The recent torrential rain that we have seen here on the Costa del Sol at least provided some small shred of comfort for local residents. The region´s reservoirs have doubled in capacity in the last few weeks, with December´s rainfall alone guaranteeing water for the next 2 years here in Andalucia – yes, it rained THAT much! The volume of rainfall wasn´t uniform across the region however. For instance 362 litres of rain per square metre fell in Cadiz, guaranteeing the water supply there for the next 4 years, whilst Almeria only received 148 litres per square metre. The level of the well-known La Concepcion reservoir in Marbella rose from 40% capacity to 97.5% in just a 2 week period, to the extent that the reservoir´s sluice gates had to be opened in order to release the excess water into the sea, amounting to the Costa del Sol´s normal supply for a 6 week period. No shortage of water here for a while then! Related Posts The Rain in Spain New British Consul Appointed for Andalucia Spanish Culture - overheard conversation

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Andalucia´s Reservoirs are Full

El Madronal is one of the most exclusive residential developments on the Costa del Sol , home to sumptuous luxury villas within a peaceful, secure environment in the hills of Marbella. The combination of a depressed Spanish property market and the lack of new building projects in Spain presents an outstanding opportunity for savvy investors, or for those seeking to build their dream home in a 5 star location. This beautiful plot at El Madronal is 5,668m2, and you are able to construct 20% of this land, meaning that a substantial home can be created. Although the land slopes away to the meandering stream below, it´s still possible to build a truly stunning Spanish villa that will dominate the skyline. This land is relatively cheap for its superb location, priced at just 70 euros per m2, unheard of within this area, but in line with the levels of discounting seen recently in the Spanish property market. Of course, there isn´t too much work out there for builders in Spain at the moment, so you will find that labour costs and build times are considerably less than those quoted even 18 months ago. For those seeking a fabulous villa plot in Marbella , this plot for sale at El Madronal is unbeatable. Related Posts Fancy Making £500k within 2 years? Villa urbanisations on the Costa del Sol Looking to build your dream villa in Spain? – now could be the perfect time!

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Plot for Sale at El Madronal

Fed up of viewing the same old apartments during your hunt for the perfect property in Marbella ? How about a project with bags of character, built around cobbled streets and charming plazas with fountains and orange trees? How about a beautiful Moorish-style communal swimming pool and on-site clubhouse with elegant lounge that can be used exclusively by residents? How about all of this within a 10 minute stroll of golden sandy beaches, and just 6 minutes walk from one of the leading 5 star hotels in Marbella?And all of this on the Golden Mile, within a stone´s throw of the Saudi Royal Palace, just a 5 minute drive from the centre of Marbella, and an even shorter drive from Puerto Banus, one of the most exclusive yacht harbours in Europe. Hard to imagine? All of this does exist, and it´s name is Lomas del Marbella Club Pueblo – an elegant collection of individually styled and designed Marbella townhouses . This place is a real hidden gem, tucked behind the mosque and opposite the Puente Romano Hotel on Marbella´s Golden Mile, and offering sumptuous and characterful Spanish properties in a truly wonderful environment. Related Posts Record Month for Viewings of Property in Marbella New Marbella Port will welcome Cruise Liners An Agent Buys a Property in Spain - Part 7 - Another House!

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Looking for Something a Little Different in Marbella?

It may be true that there is a glut of property for sale in Spain at the present time. Thousands of unwanted properties litter the Spanish costas, bought up by eager investors during the boom years, fuelled by expectations of rising prices and cheap finance. So you would think that there is more than enough Spanish properties for sale to satisfy the current demand…and let´s face it, although that demand is picking up, there aren´t exactly hordes of eager buyers battering down estate agents´ doors just yet! But this is where the whole thing gets a bit messy. The problem is that everyone is after the same thing. Not quite ´everyone´ of course, but after analysing the recent enquiries from our website, there is a definite trend. Most buyers now have a set of criteria that looks something like this: -    Minimum 3 bedrooms -    Walking distance to the beach -    Walking distance to bars and restaurants -    No more than 1 hour from an airport -    Must be a great deal Of course, the budget varies, but more often that not, the other criteria are fairly constant. Whereas in the boom years, investors were buying up 2 bed apartments in the middle of nowhere in their droves, just to get themselves on the Spanish property ladder, nowadays buyers are rightly taking a longer-term view, and investing primarily for lifestyle reasons. And that means family holidays, so enough space for the kids and friends, being able to stroll out for a pizza, and taking a cab from the airport for those who don´t drive. So if you are looking to buy a 3 bed property in Spain , within walking distance of amenities and the beach, expect some serious competition. Related Posts Warning to Bargain Hunters – Don´t expect to view on a Sunday! Paradise Lost – ITV Gives the Spanish Property Market Another Kicking Why use a UK-based agent to sell your Spanish Property?

