VI 18
PROPERTY
www.theolivepress.es
September 2018
A
VILLA in Mallorca made headline news this month for being allegedly the ‘most expensive’ in Spain … although the owners of an even costlier Marbella-listed mansion might have something
to say about that. At a staggering €65 million, it’s one of the many properties across the country that have seen their worth soar as the country’s property market continues to recover. Our Olive Press Property Magazine sleuths rounded up some of the most expensive homes in Spain’s hottest locations.
Simply the best
September 26th - October 9th 2018
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September 26th - October 9th 2018
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HIS sprawling modern home is located in La Finca, near Madrid, reckoned to be the safest residential area in Europe and a favourite among footie stars like Gareth Bale and Zinedine Zidane. The mansion, west of the centre of Madrid,
In the latest round of the Design World Cup, Nest Estepona’s Lotti Ander pits Germany against Spain
boasts a home cinema, spa, sauna, massage room, gym, security room, domotics and an independent pavilion for staff. For sale through Jaime Valcarce Consulting Inmobiliario, you also get indoor and outdoor swimming pools and a nine-car garage.
We track down Spain’s most expensive homes...
STYLISH: Sleek lines
PALMA
65 MILLION
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22/1/18
15:33
Looking for Design Inspiration? SEVILLA,
13.5 MILLION
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by WNED Joanne Hearst Castro, granddaughter of newspaper magnate Randolph William Hearst, this grand 152-hectare estate is just 15 minutes from the centre of Sevilla and offers jaw-dropping views from every side. The 15-bedroom cortijo has its own chapel, dressage rings, pool, wine cellar with flamenco tablao and even a private bull
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ring! It also comes with a horse and collection carriage - including the one Spain’s Infanta Elena rode in to her wedding. The 3000 m2 property, listed with Sotheby’s, was built in 1929 by Aníbal González before being upgraded in 1999. Sotheby’s is offering it fullyfurnished, complete with objets d’art collected from the most exotic corners in the world.
80 MILLION Spain. MARBELLA, 80 MARBELLA, expensive in most expensive the most actually the HIS massive mansionisisactually
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HIS massive mansion was giant was 10-bedroom, 17-bathroom the 10-bedroom, 17-bathroom giant Marbella, the Property Marbella, Prime Property withPrime Listedwith Listed garden. pool, garage and enormous enormous garden. swimming pool, featuresaa swimming andfeatures 2002and builtinin2002 built heated with aa heated home comes complete complete with beachfront home the beachfront plot,the 8000m2plot, an8000m2 onan Sittingon Sitting barbecue. andbarbecue. cinemaand bars,cinema pool,bars, pool,
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The leading home decoration magazine for homeowners with style… Tel. (+34) 951 38 38 97 | info@homeandlifestyle.es | www.homeandlifestyle.es
I
T seems all Europeans have their own unique DNA when it comes to interior styles, like stripes that never go away. In our last property magazine, I explained how I could tell with near 100% accuracy where the owners of a home were from depending on their interiors. Kicking off the Design World Cup, I pitted the Brits furniture-loving against the minimalist Swedes. This edition I take a look at the precision-loving Germans and colourmad Spaniards.
GORGEOUS: Gardens of Sevilla mansion
More eye-watering properties overleaf
September 26th - October 9th 2018
XVI 28
Clinical vs Colour
PROPERTY
September 26th - October 9th 2018
www.theolivepress.es
September 26th - October 9th 2018
www.theolivepress.es
September 2018
€899,000
I love this historical hacienda with Roman origins, near Antequera. It features some amazing nooks and crannies and plenty of space… and check this amazing
Order, grunge and gemütlichkeit!
...work out who’s more stylish? The Germans or the Spanish...
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ERMANS have a long history with industrial craftsmanship, producing designs systematically and methodically with a rigorous and refined approach to quality. Bauhaus, BMW and beer are all products of this ‘mit Präzision’ mentality! And when it comes to their way of living (Germans have a problem with voluptuous and fussy interiors) you can easily see their love for clean, staight lines. They tend to focus on one statement piece of furniture at a time rather than an overall concept, and they do it themselves - hiring an interior designer is a no-no! Seeing the home as an arena for self-expression is a completely outlandish idea to orderly German minds! Please follow the instructions below to give your home the Deutsch touch: •
In every self-respecting German home there should be a brown leather sofa, preferably a 1960s Conseta model. No IKEA-wannabes please! Alternatively, opt for a very complicated module sofa, one that’s hell to hoover underneath and impossible to get up from!
