Downsize to fund your dream retirement as house prices grow twice as fast as the average pension

by Georgina France

Rocketing house prices over the last 15 years have resulted in many UK retirees living in increasingly valuable assets, which have grown almost twice as fast as the average pensioner’s income according to research from the Equity Release Council.

 

Its analysis of Land Registry and Office for National Statistics (ONS) data reveals that average house prices in England & Wales have grown by a staggering 91% since 1997, from £120,211 to £229,610.
Indeed home equity continues to represent one of the biggest assets for many retirees, playing an important role when savings come up short. Some already retired or approaching their golden years feel they have little choice but to tap into the equity they’ve built up in their homes to support their future cash flow needs.
Danny Silver, Founder and Managing Partner of The Villages Group, active living resorts for 50s+ across France comments,
“Many retirees find that their children have flown the nest and they are ready to downsize to a smaller home such as the properties here at Le Village – Canal du Midi. Releasing the equity in their homes is the perfect way to do this and through our dedicated network of sales agents in the UK they can sell their existing property, buy a new home here in Languedoc and have equity left over to not only survive but thrive in retirement.“
Indeed, downsizing presents the cheapest and most transparent option available for those entering retirement. Property is often an adult’s biggest and most secure financial asset, generating a far greater return on their original investment. This is especially true for those who have remained in the same home for a good number of years, during which the property market has boomed, meaning they have accumulated a large amount of equity in their property.
But what and where to downsize to? Traditionally retirees have remained in the local area, near to friends and family but now with advances in communications technology and indeed transportation, more and more are looking to move abroad. As Danny Silver, a British resident who now lives in France himself says,
“Relocating in retirement can be a rejuvenating and life-affirming experience, especially when you can save money, meet new people and visit new places. Le Village Canal du Midi nestled in the heart of the Languedoc is begging you to take a walk or hire a bicycle and admire the natural beauty of the Canal waterways and surrounding countryside. Rowing, canoeing, fishing or even cruising on luxury hotel barges are also popular pastimes in this picturesque region famous for its sumptuous gastronomic delights. Maybe it´s time to say bonjour to a new and exciting life of retirement in France!”
The Villages Group provides a lifestyle that is most attractive to active 50+s who want to live their lives to the full in one of the top ten expat countries in the world that affords a relaxed pace of life, stunning natural landscapes and low living costs.
House prices at Le Village-Canal du Midi start from around £200,000, which includes all closing costs and the first year´s management fee and taxes; weekly maintenance costs are only £30 per week including all activities.
For more information contact The Villages Group on + 33 1 4007 8625, email info@thevillagesgroup.com or visit www.thevillagesgroup.com.

Time to buy: La dolce vita within reach once again as controversial IMU tax halted by new PM

by Georgina Italy

Although it is still very early days for Italy’s new government, it is refreshing to see the first signs of progress for the economically troubled country, after months of political deadlock. Prime Minister Enrico Letta has caused cautious optimism in global markets, with borrowing costs on Italy’s 10-year bonds dropping below 4% for the first time since 2010.

The recent commitment by Letta to reduce the burden on tax payers will have come as welcome news to Italy’s citizens. In particular, the commitment to halt the June instalment of the controversial IMU property tax will come as a relief to both existing home owners across the country and potential buyers.

Although Italian real estate prices have suffered in recent years – the Federation of Professional Estate Agents’ 2012 data showed total values had fallen by almost 12% – industry experts feel that they have begun to stabilise, going so far as to predict no change in prices over the course of 2013.

The luxury property market is looking even more hopeful, with one online high end property sales company reporting in April 2013 an increase in demand of 5% for luxury Italian properties in the last 12 months, further fuelled by the recent news that Italy will be leasing its disused castles, islands and fortresses to ambitious developers looking to bring in a further influx wealthy tourists.

