Archive for the ‘Malaga’ Category
Thursday, December 15th, 2011
The not so traditional blue village of Júzcar
When Sony Pictures held the official World Premiere of the Smurf’s 3D movie earlier this year, they didn’t do it with the traditional red carpet. Instead they premiered the film in a Smurf-blue village.
The originally white village of Júzcar in Málaga was painted completely blue for the event and has been a major tourist attraction since then, with over 80,000 visitors taking a day trip to Smurf town.
This weekend the village votes on whether to keep the new blue or revert to the traditional andalusian white. Either way the Town Hall is going to cover the cost of the painting. The village is one of the many white villages found in the mountains behind the glitzy Costa del Sol. Tourism is a major source of income, but the rural property market has also been a significant feature, with many foreigners choosing to buy property in the villages to enjoy a more “spanish” lifestyle – without the golf courses and the luxury beachfront apartments and where the 4×4′s are used to negotiate country lanes and mountain tracks rather than the crowds in Puerto Banús!
Whatever the outcome of this weekend’s vote, the village of Júzcar is well worth a visit with it’s rustic charm and friendly villagers – but don’t be disappointed if you don’t see any real life Smurfs on your visit….
Posted in Costa del Sol, Malaga, Tourism in Spain | No Comments »
Monday, October 24th, 2011
Confirmation has finally come from the EU on the future of the European rail corridors with finance being made available for three new corridors through Spain.
Two of these originate in Algeciras, as major port some 20 kilometres West of Gibraltar and Sotogrande, one heading northeast towards Madrid and beyond into France, the other to follow the Mediteranean coastline around the Costa eel Sol, the Costa de Almeria and up through the Costa Blanca before crossing Barcelona on its way into France via the eastern coast of the Pyrenees.
The third will connect Galicia and the northern cities to the rest of Europe.
All three will make a major contribution to the future of the Spanish economy, being important transport infrastructural improvements for the transport of both passengers and freight.
The Costa del Sol is expected to be one of the principal benefactors; stations are planned for the major cruise as well as cargo ports, with Marbella likely to be on the timetable. The high-speed rail network already connects Málaga with Madrid – the 500km journey taking a mere 2 hours 40 minutes, but the new proposed network will bring passengers from well beyond the current rail catchment areas.
Without doubt, one of the contributing factors to this decision has been the substantial growth of the Spanish costas, and the Costa del Sol in particular as a residential tourism destination over the past two or three decades. The number of holiday visitors and European property owners in Spain has enjoyed constant growth, and there has been a steady increase in the number of expatriate residents – all of whom tend to travel more regularly around Europe than ever before.
These improvements are another important effect of the coming of age of the Spanish Coastal areas as significant economic markets within which the EU are expecting future growth. They are a great indicator of the bright future the area can expect to enjoy as such substantial investment helps to build further confidence in Spain and the Mediterranean coasts.
Posted in Costa del Sol, Malaga, Marbella, Spain Economy, Tourism in Spain | No Comments »
Tuesday, August 16th, 2011
Málaga Feria in full swing
Anyone who has ever wondered what a real Spanish “feria” is all about need look no further than Málaga this week. One of Andalucía’s most popular fairs opens its gates to thousands of visitors from all along the coast and beyond.
For many Spaniards, this is the one week of the year where the family budget gets seriously derailed. Wining and dining in style is the order of the day and dancing into the small (and not so small) hours is the order of the night.
Many of the coasts foreign residents visit the feria, and whilst many of the “casetas” or bars are private, many are open to the public. For anyone looking to get closer to Spanish culture and tradition there is no better place. For most tourists the image of the flamenco dancer and the Spanish guitarist has become synonymous with the Spain of a bygone era – but nothing could be further than the truth. Teenagers and children who one might think would be more interested in Lady Gaga and Enrique Iglesias are dressed to the nines in their hand made dresses – and often will have a different dress for every night of the fair. One might wonder whether or not they are at the fair under protest and on the insistence of their parents – as most teenagers around the world might respond to a similar event. But then, at the first few chords of a “sevillana” their drinks are put on the nearest table, their arms fly up in the air and they will dance the traditional dances with a flair and a passion that belies their youth.
