Buying Spanish property safely

“After seeing many TV programmes in the UK showing the horror stories some unfortunate buyers have gone through while purchasing, I was surprised but pleased to learn there are steps people can take to safeguard their investment” says Roger Cox from Aldridge near Walsall, who recently completed the purchase of his new villa in Moraira on the Costa Blanca.

The new guarantee for buyers of Spanish homes seems the perfect solution to protect against any problems in the future. After all the Americans have used this system for years.

Roger (aged 43), lives in the UK with his family and has bought the two bedroom property as a holiday home. Continued Roger, “We were introduced to this part of Spain by friends who took us to the Costa Blanca about four years ago and we immediately fell in love with the area.

Relax and enjoy our home

“We were aware of the difficulties some buyers have faced when purchasing in Spain but at the time there seemed to be no way around the problem. However, we continued to love of Spain and finally found the perfect villa, negotiated the sale with the owner and by then Safe Purchase Spain had been launched. We completed the purchase of our property with a 20 year Safe Purchase Guarantee in place and can now relax and enjoy our home in the sun, knowing we have the rights as owners fully-protected.”

Safe Purchase Spain was devised and launched by Ian Hawkins at the end of 2009 and has already received a great deal of support from estate agents, solicitors and private vendors keen to provide financial protection against difficulties in home ownership in Spain.

“Spain is still the number one destination for Britons looking to buy abroad,” says Ian, “but continuing negative press coverage surrounding revoked building licences and demolition orders served on innocent owners has struck a dreadful blow to the Spanish marketplace. Now for the first time, the Safe Purchase Guarantee provides insurance protection against a wide range of problems that can occur after a buyer has completed his sale.

“These include such things as title defects, illegal building licences, access problems, border disputes, community problems, hidden lease agreements, fraud, identity theft, vendors’ debts amongst others. As far as I am aware, this is the first time buyers of Spanish property have had any measure of protection after they’ve purchased.”

Roger Cox (right) from Walsall, seen here with the founder of Safe Purchase Spain, Ian Hawkins

Safe Purchase Spain was recently launched on the Costa Blanca. In an effort to increase confidence, trust and visibility in a largely unregulated property market, all Safe Purchase Certified Partners sign the Safe Purchase Code of Ethics as well as statements confirming their professional experience and the fact they’ve never been convicted of fraud or financial irregularities.

Each agent includes the 20 year guarantee with every purchase and it is this approach that is set to revolutionise the way properties are bought and sold in Spain. This guarantee is underwritten by one of Spain’s largest insurance companies.

Continues Ian, “What many may not realise is that in the United States, title insurance is mandatory. Put simply, you cannot raise finance against a property without it. As such the title insurance industry is worth billions of dollars and is a way of life for most Americans.”

Concluded Roger, “To be able to own a property, with this type of peace of mind, has made our dream home, perfect. Life in Spain is relaxed, the weather is good, the infrastructure excellent and of course we are only two hours flight time from the UK making it ideal for friends and family to fly out. I genuinely feel that Safe Purchase Spain is the way forward for buyers in the future.”

For more information, go to Safe Purchase Spain at: www.safepurchasespain.com or call on: 00 34 96 647 32

Safe Purchase

Exclusively available through the network of Safe Purchase Certified Partners, the Safe Purchase Guarantee is available to buyers and existing owners of property in Spain, the Balearic and Canary Islands and provides insurance cover against fraud, identity theft, illegal building licenses, demolition orders, community disputes, unfair quotas, hidden defects, vendors and builders debts, administrative procedures, access problems, hidden leases, defective property sizes, border disputes, land registry inscription problems, illegal vendors and much more.

The Safe Purchase Guarantee includes a title insurance policy underwritten by Caser Seguros, one of Spain’s largest and most well-known residential insurance companies, established since 1942. It provides cover for 20 years from the first day of ownership and up to 360,000 Euros in compensation for monetary losses.

© Stewart Andersen and Stewart Andersen’s Property Blog, 2009. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Stewart Andersen and Stewart Andersen’s Property Blog with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Living in Spain? Olives are a real Christmas cracker

For many people who buy a property around the Mediterranean, it often means a change in diet. One of the best things that many people include are olives and some of the best come from Spain. Why not start the New Year as you mean to go on with the healthy snack, olives?

Since ancient times, sun-ripened Spanish olives and their oil have been highly valued for their medicinal benefits. Traditionally cured Spanish olives are low in calories, high in antioxidants, minerals and healthy fat and are a great source of fibre, so whether you eat them straight from the bowl or combine them with your evening meal for a deliciously subtle Mediterranean flavour, you can be assured that they are doing you good.

Spanish olive dips

Low in calories

Twenty five grammes of olives contain just 37 kcal, almost four times as little as the 140 kcal contained in 25g of crisps. Olives promote good health because they contain a high amount of antioxidants and minerals such as polyphenols, calcium and magnesium.

Different Spanish olives contain different nutritional qualities. For example, black olives contain less salt and more iron, yet fewer calories than green olives; Manzanilla olives contain more salt and vitamin E; and Hojiblanca olives boast more fibre. All them offer the following:

•         Monounsaturated fats – Spanish olives are fruits of the tree known as Olea europaea. Olea is the Latin word for oil, reflecting the olives very high fat content. However, 75% of this is oleic acid, a healthy omega-9 monounsaturated fatty acid that has been shown to lower blood cholesterol levels and increase HDL (good) cholesterol.

Research has also shown that it is the type of fat consumed that determines the risk of developing conditions such as atherosclerosis (a condition where which an artery wall thickens as the result of a build-up of fatty materials such as cholesterol), colon cancer, arthritis and asthma.