While investors are becoming increasingly confident in the Italian property market, high end properties don’t have to cost the earth. Family-run company Appassionata is offering la dolce vita for just a fraction of the cost. Dawn Cavanagh-Hobbs, the company’s founder, explains,

“Appassionata’s Estate Giacomo Leopardi in Le Marche is host to two delightful fractional ownership properties – Casa Giacomo, which is now fully sold, and Casa Leopardi, of which a few fractions remain. Our ethos in renovating the properties was to offer the highest standards of indulgent Italian living at affordable prices, creating a ‘home away from home’ for our owners.”

Casa Leopardi is a five bedroom, five bathroom house laid out over three floors. Carefully positioned terraces provide idyllic spots for outdoor dining, while owners also benefit from the estate’s swimming pool, tennis courts and landscaped gardens. They also share in the produce from the estate’s extensive grounds, which include vineyards, a truffle plantation, a lavender plantation and olive groves. With fractions in Casa Leopardi costing just £175,000 for five weeks’ exclusive occupancy every year, the Italian dream is within reach once again.

Interior designer Dawn’s passion for creating an authentic Italian luxury home is easy to see. Casa Leopardi is bursting with traditional touches, including bespoke work by local artisans and a fabulous collection of antiques. Dawn continues,

“I have scoured Italy for genuine antique pieces for the house, to ensure a traditional feel. Casa Leopardi features 400 year old stone lintels from a palace in Abruzza, and antique farmhouse door with original fittings and Liberty floor tiles dating back to the early 19th century.”

Within the house, Dawn has carefully balanced modern convenience with antique touches. One bedroom is home to blue velvet chairs from Turin, still featuring their original paintwork from 150 years ago. A 100 year old crystal chandelier from Milan hangs from the living room’s vaulted ceiling. Antique chests of drawers, mirrors, wall lights and rugs also feature, along with three delightful ceramic jars from San Benedetto, which were handmade almost 200 years ago.

The overall result is spectacular – authentic, luxurious Italian living at a price that won’t break the bank. Thus while Italy takes its first baby steps towards economic recovery, smart investors can snap up Casa Leopardi’s fractions at the current special price to grab their own portion of the Italian dream.

For more information contact Appassionata on 0039 073 465 8775, visit www.appassionata.com

‘Grandlords’ up 11% as older people rent properties to fund retirement

by Georgina France

It’s a fact, we’re living longer. Average life expectancy in the UK is now 80 years according to the World Health Organisation (2010) and with better standards of living and medical advances, this is only going to increase.

But living for longer also comes at a price, £12,000 a year to be precise according to the Joseph Rowntree Foundation who calculated in 2012 that this was the annual income required for pensioner couples to fully participate in UK society.

 

  • Pensioner couples need £12,000 a year to fully participate in UK society (Joseph Rowntree Foundation)
  • Property investment is the best way to save for retirement say 20% of people (ONS)
  • 11% increase in ‘Grandlords’ in 2012, 33% since 2009 (Saga)

For those who want more from their golden years than eating out once a month and holidaying away from home once a year on a half-board coach-tour package, extra funds must be found but from where?

According to many experts, the ‘pension time bomb’ is ticking ever louder despite individuals saving more and as the cost of buying a retirement income has gone up, many in the UK are set to fall short of the £231 weekly minimum target. In fact according to the National Association of Pension Funds (NAPF), 48% of all workers are planning to work beyond the state pension age because they simply cannot afford to retire.

Danny Silver, Managing Partner of The Villages Group, active living resort for 50s+ in France, comments,

“Long gone are the days of final salary schemes and relying on a decent state pension once you hit retirement. Older people who’ve worked hard all their lives and want to retain a decent standard of living must find the extra funds themselves but with living costs rising faster than salaries not to mention falling annuity rates, this is easier said than done.

“For 20% of people (ONS) property investment is the key and we are seeing increasing numbers of retiree landlords or ‘Grandlords’ looking to take advantage of the UK rental market and boost their income.”

Indeed the latest research by Saga revealed an 11% rise in the number of ‘Grandlords’ last year and a marked 33% increase since 2009. There has also been a particular increase in female pensioners renting out property, with a growth of 12% in 2012 and 43% since 2009.

