Moving to Marbella More Affordable

It may be hard for you to believe, but there is one good thing to come from the credit crunch that’s affecting those of us who live in the UK or Europe…moving to Marbella in Spain is now more affordable! It’s true, even the most sought after locations across Europe are now becoming more affordable and within reach for increasing numbers of us.

Property prices in Spain have been falling across pockets of the country for well over a year now, and one of the hardest hit locations is the Costa del Sol that was previously so oversold and overpriced that it was becoming increasingly overlooked. Well, now that prices are falling and the level of interest in Spanish investment property is waning too, it seems that the likes of marvellous Marbella are suddenly within reach!

Marbella is a stunning place to live – it has it all, it has glitz, glamour and chic, it has an old town and a new town, it has a marina, yachts, fabulously wealthy people, some of the best shopping in Spain, some of the best bars, restaurants, cafes and even some stunning views too. And it has a really good lifestyle side to it that fewer Brits were aware of as rapidly inflating prices were making the entire town a no go area even for consideration for those thinking about living in Spain.

Marbella offers the best of Spain. It has the climate, it has some stunning real estate, it has the beach, it has the laid back lifestyle, there are job opportunities there for Brits, the cost of living can be lower than in the UK in Marbella depending on where and how you shop…and what’s more, Marbella has rapidly ‘improving’ property prices. By ‘improving’ we of course mean falling in this instance! Marbella is in a pocket of Spain most harshly affected by the real estate readjustments occurring across the entire country. Prices became so high so quickly as demand soared, that Spanish property in Marbella actually became overpriced. Now that interest in Spanish investment real estate has dropped off significantly, this has had a sharp impact on prices in the resort.

There are those who are trying to sell up and get out because they cannot afford their mortgage costs, there are developers who have committed to projects who are now trying to offload their property stock…but there is far less demand than there was 18 months ago and there are bargains to be bagged. And now it’s time to let you in to a secret – the locations that boom first may be the ones to crash hardest, but they are also the locations that boom first again! So if you buy into a crashing Marbella today, chances are you will be buying into a location that will boom again and boom again soon.

The Malaga Province and the Costa del Sol

Research shows that Spain has recently overtaken France as the holiday and relocation destination of choice for most Britons: this article looks at one of the most popular regions in Spain for expatriate relocation and discusses what it has to offer anyone in search of a new life abroad.

The Malaga province is located in south central Andalucia in Spain and is seemingly most famous as being the gateway to the Costa del Sol and for Malaga international airport – which often serves as people’s first entry point into Spain!
But the region offers far more than just popular beaches, shopping opportunities and an international airport!
The Malaga Province is one of the first and still most popular regions of Spain attracting expatriate retirees and those in search of a new life in the sun.

So what has the Malaga Province got to offer?
Firstly there’s Malaga itself – the provincial capital city is the second largest city in Andalucia and considered by many to be one of the most vibrant, atmospheric and historic cities in Spain. It is indeed a lively and exciting port city which offers its inhabitants and visitors an excellent quality of life, a city unspoilt by tourism and the passage of time.
The city boasts excellent shops, restaurants, bars and attractions such as Picasso’s birthplace and museum, La Manquita (the cathedral) together with beautiful tropical gardens and long stretches of sandy beach. It is a city steeped in history and a city which likes to celebrate its history – the festivals or fiestas in Malaga are famous throughout Andalucia and beyond – from the Feria de Malaga to the Three Kings Festival.
Apartment living is popular in the city and prices vary widely depending on the property’s proximity to the beach and other attractions. The city is a popular second home destination for those in search of a holiday home in the sun which is also suitable for letting.
Next there’s the Costa del Sol of course – which is basically a line of holiday resorts stretching from Malaga almost as far as Gibraltar – it was once a line of small fishing villages until a Spanish development drive began in the 1950’s to awaken the potential of the region. Now the Costa del Sol has been made famous through package holidays which brought waves of sun seekers to the expansive sandy beaches.
So, the nightlife and entertainment on offer are plentiful along the Costa de Sol but what else does the region have that has attracted so many expatriates to relocate to it?
Golf, sailing, water sports, incredible weather and an excellent expatriate network providing people with home from home support and familiarity which can ease even the most reticent expatriate into their new life abroad!
One of the most popular areas for both tourism and expatriate relocation on the Costa del Sol is Marbella. And what makes this resort so attractive is its cosmopolitan character. It is currently home to thousands of people from all around the globe and it is this mix of cultures, traditions, languages and people that makes Marbella a magical destination.
The people in Marbella are friendly, the atmosphere in and around the resort is peaceful and the destination is right for more and more property investors and expatriates.
The property market in Marbella and along the Costa del Sol is ever strong. With more golf resorts under development and more people drawn to the region the high property prices are expected to continue rising throughout 2005 and beyond.

Southwest of Marbella is Estepona – Estepona is a small fishing village with lots of character, an interesting history and is one of the few resorts in the Malaga Province to fully retain original charm and character, it really has not sacrificed its beauty and atmosphere for tourism.

This makes Estepona an incredibly desirable place – tourists want to visit it and sample the quality of life available and the beautiful year round sunny climate, and expatriates seeking a degree of exclusivity are drawn to the stunning (and pricey!) real estate options available in Estepona.
Heading away from the most popular coastal resorts towards, Axarquia, Antequera, Guadalhorce or Ronda you will find that the rich and diverse natural beauty of Spain abounds and stunning properties can be purchased at more acceptable prices. These areas are becoming more and more popular with expatriates looking for a different type of life in Spain – away from the bars and bustle of the traditional coastal resorts.

Axarquia – in terms of both tourism and ideal expatriate locations this area has only really been ‘discovered’ in the last ten years or so. It offers smooth rolling hills and beautiful mountain scenery, pretty traditional white villages and abundant wildlife set among a fairly wild and rugged landscape which is proving highly desirable and suitable for hiking and walking enthusiasts!
 

Antequera – This is one of the regions most attractive towns, it is located on the edge of a 540 metre high plain with rugged mountains to the east and south.
The town itself is a white walled busy market town and boasts well preserved buildings and site of outstanding natural interest.
 

Guadalhorce – affording visitors and residents some of the most incredible and wild natural scenery in Spain, Guadalhorce valley is framed by mountains adorned with fertile orchards, olive groves, almond trees, thickets and pretty traditional white villages.

Ronda – the beautiful Serrania de Ronda mountains lead to the historical town of Ronda which is perched over 100m above a sheer drop into the El Tajo gorge. While most visitors to this part of the region tend to stay for just half a day, those looking for unique and unspoilt Spain will be reluctant to leave. In fact, more and more expatriates are considering this region for their escape to the sun.

 
When you consider the wealth, depth and breadth of opportunity, scenery, attractions, excitement and quality of life available is it any wonder that the Malaga province is so attractive to both expatriates and holidaymakers year on year

Spain Basic Informations

Widely known for Flamenco music and dance, bull-fights, fantastic beaches and lots of sunshine, Spain has to offer much more than that. It is – and has been for thousands of years – one of the cultural centers of Europe. It has beautiful cities and towns, offering really old monuments as well as futuristic architecture. Its various regions are all different one to each other, geographically, climatically and even in personality. It is a fascinating country to know and to know more about it.
“Spain is different!”, Spaniards use to say. They don’t specify compared to what: to the rest of Europe, to the rest of the world, or even to itself ? We don’t know it either, but we do our best to supply you with loads of information so you can find the answer to this question and to many more by yourself.