Residents in regions around the Mediterranean consume large amounts of olives and olive oil and have a lower risk of developing those conditions.

Health benefits

•         Fibre – with 100 grams containing 2.6 grams of fibre, Spanish olives are high in fibre and so are easily digested. Spanish olives are also a good source of calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus and iodine.

•         Anti-inflammatory properties – Spanish olives contain a variety of beneficial active phytonutrient compounds (plant compounds which are thought to have health-protecting qualities) including polyphenols and flavonoids, known for their anti-inflammatory properties. Polyphenols also give the olive its taste and aroma.

•        Protection against cell damage – it is the combination of a number of nutrients in Spanish olives that work in synergy to provide great health benefits. Olives are a good source of monounsaturated fats, rich in vitamin E – a fat-soluble antioxidant that neutralizes damaging free radicals, and also contain polyphenols and flavonoids, which have anti-inflammatory properties.

These health-boosting compounds that work hand-in-hand to provide a protective an anti-inflammatory effect on cells that can lower the risk of cell damage and inflammation which in turn helps to:

1. Reduce the severity of asthma, osteoarthritis, and rheumatoid

arthritis – three conditions where most of the damage is caused by high

levels of free radicals

2. Prevent heart disease

3. Prevent colon cancer – by neutralizing free radicals, the nutrients in olives help prevent colon cancer. A higher intake of both vitamin E and the monounsaturated fats in olives is also associated with lower rates of colon cancer.

•         Menopause – clinical studies have shown the effect Vitamin E has on reducing hot flushes.

•         Alzheimer’s Disease – a recent study showed people with low level of HDL (high density lipids) or bad cholesterol were 53% more likely to have memory loss as compared to those with high level of HDL (high density lipids) or good cholesterol. As olives have high levels of oleic acid which helps increase good cholesterol, an olive rich diet may also help prevent Dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease.

Grape news

Las Uvas (the 12 grapes of luck) is a Spanish tradition that started, according to legend, in the early years of the 20^th century. It takes place in the last 12 seconds of the old year and although the tradition has spread to some Latin American countries, it’s most popular in Spain and is certainly something that very few Spaniards would miss.

As the clock starts to strike midnight, you should eat one grape per second. This is harder than it sounds but according to tradition, if you succeed, this guarantees good luck in the coming year. Don’t be taken in by earlier chimes – wait for the full 12 to start

If you are living in Spain, the striking of the clock on the tower in the Puerta del Sol in Madrid are broadcast nationwide on radio and television. Whether you’ll actually have great good luck in the coming year is hard to say, but whole families join in the fun and it’s certainly worth trying whether you live in Spain or not.

© Stewart Andersen and Stewart Andersen’s Property Blog, 2009. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Stewart Andersen and Stewart Andersen’s Property Blog with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Spanish Property Market Remains ‘Ultra Price Sensitive’

The Spanish property market has started to whirr back into motion, but it remains highly price sensitive. Only if the price is right will the property sell.

Chris Mercer, director of the southern Spanish real estate company, Mercers, comments: “I can cite a recent example to emphasise the point.  We had a resale townhouse at La Noria, in the ancient Moorish town of Vejer de la Frontera, which was priced at €180,000 but after consulting with Mercers the vendor reduced the property to €150,000.  Mercers conducted an open day on an October Saturday and, of the five Spanish couples who attended, one put down €1,000 in cash and has since paid a full €3,000 deposit. We could have sold this three bedroom property to three of the potential buyers, without any doubt.”

Chris continues: “This scenario prompted us into having a conversation with La Noria’s developer to see if we could negotiate price discounts on the remaining units of the final phase as clearly, although there are buyers out there, they’re ultra price sensitive. Although he couldn’t quite match €150,000, mainly due to the fact that final phase homes are larger and have individual garaging, we’re now in a position to offer three bedroom townhouses with access to a communal swimming pool for €165,000.  This is incredible as their initial sales price in 2007 was €285,000 – a discount of 42 per cent. With an e-campaign to our database and another open day we are confident we can sell plenty more.”

Incredible vistas

Squeezed between the sierras and the sea on a hilltop some 200 metres above sea-level, Vejer de la Frontera mixes labyrinthine whitewashed streets with incredible vistas of the surrounding natural park and sweeping sandy coastline. Vejer is within easy access of Gibraltar (only 45 minutes), Europe’s oldest city Cádiz (20 minutes), Jerez International Airport (35 minutes) and within ten minutes of the famous, near-deserted beaches of the Costa de la Luz.

La Noria, Vejer de la Frontera, Spain

La Noria is situated on the Atlantic side of Vejer with many of the properties having distant views of the African continent. Very strict planning rules are enforced to ensure that all new properties blend seamlessly into the old town.

On the market in La Noria:

Three-bedroom townhouse (VEJ007)

Brand new Andalucian style mid-terrace townhouse extending over 105m² with security blinds and underground parking. The home has three bedrooms, the master with a Juliette balcony, two bathrooms and a fully equipped kitchen. Outdoor space includes both front and rear patios as well as a private rooftop solarium with far-reaching countryside views. The property accesses a communal swimming pool while Montenmedio Golf and Country Club with its excellent golfing and equestrian facilities is within a ten minute drive.

Price €155,000 discounted from €230,000 – a 33 per cent reduction.

Three-bedroom townhouse (VEJ012)

Remaining brand new units on the most recent phase of La Noria which is at the highest point of the development and offers the best views and orientation. Extending over 122m² these three-bedroom, two-bathroom homes benefit from private garaging as well as the typical La Noria distribution of front and rear patios and a private rooftop space ideal for soaking up the sun and the countryside views. The communal swimming pool is within a short walk as is the bustling town centre with its bars, restaurants and retail facilities.