One trend which Danny and his team at The Villages is seeing from these retiree landlords is that they are using their buy to let income to fund a cheaper life abroad. France in particular, a short hop across the Channel, is proving a popular choice as it’s well known for its high quality of life, lower living costs not to mention rich culture, gastronomy and stunning landscapes.

Perfectly suited for ‘Grandlords’ and other active 50+s is Le Village Canal du Midi in Languedoc. Offering luxurious, one-level eco homes set in the idyllic French countryside from around £200,000, Le Village owners will be able to enjoy special membership to the stunning nearby golf course and free bicycle hire as well as tennis, archery, aerobics, sailing and swimming all on-site.

For more information and your free brochure contact The Villages Group today on + 33 1 4007 8625, email info@thevillagesgroup.com or visit www.thevillagesgroup.com.

The Eagle has landed! Spain records 35.7% increase in US visitors

by Georgina Spain

The Spanish government´s tourism research agency Frontur, revealed last week that overall tourism numbers were up 7.9 %, year-on-year in March 2013. The agency also revealed that the number of tourists visiting Spain was up 2.3 % for the first quarter of the year, with a whopping 9.4 million visiting Spain from January through to March.

  • Overall Spanish tourism up 7.9% year-on-year (Frontur)
  • Spain welcomed 9.4 million tourists from Jan – March 2013
  • Tourists from USA recorded the biggest year-on-year increase at 35.7%

Visitors from the UK made up just less than 1 in every 5 of all arrivals to Spain in March (19.9 %) whilst German nationals accounted 11.9 % of total visitor numbers. French arrivals were also up by 16% and Scandinavians up 13.8 % year-on-year.

But possibly the most interesting trend was that arrivals from the United States soared by 35.7% to almost 100,000 in March 2013 compared to the previous year. The highest growth rate of any nation. 

Marc Pritchard, Sales and Marketing Manager for leading Spanish house builder Taylor Wimpey España comments,

“US citizens have been vacationing in Spain for many years. Numerous celebrities including Michael Douglas, Antonio Banderas, Melanie Griffiths and even George Cooney own second homes here and walking down the Golden Mile in Marbella can at times feel like a stroll through the streets of Hollywood. 

“But it’s not only the Costa del Sol which attracts the great and the good; the Costa Blanca on the south eastern coast of Spain remains a popular hotspot. Direct flights operate from New York, Atlanta, Miami, Boston, Philadelphia, Newark, Charlotte, Dallas and LA to Madrid and with the new high speed AVE rail link from the Spanish capital to Alicante set to open this summer, it will be even easier for US visitors to enjoy the delights of the White Coast.”

Indeed Taylor Wimpey España has seen not only tourism numbers to the Costa Blanca rise over the years but also second property buyers returning to the region. Sales volumes on the Costa Blanca rose by an impressive 25% last month (compared to April 2012) with buyers from Britain, Scandinavia and Benelux leading the charge.

So if you are thinking about making a move to this stunning region of Spain, Taylor Wimpey España has some wonderful properties to choose from.

Brisas de Alenda, located on the forever popular Costa Blanca affords beautiful 3 bedroom townhouses located in a peaceful and quiet area adjacent to the Alenda Golf Course, just 15 minutes away from the beach. With generous private gardens, a communal swimming pool, a club house, gym, bars and restaurant properties cost from just from €155,000.

For more information please contact Taylor Wimpey España today on 08000 121 020 or visit www.taylorwimpeyspain.com for more information.  If you reside outside of the UK you will need to call +34 971 70 69 72.

Don´t be a donkey! Italy´s gastronomic delights prove ever more tempting to second home buyers

by Georgina Italy

While the UK reels from more news of horsemeat posing as beef and ‘unidentifiable’ meat being served by an Indian restaurant, Italy is known around the world for its fabulous cuisine, which places an emphasis on high quality, natural ingredients. The Italian diet is an extremely healthy one. According to the Central Intelligence Agency’s World Factbook, Italy ranks 10th in terms of life expectancy by country, way above the UK (30th), the European Union average (36th) and the US (51st). The World Factbook also reveals that Italy is one of the countries with the lowest level of obesity, coming in at 56th place out of the 70 countries included in the data.

