When you think about it there can’t be all that many properties on the planet that can boast sweeping views of an entirely different continent. However, Norman and Pam Bailey’s three-bedroom villa situated in the foothills of Andalusia’s Cordón Montañoso del Litoral (Coastal Mountain Range) is one of the few that can.

On a clear blue morning in late summer, with temperatures already creeping towards 30˚C, the amazing panorama from the spacious terraced balcony, in front of the...

By now, people are beginning to grow a little tired of the economic downturn. Happily, however, some brighter signs are just starting to appear; for example, the notoriously conservative Bank of Spain recently made (very) cautious noises about small signs of revival in the Spanish economy; perhaps there is a light at the end of the tunnel after all.

A few green shoots are beginning to appear in the form of interest in property purchases emanating from northern Europe, due in pa...

Spain has been viewed with suspicion since the onset of the financial crisis. Like the rest of the so-called PIIGS (Portugal, Ireland, Italy, Greece, Spain), its economy failed to recover alongside those of core Europe in mid-2009 and its GDP has only recently stabilised. The bond yield spreads between core and peripheral European economies have proved disconcerting to risk-averse cross border investors, who regard them as a signal to focus on core markets. However, prime assets in core marke...

Spanish Hideaways is a family run business established 3.5 years ago offering a more personal level of service and expertise than some of the larger estate agencies.

The company is based on the Poligono Industrial area on the outskirts of Arboleas, a thriving small town 30 minutes from the coastal resorts of Mojacar and Garrucha.

The owner, staff and their families live in the area and have an excellent in-depth knowledge of the local property market and also provide excellent p...

Dusty bullfights, sultry flamenco dancers, warm orange groves and crisp chilled sherry, grand Moorish palaces and brilliant white villages perched among the mountains. Over the centuries these enduring images of Spain have transcended cliché to become the bedrock of a nation’s identity, perceived at home and abroad.

Yet within this large European country, occupying most of the Iberian Peninsula and with a total population approaching 44 million, there is one particular r...

Taylor Wimpey closed 2009 with 175 home completions in Spain. What is your forecast moving into 2011?
Leading up to 2010 there has been less development by Taylor Wimpey de España in Spain and by developers generally across the country; therefore, in the prime locations especially stock is very limited. This has driven us to launch new developments and phases in the high performing regions such as Marbella on the Costa del Sol and with interest ...

Already renowned as a luxury location favoured by the yachting and sailing communities with classy restaurants, gorgeous properties and of course the magical Mediterranean Sea, Mallorca has just been announced as the start and finish of the Global Ocean Race 2011-12. With over 20 entries from at least 11 nations it puts the island on a new international stage. Although many boating enthusiasts are attracted by the facilities, many more stay for the beautiful climate, excellent food and luxury...

As the flagship luxury property development in southern Europe, La Zagaleta stands out not only for its dedication to excellence in all aspects of quality and service, but also for its reputation as one of the few brands that continue to innovate and prosper in the face of economic adversity in Spain. Ignacio Pérez Díaz, Business Development Manager at La Zagaleta (UK) Ltd in London’s city centre, explains why a project like La Zagaleta still attracts the world’s elite and manages to se...

Taylor Wimpey Espana’s new luxury development on the Costa del Sol, La Floresta de la Mairena, is set in a stunning location in the hills above Marbella, and will offer future homeowners some of the best views in the Mediterranean as they sit sipping a glass of wine on their private terrace.
 
Designed in the quintessential Mediterranean village style, the development will consist of just 23 luxury homes in two white adobe style apartment blocks, surrounded by a choice of s...

The country was attracting huge amounts of investment from beyond its borders – most notably from northern Europe – and the rude health of the domestic economy led to a massive hike in house prices. The future looked so bright, as the saying goes, that the developers had to where shades. Indeed, as recently as the beginning of 2008 the economy was considered one of the most dynamic and robust in the European Union. So dynamic and robust in fact, that the German newspaper Die Weld ...

The olive groves stretch all the way to the foothills of the Grazalemas mountains, with a few wisps of smoke rising from stacks of burned-off branches. Pigeons coo from their nests in the 200-year-old cathedral backing onto the house while black vultures cruise past high overhead. There isn’t a cloud in the sky and I’m ensconced with a glass of rioja on the famous unroofed top deck – azotea in the lingo – of most Spanish houses.

My partner and I had moved to ...

Sustainability is a hot topic in today’s property market. And with environment as an important concern for home-buyers, it was only a matter of time before the holiday market caught on. In fact, with tourism being a major contributory factor to ecological problems the world over, many developers see travel accommodation as a vital component to ecological living.

“Tourism and holiday homes are growing markets and phenomena, and one where sustainability has to be placed at ...

Often overlooked in favour of the nearby costas, things are on the up for rural areas, sneakily enticing people away to the real Spain. With their traditional vibrant fiestas, classic Spanish dishes and wines but, most important of all, the chance to experience and live ‘the life’, all at a reasonable cost, inland Spain is hard to refuse. Unlike their overbearing neighbours, rural towns and villages, Villena, Caudete and Hondon del los Frailes for example, have not seen a big drop in prop...

In the last two decades Spain has witnessed a British invasion. Brits have been quick to buy up properties that offer value for money, year-round good weather and often – whether they sought it or not – plenty of compatriot company. Unfortunately overdevelopment often followed in its wake, degrading the environment for locals and investors alike. No wonder then that many British investors have been vulnerable to the changing winds of Europe’s beleaguered housing market.