Price €165,000 discounted from €285,000 in 2007 – a 42 per cent reduction.

Contact Mercers Costa de la Luz on 00 34 956 329 572, UK Local Rate 0845 017 7805 or visit www.spanishproperty.co.uk

© Stewart Andersen and Stewart Andersen’s Property Blog, 2009. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Stewart Andersen and Stewart Andersen’s Property Blog with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Helping to make Spanish property purchases safe

‘Safe Purchase Spain’ has launched in Spain as estate agents, the legal profession and private owners seek to ensure that their properties have the protection of a real insurance-backed guarantee that provides legal support and financial compensation for 20 years after buyers have purchased their new home.

Ian Hawkins firmly believes that house buyers want to protect their investment against unforeseen future difficulties and he came up with the concept after working for 10 years as an estate agent in Spain dealing with clients with very real concerns

“Home buyers can now confidently pick up the keys to their new Spanish property knowing they have 20 years protection by investing in a Safe Purchase Guarantee,” says Ian Hawkins, director at Safe Purchase Spain.

“Working within a largely unregulated industry I always acknowledged the excellent work of other property professional agents and lawyers committed to advising and helping their clients. This commitment is a vital ingredient in the Safe Purchase process.

“Spain has had a lot of bad press in recent years but the country still has a great deal of appeal to foreign buyers, not least the weather, friendly locals, infrastructure and easy and cheap accessibility from the UK and Northern Europe. I genuinely feel that people want to buy here but have held back for fear of losing a major investment. This way they can buy without worry.”

What exactly is Safe Purchase and what does it offer?

Exclusively through the network of Safe Purchase Certified Partners, the Safe Purchase Guarantee is available to buyers and existing owners of property in Spain, the Balearic and Canary Islands and provides insurance cover against fraud, identity theft, illegal building licenses, demolition orders, community disputes, unfair quotas, hidden defects, vendors and builders debts, administrative procedures, access problems, hidden leases, defective property sizes, border disputes, land registry inscription problems, illegal vendors and much more.

The Safe Purchase Guarantee includes a title insurance policy underwritten by Caser Seguros, one of Spain’s largest and best known residential insurance companies, established since 1942. It provides cover for 20 years from the first day of ownership and up to 360,000 Euros in compensation for monetary losses. Continued Ian, “Buyers can have a great deal of confidence by working with companies where they see the distinctive Safe Purchase logo.

Spain attracts homebuyers from all over Europe

“All our agents offer the Guarantee as an inclusive part of their services, so it’s essentially free to property buyers. Buyers will also be pleased to know that we visit every agent personally and collect relevant information about the company and its owners. We ask them to sign our Safe Purchase Code of Professional Practice and a statement to confirm that they have not been previously convicted of any type of fraud, money laundering or financial irregularities.

“This is a first for the industry. We have also worked closely with lawyers to create a unique ‘legal protocol’ for buyers which clearly shows what they can expect from a Spanish lawyer and gives them important reference points for discussion as they pertain to a given property.”

The Safe Purchase Guarantee provides:-

• 20 years protection based on the 130 year old US model of title insurance
• Free home contents insurance for 12 months
• Savings of at least 200 euros on legal fees
• Annual savings of up to 25% on home, health, life, car and funeral insurances
• Preferential advertising rates with www.holidaylettings.co.uk
• Guaranteed exchange rates and savings on bank charges with Moneycorp

Concluded Ian, “Safe Purchase is a process that conveys confidence, trust and provides real guarantees to buyers for the first time. Spain badly needs a credibility boost, particularly when so many agents are finding it hard to sell in the current market place, and we are confident that this is the way to do it.

“Our objective is to work with those estate agents committed to industry ‘best practice’ who understand the very real concerns of property buyers after years of negative publicity for the industry as a whole. Recognising that prevention is better than cure, our Certified Agents have now added a whole new dimension to the words ‘after-sales service’.

“The Safe Purchase initiative, therefore, represents a major leap forward for property professionals and those that really matter, their clients! At last there is a way to buy property in Spain with real guarantees.”

For more information on Safe Purchase Spain, go on-line at www.safepurchasespain.com or call: 00 34 96 647 3215

© Stewart Andersen and Stewart Andersen’s Property Blog, 2009. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Stewart Andersen and Stewart Andersen’s Property Blog with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

COUNTRY GUIDE: SPAIN

A stall at Barcelona fruit market

Of all the countries that are favourites with Britons seeking a home abroad, Spain regularly features at, or near the top of the list. Year in, year out, since the early 1970s, millions of people have flocked to Spain on holiday to enjoy one of the most enviable lifestyles. And of those millions, hundred of thousands have chosen to buy homes on the Iberian Peninsula.

The reasons? Spain is a modern democracy with a fabulous climate; a transport system that is second to none; great cuisine and wine; wonderful golf developments that feature beautifully designed apartments and houses and above all, some of the kindest people in Europe.

Fact File:

Currency: Euro

Time: GMT +1

note: Spain is divided into two time zones because of the location of the Canary Islands

Population: 42 million Business hours:

Shops: Mon-Fri  09:00 – 20:00

Offices: Mon-Fri  09:00 – 17:00

Banks: Mon-Fri   08:30 – 15:00

Internet country code: .es

Languages: Castilian Spanish (official language): 74%, Catalan: 17%, Galician: 7%, Basque: 2%

Coastline: 4,900 km

Climate: Temperate; clear, hot summers in interior, more moderate and cloudy along the coast; cloudy, cold winters in interior, partly cloudy and cool along coast

Featured region – Costa del Sol:

This area occupies about 161 kilometres of the Mediterranean coastline that corresponds to the province of Malaga.