A central reason behind the healthy Italian lifestyle is diet. Food is sourced locally wherever possible and fresh, natural produce is the order of the day. Massive regional diversity exists within the country, as dishes are made from local ingredients and thus vary from place to place.

In a country so devoted to food, Italy’s Le Marche region nonetheless stands out from the crowd for its joyful celebration of all things edible. The area’s dishes have evolved from hearty peasant food, taking ingredients like stale bread (in order to avoid waste) and turning them into spectacular gastronomic feats. Le Marche’s cuisine showcases the wonderful abundance of products available in this region nestled between over 100 km of sandy coastline and the Sibillini Mountains. Truffles are the particular speciality, but mushrooms, game, fish and nuts all feature strongly in the area’s dishes. Local cheeses, olive oils and wines also abound. The food of Le Marche is in fact so acclaimed that it was the subject of a six-part bilingual television series, Cookucina, in 2012.

For Dawn Cavanagh-Hobbs, founder of family-run company Appassionata, Le Marche’s heavenly foodie reputation was a big factor in her decision to settle in that area of Italy.

“Le Marche is alive with festivals and outdoor celebrations from spring through to Christmas. Many of these are gastronomy and wine events, dedicated to a particular product, such as the Festa del Vino Cotto (cooked wine festival), while others celebrate a wide variety of the region’s food, such as La Castagnata at Montemonaco with seemingly endless stalls of local food and wine.”

Over the summer months, Le Marche will hold literally dozens of food festivals. June is the month for the pecorino cheese festival, July celebrates pizza, trout, pasta and stuffed flatbreads, while August features quails, wild boar, chickpeas, rabbit, mussels, veal and much, much more – and this is just a small proportion of the total number of festivals that will be held in the region during 2013.

Dawn was keen to ensure that her properties – Casa Giacomo and Casa Leopardi, on the delightful Estate Giacomo Leopardi – were as committed to gastronomy as the rest of the region. Both properties have been sympathetically restored from rustic farmhouses by interior designer Dawn and her family. Appassionata is now offering them as fractional holiday homes, with the final few shares in Casa Leopardi available for £175,000 for five weeks’ exclusive use and a share in the produce from the estate’s truffle orchard, lavender plantation, olive groves and vineyard large enough to produce 5,000 bottles of wine per year. Dawn continues,

“Everything about the food here is delightfully local. Fruit and vegetables are grown on an allotment at the end of the road from the estate. Fish is available early each morning from the fishermen on Pedaso beach, just 10 minutes away, and handmade pasta, local meat and fresh bread can all be purchased in the neighbouring medieval town of Montefiore dell´Aso.

“It has been horrible watching the unfolding of the UK’s disastrous meat-related news. The contrast with what we have here is just incredible – it makes me very glad to be in Le Marche!”

For more information contact Appassionata on 0039 073 465 8775, visit www.appassionata.com or take a video tour of Casa Leopardi.

From ruins to resplendence: The family who brought an Italian estate back to life

by Georgina Italy

Everyone daydreams at some point of owning a home abroad – perhaps some run-down farmhouse in the middle of a vineyard that they can lovingly restore and turn into their perfect holiday home in the sunshine.

Indeed the latest research report from HomeAway.co.uk / Savills International has shown that for increasing numbers, the daydream has become a reality with the number of UK households owning overseas property rising from less than 200,000 to well over 450,000 in the decade from 2000 to 2010. In addition, it is estimated that 1.3 million British nationals could live overseas by 2025.

For interior designer Dawn Cavanagh-Hobbs and her husband Michael Hobbs, who together with their family run Appassionata, the dream became reality back in 2007 when they moved to Italy to renovate a ramshackle farmhouse in the pretty hilltop village of Montefiore dell´Aso. Situated in the Le Marche region, described recently by The Guardian as ‘a gorgeous and affordable region to explore,’ the Estate Giacomo Leopardi offered Dawn and Michael everything they were searching for.

