SUNNY YEAR AHEAD

Welcome from publisher Jon Clarke

THE property market really took off in 2022.

After two years of relative stasis, it picked up massively as Covid restrictions came to an end. Almost all agents I have spoken to had record numbers of sales last year, and most predict more of the same this year.

But the main issue is most certainly listings. Everyone badly needs them.

The critical shortage of properties is evident in Sotogrande, where Holmes' boss Ben Bateman told me less than 10% of the local stock is for sale. “Unprecedented levels,” he stressed.

It’s the same for Winkworth, Terra Meridiana and others. But what is encouraging is that while some countries in Europe (Holland and Scandinavia in particular) appear to have strong economic headwinds affecting their local property markets, Spain is likely to weather the storm. Prices are only now reaching the levels of 2007 in most areas, and interest rates are peaking, while the demand is still strong from the dozens of foreign markets who still aspire to live or buy here.

So well did our Property Magazine do last year that we are upping their number from six to eight and will publish them regularly throughout the year.

We can promise a continual flow of analysis from our specialists like Mark Stucklin and Campbell Ferguson, while Chris Fogelberg joins us from StartGroup and our Property Insider Adam Neale and mortgage expert Tancrede de Pola are always on hand with up-to-the-minute advice. On top of that, our dozen-plus journalists and writers will guarantee to always find the most interesting and colourful property, planning and architecture stories from around the country.

IT’S the definitive golden dynamo of southern Spain.

Marbella has seen asking prices soar by 19.9% in just one year, according to a leading property portal.

The Costa del Sol resort has also nearly doubled in price in a decade and is second only in terms of cost per metre square.

The statistics provided by Idealista (see graphs right), show that Marbella prices have risen by 84% since 2010, while Ibiza town is up by 86%.

Meanwhile, only Ibiza is more expensive per metre squared than Marbella with Madrid and Barcelona coming below it last year.

It now costs an average of €4121/sqm to buy a home in Marbella, while Ibiza costs €5,274/sqm, Barcelona comes in at €4050/sqm and Madrid at €3929/sqm.

The lowest city price relevant for foreign buyers is in Murcia (€1,118/sqm), where prices are still 22% down on 2010. Malaga city saw price rises of 8% last year and is 21.6% up on 2010 prices. While prices in Valencia went up by 9% last year, it is still 1% cheaper today than it was in 2010.

Boob job stops squatter eviction

A WOMAN accused of squatting in a property has tried to get out of a court date claiming she had to have surgery on her breast implants on the same day.

Lawyers for the Swiss owner of the occupied home revealed that their client was ‘wondering if he had purchased a house in Spain or in a banana republic’ in the wake of the incident.

The victim had decided to buy a property in Malaga, having fallen in love with the city and wanted a home for long stays, and eventually to live in.

He discovered however, it had been taken over by a squatter when he arrived one day last year and found that the key no longer fitted the lock.

Police were called but could do nothing more than to identify the alleged squatter. She was eventually called to court for an eviction proceeding, but the case has been put on hold after defence lawyers presented a document from a clinic that stated that she was scheduled to have surgery involving the ‘elevation of mammary implants’.

The lawyers for the victim believe that the appointment is nothing more than a ruse to drag on the trial, and have called into question the authenticity of the document.

Luxury Larios

MALAGA’S main shopping street is one of the most expensive in Spain.

Calle Marques de Larios ranks in first place in Andalucia and in the top five in the country for rentals.

According to US property giant Cushman & Wakefield the average rental price is €1,800 per square metre per year.

Meanwhile Calle Tetuan, in Sevilla, comes in with €1,260 per square metre per year, and Barcelona's Paseo de Gracia is Spain’s most expensive at €2,677 per square metre per year.

It is closely followed by Portal del Angel, also in Barcelona, followed by Madrid's Serrano, Gran Vía and Preciados.

Paseo de Gracia comes in at 18th in the world rankings, which are led by New York’s Fifth Avenue at €21,076.

Bargainbasement

cheapestspotinMalaga

By Dilip Kuner

Sierra de Yeguas has been named as the cheapest municipality for real estate in the province with homes costing a wallet-friendly €562 per square metre.

The village, near to the border of Sevilla province, sits in rolling hills close to the Fuente de Piedra lagoon, famous for its flamingos.

The area ‘rich for hiking trails’ is also just 30 minutes from the excellent train connections in Antequera and 20 minutes to the Caminito del Rey.

About 3,400 people live in what was