Euro Weekly News - Costa del Sol Property Guide Issue 1703

PROPERTY G U I D E Lap of luxury Costa is class act for high end sales

LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION: The Costa del Sol is leading the luxury property drive.

By Kat Ashton

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HE purchase of Spanish homes by foreign buyers is skyrocketing.

And the real estate market has recovered faster since the financial crisis than most of the country’s other industries.

The Spanish Mediterranean coast remains among the top destinations for those on the hunt for luxury homes, complete with pristine golf courses and, above all, sea views.

According to the latest data published

by Spanish notaries, there were more than 50,000 purchases by foreign investors in the first half of 2017, marking a 13.4 per cent year-on-year increase.

Almost 20 per cent of these sales were focused on the Costa del Sol. And while Spanish housing market figures have shown a consistent improvement since 2014, they have boomed in recent months.

The Costa del Sol remains one of the preferred destinations year after year for

foreign buyers looking for a luxury home on the Spanish coast.

Sea views are reportedly among the top priority for these buyers, closely followed by distance to the nearest golf course and their own swimming pool, according to a new report by a leading estate agent.

The agency claims that these buyers are looking for properties built using the latest materials and technology, but are also energy efficient. Smart homes are the latest trend among foreign upmarket buyers, which combine state-of-the-art technology with energy saving features.

However, foreign buyers reportedly prefer a house further away from the coast, so long as they have a good pool, are closer to the golf course and still have great views of the sea, while homes sought by Spanish buyers tend to be closer to the beachfront.

The typical “foreigner looking for a house on the Costa del Sol is usually Nordic or British, who buys the property as a holiday home first and often ends up spending his retirement there,” explained the agency.

PHOTO CREDIT THE HEIGHTS/DREAM LIFE PROPERTIES/SHUTTERSTOCK

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Tiny mobile homes making their mark PHOTO BY TWITTER

HE trend is yet to hit Spain, but the popularity of the Tiny House movement is sweeping across the US, and other countries are taking notice.

People are embracing a vision about mobile homes that takes in a lifestyle immersed in nature, but that can be near urban areas or even in a green area in the middle of a city.

For many it has been a daydream to escape the stress and frantic pace of urban life, with an energy saving home that you can take where you want, with less expenses and less chores.

But the Tiny House social movement was born out of this vision, and to promote the reduction of built-up urban sprawls.

The case was there to be made that it is not necessary to live in houses of more than 200 square metres, in which owners spend a

@ARCHITECTS_MAG

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BRANCHING OUT: The Tiny House movement is spreading internationally. third of their income over many years on the mortgage.

The Tiny Houses do not usually exceed 20 or 30 square metres, and have all the comforts of a normal home, with a bathroom,

heating, appliances, but combined with a stylish minimalism.

Those who are curious about the concept can even start with a rental arrangement, or a weekend getaway.

Real estate sales go through the roof MALAGA is the fourth most popular province in the country to buy a home, according to the National Institute of BUILDING CONFIDENCE: Malaga Statistics.

It is sur- Province is enjoying a real estate passed only boom. by the two flagship cities, Madrid and Barcelona, and by Alicante.

Between January and November 2017 a total of 27,941 homes were sold in Malaga, representing a growth of 13.1 per cent over the previous year.

The data confirms the view that the real estate sector is enjoying its strongest period in recent years, with November alone posting the best figures since 2007.

Malaga alone counts for a third of all sales in the Andalucian region, owing to its popularity with foreign buyers.

The scale of Malaga’s real estate performance can be seen in the fact that the January-November period saw it sell twice as many homes than both Galicia and the Basque Country.

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Casa Zeta Jones: the new self-styled interior designer ITH five luxury homes to choose from, including a €40 million, 11bedroom villa in Mallorca, it’s little surprise that Catherine Zeta Jones has developed an interest in home decor.

The Welsh-born mother of two, 48, Hollywood actress and wife of screen legend Michael Douglas, 73, is not shy about showing off her efforts either.

Although her new film, Cocaine Godmother, in which she plays Coombian drug baron Griselda Blanco, recently aired, her acting career has been on the quiet side of late.

