Photograph by Dennis West of Direct Photographics
Home All-Stars: Great Distances
January 1, 2006
Diana Morales of DM Properties in Marbella says, “People move here to retire or
to live and work away from the colder northern weather.”
The real estate
boom over the last four to five years has been extraordinary: “It’s doubled all
over Spain,” says Deiros. Morales cautions, however, that the frenzy of
construction on the Costa del Sol is over. Even so, economic forecasts indicate
increases in property values of 15 percent.; function voidFunc() { } voidFunc();)
A beachfront villa in the Guadalmina development of Marbella–an
area that boasts Roman ruins and two 18-hole golf courses. Photograph by Pedro Garrido Franquelo. (Click image to enlarge)
In the Marbella area, that translates to luxe (not beachfront) apartments
costing $3,000 to $5,000 per square meter ($387 to $645 per square foot). For
villas and country estates, Deiros cites an average of $5 million ($6.45
million).
Golfing is luring homebuyers away from the coast, where the
building restrictions for new developments are extremely prohibitive. Around
Barcelona, there is “an increasing interest for properties inland” near
golfing areas, Deiros says. “Investors can find 2 hectares (4.94 acres) of land
around an old Catalan country house–and the beach is still only 45 minutes away.
Morales reports that more buyers are going beyond the hilltop properties
around Marbella and looking at new resorts that offer golf course and country
club facilities, saying, “Within these resorts, it is still possible to acquire
large plots of land at very reasonable prices to build one’s own home.” Perhaps
even a castle.
RESOURCES
AUSTRALIA
McGrath Estate Agents, +612.9386.3333, www.mcgrath.com.au
FRANCE
Belles Demeures de France (a Christie’s Affiliate), Daniel Feau Group,
+33.14008.1000, www.feau-immobilier.fr
Anciennes
Demeures, Sotheby’s International Realty, 33.4.67.02.78.05, www.anciennesdemeures.com
MEXICO
Webster Enterprises, 505.954.9500, www.chriswebster.com
La Punta Realty,
+52.329.291.6420, www.lapuntarealty.com
NEW ZEALAND
Bayleys Real Estate, +64.9.309.6020, www.bayleys.co.nz
PANAMA
PanCanal View, +507.6613.0005, www.pancanalview.com
Century 21 Semusa
Realty, +507.270.6050, www.semusarealty.com
Prestige World
Properties, 866.685.7458, www.prestigeworldproperties.com
Buenaventura,
+507.270.2277, www.buenaventura.com.pa
Valle
Escondido, +507.720.2897,www.valleescondido.biz
PATAGONIA
Austral Real Estate, 303.888.9785, www.
australrealestate.com
Gateway to South America, +54.11.4785.7196,
www.gatewaytosouthamerica.net
SPAIN
Fincas Exclusivas, SL, +34.932.40.40.89, www.fincas-exclusivas.com
Diana
Morales Properties, Sotheby’s International Realty, +34.952.765.138, www.dmproperties.com
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