Sheltered from the north winds by a mountain range that in some parts comes down to meet the sea, the coast is a succession of extensive beaches, coves almost hidden between cliffs and marinas. Towns like Malaga, Torremolinos, Benalmádena, Marbella, Mijas and Estepona are important centres for tourism, shopping, culture and business. Casinos, concerts, museums, fiestas, theatres, water parks and theme parks are just some of the leisure activities on offer. At night the coast comes alive with restaurants, bars, discos and nightclubs.

The Costa del Sol’s setting is ideal for sports lovers and especially golfers. This is the predominant sport and the Costa del Sol is a Mecca for thousands of enthusiasts. There are wall to wall courses to be found over a relatively small area – in places like Marbella, Malaga, Estepona, Guadiaro, San Pedro de Alcántara, Alhaurín de la Torre, Artola, Mijas and Puerto Banús.

Getting to Spain

According to www.travelsupermarket.com there many non-stop flights into Southern Spain as follows:
· Malaga – the major gateway with multiple daily non-stop flights year round from up to 20 UK airports with Easyjet, Ryanair, Monarch, British Airways, Aer Lingus, bmibaby, jet2, Flyglobespan and flybe

· Granada – non-stop flights with Ryanair from Stansted, Liverpool and East Midlands – frequencies vary but operate year round

· Almeria – non-stop flights with Monarch from Birmingham and Manchester with Monarch, Easyjet from Gatwick, Ryanair from Stansted, bmibaby from East Midlands and jet2 from Leeds. Most services on this route are summer only

· PLUS Gibraltar – non-stop daily flights with Easyjet from Gatwick, British Airways from Heathrow and Monarch from Luton and Manchester

Flight times to Southern Spain are two and a half to three hours

Prices are from as little as £5 one ways when seat sales are on with carriers such as Ryanair. Average prices are around £80 to £150 return.  See http://www.travelsupermarket.com

© Stewart Andersen and Stewart Andersen’s Property Blog, 2009. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Stewart Andersen and Stewart Andersen’s Property Blog with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Spanish property news

Spain’s Costa Cálida – price properties well and they will sell

The property buying public are after bargains and that’s exactly what they’re getting on the Costa Cálida. Price two bedroom terraced villas on an established golf community from as little as 50,000 euros (approximately £46,000) and they will sell.

Director of Mercers’ Mazarron office, Gerard Rees, explains, “The bottom line is that price drives sales and our discounted properties offset any exchange rate concerns. In euro terms, prices at our most popular resort, Camposol Golf, have fallen by about 30 per cent.  Meanwhile the vendor is content with repatriating increased funds back to the UK. While buyers may have dried up on other Costas, here on the Costa Cálida we have no shortage of lifestyle buyers who are unaffected by the recession and looking to take advantage of bargains.”

Gerard continues, “On Camposol Golf in particular we have resale properties priced about the same as new in 2002. Loan-to-value rates currently being offered by Spanish banks are also back to their old levels.  For UK buyers this means now around 50 per cent – 65 per cent and for Spanish nationals 65 per cent plus. Although not good, this is exactly how it was for us in the 1990’s right up until the early 2000’s with most of our buyers borrowing in the UK, having the cash or a combination of the two.  So really we are going back seven or eight years in terms of pricing and bank lending.

Once lending increases then house prices will return to where they were 18 months ago within a fairly quick time frame. In the meantime prices have certainly bottomed out.”

 

Rosa Villa is a real bargain on the Costa Calida

Rosa Villa, Camposol, Mazarron, Costa Cálida

 

With Camposol Golf’s average Rosa style villa selling for 155,000 euros, this 95,000 euro example is Mercers’ best bargain. Comprising two bedrooms and two bathrooms, the detached home is on a 400m² corner plot providing plenty of scope for a swimming pool.  The property is delivered fully furnished, is fitted with air-conditioning and has a spectacular rooftop solarium with views across the countryside and surrounding mountains.

Price just 95,000 euros (approx. 86,000 pounds)

Neptuno Villa, Camposol, Mazarron, Costa Cálida

Neptuno Villa is on the market for €160,000

Exceptional three bedroom three bathroom Neptuno style villa set on a 285m² plot within the popular Camposol Golf resort.  The detached home has all extras from hot and cold air-conditioning to a solar panel for hot water and satellite television.  The rooftop solarium has wide countryside views and furniture including white goods and a luxurious outdoor Jacuzzi is included in the asking price.

Price 160,000 euros (approximately £146,000) and open to offers

Contact Mercers on 00 34 968 199 188, UK Local Rate 0845 017 7805, email ccsales@spanishproperty.co.uk or visit www.spanishproperty.co.uk

Spanish property buyers could save thousands of pounds following UK agent’s link with leading foreign currency specialist

News of a link forged between the Cheltenham-based Spanish property firm The Almanzora Group and leading foreign currency and international payment specialist Axia FX of London means that the buyers of new properties in resort, village and beach locations in south-east Spain could save thousands of pounds.

The Almanzora Group – which acts exclusively as the principal agent in northern Europe for the for the development companies comprising the Almanzora Bay Group which is building in the Almeria region of Spain – says that its new partnership with Axia FX will give potential buyers a fast-track link to currency exchange rates which could save them significant sums on the cost of buying their properties.

They are at Desert Springs, Europe’s only international award-winning luxury family resort and championship desert golf course, the traditional fishing village Villaricos and nearby Playa Marques, known for its seven kilometre long Great Sandy Beach, El Playazo.