But after launching her Casa Zeta Jones homeware range with QVC in August last year, and regularly sharing her renovation projects on social media, it looks as though the Oscar-winning star is taking a new career direction.

The couple’s largest home is an €11.29 million property in Bedford, upstate New York, complete with stables, as well as eight bedrooms and 13 bathrooms.

PHOTO BY INSTAGRAM/CATHERINE ZETA JONES

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FINE DINING: Catherine’s feminine flourishes offset the dark wooden pieces.

It boasts shiny black granite floors that require daily polishing by the staff, and there is an array of antiques including an art deco butterfly wing piano worth more than €34,000.

Catherine adds a touch of

softness and colour to imposing, dark wood dining tables by decorating them with arrangements of fresh roses, telling fans: “Wish you could smell these fragrant blooms.”

Even at mealtimes, the or-

nately carved breakfast bar in the tiled kitchen, which boasts two cookers and a quirky arrangement of framed spoons, is laid with matching China with fresh flowers on the napkin rings.

Visitors who are lucky enough to be invited over can relax in the luxury guest house, which has been remodelled by Catherine, who is clearly relishing her new direction.

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Record-breaking year for hotel investment OTEL investment in Spain reached record levels in 2017.

According to a report by the Insights on the Hotel Investment Market in Spain 2017, a record €3.9 billion was spent in 2017, beating the previous record of €2.6 billion set in 2015.

A total of 182 hotels changed hands last year, in comparison to 147 sold the previous year, while the average price per room also rose to an estimated €119,000.

Most of the recorded investment came in the resort sector, which saw a 69 per cent increase and out-

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performed the urban sector, which still rose by 31 per cent.

Investment was also more widely distributed in Spain last year.

Malaga accounted for 15 per cent of the country’s total with 18 hotel sales, totalling €516 million, while the Canary Islands were the country’s top investor destination seeing €939 million invested, contributing 27 per cent of Spain’s total.

International investment continued to play a major role in the country’s market growth, with overseas investment reportedly accounting for more than 60

per cent of investments at €2.3 billion.

Looking ahead to this year, real estate consultancy Irea’s hotel division expects hotel investments to remain high in 2018, but the uncertainty caused due to the unrest in Cataluña may prevent the investment in Spain from reaching last year’s totals.

Miguel Vazquez, partner of Irea’s hotel unit, told Property Magazine International: “As in 2017, this year has started with a considerable number of deals in the latter stages of negotiation, which, if completed, could produce €600 million of investment in the first quarter of 2018.”

RECORD YEAR: Madrid’s Metropolis hotel.

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Log into a unique floating hotel A Swedish log-shipping traditions which Harstrom recalled from his childhood.

“It was a symbol for that era and so I chose to build this idea around the connection to the forests,” he said.

The resulting circular structure is a striking combination of man-made and natural influences.

ArcticBath is home to six rooms alongside saunas, a cold plunge pool, spa treatment rooms, a restaurant and a bar.

During winter, the resort will be frozen into the ice, and obviously floating in the river in the warmer months.

After the success of Treehotel, locals in the nearby village of Harads have been very encouraging about the project.

ArcticBath is due to open in late 2018.

LIQUID DREAMS: Customers will have a unique experience on the water.

@THE_TRAVEL_NEWS

life.

Located in the Scandinavian north, the area is a glacial haven of snowtipped forests, world-class fishing, amazing wildlife and the Northern Lights.

The resort is from the team behind the region’s acclaimed Treehotel - the quirky brainchild of owners Britta and Kent Lindvall.

ArcticBath will offer a similar mix of luxury and nature,

inspired by the stunning Swedish surroundings.

“You don’t have to copy things made elsewhere, it’s not interesting,” says architect Bertil Harstrom. “I think the interesting things come from your own history and your background.”

The unique design is inspired by

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RCTICBATH is Sweden’s upcoming floating hotel on the Lule River, and is literally an escape from everyday

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PRICE RISE: An increase in demand and a shortage of supply has pushed up prices for property in Marbella and elsewhere in Malaga Province.

