Spanish property still popular with Brits

Wednesday, September 30th, 2009
The British sun-seeker’s enduring love affair with Spanish property remains alive and well despite the current economic climate, it has been claimed.

Falling prices in areas such as the Costa del Sol are attracting a new wave of holiday home-hunters to the country, many of whom can enjoy bargain prices up to 40 per cent lower than at the property peak of 2006-07, according to the Independent.

Stuart Law, chief executive of international property investment firm Assetz, tells the newspaper: "If someone has set their mind on a holiday home […] then Spain is ideal […] there is massive choice, and also some very good pricing."

Mr Law added that Spanish property also has far more to offer holiday home buyers than many other up-and-coming destinations, particularly Bulgaria.

He said: "Comparing Spain to Bulgaria […] there really isn’t any choice. Spain ticks almost every box and is much closer and easier"

Popular Spanish property region the Costa del Sol is famous for its stunning natural landmarks, which include El Torcal, the Cueva de Nerja and the Desfiladero los Gaitanes.

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Real Madrid theme park the goal for Spanish property investors

Tuesday, September 29th, 2009
Forward thinking Spanish property investors may find they have an opportunity to score with a new theme park based on La Liga football team Real Madrid.

Club president Florentino Perez is reportedly considering a £135 million investment in a Disney-style theme park based on one of the world’s most famous clubs, which could provide an opportunity for people seeking Spanish property to let as holiday accommodation.

Andreas Veilstrup Andersen, executive director at the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions, commented: "Theme and amusement parks are very strong drivers of tourism - this could also very well be the case with the Real Madrid Park.

"If you include off-site spending like transportation and accommodation et cetera, the total economic impact in Europe is approximately 12 billion euros [£10.9 billion]."

Mr Anderson adds that theme and amusement parks are often considered to be relatively recession-proof, given their enduring family appeal.

If the theme park goes ahead, Spanish property in the region of the football funhouse could prove a comparably safe investment for buyers wary of recent economic conditions.

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Flying high with Spanish property

Monday, September 28th, 2009
Those house-hunting in Barcelona in the coming weeks may find their Spanish property search hitting new heights.

Death-defying stunts and action-packed aerobatic adventure will provide a jaw-dropping backdrop for those undertaking a Spanish property search in the popular city on October 3rd and 4th as the Red Bull Air Race series flies into town.

The event represents the final stage of the stunt-flying competition series and will feature some of the world’s finest pilots racing at speeds which may make Spanish property hunters happy to keep their feet firmly on the ground.

The stuntmen will fly at up to 400 kilometres an hour through specially designed low-level inflatable air gates as part of the race, battling strong air currents, tides and winds to be crowned champion of the event.

Potential Spanish property buyers from the UK may find they have a special interest in the event, as British pilot Paul Bonhomme is currently leading the pack.

He is said to be desperate to secure victory in the competition, having been narrowly beaten into second place in the 2007 and 2008 seasons.

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Spanish property owner discovers value of rental market

Friday, July 31st, 2009
An increasing number of Spanish property owners are realising the benefits of placing their second homes on the rental market.

Arancha Ibarra told Bloomberg that she elected to put her two-bedroom Spanish property up for rental after realising her second home could earn her an extra 750 euros (£640) each month.

In doing so, Ms Ibarra joined the ranks of an estimated 1.5 million Spanish property owners who have put their holiday homes on the rental market to earn some extra income instead of leaving them unoccupied when not in use.

Fernando Encinar, co-founder and head of research at Idealista.com, tells the news source: "We haven’t seen this number of properties for rent since the 1950s."

Ms Ibarra’s Spanish property is located in the ever-popular capital of Madrid and offers tenants and tourists alike 70 square metres of air-conditioned city living, the news agency reports.

The Times recently recommended the Mallorcan capital of Palma as an excellent investment for anyone seeking a touch of island life with their Spanish property dream home.

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Spanish property in Palma recommended

Tuesday, July 28th, 2009
Palma has been recommended as an excellent location for those seeking Spanish property.

The capital of Mallorca offers Spanish property seekers a host of options for both city lovers and those who prefer the quieter island life, with many bargains still to be found, according to the Times.

A luxury Spanish property in Santa Maria, 15 minutes drive from Palma, is recommended, having fallen in price from its original asking price of £1.5 million to just £872,000.

Meanwhile another classic Spanish property, this time in neighbouring Santa Ponsa, offers gold lovers a home away from home, being set in a gated community with its own golf course.

Finally the newspaper recommends a two-bedroom townhouse, also in Santa Posa, which offers over 100 square metres of space, an open fireplace and terrace views and three bathrooms, all for £385,000.

