Article: The Costa del Sale; Reality is biting after last year's mad rush, so look for a bargain.

If you dream of a home on the Costa del Sol, now could be the time to buy. After a stampede last year - about 60,000 homes were sold - prices are static or falling and Spanish agents are predicting 30 per cent fewer sales this year.

'When things were at their peak there was a mad rush to buy off-plan because people were afraid of missing the boat,' says Mark Harvey, sales manager for Hamptons International in Marbella. 'Some properties were overvalued.' But unrealistically high prices are now beginning to drop and 'realism is starting to creep in', says Harvey.

'It's a buyers' market now; there is more chance of a good deal,' he adds.

'You'll ...

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