Shortage of land in Malaga leading to rising prices ALAGA PROVINCE is among Madrid and the Balearic Islands in experiencing a lack of suitable land for building new homes, according to a report.

The shortage of directly buildable land has begun to impact on an already scarce supply of houses which, along with increasing demand, is causing prices to rise.

Prices in Marbella have risen particularly significantly due to these factors,

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according to the Appraisal Society’s data from January.

House market activity has also increased in Sevilla, Malaga and Granada. Markets in Cordoba, Jaen and Almeria are reportedly more stable in contrast.

Nationally, land prices in the Basque Country have reportedly remained stable, although residential values have risen.

There was vacant land available for development in Aragon, but building is

expected to remain concentrated around its main urban centres. Much of the free land there is more suited to industrial use.

The picture in Cataluña was more varied, with activity in the land market focused around Barcelona, but not growing in areas such as Lerida and Tarragona. This is reportedly down to ongoing political uncertainty with the region’s independence crisis still ongoing.

The markets of Madrid and Valencia

are reportedly experiencing strong levels of growth. In Alicante and Murcia prices have remained stable in part due to the availability of land.

In the Balearic Islands prices have continued to rise, fuelled by an increase in demand particularly in coastal areas.

The markets of Castilla-La Mancha and Castilla Leon have not seen much recent development despite the availability of land, although prices have risen.

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Spain’s innovative energy saving method S

ENERGY SAVING: Fuencarral Police Station in Madrid.

Credit: Twitter

FUTURISTIC: The E8 building in Vitoria.

Similarly, inside the Comisaria Fuencarral Police Station in Madrid, there are very few opaque surfaces except for interview rooms and private offices.

The building’s second

skin reflects ambient light during the day which protects the structure from excess heat.

And a similar model is being used on a planned future project, the Ferrer Re-

THIS brand new house in Spain took just five hours to assemble.

The minimalist modern home in Valdes, a small town in Asturias, northwest of Madrid, reportedly took less than four months to build in a factory but was assembled in five hours in total on site.

Designed by Studio Baragaño, the ‘Montaña house’ is described as a stylish mix between a traditional home and more modern houses found throughout the area.

The house, built in wood and raised on pillars typical of many homes in the Iberian

search and Development Centre in Barcelona.

The centre is reportedly specifically designed to create biodiversity, with one wood wall that plays host to trees and shade.

While one wall has trees and shade, another collects solar energy, but also has vertical shading in the colours and patterns of butterflies while its fourth wall is covered in greenery.

Five-hour home Peninsula, was constructed in a factory in Madrid and was later transported to Valde, where it was embellished by a local artisan with a traditional slate roof.

It has two levels, with common living spaces occupying most of the bottom level while bedrooms accommodate the second floor.

The designers reportedly drew inspiration

Credit: Twitte

EVERAL contemporary buildings in Spain are using a new technique in order to save energy.

According to Andrew Michler, author of ‘The Hyperlocalisation of Architecture,’ who calls the technique ‘the architecture of wrapping,’ by adding an outer layer beyond the glass to control solar exposure, certain Spanish buildings use minimal energy to keep residents at ease.

In turn, this then allows architects to ensure that an adequate amount of natural light is available in order to reduce the need for energyintensive artificial lighting.

There are several examples of this technique being used on unique buildings all across Spain.

Inside the E8 office building in Vitoria Gasteiz, large facets of glass draw the reflection of the sky down to earth, which gives an effect as if the building is almost disappearing.

Its ‘second skin’ provides solar control and wind protection which reduces the building’s overall energy use.

The house took just five hours to assemble on site. from the architectural style of the traditional residential structure found in the region.

The central element to the house, which is now a residence for a British landscaper and his family, includes a metal staircase and has

a fireplace suspended from the living room.

Polycarbonate panels separate the rooms upstairs, which allow natural light to penetrate all of the upstairs spaces which adds warmth to the minimalistic feel.

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New housing numbers increase by more than 60 per cent T

HE number of new home plans processed in Malaga Province stood at 4,895 last year, an increase of 61 per cent compared to 2016, according to figures.

House building levels in 2017 were at their biggest since 2008-9 and the rate of the increase has tripled from 24 per cent in 2016, according to the College of Architects.