Simon Coaker, The Almanzora Group’s sales and marketing manager, says: “We are selling properties ranging from apartments, townhouses and cottages to villas, beach houses and country houses at prices from €178,000 to more than €1 million, but with the Euro and Pound Sterling virtually at parity, favourable exchange rates are essential when calculating the total purchase cost.

News of a link forged between The Almanzora Group and Axia FX means that the buyers of new properties like these in south-east Spain could save thousands of pounds.

“With Axia FX having access to Interbank rates, they can ensure the prices the client receives are much better than they would have received from their bank, providing him or her with considerable savings. In fact, for Almanzora’s clients, Axia FX will guarantee an improved rate compared with that received from any high street bank.

David White, managing director of Axia FX, said: “We will ensure that clients of The Almanzora Group always receive excellent service and we are able to fix quoted rates for up to one year in advance.”

For more information about the properties available, call The Almanzora Group on 01242 680299 or visit http://www.almanzora.com

For full details of the services offered by Axia FX, call Tim Sullivan, head of private clients: on 0207 093 7852 or visit http://www.axiafx.com

Axia Fx

Axia Fx was formed in April 2006 and commenced trading in June 2006 with the sole aim of making Foreign Exchange as simple and cost effective as possible. Having started life alongside a parent company, it has recently become a privately-owned company under the stewardship of David White.

The company’s head office is in the Canary Wharf area of London ensuring the company has first hand access to all market information gleaned through its global network of traders, economists, officials and market participants.

The Almanzora Group

The Almanzora Group, a subsidiary of the Robert Hitchins Group, acts exclusively for the development companies which comprise the Almanzora Bay Group. The Almanzora Group Ltd is the principal agent in northern Europe, including the UK and Ireland, marketing new properties developed by The Almanzora Bay Group in resort, village and beach locations.

http://www.travelsupermarket says the best ways to get to Spain are:

There are many non-stop flights into Southern Spain as follows:

• Malaga – the major gateway with multiple daily non-stop flights year round from up to 20 UK airports with Easyjet, Ryanair, Monarch, British Airways, Aer Lingus, bmibaby, jet2, Flyglobespan and flybe
• Granada – non-stop flights with Ryanair from Stansted, Liverpool and East Midlands – frequencies vary but operate year round
• Almeria – non-stop flights with Monarch from Birmingham and Manchester with Monarch, Easyjet from Gatwick, Ryanair from Stansted, bmibaby from East Midlands and jet2 from Leeds. Most services on this route are summer only
• PLUS Gibraltar – non-stop daily flights with Easyjet from Gatwick, British Airways from Heathrow and Monarch from Luton and Manchester

Flight times to Southern Spain are two and a half to three hours
Prices are from as little as £5 one ways when seat sales are on with carriers such as Ryanair. Average prices are around £80 to £150 return.

For more information, go to: http://www.travelsupermarket.com

© Stewart Andersen and Stewart Andersen’s Property Blog, 2009. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Stewart Andersen and Stewart Andersen’s Property Blog with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Brits Opt For A Life In France

According to new research from Halifax International, France is the most popular overseas destination for British expatriates to live in the world.

Sixteen per cent of British expatriates are currently residing in France, followed by Spain at 10%. The most popular overseas destination for people to move to outside of Europe was the USA at eight per cent, followed by Australia at four per cent.

Most Popular Overseas Destinations Amongst British Expatriates

Rank	Country	Number of people (%)
1.	France	16
2.	Spain	10
3.	USA	8
4=.	Australia	4
4=.	Switzerland	4
4=.	Germany	4

British Expatriates Living In France

Almost two thirds (67%) of British expatriates living in France are over the age of 55. One third (32%) were aged between 55 and 64 years of age.

Age of British Expatriates Living In France

Age Of Person	Percentage Of People
30 to 44	9%
45 to 54	19%
55 to 64	32%
65 to 75	24%
75 years and over	11%

Britons Buying Property In USA

Of those British expatriates living in the USA, half (50%) were aged between 45 and 64

Age of British Expatriates Living In USA

Age Of Person	Percentage Of People
30 to 44	13%
45 to 54	24%
55 to 64	26%
65 to 75	18%
75 years and over	10%

James Gairdner, marketing and product director at Halifax International, said: “European countries are popular among British expatriates living abroad, with France topping the polls, followed by Spain.

“Living, working or retiring abroad can mean a whole set of lifestyle changes, including an impact upon your financial affairs. Expatriates have different financial requirements and when moving abroad it is important to have the right products and services in place.”

Halifax International provides simple offshore savings to British expatriates through Internet and telephone banking services. The savings accounts are available in sterling, euros or US dollars and are specifically designed to meet the needs of British expatriates who are resident abroad

Halifax International is part of the Lloyds Banking Group

For more information please visit www.halifax-international.com or call 01534 846555.

205 Promenade des Anglais

An incredibly spacious 1 bedroom apartment in a Bourgeoisie style building on the prestigious Promenade des Anglais, Nice. The property has a large terrace, kitchen, dining room, living room, bathroom and WC.

The asking price is €594,000. For more information please contact Agence 107 Promenade on 00 33 4 93 44 83 83, email contact@107promenade.com or visit http://www.107promenade.com.

An assortment of property goodies

205 Promenade des Anglais, Nice

205 Promenade des Anglais, Nice

An incredibly spacious 1 bedroom apartment in a Bourgeoisie style building on the prestigious Promenade des Anglais, Nice. The property has a large terrace, kitchen, dining room, living room, bathroom and WC.

The asking price is €594,000. For more information please contact Agence 107 Promenade on 00 33 4 93 44 83 83, email contact@107promenade.com or visit http://www.107promenade.com.

