Cottages in Spain are being bought and renovated by more and more people looking to escape the hustle and bustle of life in the fast lane and “down-size” to a tranquil life in the Spanish countryside.

Book after book has been written by those who have already taken the plunge and want to share their experiences with the rest of us. Few people moving to Spain haven’t read or at least heard of Driving over Lemons – the story of Chris Stewart’s move to a remote mountain farm in the Alpujarras.

There are a large number of agencies in Spain who specialise in the sale of rural properties and cottages in Spain, a good indication of the growing popularity of inland and country houses. It has been estimated that up to a third of the UK buyers wanting to purchase property in Spain are looking for a rural retreat – not only hoping for the peace and tranquility of the Spanish countryside, but also wanting to integrate fully into the Spanish way of life and get away from the egg and chips and burger bars that can be found in the coastal resorts.

There seems to be no shortage of rural properties for sale either. The Spanish are keen to move away from their old village houses, into newly-built town apartments and are only too happy to accept the money they can get from the British and other northern Europeans who are buying up and moving in to these cottages in Spain.

Fincas, Cortijos, Spain – three words that conjure up an idyllic image of a peaceful, rural life in Spain. Sipping wine on your terrace, eating your home-grown olives and gazing at the orange groves in the distance – it is a picture that many of us are falling for, often without doing the proper research.

Many people are throwing in the towel on their life in the colder climes of northern Europe and moving out to Spain, lock, stock and barrel. Although it seems most purchasers would prefer not to take on any big renovation projects, the majority of cortijos in Spain are older houses and tend to need some modernisation or attention. Many of the agents selling rural houses provide or can recommend a renovations service, or at the very least can give you the name of a reputable local builder.

A they become more popular, country houses and cortijos are becoming harder to find and prices are slowly rising. However, it is still possible to snap up a real bargain despite the noticeably growing popularity of rural houses and cortijos in Spain.