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Spanish Property Buyers All Want The Same Thing!

The profile of the typical Spanish property buyer has shifted markedly in the last 5 years. During the boom years, buyers were snapping up anything they could, with demand for Spanish properties outstripping supply, meaning that most buyers contented themselves with buying off-plan and waiting for completion………..just happy to be part of the investment bandwagon. One of the most in-demand regions a few years ago was the Costa Calida, located in the south-eastern corner of Spain, and home to the well-known Polaris World golf resorts . At the time, buyers felt that consolidated areas such as the Costa del Sol and Costa Blanca had reached their peak, and that better investment returns could be achieved by buying into a lesser-known area with big plans.With the onset of the recession, and the shrinkage in the demand for properties in Spain , many recent investors in the newer Spanish markets have taken a hit. With prices falling in many parts, buyers have been keen to buy into the more consolidated areas, and so we have seen a boom in enquiries for properties on the Costa del Sol and properties for sale in the Costa Blanca . The Costa del Sol and the Costa Blanca represent the 2 most popular areas of Spain for mass tourism, with a ready-made infrastructure that has stood the test of time. With most current Spanish property buyers searching for well-priced holiday homes in the most popular locations, instead of off-plan purchases in some promising backwater, the Costa del Sol and the Costa Blanca are coming into their own……..again! Related Posts Costa Blanca property - The Dream Haven Bad Press - Media Coverage of the Spanish Property Market - Part 3 Marbella Property - a market within a market

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Costa Blanca and Costa del Sol are the areas in demand!

With the European housing market stagnating, it seems that more and more home-owners are choosing to renovate their properties in Spain , instead of trying to find a new one. Acccording to Ted Jones, one of the most respected British builders on the Costa del Sol, he has seen a huge upsurge in the number of clients seeking his services for renovation projects on the Costa del Sol . Of course, many of the best-located properties in Marbella and the Costa del Sol in general were built over 10 years ago, and with many being used as 2nd homes or rental properties, some are now looking a little tired and shabby. So instead of taking a hit and trying to sell in a depressed housing market, many owners are simply investing in updating their properties – new kitchens, bathrooms and flooring seem to be the most popular updates. Although I actually bought a property in Marbella recently, I knew that it needed a lot of work to return the house to its former glory. Located on a stunning ´pueblo´ style development on the Golden Mile in Marbella , the house had not been touched by its former owner for 27 years, so it consequently needed a new kitchen, new bathrooms, new floors, new windows, re-wiring, and a substantial lick of paint. I have to say that Ted and his team were superb, completing the work on time (within 6 weeks!) and on budget….almost to the penny. They were also a pleasure to deal with, and have honoured their commitment to fixing those small snags that always crop up a few weeks after completion of the project. If anyone needs a good builder on the Costa del Sol, just get in touch with me and I will pass on the details to you. Related Posts Looking to build your dream villa in Spain? – now could be the perfect time! An Agent Buys a Property in Spain - Part 8 - Signed Up! Communal Living in Spain - A Few Things to Consider

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Builders on the Costa del Sol

Rumour has it that the world´s most expensive footballer, Real Madrid ´s Cristiano Ronaldo, was spotted in Puerto Banus last week. It seems that the £80 million star, accompanied by Paris Hilton, brought traffic and passers-by to a standstill as Louis Vuitton opened its doors to the couple……and promptly shut them on everybody else! Apparently, while fans outside chanted his name, the famous couple enjoyed a spending spree inside the world-famous store. Related Posts Fireworks in Puerto Banus Davis Cup in Puerto Banus is a Huge Success Davis Cup Tennis Comes to Puerto Banus

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Ronaldo Spotted in Puerto Banus!