Francisco Sarabia, of the College, said the data suggested that the construction industry had recovered from the economic crisis which began around 10 years ago.

He added that despite the positive trends triumphalism should be avoided as the rate at which new homes were be-

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ing built is yet to return to pre-crash levels.

“In 2007, 45,000 homes in Malaga were approved for construction,” he said.

The rate of home building should return to normal levels, around 20,000 to 25,000 new houses being approved per year, in about four to five years, he added.

The number of completed new homes doubled to 2,583 in 2017, the most finished since 2012 when 2,755 were built.

More than 800 projects consisting of a total 4,895 homes and budgets adding up to €825 million were processed in the province, according to data from the College.

Almost 1,150 of these were single family homes, 3,625 were multi-family and

HERE is a great deal to be said for purchasing new property from a company that has a huge amount of experience and speaks your language - Taylor Wimpey Spain fits that bill. It is now one of the largest house builders in the UK, founded in 2007 from the merger of George Wimpey and Taylor Woodrow and is a major player in the FTSE 100 with annual turnover in excess of €4 billion.

Now celebrating its Diamond Anniversary, the forerunner to Taylor Wimpey started building in Spain in 1958 and the fact that it has been able to continue to trade for 60 years despite the various problems with the economy speaks volumes for the strength and character of the company.

Although the head office is based in Palma de Mallorca, the company has branch offices in both Alicante and Marbella.

Horizon Golf, is Taylor Wimpey Spain’s second development at La Cala Resort, in the valley of Mijas and is located within the complex’s famous Campo Asia golf course.

The new Horizon Golf complex has panoramic views over the golf course and La Cala de Mijas.

It consists of 55 ample terraced homes, with three bedrooms, two bathrooms and a cloakroom in a private gated development with gardens and communal swimming pools.

All homes have a basement, a spacious main floor, large terraces and solarium of

NEW BUILDS: The number of new home projects submitted was the highest it has been since 2008-9.

125 were houses under official protection.

Mijas led in the building of new single-family homes at 175 units, followed by Mar-

| Advertising feature by Taylor Wimpey |

Spectacular new properties from one of Britain’s most respected builders

Views of Horizon Golf in La Cala de Mijas. over 50m² with panoramic views.

The development and the golf are perfectly integrated within a natural environment with spectacular scenery. Horizon Golf features luxury finishes, fully equipped furnished kitchens and installed air conditioning, designer bathrooms, bedrooms with motorised blinds,

and secure, fully lined wardrobes.

This is a development which offers the most modern living accommodation with solar panels, thermal and acoustic insulation, natural ventilation and access to all of the facilities at La Cala Golf Resort.

Everything you would expect is included in the price of purchase, but money can’t

bella with 133. Malaga led in multi-family projects at 1,036, coming ahead of Estepona at 690, Mijas at 240 and Fuengirola at 250.

buy the beautiful weather and spectacular views of the golf course, the coast and the mountains.

This is a quality build as would be expected from Taylor Wimpey which meets all European construction standards and will boast an energy certificate type B. The whole area is delightful and if even if you are not a golfer, you have easy access to Malaga City and the airport, great beaches, the growing town of Fuengirola on the coast, some exceptional restaurants in the town La Cala itself and an expatriate friendly council which even has a special foreigners department to look after its numerous foreign residents.

The legendary city of Marbella is a relatively short drive away and it only takes just over an hour to get to the trendy port of Sotogrande and from there Gibraltar is just a short hop away.

This is an area of Spain that has been developed but still maintains much of its charm, especially up in the mountains where the charming Mijas Pueblo waits to welcome visitors.

For more details of the great opportunities that await buyers of these new properties and others in the area including La Cala, Benahavis, Elviria, Malaga and Marbella, or even in other parts of Spain visit the website at https://taylorwimpeyspain.com.

Alternatively call Freephone Spain: 900 130 044 or Freephone UK: 08000 12 10 20 to find out more and to arrange a possible viewing.

