and in some cases lowering expenses and the cost of living. In this interview about Benidorm, the holiday paradise for retirees and Britsof the programme So much X One Hundredthey make it clear to you:

The dialogue goes something like this:

JournalistWhat are they playing at? 
Retired: To Tute... and spend the morning mijo
JournalistDid the three of you meet in Benidorm?
Retired: Here, yes, yes. The best of Spain. Here there is only joy, I don't even see funerals. Then life is very cheap, for €1.20 you get a beer with a tapa of mussels. And then in the evening you go for a stroll along the promenade, we get younger here! 

Although this particular video mentions retirees on holiday in Benidorm, the lady's opinion gives us an idea of where the focus is going: lower cost of living, joy, entertainment, new friendships, activities in the sun, relaxed rhythms, card games, dominoes and zzz's....

Retirement housing on the beach: What are people looking for and what are the prices like?

As we commented in this post on the advantages of living in a house with a gardenThere is a trend in favour of homes with outdoor spaces. Terraces, gardens and a good orientation are sought after. The effects of the pandemic have changed space preferences and now, three-bedroom beachfront homes are more in demand for the simple reason that more space and area is being sought.

In this sense, César SobradoGilmar's head of New Construction on the Costa del Sol, explains the following: "Buyers are looking for places where they can live comfortably and spend many more hours in the community than before"..

And the price? Following the data collected in a study by the Tinsa Group on house prices on the Spanish coast in 2020, it can be concluded that it is frozen. This report states that "After four years of sustained growth in real estate activity on the Spanish coast, the emergence of Covid-19 has brought a sudden halt and a high level of uncertainty as to what will happen to the Spanish coastal residential market"..

In short, there is no shortage of reasons to flirt with the idea of investing in a retirement home on the beach. But where?

Which are the best cities to retire in Spain?

Forbes magazine chose Malaga as one of the best cities to live and retire in. Not only for the beach and the sand. The cultural, gastronomic and entertainment offer, together with a solvent health system, place the city at the top of the list. The relatively cheap cost of living, easy accessibility and low crime rate also help to make it one of the most desirable cities.

Then you can explore other less crowded places in Andalusia such as La Isleta del Moro or Tarifa in Cadiz. On the Costa Blanca or the Costa de Azahar you will also find hidden gems. In Cantabria there is a mix of sea and mountains, although prices are higher there.

La Isleta del Moro

Tarifa (Cadiz)

Castro Urdiales

You see, Spain offers approximately 8,000 kilometres of coastline, hence the multiple and colourful possibilities of finding homes to retire to the beach and enjoy retirement. At Monapart we are specialists in selling houses at the highest price in the shortest timewhether on the beach, in the mountains or in the city. If you need advice, contact us and we will help you choose the best place for your retirement.