Eden Villas and Apartments, Zambrone, Calabria, Italy

Eden Villas and Apartments, Calabria, Italy

This private gated community is located on the hill top overlooking Zambrone in one of the most breathtaking stretches of coastline on the “Coast of the Gods”  and the dramatic scenery of the Aeolian island. 1 bedroom apartments start from £99,417 / €109,635 and two bedroom detached villas from £168,369 / €185,674. For more information please contact Experience International on 0207 321 5858 or visit http://www.experience-international.com.

Vila Sol Spa & Golf Resort, Algarve, Portugal

Vila Sol Spa and Golf Resort, Portugal

Apartments and land plots for sale on the exclusive Villa Sol Spa & Golf Resort where the excellent facilities include a 27-hole Donald Steel designed golf course, 2 tennis courts, swimming pools, spa, 6 restaurants and 2 bars. Prices range from €240,000/ £188,628 to €1,137,000/ £893,784. For more information contact Barton Wyatt on 01344 843 000 or visit http://www.bw-international.com.

© Stewart Andersen and Stewart Andersen’s Property Blog, 2009. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Stewart Andersen and Stewart Andersen’s Property Blog with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

News updates

Swiss house prices increase as permit rules are set to change

House prices in Switzerland have increased this year by more than 4%, according to figures from the Swiss National Bank.
Single-family homes increased by 4.5% in the year from January 2009, and resale rental apartments rose 4.3%.

A 3-bedroom duplex apartment in Ovronnaz, Canton Valais, Switzerland

Andrew Hawkins, head of international at Chesterton Humberts, believes these increases stem from: “A controlled market where ownership is highly regulated and a corresponding level of supply and demand. Switzerland didn’t have a price boom, unlike markets such as the UK or Spain.
“The continued interest from non-resident foreigners has kept house prices rising at a manageable amount. Also, as the economic crisis hit, locals transferred overseas investments into the more stable local property market, driving prices up at a steady level.”

Foreign property laws
While Switzerland has traditionally been difficult to buy into because of the federal government’s system for issuing permits, from 2010 each canton will have the power to set its own foreign property laws.
“Giving cantons the responsibility for making their own property acquisition rules is a positive for foreign buyers,” says Andrew. “We expect faster transfer times for property titles, making property ownership easier and therefore more desirable, so we expect that prices will continue to steadily increase.”

Fully furnished chalet, Vercorin, Canton Valais, Switzerland

Chesterton Humberts sells a range of property in Switzerland, including:

•    A three-bedroom chalet designed in traditional Swiss style, with modern interiors. This chalet is located in one of the highest spots in Vercorin and offers unparalleled views over the Rhone Valley from Sierre to Sion. The chalet has two terraces, including one with Jacuzzi. Price: CHF 2,000,000 (approx. UK£ 1,118,637).

For more information, call: Chesterton Humberts – Tel: 020 3040 8210 or on-line at: http://www.chestertonhumberts.com

Post Office launches new international bank to bank money transfers

Transferring money between UK and overseas bank accounts is set to become significantly easier following the launch of the new Post Office® Overseas Property Money Transfer service.

The new service offers customers peace of mind by enabling them to fix at a favourable rate of exchange for up to a year, giving valuable protection against volatile currency fluctuations. And because the Post Office offers this service online, people can transfer money from the comfort of their own home to wherever they need it to be in the world.

Anyone needing to transfer money to an overseas bank account can benefit from the service. It’s ideal for:
•    Repayments on a foreign mortgage
•    Deposits or costs associated with buying, selling or maintaining a property abroad and paying utility bills
•    Bringing money back to the UK after sale of an overseas property
•    One off payments such as a wedding venue or emigration
•    Regular payments – transfer pensions, salaries or even school fees, removing the hassle and expense of frequent individual transactions from a bank.

The Post Office Overseas Property Money Transfer service offers competitive exchange rates, with 0 per cent commission and no hidden charges, plus it will reimburse customers for any charges that the destination bank may impose, meaning that customers can expect to save hundreds of pounds a year*.

Buying in bulk

Sarah Munro, Post Office head of money transfers, said: “Until now, many users of international bank to bank money transfer services have found it to be an expensive business, with limited options for small transfers.  They have often been unable to capitalise on the great rates offered by currency specialists because they weren’t buying in bulk.  And they were also at the mercy of volatile currency markets, making it harder to get the most from their money.

“The Post Office Overseas Property Money Transfer service offers customers the ability to fix at a competitive exchange rate, giving them peace of mind for up to a year, which is a real advantage in current markets.  We calculate that with 0% commission and our competitive exchange rates we will be saving customers a serious amount of money if they’ve just sold their house or are paying a deposit on a new property.”

For anyone wanting to make a cash money transfer abroad, the Post Office still provides the MoneyGram service. This offers cash transfers to over 176,000 destinations worldwide from any one of 11,500 Post Office branches.

Anyone wanting to find out more about Post Office Overseas Property Money Transfer should go to http://www.postoffice.co.uk/moneytransfers or by calling 0800 180 4702. Transfers must be a minimum of £500 and are limited to £10,000 online. There’s no transaction limit for transfers made over the telephone. The Post Office Overseas Property Money Transfer service is provided by HiFX PLC.

Based on a monthly transfer of £700 over a year customers could save £528 by going to the Post Office:
High Street Bank
Monthly Transfer fee £30 = £360.00
Post Office
No charge

High Street Bank
Commission 1.5% = £126.00
Post Office
No commission

High Street Bank
Receiving charges up to 0.5% = £42.00
Post Office
No charge

High Street Bank
Total bank charges £44.00 = £528.00
Post Office
Free

Golf fanatics flock to Turkey

Turkey provides some of the newest and most exciting courses, many being championship level and most within easy reach of each other. Golfers have realised the tremendous benefit of 300 days of sunshine a year with the average temperature even in December, of 16 degrees centigrade.