Dawn explains,

“We wanted a serious project – something that would inspire us while allowing us to work closely with local Italian craftsmen. Estate Giacomo Leopardi was perfect. We have been able to turn the crumbling buildings into two stunning houses, while ensuring that original rustic features were retained.”

When Appassionata arrived, the farmhouse and outbuildings were derelict and unloved but Dawn recalls she instantly had ‘the feeling’ and knew that the estate was perfect. The first of the two houses (Casa Giacomo) was a new build on the site of a former pig sty, using traditional Italian building methods and materials, including old bricks, stone and terracotta roof and floor tiles.

Casa Leopardi was renovated from the dilapidated 150 year old farmhouse. The original house had a typical rural Italian property setup, with living accommodation upstairs and open plan animal quarters on the ground floor, which provided the perfect place for Dawn to stable her horses for the first year before Casa Leopardi’s renovation began.

The outer walls of the farmhouse remain and many of the original materials were rescued and used elsewhere in the house. Although the original windows and shutters were beyond saving, a local joiner was able to replicate them for the finished house. Dawn, who never throws anything away, has stored the remains and will one day turn them into cupboards.

Appassionata’s sympathetic restoration has ensured that an abundance of original features have been retained. Casa Leopardi showcases many traditional aspects of Italian design, including brick archways, Venetian plaster, beamed and vaulted ceilings and terracotta tiled floors. The kitchen was designed and hand-built specifically for the house and opens out onto a delightful shaded terrace, which is perfect for alfresco dining while gazing out towards the sea.

The upper floors of Casa Leopardi have been turned into five en-suite double bedrooms. Three have French doors leading onto spacious outdoor terraces, while one of the bathrooms features a corner fireplace and free-standing bath. Appassionata has been careful to ensure a balance of traditional and modern touches. Thus while Casa Leopardi reflects the very essence of rural Italian living, it also has a small gym, fully equipped utility room and its own private pool.

Now that the renovation work is complete, Appassionata is selling shares through fractional ownership, allowing others to be a part of the dream Italian lifestyle. All shares in Casa Giacomo have already been snapped up and only a few shares in Casa Leopardi remain available, such has been the popularity of the restoration work.

One of the most time-consuming and expensive tasks of the whole project was the landscaping. Sloping farmland and a neglected 35 year old vineyard were slowly transformed into gardens, rockeries, terraces, steps, swimming pools and a tennis court. The estate also now includes a lavender plantation, truffle orchard, replanted vineyards and olive groves, the produce of which is shared by the houses’ fractional owners.

Michael commented on the horticultural progress,

“The 2012/13 grape harvest has seen the first production from our newly planted vineyards result in 1,600 bottles of wine. As the vines mature we expect the production to rise to some 5,000 bottles per year – plenty to share between just 20 owners!”

By offering fractional ownership, Appassionata has allowed a lucky few families to experience rural Italian life in the most luxurious of settings. While a few fractions of Casa Leopardi remain for sale at the special offer price of £175,000, the increasing number of people owning a second home overseas means that those wanting to turn their Italian daydream into a reality will need to move fast indeed!

For more information contact Appassionata on 0039 073 465 8775 or visit http://www.appassionata.com

Spain ranked #1 in the world as golf holiday sales hit estimated 1.5 billion Euros

by Georgina Spain

Spain’s status as the number one golf holiday hot spot has been confirmed by a new survey of golf tour operators compiled by KPMG’s Golf Advisory Practice.

The Golf Travel Insights 2013 report reveals that Spain is the most popular travel destination in the world for golf tourists, followed by Portugal and then Scotland. Interestingly Turkey has become the fourth most visited destination ranking ahead of traditional golfing hotspots including the Republic of Ireland, Dubai, South Africa, USA and England.

According to the report, global golf holiday sales grew 9.3% compared to the previous year with the surveyed operators alone catering for 1.6 million golf travellers in 2012. Indeed with golf holiday sales exceeding an estimated EUR 1.5 billion, this spells great news for those looking to invest in a golf property in the number one destination – Spain.

