Apartment in L'Escala – A Swiss pension and a lift as the deal-breaker
A former head teacher from Switzerland was looking, after entering retirement, for a permanently usable apartment in L'Escala. Important were a lift, a generous terrace and a quiet residential setting with good access to doctors, shops and the beach promenade.
In short
What was this case about?
A former head teacher from Switzerland was looking, after entering retirement, for a permanently usable apartment in L'Escala. Important were a lift, a generous terrace and a quiet residential setting with good access to doctors, shops and the beach promenade.
Can accessibility measures be co-financed directly?
As a rule the Spanish bank does not co-finance modernisation — it belongs in the overall plan: equity or raising capital against German property.
Why is financing sensible despite existing assets?
Many buyers do not want to tie up all their capital in a property but keep reserves for retirement or unforeseen expenses.
Who arranged this?
Perini Finance & Property — German-speaking, operating under the §34i GewO licence held by Olga Nikushkina, Portugal through a locally licensed intermediary; 15 to 20 banks approached per case. First call free; on completion 1 % of the loan amount.
Flat €455,000, modernisation €40,400, loan €318,500
- Purchase price: 455.000 €
- Renovation: 40.400 €
- Financing required: 318.500 €
- Equity: 231.500 €
Anonymised case figure · not a binding statement for other projects · §34i GewO
Property for sale in L'Escala: a new chapter of life by the sea
L'Escala combines Mediterranean flair with an established infrastructure and is one of the popular places to live on the Costa Brava for people who want to spend their retirement permanently in Spain. Modern or subsequently adapted apartments with short distances to the beach and the town centre are especially popular with German-speaking buyers.
Retirement in L'Escala, flat with lift and terrace
A former head teacher from Switzerland was looking, after entering retirement, for a permanently usable apartment in L'Escala. Important were a lift, a generous terrace and a quiet residential setting with good access to doctors, shops and the beach promenade. The apartment she found largely met these requirements but was to be modernised for age-appropriate living before moving in.
€550,000 total investment, €54,600 in purchase fees
- Purchase price: 455.000 €
- Additional costs: 54.600 €
- Renovation: 40.400 €
- Total investment: 550.000 €
- Equity: 231.500 €
- Financing required: 318.500 €
Keeping a retirement reserve, converting before moving in
Although sufficient assets were available, not all of the capital was to be used for the purchase. Part of the assets was to remain as a reserve for retirement. At the same time, it was important to carry out all planned adaptations before moving in, in order to avoid later building work.
In retirement, leeway matters more than a small loan
For buyers in retirement, long-term financial planning often plays a greater role than the lowest possible loan amount. What matters is that, alongside the purchase, enough financial flexibility remains for the new chapter of life.
The financing corresponded to around 70 % of the purchase price and was aligned with the entire investment. This allowed both the acquisition costs and the planned modernisation to be sensibly integrated into the overall concept.
Step-free bath and shower, new kitchen, terrace shading
The overall plan took all intended measures into account immediately after the purchase — covered from equity, not by the bank loan:
- conversion of the bathroom to a low-barrier design
- installation of level-access showers
- new fitted kitchen with ergonomic planning
- electric terrace shading
- energy-efficient air conditioning
- modern LED lighting in all living areas
Once the work was completed, the apartment could be occupied permanently without further restrictions.
Flat fully usable at once, assets still available
The buyer moved to L'Escala as planned and was able to use the property fully immediately after the modernisation was complete. Thanks to the balanced financing, a considerable part of her assets remained available at the same time, without later conversions or additional financing being required.
Plan comfort and step-free access before you buy
Anyone planning retirement on the Costa Brava should consider necessary adaptations for comfort and accessibility before the purchase. If these measures are integrated directly into the overall plan — covered from equity, not by the bank loan — neither additional organisational burdens nor unexpected financing gaps arise after moving in.
Frequently asked
Can accessibility measures be co-financed directly?
Why is financing sensible despite existing assets?
Which modernisations are especially common for apartments in L'Escala?
Is L'Escala suitable as a permanent residence?
L'Escala apartment: reserves secure a relaxed retirement
Buying an apartment in L'Escala shows how a well-considered overall plan goes far beyond the purchase price itself — the bank loan for the purchase price, costs and modernisation from equity. Anyone who takes modernisation, additional costs and sufficient financial reserves into account from the start creates a stable basis for a relaxed retirement on the Costa Brava.
More cases on this theme
Practical case Fuerteventura: Bungalow in Caleta de Fuste
Low-barrier living for retirement
Loulé: Financing a townhouse near the old town for a new home
Not every permanent residence on the Algarve has to be right by the sea.
A similar situation in Spain? Let's talk.
Every financing in Spanien is an individual case. In a free initial consultation I will tell you honestly what is feasible and which bank fits.
Book a free consultationAnonymised individual case, not a binding statement for other projects · Brokerage under the §34i GewO licence held by Olga Nikushkina (D-W-132-ZUCB-95); Siegfried Perini registered as directly involved person (§11a GewO) · no tax or legal advice · no financing commitment; conditions depend on creditworthiness, loan-to-value and bank