Now the European Challenge tour will be played in Turkey in 2010 at the Carya Golf Club which was established in 2008 and in Belek the World Amateur Golf Championship is to be held in 2012.

Turkey was awarded “Best Golf Destination in Europe 2008” by the International Association of Golf Tour Operators (IAGTO) putting Turkey ahead of other European golf hotspots including Spain and Scotland. “This is largely due to Belek, the home of championship golf in Turkey”, says Robert Nixon, executive director, Nirvana International. “This is a beautiful region enhanced with beautifully maintained, top quality golf courses, making it a golfer’s paradise”.

Ideal for renting

Taking Belek as a prime example of golf courses available, there’s the Tat Golf Club, The Gloria Golf Resort, The Robinson Club, Nobilis, Cornelia Nick Faldo course and Papillon Golf course which is a new Colin Montgomerie Golf Course. In addition there is Kaya Eagles Golf club and Lykia Links Golf and of course the National Golf Course.

NIRVANA golf 7 Gem Golf Villas

It’s worthwhile considering the possibility of owning a property there. You could buy as part of a syndicate or for personal use and of course, such a property in a prime location is ideal for renting when not in personal use.

Belek is an ideal spot for relaxation and is famed for its pine trees which fill the air with a glorious scent with plenty to do including yachting, windsurfing, scuba diving, walking, bird watching and exploring the area’s rich history. The mountains too are easily reached and there is even the opportunity to go skiing 120km away at Saklikent Ski Resort.  There are also some superb beaches dotted along this coastline.

Currently being offered is an exclusive development of brand new homes at Gem Golf Villas in Belek located in the heart of championship golf in Turkey and just 500 metres from the National Golf Club and close to the Sueno Golf Club.

Year round flights

There’s a choice of two different house types (Villa A and B) all immaculately presented and built to a high standard. Villa A has a slightly bigger floor area than Villa B. 14 of the villas are offered with a shared pool with seven of the homes having private pool and parking. The development is surrounded by attractive landscaped grounds. There is 24-hour security on site and Gem Golf Villas is close to Belek beach, mini market and shopping mall. Belek town is 2 km from the resort and offers many shops and restaurants. Antalya is 30 minutes drive. There is a shuttle bus service for transfer to golf courses, beach or Belek town centre. Antalya Airport, which provides all year round flights to and from the UK, is just 25 minutes drive away and transfers are provided.

Gem Golf Villas, Belek.

Prices

Detached villas with four bedrooms and two bathrooms (1 en-suite)

Type A – some with private pool start from £200,000

Type B – villas with shared pool start from £180,000

Contact Nirvana International on: 01189 744 950/955 or at www.nirvanainternational.com

Nirvana International is a member of AIPP and NAEA International incorporating FOPDAC.

UK & Overseas Property News

By the seaside

The Emerald Heights freehold properties in the lush serenity of southern Mauritius, has set a benchmark of quality in one of the last remaining sanctuaries in the world.

Emerald Heights, Mauritius

First phase releases introduced exclusively in the UK by international agent, Erna Low Property, includes over 30 sumptuous one, two and three bedroom apartments with shared pools; two, three and four bedroom detached villas with private gardens and waterfall pools set within an abundance of tropical landscaping.

Designed and constructed to international specifications, these exceptional properties feature hardwood flooring; spacious, open-plan living accommodation; stunning architectural features such as the octagonal entrance atrium and staircase in villa properties; Villeroy & Boch bathroom suites; modern fitted kitchens with island units; air conditioning, satellite TV, broadband connection and 24-hour security.

Properties at Emerald Heights are affordable with apartments starting from Euros 275,000, and villas from Euros 895,000 inclusive of furniture package, taxes and fees. Situated on the edge of the stunning Black River Gorges National Park in the Mont Blanc valley, the Emerald Heights community is served by the Trapiche Centre which is richly appointed with boutiques, themed bars and restaurants, gourmet deli and quality food store. The Centre also offers a professionally equipped gym, treatment rooms for massage and therapy, and many leisure and relaxation opportunities.

Owners of properties at Emerald Heights have unlimited access to the 5-star facilities of the private Emerald Lagoon Beach Club only 10km away by private shuttle service. Ownership also qualifies for privilege membership of the world-renowned Mauritius Gymkhana Club, an exceptional 18-hole international course, while the 18-hole, par 72 championship course at Chateau du Golf at Bel Ombre is only 12km away by shuttle.

Access to Mauritius is easy with direct flights from 38 international cities. Emerald Heights, being the closest property development to the Island’s airport, is approximately 40 minutes transfer from Mauritius International Airport. For more information, contact Francois Marchand, Sales and Project Manager, Erna Low Property. Francois.marchand@ernalowproperty.co.uk Tel: +44 (0) 20 7590 1624

‘Try before you buy’ new homes in Manchester

In a housing market fraught with insecurities which has left those wanting to move on feeling trapped, homebuyers in Manchester are taking advantage of a new initiative – ‘Try Before you Buy’ – that lets tenants build up a deposit through their rent money whilst testing out their potential new pad. The pilot scheme, available at ISIS Waterside Regeneration development Islington Wharf, is winning over increasing numbers of prospective buyers and this month secured its first purchase for one tenant after four months’ rental, having agreed the purchase price at the outset.