•
Bare brickwork walls and concrete ‘bunker style’ are popular design themes. Organise your home with modular floor-to-ceiling
•
ORDERED: Clean, tidy and organised in a German home shelves and containers. There should be no clutter. •
Gemütlischkeit demands plenty of throws, cushions and carpets. If you want to enhance the arty crafty feel, throw in a lambskin.
•
A square fireplace (no frills or mantelpiece) is a must, accessorised with honey candle lights and a wooden floor - zehr naturlisch!
•
For the finishing touch, something olde worlde. Why not a cuckoo clock?
SPAIN
Color, color y mas color!
H CAPTION
OW can I describe the art of Spanish interior design in just a few words? It’s virtually impossible because minimalistic they are not. Their motto is ‘more is more’ - and the more furniture/colours/objets d’art, the better! Also alien to the Spanish homeowner is the concept common in • this age of over-consumption that when something is out of fashion, it gets chucked out and replaced by something more modish. This does not work for a Spaniard but honestly - why should it? We humans • are all hamster hoarders at heart, but we have a problem admitting it. Spaniards don’t. Therefore you may have difficulty navigating a Spanish home because of the hulking medieval cupboards, sideboards, bookcases and chiffoniers blocking your way to the bathroom. It’s like an • adventure into the Amazon jungle without a map. However, for those who are anal about organisation (like the Germans), the Spanish interior style is utterly liberating! If you want your home to be vibrant, full of life and furniture and with a colour scheme that will have paint supply com- • panies laughing all the way to the bank, you should do as follows: •
Choose distinct, strong colours for your walls. To achieve this psychedelic
schizophrenic look, every room must be different, from the porch to the garage and even the dog kennel house! Think fuchsia, neon-carrot, toxin green, bubblegum pink and custard sauce yellow. Buy chunky, heavy dark brown furniture and let no space come between them when you line them up along the walls. Olé! Install double lines of curtains. And awnings. And blinds. And blackouts. And use the electricity sparingly. Think dark side of the moon, then you are on the right path. Why be practical when you can run with wet laundry up two staircases instead? Always keep the washing machine in the kitchen/basement - that way, you get your daily exercise without thinking of it! Stash all your 101 cleaning products - the exterminate-everything-includingyourself stuff - in one of your many wardrobes. Not space enough ? Buy a bigger house, hombre!
XVII 29
September 2018
Property www.theolivepress.es
Roman beauty
GERMANY
St Georges European have been relocating families and businesses across Europe for over 10 years. As one of the UK’s only dedicated European movers, we operate crews. our own fleet of purpose built vehicles manned by our own experienced trained Insured by one of the UK’s leading brokers within the removals & storage industry and with our own containerised storage facilities in both the UK and Spain St Georges European have the solution to your next move.
CM
CMY
PROPERTY
www.theolivepress.es
September 2018
MADRID 21 MILLION
PRIVILEGED: Location overlooking Palma
illa Solitaire in Son Vida, Palma was reported to be the most expensive property for sale in Spain this month at a cool €65 million (although it is still €15 million less than the Marbella-listed property below). On the market with the John Taylor real-estate, it was designed by Italian architect Matteo views over Palma Bay. has stunning Thun andANUNCIO 1 OLIVE PRESS ENERO 18 OK.pdf The 2,300m2 pad has seven bedrooms and six bathrooms, a rooftop terrace with open-air cinema, gym, parking for six cars, a botanical garden, an elevator … we could go on ...
VII 19
September 2018
Expensive Taste
archaeological masterpiece from the first century that was found in the grounds. It’s called the ‘Efebo’ and it sits in Antequera’s town museum.
’s y ga ert ala p ne M pro azi st g be ma
What can you buy in Spain when money is no object?
www.theolivepress.es
Fortress
September 2018
€7.5m
I can only describe this as a ‘masterpiece’ and aside from winning architectural prizes, this fortress, near Alcala del Valle, between Ronda and Olvera, once owned by a Marquez, has Roman origins and a 120,000m2 plot, with its own olive plantation, chapel and no less than 10 bedrooms and nine bathrooms.