The Málaga Feria runs until the 21st August and is well worth a visit. But be prepared for it to be a long night and a late morning!
Posted in Costa del Sol, Malaga, Tourism in Spain | No Comments »
Tuesday, June 7th, 2011
Málaga has regained it’s position as the Spanish Province with the most “blue flag” beaches in Spain.
The blue flags are an internationally recognised seal of approval for the cleanliness and safety of European beaches. This year sees Málaga heading the list with a total of 22 beaches flying the blue flag, one more than 2010.
As a region which depends heavily on the tourism sector, Málaga has improved the standard of its beaches consistently over the years, with regular cleaning and with the building of breakwaters to protect the quality of the sand. But perhaps the most significant changes have been the attention which has been paid to the “paseos maritimos” or promenades, in the coastal town, as well as the careful planning which has governed the development of beachfront property.
It is now possible to walk along the promenade from Marbella to Puerto Banús, for example, around 7 kilometres, and this is soon to continue to San Pedro Alcántara. With the sea on one side and luxury beachfront apartments, private beachfront villas and five star hotels on the other, the walk captures the essence of Marbella’s Golden Mile perfectly.
For those living in frontline beach property, the quality of the beach itself is, understandably, of huge significance. The value of beachfront property is closely linked with the cleanliness and popularity of the beaches and Málaga’s continued commitment to improvement is a welcome sign to all.
Posted in Costa del Sol, Malaga, Marbella, New Developments in Spain, New Developments on Costa del Sol, Property in Spain, Property on the Costa del Sol, Tourism in Spain | No Comments »
Sunday, May 29th, 2011
When Sheikh Abdullah Al-Thani invested into Málaga Football Club, there were very few who had heard of the Qatari. In the relegation zone at the time, Málaga F.C. was expected to face the drop at the end of season.
Sheikh Abdullah Al-Thani relaxing in Marbella
However, through significant investment and the arrival of new players, most notably, the ex-Sevilla and Real Madrid star, Julio Baptista, they finished the season in the top half of the table.
Contracts have already been agreed to bring Ruud van Nistelrooy and Joaquín to the club in the summer, and from being a poor relation in La Liga, Málaga are, almost overnight, a force to be reckoned with.
And now the Sheikh’s attention has turned to Marbella’s fishing port as his investment company unveils a joint venture with the Marbella Town Hall which is to see a 400 million euro transformation.
The new Bajadilla Port will be the Puerto Banús of the 21st Century
This investment will see the extension of the port to accommodate 1220 boats including space for three luxury cruise liners. It is expected that La Bajadilla as the port is to be known will become an obligatory stop on the Mediterranean cruise circuit and further position Marbella as a global tourist destination.
This property investment extends beyond the nautical. The new port will also house a 200 bed five star luxury hotel, and a commercial area destined to house the top names in luxury retail.
1,000 parking spaces complete the project, which is scheduled to be completed by 2015 – probably around the same time as Málaga win their first European trophy!
Posted in Costa del Sol, Investment Property in Spain, Investors in Spain, Malaga, Marbella, Spain, Tourism in Spain | No Comments »
Monday, April 19th, 2010
Record property sales have been confirmed by the Marbella tax office for the first 3 months of 2010. 2,499 Marbella properties were sold during January, February and March representing a 200% increase on the same period of 2009 during which 820 properties were sold.
The number of Spanish properties sold this year has even surpassed the same period in the boom years; 2008 saw 1,263 properties sold, 2007 saw 1,602 properties sold and 2006 saw 1,224 properties sold. The Mayor of Marbella, Angeles Muñoz, announced she is confident the town “will be the first out of the crisis”.
The new town plan, which comes into effect this month, also appears to be having a positive impact. Confidence in the market is clearly increasing as the town hall combats the illegal scandals that have plagued the area. The town plan will legalise some 16,000 properties that to date have been frozen from the property market.
