A decade ago, Clare Tomlinson was one of football's first female TV presenters and is now one of the game's best-known faces. When not working at Sky Sports, she likes to invest in property...
Tell us about your property empire
It's very modest, really. I've got an apartment in a development called Football Village at Valle Romano, which is a resort development being built near Estepona on the Costa del Sol. I bought it off-plan with a girlfriend of mine who, like me, is keen to get on the overseas property ladder.
I own a three-bedroom house in west London, where I live, as well as several buy-to-let properties, but the Estepona property is my first foreign buy. It's a two-bedroom, two-bathroom, ground floor apartment in Block 12 of Football Village. My friend and I will use it for holidays but otherwise it's an investment property so we'll be renting it out to visitors. We've got to wait a while because the apartment is not due to be completed and handed over to us until December 2009.
Why did you buy in Spain?
I've been working with the developer to promote Football Village and, to be honest, I thought it was time to put my money where my mouth is and buy a property there. I like the development because, although I was a cash buyer with my friend (and therefore I don’t have a mortgage to worry about), the rent from the apartment will cover the running costs of owning it. It's also got lots of add-ons that I think will attract holidaymakers, including three swimming pools, swimming pools, a spa and a gym,
plus several tennis courts.
We gather there's going to be a 36- hole championship golf course on site. Will you be playing on it?
I'm a terrible golfer, unfortunately, so unless I can find some spare time to go out there and get some practice in I can't see me using the course much!
Did you go out to the development before you bought?
Yes, I did. I think it's important that buyers looking to invest in property
abroad should actually visit the site. For example, in my case it was the stunning views that the properties will enjoy over the gorgeous coastline in the area that ultimately persuaded me the development was a good investment opportunity.
If money was no object, where and what would you buy overseas?
I’ve always dreamed of owning a large villa in the south of France that overlooks the sea and has an infinity pool. Ideally, it would be on the edge of a small, traditional village!
Have any other celebrities bought at Football Village?
Jeff Stelling, my Sky Sports colleague has bought here, and England goalkeeper Paul Robinson and golfing legend Seve Ballesteros already own properties in the area.
For more information on Football Village, call 0870 066 3696 or visit www.thevillagesspain.com.