 

Marc Pritchard, Sales and Marketing Manager for leading Spanish house builder Taylor Wimpey España, comments,

 

“Whilst the course itself is an important factor when choosing a golfing holiday, the accommodation is equally important once you leave the fairway. Developments with onsite courses, accommodation and amenities are in high demand as they offer the entire package, are often easy to maintain and offer a higher level of security and community living.

 

“Here at Taylor Wimpey España we are experiencing high levels of global interest in our golfing properties from not only the British but local Spaniards, Scandinavians, Russians and Germans in particular where buyer levels increased by 36% in 2012 compared to 2011. It’s also worth noting that it’s not only golfers who are buying but those looking for the ideal holiday home or property to retire to.”

 

In terms of locations within Spain, the Costa del Sol is one of, if not the, finest golfing regions boasting over 50 courses some with stunning mountain locales offering spectacular views over the region’s varied landscapes, leading down to the sea. These fantastic golf courses and well-appointed developments have led to Spain being the world’s leading golf break destination; with world-class golf on offer and days of endless sunshine it’s easy to see why.

 

For savvy investors looking to cash in on this golfing boom, look no further than Taylor Wimpey España, providing several stunning locations with properties to match!

 

La Floresta de la Mairena is a new residential development from Taylor Wimpey España located near the charming village of Elviria and its golden beach, very close to Marbella and Malaga. Designed in a typical Mediterranean style, the apartments have large terraces on which to enjoy the beautiful views, two large communal swimming pools, landscaped gardens and external private parking. With a very good road network nearby, all owners at La Floresta de la Mairena will have easy access to the beach at Elviria and to the superb golf courses of Santa Maria and La Cala Golf Club.

 

Another choice for the golf lover is Avalon, a new Taylor Wimpey development situated in one of the best areas of Marbella, the prestigious Los Arqueros golf course and 20 minutes from Estepona. The residential complex of luxury apartments and penthouses boasts a natural charm with stunning sea and golf views, wide streets, communal swimming pool and beautiful gardens.

 

These properties are available now from €166,000 at La Floresta de la Mairena and €250,000 at Avalon. This is the perfect to invest in a beautiful Spanish property, contact Taylor Wimpey España today on 08000 121 020 or visit www.taylorwimpeyspain.com for more information.  If you reside outside of the UK you will need to call +34 971 70 69 72.

 

Live for less in the Languedoc – The Villages Group provides the answer to a costly retirement

by Georgina France

Recent census data has shown that one in six people in England and Wales are now aged 65, the highest proportion ever recorded at this age and a trend we will continue to see in the coming years.

