Moving to Huércal-Overa

Matthew’s article this week concentrates on moving to Huércal-Overa, an Almería market town

Ups
Domingo Fernández, the proactive mayor, is as committed to ensure the town headlines the major events in the province as he is to integrating newcomers from non-Spanish Europe and South America. Upcoming entries on a packed social calendar include Viral Zombie 2016 in May. There are two bustling markets held on Monday and Thursday. Kids will love the municipal park which feels more like a farm, what with the cockerels, goats, and peacocks milling about. There is also a hospital with an excellent reputation locally.

Downs
You can’t imagine images of Huércal-Overa ever adorning a box of chocolates. Indeed, the attractive architecture of Las Cuatro Torres has been allowed to sink into disrepair. However, Domingo Fernández has overseen some improvements in prettifying the town and currently a lot of buildings are receiving some much-needed TLC.

Ins and outs
Easily accessible from the major roads, Huércal-Overa lies just under 100km from Almería airport. Travelling in a north-easterly direction along the A-7, you’ll reach the town in less than an hour if lucky on the travel front and a shade more if unlucky.

Education
The town and surrounding area are well-served on the infant- and primary-school front. Huércal-Overa itself has two institutos which educate children from 12 up to sixth form. English is the new second language, replacing French which nevertheless is still taught in many schools.

Shop until you drop…
Everything a working town would expect to have, and more. There’s a mix of global and national chains, the likes of Lidl and Mercadona, and independent boutiques owned by locals.

Property types
Mainly apartments in the town centre. Villas and fincas in the surrounding countryside and outlying villages.

Market watch
Land in the municipality’s rural areas goes from just north of €1o,000, often with a ruin attached, whilst fincas can go for as much as €400,000.

In Praise Of
“Huercal-Overa has all the advantages of a big town (theatre, schools, social security offices, sports centre with indoor pool, churches, hospital, shops etc.) but with a small-village atmosphere.  There are lots of after-school activities for children and an active (but not in your face) expat community.  Local fiestas are frequent and colourful, and the beach is just 20 minutes away.” Susan Leach (Carmen Torrecillas Rodriguez)

• Are you an expat living in Huércal-Overa? What do you like/dislike about it? Let us know below.

Matthew Hirtes

Matthew Hirtes, our resident broadsheet journalist, moved to Las Palmas de Gran Canaria back in 2004. He’s travelled extensively through Spain, covering it for such publications as Telegraph Travel, Metro, and The Independent. The author of Going Local in Gran Canaria: How To Turn a Holiday Destination into a Home, Matthew truly is a resident expert.

Matthew writes for two sections of Spain Buddy: Moving to Spain and Spanish Football as well as providing Reviews