Marbella is not the only place to have seen increased activity in the property market. According to the National Institute of Statistics, in February, the Spanish property market as a whole grew by 16% when compared to the same month of the previous year. Of the 35,720 properties sold in February, 21,368 were new build whilst the remaining 19,665 were resales.
Prices have been following their downward spiral since December 2007. Since then prices have decreased by 16% throughout Spain as a whole, by 22.5% on the Mediterranean Coast and by 13.6% in the Canary Islands.
Source: Spanish Property Insight, Property Wire, Property Community
Tags: Business Investment Opportunities, Costa del Sol, Investment Property in Spain, Investors in Spain, Malaga, Marbella, Property in Spain, Property on the Costa del Sol, Reduced Property, Selling Property in Spain, Spain
Posted in Business Investment Opportunities, Costa del Sol, Investment Property in Spain, Investors in Spain, Malaga, Marbella, Property in Spain, Property on the Costa del Sol, Reduced Property, Selling Property in Spain, Spain | No Comments »
Friday, April 16th, 2010
Spain’s costas are once again hot property for Britain’s second home buyers, according to a recent article in The Times. All indicators point to a resurgence of British property buyers on Spain’s coasts.
Prices at their lowest ever level combined with one of the worst winters on record in the UK have led to renewed interest from families looking to escape the grey. And the relatively low sterling-euro exchange rate appears not to be a deterrent.
The report is confirmed by experts in the industry both in the UK and in Spain. Spanish property was the most popular search on Primelocation.com between February 2009 and 2010, accounting for 32% of total overseas property searches. Rightmove overseas recorded an overall rise of 60% in overseas property searches when compared with March last year.
Many Brits are returning to buy property in Spain for lifestyle reasons. It is an additional incentive that prices are now affordable with reduced property at a level where the purchase can also be for investment over the longer term.
And it is no surprise the British are returning. Southern Spain was rated in the Top 10 places to live abroad by Knight Frank Estate Agents. A recent article in the Daily Telegraph explored the best places to live in the world, with Southern Spain featuring high in the list.
According to a recent article by the OPP, Marbella has seen a resurge of foreign lifestyle buyers. “Total property sales in the city have risen to their highest level in four years, research from the tax office shows”.
Source: The Times, Daily Telegraph, OPP
Tags: Bargain Property Overseas, Costa del Sol, Investment Property in Spain, Investors in Spain, Malaga, Marbella, Property in Spain, Property on the Costa del Sol, Selling Property in Spain, Spain
Posted in Bargain Property Overseas, Costa del Sol, Investment Property in Spain, Investors in Spain, Malaga, Marbella, Property in Spain, Property on the Costa del Sol, Reduced Property, Selling Property in Spain, Spain, Uncategorized | 1 Comment »
Friday, March 26th, 2010
Last week the new terminal at Malaga International Airport was officially inaugurated by King Juan Carlos alongside Queen Sofia. The opening has followed 5 years of work building the new terminal 3 and surrounding services and amenities. The second runway is due to be completed shortly.
“The new terminal we inaugurated today does justice to the importance and tradition of Malaga Airport,” the King said in his speech to a 500 strong audience. Malaga is the oldest airport in Spain that is still on its original site. The King added that the expansion has “reinforced Malaga’s important position within Spain’s dense network of airports.
Those attending the inauguration included various local and national authority and political representatives, business delegates from the fields of business, tourism, aeronautics and communications. The Minister of Development, Jose Blanco, the President of Junta de Andalucia, Jose Antonio Ginana, the Mayor of Malaga, Francisco de la Torre, the Secretary of the State for Transport, Concepcion Guiterrez and the chairman of Aena, Juan Lema, greeted the King and Queen on arrival.
Of the architectural design of the new terminal, the King described it as, “agile, light and transparent” and highlighted its modern and advanced technology. The guest also passed through the Departures Lounge which is now home to Europe’s second largest duty free shop.