Hollie Reynolds, sales and customer care manager at ISIS commented: “We are very pleased at customers’ response to the scheme. ‘Try Before you Buy’ works because it taps into two of our clients main concerns – saving a deposit and uncertainty about property values in the current market. You wouldn’t buy a car without test driving it and we believe the same approach should be applied when buying a home.”

First to convert from tenant to owner is Simon Tonkinson 40, a record and CD distributor who moved to Islington Wharf in January. Increasingly frustrated at paying ‘dead money’ on rent, Simon decided to purchase after viewing dozens of places.

He commented: “There is no other scheme like this. It has enabled me to live close to the city centre which I hadn’t really considered to be an affordable possibility. I fell for Islington Wharf as I can enjoy the benefits of city centre living which includes a pleasant four minute walk to work along the canal, and I am always recommending it to friends so I hope they follow my lead soon.”

slington Wharf has over 40 apartment variations ranging from one bed apartments to a four bed family duplex, many with private gardens and also a communal garden – a modern village green – in an area that already has in place a new health centre ready to support a new community. Future plans for the area include a new school, children’s play area, crèche, shops and work recently began on site for a new Metrolink connection at Islington Wharf, due to open in 2011. http://www.islingtonwharf.co.uk.co.uk, or call 08701 622522

Safe as houses

Despite the gloomy economic environment of the last year and the retrenchment of the overseas property market, Spain has managed to retain its allure for Britons seeking a home in the sun. However, for the property industry in Spain to take off once again there are a number of ‘boulders on the runway’ that have to be removed, a challenge which is now being taken up by an alliance of Taylor Woodrow de España and international accreditation specialists, Safe Buying Experience.

The ‘boulders’ which are holding back the Spanish property market include a lack of trust surrounding the legal title of any property following the well publicised land grab scares, the notional increase in prices resulting from changes in the exchange rate, the fear of substandard construction work, and the lack of available finance.

Taylor Woodrow de Españas’ Calpesol development in Costa Blanca

As the only major UK house builder operating in Spain, Taylor Woodrow de España, has a head start over other developers in being able to begin to address the challenges and show that Spain still offers fantastic opportunities for those seeking to buy property abroad. As a UK company committed to the high quality of workmanship in the building of its homes, Taylor Woodrow de España can offer its customers peace of mind that anything they buy will be built to an exacting standard.

In order to allay the fears generated through the extensive coverage of Britons who had lost their holiday homes through the so called ‘land grab’ policies of some of Spain’s regional legislators, Taylor Woodrow de España have teamed up with Safe Buying Experience (SBE). SBE offers an independent accreditation service to developers in Spain and Portugal effectively guaranteeing that every Taylor Woodrow de España property has the correct legal title, conforms to planning and building regulations and that buyers are not burdened with a poor or unenforceable contract after handing over a reservation deposit.

The founders of SBE come from a long and distinguished background of law, management and financial services. They recognise that, in an increasingly sophisticated market, buyers seek upfront reassurance that their dream home is everything they believe it to be. Every Taylor Woodrow property in Spain now comes with full SBE accreditation.

The developer currently has a range of Safe Buying Experience endorsed quality homes available in Mallorca, the Costa del Sol and Costa Blanca, starting from 173,531€. For further information on Taylor Woodrow de España and the developments available please call 08000 121 020 or visit http://www.taylorwoodrow.es/ If you want further information regarding the Safe Buying Experience accreditation scheme please visit http://www.safebuyingexperience.com/

Hotels for sale

Jerez real estate agents, Mercers, have two city centre residences on their books which will allow you to do just that. The first is for those who like to work smart and is ready to go whilst the second is for those who like to work hard and is ready for renovation. Both have enough period flair and exquisite detailing to satisfy even the late ‘King of Hoteliers and Hotelier of Kings’.

A gorgeous hallway in Jerez

Easy to reach, for nationals and northern Europeans alike, Jerez’s modernized International Airport is set to serve four million passengers each year by 2012 and crucially will have its own AVE (bullet train) station connecting it to Spain’s major cities. Would-be hoteliers have little to fear, Jerez has earned its place on Spain’s cultural tourism map.

In order to hit the (cobbled) ground running, Mercer’s recommends a ten-bedroom, turn of the 20th century guest house set in a charming narrow street in the heart of town. Only one minute from Jerez’s central shopping district, Calle Larga, this Parisian-style boutique hotel has been welcoming paying guests for a number of years.

Excellent value for money considering the city-centre location, the ten bedrooms and six bathrooms are arranged over three floors while there is a shady courtyard patio at ground floor level. The recently reduced price now stands at 599,000 euros, down from 850,000 euros. (Quote ref: Jer 113) The kind of renovation project that Michelangelo would’ve liked to have got stuck into is a vintage family home dating back to 1858 and the belle of Mercer’s books

One step across the threshold and the typically Andalucian courtyard with its grandiose main staircase, pillars, arches, beveling, cornicing, coving and Frank Lloyd-Wright inspired stained glass will already have the imagination running wild. Inside, many of the rooms have Arab-esque stucco detailing, intricate tiling as well as the most incredible hand-painted ceilings with frescoes of countryside landscapes. Counting at least seven bedrooms, four bathrooms, two kitchens and six iron-railed balconies, this precious part of Jerez’s history is built over 847m² to include a private rooftop terrace with potential penthouse suite. A rear garden and garage complete the scene for an idyllic city centre destination hotel.

Although technically priceless, this gem has been reduced from 1,000,000 euros to a give-away 850,000 euros. (Quote ref Jer 137) Contact Mercers on 00 34 956 329 572, UK local rate 0845 017 7805, email jerez@spanishproperty.co.uk or visit http://www.spanishproperty.co.uk.