Owning a home in Spain is an aspiration for many. Whether you choose to live in the sun all year round or have a permanent holiday residence, it is easy to see why the dream of having your own Mediterranean abode holds such appeal.

This week, we’ve picked five popular Spanish Costas with a ‘key ready’ property for sale in each area to give you an idea of what you can buy and where:

Costa Azahar, Valencia:

The “Orange Blossom Coast” is Castellon’s coast, running from Valencia to the south and Catalonia’s Costa Dorada to the north. With its beautiful scenery, sleepy mountain villages, expansive sandy beaches and untouched charm, Costa Azahar is a popular destination for Spanish holiday makers. However, the coast has been mostly overlooked by the British and can offer an alternative for discerning buyers looking to enjoy the ‘real Spain’. Property prices in the region are approximately 22% less than the national average and so the area can offer, not only better quality in terms of location but also greater value for money than other regions of Spain. View an example property here.

Costa Blanca North, Alicante:

With its mountainous landscape dropping down to the sea, lush greenery and mixture of picturesque villages and cosmopolitan towns, North Costa Blanca remains a popular spot for those not wishing to purchase within a resort. The area has a reputation of exclusivity and general opinion is that property prices have remained stable in this area. When a bargain does appear on the market it tends to sell relatively quickly. View an example property here

Costa Blanca South, Alicante:

Off all the areas on the South East coast of Spain, Costa Blanca South has been the most popular with Northern European home buyers: The mix of lively resort towns and tranquil villages, the myriad services to hand, established infrastructure, nature reserves and sand dune lined beaches has proven irresistible to people seeking a relaxed and healthy lifestyle in warmer climes. With a great supply of property for sale, Costa Blanca South offers the best opportunity to find a true holiday home bargain with prices now being level to those in lesser developed destinations. View an example property here

Costa Almeria, Almeria:

The Costa Almeria extends from the coastal town of Pulpi in the North to Adra in South and includes such tourist destinations as Vera, Mojácar, Roquetas de Mar and Almerimar. The area became popular due to its rugged coastline dotted with tranquil coves, its picturesque villages and its dramatic inland landscapes. Almeria enjoys one of the highest numbers of sunshine hours in Europe at over 300 hours per annum. Whilst recently there has been much investment in infrastructure, the area was once quite isolated and so remains relatively undeveloped. The property market here was relatively young when the current economic crisis took effect. This means that there are plenty of good-quality, low-priced properties now available in some exceptional locations. View an example property here

Costa Del Sol, Malaga:

A sharp drop in property prices due to the market downturn in Costa del Sol has provided an opportunity to those clients who would not normally have considered areas such as Marbella, Malaga, Estepona and Mijas due to their budget. It has been estimated that average property prices in Marbella have dropped 30% since the boom end of 2007 such that they are at 2003 levels: Potential buyers are now finding that the luxury and kudos of owning a property in this prestigious region is much more attainable. View an example property here