Country Mill
GATEWAY TO DREAMS HOMESELLERS REPORT
He is one of the best travelled agents in Andalucia… and few people know the inland region like Oscar Ernstsen (right), writes Jon Clarke
L
€295,000
OOKING for a castle? He’s got a few. Looking for a palace? That’s easy. Want a vineyard or an olive estate? What grape or olive variety do you prefer? Welcome to the wonderful world of Oscar Ernstsen at Villas & Fincas, Andalucia’s most travelled estate agent. While most Costa del Sol agents spend the majority of their time, scouring the many urbanisations between Mijas and Marbella, this Dutchman looks inland. Aside from a series of charming country properties near Estepona and Casares, where he is based, his beat is very much rustic dreams. But not of your ordinary kind. Take a look around his company’s re-
This resorted olive mill on the outskirts of one of inland Malaga’s most charming small villages, is a complete bargain. Completely restored, it sits on the edge of the cultured artist village of Genalguacil, just 30 minutes from Estepona and Ronda! With 1.4 hectares of land providing 1500 kgs of olives and 300 litres of oil, it’s the very epitome of the Good Life. A bargain for an artist or writer!
Horses and wines €1.15m
This amazing equestrian property sits in the middle of top class vineyards (near Federico Schatz bodega) in Ronda, with the most amazing views to the Grazalema Natural Park.
cently-relaunched website (below left) and you will find dozens of Andalucia’s most stunning estates. Scattered across seven provinces of Andalucia, they include hunting estates, equestrian properties, with vineyards, fortresses, with 12-foot high walls and 20-bed cortijos with Roman foundations. “I cover almost all of the region and as a rule of thumb, they have to be between a three and four hour drive from my office for me to consider them,” he explains. “And something three-and-ahalf hours away will have to be something pretty nice.” He particularly likes the Aracena region, of Huelva, with its rolling countryside, as well as the Natural Park of the Sierra Norte de Sevilla, which butts onto Extremadura. “I have just sold a wonderful olive estate to an American couple from New York there, as well as a vineyard near Ronda. They have all the bases covered,” he explains. He is a massive fan of the Serrania de Ronda area in general and ‘will never get bored of the amazing drive between Gaucin and Ronda’. And he also loves the Hornachuelos area, north of Cordoba and the south of Jaen. “I spend a lot of my week driving around inland Andalucia, which is easily one of the most beautiful areas of the world,” he explains. “I’ve got to know the region well over the last two decades and there are so many stunning places to live.” Luckily, his office in Casares, near Estepona, is manned around the clock by his wife and business partner Anita and a team of four employees, so he never misses a call, or client. Currently they have 250 properties on their books, all with exclusive photos and videos on their new website, which has taken a year to create. “There is something for everyone and if, like me, you appreciate the local Andalucian architecture, you will love having a browse,” he adds. Here are six picks from his current crop of dream places to buy: Visit www.villasfincas.com
...and find a selection of dreamy inland properties
Little bit pricey
Is this Spain’s most expensive home?
Page VI
September 26th - October 9th 2018
13
VS INTERIORS WORLD CUP, PART 2 See page XXVI
INLAND DREAMING
J
ust an hour or two from the Costa del Sol you’ll find a range of stunning historical gems for sale, many going back to the Roman era and one where Napoleon (right) once stayed. See page XVI
Heart-stoppingly romantic €700,000 Few places can take you back in time like this. Oozing history, it was once a monastery and features incredible arches and some of the nicest original features I have ever
Napoleon’s garret €1.55m
You will struggle to beat this award-winning restoration project, sitting inside the UNESCOprotected Sierra Norte de Sevilla Natural park. It was formerly
an ice factory, and later a farm for classic Jamon Iberico…Today it is a rural country hotel. Oh and by the way, Napoleon (right) once stayed here!
come across on my travels. It even has an old bodega and sits near the idyllic mountain village of Cazalla de la Sierra where famous designers Vic-
torio y Lucchino have a home, as well as the daughter of former dictator Franco… and price wise just €700,000.
Don’t miss our 32-page Property magazine inside as it also goes stand-alone on its fourth birthday
Price hike
Taking a stroll around a mountain of bargains
Page IV
Casa or Cave
TRIPLE JOY: Historic internal patio
in Cadiz stunner, while (below) ancient
arches in Sevilla mill and a vineyard/equestrian
Fabulous photo report of Andalucia’s cave-dwellers
estate, near Ronda
Page XX
Famous Guests
Reform of stunning hotel where Virginia Woolf stayed
Page XXV
Nice little earners M ORE buyers than ever are snapping homes to rent out - and the Costa delup second second hottest destination of choice. Sol is the According to new research, more than two thirds of owners now rent out their part or all of their costs, reversing second homes to cover the trend of 50 years ago.
