Buying a holiday home here on the Costa’s could help combat SAD!

It’s official – buying a property on Spain’s coast or one of its islands could help alleviate winter depression or Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). These symptoms are a result of lack of daylight and are
surprisingly common in the Northern Hemisphere. Lethargy, feeling gloomy, craving junk food are just some of the symptoms, but according to the Online Psychology Degree website says that exposure to additional sunlight reduces these symptoms for between 50% and 80% of sufferers.

The Southern coast of Spain and even the Canary Islands, which are an hour behind, have record amounts of sunshine, including during the winter months and buying a home here could be the key to beating those winter blues.

The east coast of Spain has the most sunlight on average with 325 days a year and the Balearic Islands and Andalucia have, on average, 300 days of sunshine. These areas still have milder winters than northern Europe and although not quite beach and pool side conditions, sunlight instead of grey and gloomy skies, makes life easier to bear during the long winter months.

The majority of property buyers say that Spain was their number one choice when deciding on buying either a permanent residence or holiday home.

Foreign buyers shelled out over 6 billion Euros on property between January and September 2014, which is a rise of 30% on the same period in 2013 according to the country’s ministry of public works and infrastructure.

Not surprisingly, the regions of Andalucia and Valencia, were the most popular with buyers and British purchasers leading the way with 17% of homes bought in Spain in 2014. A home in Andalucia might be just the remedy your looking for to get away from those dark and cold conditions in Northern Europe and although anti-depressants are cheaper than bricks and mortar, what could be nicer than sitting on a beach or around a pool in November?