Demand for marbella property outstrips supply
Azahar apartments in Nueva Andalucia
Demand for property in Marbella is outstripping supply. The Costa del Sol hotspot has long been one of Spain's most popular markets, but optimal conditions in Spain have sparked a surge in demand in the past year. Indeed, the weak euro has boosted demand from British buyers, with low values serving to make property even more attractive at all price points.
Recent data from the General council of Notaries show that average prices across Spain have fallen in 10 out of the last 12 months, despite steadily increasing sales. In 2013, there were an average of 25,505 transactions a month across Spain. In 2015, that rose to 32,541.
There are regional variations, though, and Marbella has emerged as one of the strongest markets in the country. Prices in the province of Malaga (which includes Marbella) fell by up to 35 per cent in the higher end of the market from the 2008 peak to 2013, but they have stabilized in the last couple of years. In the last 12 months, this area of Spain has now seen the fastest price increases in Spain – up by 4.8 per cent, according to Fotocasa.
The value of sales at Lucas Fox's Marbella office rose 91 per cent in 2015 compared to 2014. The agency, though, is only seeing demand increase, with buyers not just from the UK, but also Northern Europe and further afield.
"What we are seeing in recent months is an increase in the number of buyers from France and Switzerland as well as from the US and the Middle East," comments Lucas Fox Marbella Director Stephen Lahiri.
"The profile of the average Marbella buyer is also changing - they are getting younger and are more focused on lifestyle, design and quality."
The office doubled its number of transactions last year, prompting the agency to open its sixth Property Lounge in the upmarket district of Nueva Andalucia. This office will operate in prime areas in and around Marbella, as well as up-and-coming areas such as Estepona and Benahavis.
Newly built properties in these kind of locations are currently the most sought-after, says Lahiri, with many selling out just months after their release.
According to the College of Architects in Malaga, 492 building licences were issued in Marbella during 2015 compared to 143 in 2014 and just 80 in 2013, a sign that the market is gathering pace.
There is also significant demand for high end homes - Lucas Fox Marbella sales prices averaged at 3.5 million Euros during 2015. The company's biggest sale was to an American buyer who purchased a 12.5 million Euro property in the exclusive residential area of La Zagaleta.
"The outlook for 2016 continues to look very promising for Marbella, and, with the increasing shortage of quality properties, we expect prices to continue to slowly increase," adds Lahiri.