The terminal officially started operations on Tuesday 16th March and reported smooth running for the first day. The expansion of the airport brings an optimistic outlook as it is expected to bring a vital boost to both economic and tourist activity in Andalucia.
Source: Sur in English, Kyero.com
Tags: Business Investment Opportunities, Costa del Sol, Holiday Rental, Investors in Spain, Malaga, Marbella, New Developments on Costa del Sol, Property in Spain, Property on the Costa del Sol, Rentals on the Costa del Sol, Selling Property in Spain, Spain, Spain Economy, Tourism in Spain
Posted in Business Investment Opportunities, Costa del Sol, Investors in Spain, Malaga, Marbella, New Developments on Costa del Sol, Property in Spain, Property on the Costa del Sol, Rentals on the Costa del Sol, Selling Property in Spain, Spain, Spain Economy, Tourism in Spain, Uncategorized | No Comments »
Friday, February 5th, 2010
Marbella residents are going green
During the last quarter of 2009, 70% of new car sales in Marbella were for low emission vehicles, according to the Federation of Car Dealers, Faconauto. Although overall car sales have fallen by 31% in Marbella during the whole of 2009, it has been suggested the rise in the ‘eco-friendly’ attitude is attributable to 2 government initiatives:
1) Cars with less than 120 grams per kilometer of carbon dioxide emissions are exempt from registration tax
2) The ‘Plan 2000E’, which offers incentives to replace old cars for new.
New Shopping Centre Approved
Plans have been approved by the Marbella Town Hall for the construction of a new shopping centre on a 2,800 square meter plot in Artola. A €1.2 million investment, the commercial and retail premises will be set over 1,270 square meters.
San Pedro Underpass
In order to keep to plans that the A7 underpass through San Pedro will be ready by the summer, night shift work has commenced. Due to the unusually heavy rainfall in Marbella over the last few months, work had slowed, putting construction behind schedule. The construction firm, OHL, said, “This project is of general interest and must be completed in the shortest time technically possible”. Construction will now be around the clock to ensure the new roads earliest completion.
King to Open New Airport
The new terminal at Malaga International Airport will be inaugurated by the King Juan Carlos on 15th March, the proposed date agreed by the Ministry of Development to the Royal Palace. The King will be accompanied by the President of the Junta de Andalucia and the Mayor of Malaga, amongst others. The completion of the new terminal is of highly strategic importance to the province and will make it the 3rd largest airport on the Spanish peninsula.
Source: Sur in English
Tags: Business Investment Opportunities, Costa del Sol, Investors in Spain, Malaga, Marbella, Property on the Costa del Sol, Spain, Tourism in Spain
Posted in Business Investment Opportunities, Costa del Sol, Investors in Spain, Malaga, Marbella, New Developments on Costa del Sol, Property on the Costa del Sol, Spain, Tourism in Spain | No Comments »
Thursday, January 28th, 2010
Non-resident property owners who sold their Spanish property between 1997 and 2006 could claim back 20% of the capital gains tax paid, ruled the European Court of Justice in October 2009.
It has been ruled that the tax, which stood at 35% but has now reduced to 18%, charged by the Spanish government violated European laws by giving non-residents a higher tax while Spanish residents were only charged 15%.
The case was brought to the European Court of Justice by Costa, Alvarez and Manglano lawyers – www.spanishtaxreclaim.co.uk – on behalf of a British couple. The ruling of the European Court of Justice has opened the floodgates for others to claim compensation.
The Times, have speculated that the average amount of compensation per person is around €15,000. They estimate that the total amount of compensation payable to the thousands of British owners who sold during this period could be £238 million.
Source: The Times, Primelocation, Bignews.biz
Tags: Costa del Sol, Investment Property in Spain, Investors in Spain, Malaga, Marbella, Property in Spain, Property on the Costa del Sol, Selling Property in Spain, Spain
Posted in Costa del Sol, Investment Property in Spain, Investors in Spain, Malaga, Marbella, Property in Spain, Property on the Costa del Sol, Selling Property in Spain, Spain | No Comments »