The top three locations benefiting from the buy-to-let second home boom are the Costa del Sol, international market, the Costa Blanca,which has 4% of the also at 4%, and the Algarve, in Portugal, with 5%. Back in the 1970s, nine out of 10 second homes purely for themselves.homeowners kept their
Costa del Sol is cashing in on a buy-to-let boom
Even up to 2000 that figure only dropped to eight out of 10 homeowners. But times are changing with more their holiday home into a nice little buyers hoping to turn survey by Savills and HomeAway. earner, according to a In the early 2000s, only 14% of second purely for rental rather than personal homes were bought But by the time of the credit crunch, use. to 19% and now more than a third this figure had risen of second homes are
bought as investments. “In a low interest rate environment out income-generating assets,” said investors are seeking director for Savills World Research.Paul Tostevin, associate “Today’s second home buyers want properties to work for them financially and they’re increasingly looking not just to cover costs but to turn a profit.” He added: “Global tourism continues to grow, with international tourist arrivals up by 7% last year to a record 1.3 billion. At the same time, the rapid expansion of online holiday home platforms such as HomeAway opens up the market to new target groups and makes it much easier for owners to make their properties income-producing.”
Voted BEST
SEE OUR ADVERT INSIDE WITH RESERVATION
Fake advisor
UP to one in three reviews on TripAdvisor is fake, a new investigation has found. An analysis of tens of thousands of reviews shows toprated B&Bs have almost twice as many ‘fake’ reviews as lowerranked accommodation. The Times caught restaurants trying to buy 5-star reviews, as well as negative reviews of rivals. It comes after the Olive Press exposed a series of Costa del Sol businesses paying for dozens of fake five-star reviews in a bid to increase their rankings.
Victims
Despite TripAdvisor stepping in to investigate, the Times probe insisted enough was not being done to stop the bogus reviews. Another recent study found that almost nine in ten businesses have been victims of negative reviews. Consumer groups say fake reviews are a growing problem and it is believed almost €16 billion a year is spent on travel and hotels following reviews. Do you know of any businesses selling fake reviews? Or places abusing social media or review sites? Contact newsdesk@theolivepress.es Trick advisor page 6
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expat paper in Spain (Free or paid for)
FREE
Vol. 13 Issue 301 www.theolivepress.es September 26th - October 9th 2018
SEEN him? Mother makes heartfelt plea to Olive Press readers to find alleged killer of her son believed to be in Malaga A DESPERATE mother has appealed for expats to keep their eyes peeled for the man, suspected of killing her son. Tracey Hanson’s plea comes three years since her only son Josh, 21, was allegedly killed by tattooed Irish gym fanatic Shane O’Brien. On the third anniversary of his death, she believes O’Brien is ‘very likely’ to be immersed in an expat community like the Costa del Sol. Her views are backed up by a recent Metropolitan Police report - with a reward offer of €50,000 - which claims he may be living around the Marbella area. “He was definitely spotted in Gibraltar and we have had lots of expats in Spain contact us since a Crimestoppers appeal two years ago. “I really believe he could be lying low and hiding in some-
EXCLUSIVE By Yvonne Pardo
where like Mijas or Estepona,” she added. Josh was stabbed in the neck in a crowded bar, in West London, on October 11, 2015, in what witnesses describe as a random and motiveless attack.