You will know from previous posts on this blog that: a)    I live in Marbella b)    I´ve just bought a new house in Marbella c)    It´s been a record summer for high temperatures in Southern Spain So, when I ordered the air conditioning for my new home in the first week of June, I didn’t think it would be unrealistic to expect the machine to be installed before the renovation work in my home ended on the 31st July. If only life were so simple! You see, apparently I need a special wall unit from Panasonic (more about them later!). Not particularly special actually, just smaller than the average kit that they produce. I was told by my air-con man that Panasonic had been lowering their stockpiles due to the recession and that a new unit was being sourced from Barcelona – the unit would be here in my Marbella property no later than the 2nd week of July. OK, just before the August heatwave – that would just about be acceptable.Well, here I am, at the end of August, and the air-con is nowhere to be seen. Delivery was promised for last Tuesday, but apparently Panasonic ´lost´ the machine. An umbrella I could understand, a pair of sunglasses – it´s easy to imagine misplacing such a thing – but not a dirty great big lump of metal!! It will be here on 3rd September, I´ve now been assured. They found it in Italy (???) - Great, just in time for autumn. How convenient. As long as they´ve been keeping nice and cool in Sorrento…or Sicily,,,,or wherever the heck it´s been! The thing that makes me laugh (actually, make that ´cry´) is that when we were first informed of the delay, I said to my partner “You know this thing will turn up in September”, because here in Spain you just become accustomed to nothing ever going to plan in August. So i´ve basically been led a merry dance (is that a phrase?), and been lied to since June. So thanks Panasonic. Thanks for the wonderful service, the false promises, and the fact that you still have the audacity to charge me an extra 600€ for this very ´special´ machine. It had better be worth it! Related Posts Bank Holidays in Spain - Part 2 Welcome to “The Great August Shut-Down” Warmest Sea Water in 25 Years!

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The Great August ´Shut-Down´ - Aaaargh – Not Again!

Hot and busy – these are the best 2 words to describe the Costa del Sol at the moment. If the Brits are staying at home this year, then the Spaniards are certainly opting to do the same! I spent Saturday in Benalmadena , the popular tourist resort just 15 minutes from Malaga airport. The area is normally dominated by British tourists enjoying the sun, but this time I would estimate that the population was 70% Spanish. When I drove back towards Marbella on Saturday evening, the roads were clogged up, full of tourists heading back to their holiday apartments from the beaches, or heading into the popular haunts of Marbella and Puerto Banus for the evening. I stopped off at Opencor supermarket in Elviria on the way home for a bottle of vodka – trust me, I needed it! – and the place looked like a bombsite – imagine Primark at 5pm on a Saturday, and you get the idea! The place was full of Spanish tourists – I was amazed, as Elviria is generally quite ´English´ at this time of the year. So, it seems that the Spanish are having a ´staycation´ summer, pushing hotel occupancy rates in the key areas close to 100%. With easy access into an expanding Malaga airport, and now a simple 2 1/2 hour high-speed rail journey from the centre of Madrid, it seems that the Costa del Sol is hot for more reasons than just the weather. Who needs the Brits?! Related Posts Strange Reaction to Recession in Spain Falling in Love with Spain…again! SKY tv in Spain – a necessary evil?

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Hordes of Spaniards Flock to the Costa del Sol

I was out shopping this morning in El Trastero de Macarena, the fabulously shabby shed of a furniture store in San Pedro on the Costa del Sol (meant in a nice way!), when in walked former Spanish Prime Minister, Jose Maria Aznar and his wife. For those who need reminding, Aznar was the Prime Minister of Spain at the time of the Iraq war, and was welcomed into the fold by Messrs, Bush and Blair when the French and Germans weren´t quite so agreeable to the idea of a war in the Middle East. It is commonly accepted that Aznar would probably still be leader of the country today, had it not been for the atrocity of the Madrid bombings, which ultimately turned the electorate against him on the even of the General Election. Anyway, back to today. Aznar spent half an hour wandering through the store, with 3 plain-clothed (and eagle-eyed) bodyguards on stand-by on the pavement outside – not at all menacing until you started guessing what they were probably storing in their man bags. Jose Maria Aznar in El Trastero de Macarena – it probably doesn´t get any more surreal than that! Related Posts Christmas Shopping in Spain Watch that handbag! England - the place gets worse!

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Shopping with Spanish Dignitaries