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| Advertising feature by Discount Property Center Marbella |

The successful way of finding & buying property in the Costa del Sol! iscount Property Center was born in Marbella as a Management and Real Estate Company in the Costa del Sol in 2011, and today we have consolidated in our environment managing and advising in the purchase of its property to hundreds of clients with a unique aim: contribute to their satisfaction, and maximise the value of their real estate investments.

Our offices are located in the heart of Nueva Andalucía, Marbella, in the modern Centro Plaza, within walking distance of the international Puerto Banus and its famous marina.

A spacious, comfortable and visible office to improve the service and attention to our customers, as well as to offer a wide range of real estate coverage in this highly demanded area.

Our mission is to help all our clients to make the most appropriate decision in their real estate operations: facilitating the purchase or sale, in the shortest time possible, at the best market price, legally protecting the assets of all parties, with transparency and professionalism.

To accomplish this, we have a large team of 15 professionals with extensive experience in the real estate sector both on the Costa del Sol and international, covering all departments of the company: administration, telemarketing, marketing and sales, thus covering all of our customers’ needs.

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Transparency: Report what products, goods or services are available, at what price, in what place, and under what conditions, to increase the client’s knowledge of the products or services that they are trying to demand.

Respect: Correct and considerate attitude towards all persons, a client, collaborator or supplier.

Integrity and Honesty: Act in accordance with our principles, making the good prevail before all of us and our customers and collaborators.

Professionalism and Responsibility: Satisfying the needs of our clients by offering quality work, promoting at the same time the development of our company and of the people.

Our vision is to be a leading real estate and service group in the Costa del Sol, in continuous growth and expansion of the business, which is distinguished by providing excellent quality of service to its cus-

Discount Property Center team follows the values of:

Large premises in Centro Plaza local 53, Puerto Banus-Nueva Andalucia.

Our exclusive promotions:

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tomers, with personalised services based on trust and confidence, maximising the value of our clients’ real estate investments and the total satisfaction of their needs.

We constantly renew and expand our services in line with the latest news and market demands, always adapted to the needs of our customers, with constant training and with the necessary tools for its sole objective management: to contribute to the satisfaction of our customers.

Discount Property Center Marbella has developed with great success on the Costa del Sol one of our favourite tasks: the intermediation and sale of exclusive real estate developments.

In this particular case our clients have been the Investment Funds, who have placed their trust in our company for external advice and sale of these exclusives: it was to give professional advice and guarantee of optimal result and without negative consequences.

successful stories

Casares Beach - first phase: www.casaresbeach.com 2014 SOLD La Mairena Forest Marbella: www.marienaforest.es 2016-2017 SOLD Terraces of Sierra Blanca Country Club Marbella: www.terracessbcc.com 2016 SOLD Augusta Sea & Golf: www.augustaseagolf.com 2016-2017 SOLD The San Roque Club Apartment: www.yoursanroqueclub.com 2016 SOLD Casares Beach - second phase - April 2017: www.casaresbeach.com SOLD Pueblo Golf Villas, La Resina - June 2017: www.pueblogolfvillas.com 2 villas left!

Contact details: Discount Property Center Marbella Centro Plaza local 53 Avda de Manolete s/n 29660 Nueva Andalucia -Marbella Office Phone: 951 319 542 • info@dpc-costadelsol.com • www.dpc-costadelsol.com

www.pueblogolfvillas.com • www.casaresbeach.com • www.augustaseagolf.com www.mairenaforest.es • www.terracessbcc.com • www.yoursanroqueclub.com

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Home is where the island is HE rich and faTWITTER @LACYGCOOKE mous looking to expand their property portfolio can now buy their own island by surfing the web.

More than 2,650 islands have been sold on the Vladi Private Islands website, and Pumpkin Key, near Miami, Florida, is available to buy for an eye watering £70 million (€79 million).

The exclusive private island in the Florida Keys has one main home, built in 1985, which has three bedrooms and bathrooms, and has the highest price tag on the site.

It also has its own private club, an airstrip for private jets and is just a 10-minute journey to Miami’s South Beach.

Meanwhile, a 64 acre isLINGA FRANCA: land off the coast of Shetland, The Scottish island Scotland is also available to buy is on the market and comes with planning permisfor just €282,000 sion for a pier and a two-acre loch.