Gibraltar
Immediately after the incident O’Brien, 30, from London, the chief suspect in the investigation, managed to flee the UK on a private plane. He was later arrested for GBH, while living in Prague the following year. However, tragically, police were unable to link him to the UK murder as he was arrested under the false name of Enzo Mellonceli and released
www.theolivepress.es
TM
SOUGHT: €50,000 for info leading to O’Brien’s arrest and (right) Tracey with son Josh “We’ve had an extraordinary on bail. He quickly fled. response on social media and Since then he is reported to I’ve even had people take have been seen in the NethO’Brien’s ‘Wanted’ posters on erlands, Nice and Gibraltar, holiday and put them up in although despite efforts from the Olive Press, this week. police there, they were unable “He was an innocent boy. some of the remotest places to find further evidence. We need a trial and a sen- around the world. “I am in the worst kind of tence, and most importantly pain imaginable”, Tracey told we need an opportunity for Vigilant Josh’s voice to be heard.” “We can’t let 19th what took place December 6th - December 2017 O’Brien - who has a menacing in Prague happen again!” tattoo on his back of an eagle The Met continues to enholding a skull - is now one of courage the public to stay Europe’s most wanted crimi- vigilant, especially if abroad, nals with a sum of £50,000 and urges anyone who thinks offered for any information they might recognize O’Brien leading to his arrest. to contact local police im“If it wasn’t for the public, Josh’s mediately. He wasFrom lastPage not-1 campaign wouldn’t be out ed to have shoulder length See page 2 there”, his mother Hecontinued. even got himself a financial advice slot dark hair, a full beard and ison a well known radio station, through which he snared unsuspectknown to frequent gyms, boxing victims. ing clubs and nightclubs. However, a comprehensive Olive Press investigation exHIs distinctive back tatposed his scams that coins and gold. tooinvolved covers astamps, previous tattoo, We also revealed how he and his close pal Barry Nathan ‘Shannon 15-04-06’. wined and dined up to a dozen criminals, anonymously, Opinion Page 6 through the food column. for renewals. Subject to conditions. He eventually fled the country following our expose, but we soon tracked him down to the UK, where he had changed his name by deed poll and was selling coins and antiques on eBay from a small Berkshire cottage. Reliable private hire transfer 2/8/18 17:01 He was quickly found guilty under English law of conning services for any occasion people and given a suspended prison • Luxury vehicles sentence only due to health reasons. • Door to door service “And because he promised to never than permitted. • Airport collections go back to his online cons,” one of the Although the town hall and • Weddings transport British victim explained. developer maintain this ex• Sightseeing day trips But this is apparently not the caseSOME with 14 fire bosses • Restaurant shuttles cess was later corrected, the been arrested for alleg two victims claiming he is still using embezzling €7 million judge ruled eBay to sell ‘dodgy’ coins and stamps Find out more at: that the rectification would have taken place from his unpaid flat in Brighton,public us- funds. www.simply-shuttles.com The Policia Nacional fo after the the liing the names ‘gqtrading’ and ‘gqtradtel: 951 279 117granting of www.eliteglasscurtains.com that the Consortium cence, so does not count. ing2’. info@simply-shuttles.com Bomberos DISTINCTIVE: Tattoo Cadiz took The building has 61 apart“We are pretty sure he has broken his mass early retirement in ments and 46 parking spacbail conditions and will have to finally ance policies. es. go back to prison,” said one victim. But when their emplo “The nerve of this man is unbelievable.” The original building was retired early, chiefs sipho His landlord last night insisted he should have known granted planning permisoff the money from the
APPEAL
NE WS
Not 902 123 282 enough stars
Costa del Sol hotel has three months to See page 5 fight decision before it is demolished
TM
902 123 282
SOME 14 fire bosses have been arrested for allegedly embezzling €7 million in public funds. The Policia Nacional found that the Consortium of MINIMARKET Bomberos Cadiz took out A HOTEL is to be knocked Deli Products mass early retirementFreshly insur- Baked down for not having enough ance policies. Tel:class! 602 514 384 * O f f e r e n d s 3 0 / 1 1 / 1 8 . UKBut BASED when their employees WhatsApp: 602 559 385 Hotel Vista Benalmadena’s retired early, chiefs siphoned Opp St Anthony’s College de Rey must be demolished off the money from the pay- La Cala Hills within three months, a court outs. Closed hasMondays ruled, Authorities also found disAndalucia’s Superior Court crepancies in the consorof Justice ruled ON that the hofortium’s Spanish training courses.CASHBACK tel falls short of its four-star Large sums were paid to a residents YOURrequirement. HOUSE company to provide training courses, but no evidence has www.globelink.co.uk been found that these courses Probing took place. It began probing the three Meanwhile, irregularities star hotel and apartment 96 626 were 5000 also found in grants and PAYBACK WHEN block in 2011 after it was dewhich cops believe +44 (0) subsidies, 1353 699082 nounced over planning rules YOU SELL were used to pay for private which set aside the plot for a trips. four star hotel only. The irregularities date back According to the PGOU town to 2008 and cops believe at plan an apartment block was least €7 million has been stonot permitted and it also len by those at the top.
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