Palma is a popular holiday destination for those seeking a Spanish property vacation, combining history, culture and modern living in a vibrant urban setting.

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News presenter loves Spanish property

Monday, July 27th, 2009
Broadcaster Selina Scott has given two thumbs up to Spanish property after investing in a dream home abroad.

The news presenter bought a Spanish property on the island of Mallorca two decades ago after deciding to escape the rat race of London and has never regretted her decision to find her own place in the sun, according to the Times.

Ms Scott tells the newspaper: ‘I clapped eyes on the honey-coloured Mallorcan farmhouse one August morning 20-odd years ago.

‘I can walk from my house straight into the hills on footpaths […] [and] the same paths branch off to the sea, to a rugged shore and golden beach.’

Ms Scott adds that her Spanish property is a far cry from her former life in London as presenter of the BBC’s Breakfast Time, which saw her rising at 03:00 each morning to get to work on time.

Robin Wilson, head of overseas at Rightmove.co.uk, recently claimed that Spanish property is an excellent choice for British ex-patriots because of the lifestyle it affords.

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Spanish property most popular in poll

Thursday, July 23rd, 2009
The pull of Spanish property has been proved once again, with the country taking five out of ten slots in a poll of the most searched for destinations online.

Spanish property locations took up half the top ten in Rightmove Overseas fastest rising search list, prompted in part by money-savvy Brits investing in low cost property in the country, according to the firm.

Robin Wilson, Head of Overseas at Rightmove.co.uk, said: "In June, Spain raised its market share of Rightmove Overseas searches by 9.6 per cent.

"We think this is to a large degree driven by bargain hunters increasingly drawn to the scent of below market value [properties]."

He added that British people still have a burning desire to buy Spanish property, which may be further fanned after recent Tinsa figures showed the average price of Spanish property has dropped by 10.1 per cent in the last 12 months.

For those seeking Spanish property on the coast the news is even better, however, with prices falling 12.3 per cent in the last year.

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Spanish property retains attraction for Brits?

Thursday, July 23rd, 2009
British people are drawn to invest in Spanish property because of the lifestyle the country affords, it has been claimed.

Spanish property is considered a good buy for ex-patriots because of the home away from home communities that can be found at locations across the country, says Robin Wilson, Head of Overseas at Rightmove.co.uk.

Commenting on the current state of the property market in the country, Mr Wilson said that despite recent price drops, "Spain appears to be maintaining its attraction for Brits".

"Spain retains its image as ex-pat friendly with a strong English influence, good legal infrastructure and the stability of being part of the EU", he added.

It may be an opportune moment for bargain-loving Brits to invest in Spanish property, with recent Currency Index figures showing the price of the average two-bedroom apartment in the Costas is now 30 per cent cheaper than 12 months ago.

Further figures from the organisation reveal mortgage costs for Spanish property fell by 54.3 per cent in the last year.

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Spanish property leading recession recovery?

Monday, July 20th, 2009
The popularity of Spanish property among holidaymakers has endured despite the current global financial crisis, it has been claimed.

Recent statistics from the Office of National Statistics (ONS) have shown that the economic downturn has not sated the British appetite for a Spanish property holiday, with tourism falling only 0.6 per cent in the past year.

Spokeswoman for the Association of British Travel Agents Frances Tuke said: "Ninety per cent of people who travelled last year are still going [and] the vast majority of people are still travelling abroad.

"[Great] volumes of visitors are still travelling to all the top destinations like Spain, Greece and the USA."

The ONS statistics further highlighted the appeal of both Spanish property and French property, with the two countries accounting for a 36 per cent share of all tourism from the UK in 2008.

Portugal property also proved one of the most popular destinations for UK tourists, according to the figures, coming in seventh in the ONS list.

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ABTA: Spanish property still a popular holiday choice

Monday, July 20th, 2009
Spanish property remains as popular as ever with British tourists, a leading travel association has claimed.

According to the Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA), Spanish property sits alongside French property as one of the top two choices for UK residents when electing their summer holiday destination.

Frances Tuke, spokeswoman for ABTA, commented: "For 2008, the number of visits to Spain was 13.8 million and France was 10.8 million.

"[They are] cheaper and easier to get to. People have properties out in those countries [and] they have friends who have properties out in those countries."

She added that despite the recent poor performance of sterling against the euro, the number of cheap flights available to the two countries meant that Spanish property and French property represents a value-for-money choice for many holidaymakers.

A recent study by independent travel agent sunshine.co.uk found that 71 per cent of British people have either already booked a holiday abroad this year or fully intend to.

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