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Other spectacular islands up for sale include a similarly sized island in Fiji, known as the Remote Resort, which has been listed for €2.9 million (€3.27 million).

Last year the average London home sold for £481,000 (€542,000), making the Scottish island of Linga, on the market for £250,000 (€282,000) almost half the price.

A huge, 35,000 acre island, 16 miles long and off the coast of Mexico, is on the market for £15 million (€16.9 million).

Cerralvo Island has a breathtaking landscape which includes a 2,100ft mountainous ridgeline.

The Isla Centinela in Spain comes with a 1920’s castle which is surrounded by water and is available to purchase for £3.5 million (€3.95 million).

Farhad Vladi, CEO of Vladi Private Islands, said the website was set up in 1999 and more than 2,650 islands have been sold since.

“Islands are pharmacies for the soul and you can control what you see. They are the best combination of lifestyle and investment,” he said.

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POPULAR new smartphone app that lets you control the smart devices in your home is looking to expand to Spain.

Yeti, by a company called Netbeast, connects all your smart devices to simplify the control of your home and lets homeowners control, automate and monitor all their smart devices from anywhere, anytime.

It supports a wide range of smart home devices from lights and wireless speakers to heating and security solutions, offering homeowners comfort, security and convenience.

The company claim that with the app, homeowners will allow the home to be simpler as it lets you control all your smart devices with one app instead of many, better as it gives you a variety of features to empower your house, smarter as it helps your

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SMART: The Yeti app transforms the home into a smart home.

Watch out for the Yeti! devices to adapt to you and your habits and perfectly-tailored as you can choose between lo-

cal and cloud control Last year, the app’s owner company Netbeast were selected by

Shuttle, a leading Spanish brand for start-up accelerators, to participate in its fourth edition

of acceleration.

Netbeast launched in January last year and has continued to grow

30 per cent monthly while an estimated 15,000 homes now use the brand.

The company has now linked up with Crowdcube Spain and is looking to raise €190,000 in funding.

They have already received more than two thirds of that target, already securing more than €120,000 from 21 separate investors.

Speaking to website Crowdfund Insider, CEO Jon Senra Deark said: “Our two target goals for 2018 are to expand support to up to 25+ smart home brands which will allow us to target more smart home users and will set up the perfect ground to launch a premium version of Yeti.

“The second goal is to secure a partnership with a top real estate promoter within Spain which will allow us to push smart home technology within this market.”

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Golf gurus Marbella property company target UK market PANISH luxury accommodation rental company Vacation Marbella has continued to build its growing portfolio with the purchase of 12 new Andalucian properties and is targeting the UK golf market.

First established in 2015, Vacation Marbella offer apartments that cater to families and groups of all sizes and ages as well as golfers with a large array of specially tailored packages in areas all across the Costa del Sol. Following the purchase of

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the 12 further places, Vacation Marbella’s portfolio now stands at 60 different properties and 320 bedrooms, with three of the new apartments reported to be €1 million penthouses.

According to reports, the company is now planning to focus more on the UK golf market and has devised a range of golf stay-and-play packages that include discounted green fees at local courses.

Vacation Marbella reportedly hosted more than 10,00 people last year, with the

majority coming from the UK, and joint owner Borja Rodriguez said the company has acquired the properties to keep up with the demand.

He told the media: “We have enjoyed a very successful 2017 with increasing numbers of visitors, particularly from the UK, so naturally we have added to our rental options in order to keep pace with that growing demand.

“We have 60 properties now, but the plan is to expand that further with the

GROWING: Vacation Marbella have extended their portfolio with a further 12 Andalucian properties. aim of taking it up to 90 by the end of the year.

“Three of these additions are stunning top-end penthouses, giving visitors the chance to enjoy the ultimate in quality accommodation, but we have an array of apartments that, although are still of exceptional high

quality, are more affordable, and these are ideal for visitors who want to enjoy the excellent golf courses in the area, the golden beaches of the Costa del Sol, the famous Puerto Banus nightlife or the huge choice of incredible bars and restaurants.”

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