•1 in 6 people in England & Wakes are now aged 65

•The average male retiree’s income in 2013 will be £18,250, a third less for females
•Life at The Villages in France costs below £35 per person per week the 
According to Prudential’s annual survey, this year’s average male retiree’s income will be around £18,250 with their female counterparts expected to receive a third less making the cost of living a real concern to those entering their golden years.
Top of that list of concerns is accommodation with many of this baby-boomer generation continuing to live in the family home. Whilst sentiment might may make some reluctant to sell and downsize, for many the impracticalities of a large home not to mention the running costs and possible threat of a future ‘bedroom tax’ encourages many to consider alternatives.
So as more and more people in their ‘third age’ see their costs of living rise and their annual income decrease, it is hardly surprising that they are looking for better deals overseas.
Danny Silver, MD and partner of The Villages Group, the first active living retirement village in the Canal du Midi, nestled in the heart of the Languedoc region of South West France comments,
“More and more people are recognising retirement villages not only work socially but, in these times of austerity, financially too. Retirement developments are common in the US, New Zealand, Australia and South Africa, and are starting to spring up across Europe as the number of people over the age of 65 now outnumber those of school age in the UK, and soon a quarter of the population will be over retirement age.
“Compared to downsizing and say renting a retirement property, owning your own home in a retirement village such as The Villages allows you to keep a foot in the residential property market and, most importantly, keep active and socialise with like-minded individuals. Here at Canal du Midi, you can buy a detached eco-home for €225,000 and live, with all expenses covered, for under £35 per person per week (including all management; maintenance; land tax and all onsite activities!) which is considerably less than the UK state pension allowance.”
Indeed, retirement villages such as Le Village Canal du Midi, offers buyers the chance to remain independent, yet benefit from a wide range of services in one of the top ten countries to retire to in the world. Indeed The Villages Group is pleased to announce a unique easy–move concierge service for purchasers at Le Village Canal du Midi, designed to remove any ‘headaches’ which moving abroad may bring.
If you are selling your home The Villages Group have specially approved estate agents across all areas of the UK ready to provide premier services and if you require help with finance or equity release FSA licensed specialists are at hand waiting to assist with your every need.
Once you are ready to move, you can count on this complete concierge service to make your move as easy as possible, providing home furnishings, electronics, kitchen appliances, internet and telephones, plus vehicle sale and rentals.
Not only have The Villages Group thought of your every need whilst moving, they also offer a competitive price – cheaper than similar retirement villages in the UK. If you buy before construction starts in June closing costs are abolished, saving purchasers a significant £3,800!
For more information on a cheaper alternative and unique lifestyle choice for the active over 50’s please contact The Villages Group on + 33 1 4007, email info@thevillagesgroup.com or visit www.thevillagesgroup.com .

Make Mallorca your port of call this summer as cruises boost Balearic property investment

by Georgina Spain

With demand for holiday rental accommodation in Spain during Easter week this year increasing by 29% compared to 2012 according to the Spanish holiday rental portal, Homeaway.es, this summer is set to be a sizzler!

 

Indeed Mallorca is one of the great European playgrounds drawing in sun seekers from across the globe. Over 6 million tourists visit this Balearic Island each year and on a busy summer day, hundreds of flights land at the Palma airport and the harbour is bustling with cruise ships.
This sun drenched island has long been a popular port of call for cruise liners and an extension of the pier will accommodate not only larger ships, but also more vessels. Around 1 million passengers come to Mallorca by sea each year and Palma´s port is expecting around 449 cruise ships to visit the city in 2013.
Marc Pritchard, Sales and Marketing Manager of Taylor Wimpey de España, leading Spanish house builder, who also lives on the island, comments,
“Mallorca is quite simply a tourist hotspot. Every year cruise ships visit and prepare to set sail from the beautiful Mallorcan shore with an abundance of intrigued visitors flocking to the island to explore its many attractions coupled with sun soaked climate, over 43 striking blue flag beaches and high class restaurants.”
Cruise ships visiting Mallorca offer exciting shore excursions that include tours of Palma de Mallorca, the big, bustling capital city, home to about 300,000 people, with most of the tourist action in the old part of town around the Cathedral and trips to secret natural coves with secluded beaches.
For the adventurer, you can explore small traditional fishing villages, as well as places to hike for amazing views, Mallorca has it all!
With this in mind, the natural beauty and popular social programme of the island means that demand for accommodation over the summer period especially increases, with properties close to marinas becoming highly desirable.
Pritchard further comments,
“There are many benefits to be had from owning a home in Mallorca. The stunning Balearic Island offers a wonderful quality of life and superb properties that are so often desired by holiday makers and potential home owners. And, although recognised in part as a hub for the rich and famous, Mallorca has plenty to offer in terms of affordable property with something for everyone.”
But it’s not only the presence of cruise ships, a number of sailing events such as the Super Yacht Cup race, one of the most significant luxury sailing events in Europe, which takes place annually across Mallorca’s stunning shores, further aides Mallorcan property investor confidence.
For property investors looking to cash in on Mallorca’s thriving cruise ship industry as well as an abundant year round sailing events programme, Taylor Wimpey de España has some stunning affordable properties on offer.

El Puerto II situated in Cala d´Or, south east Mallorca has 2 bedroom apartments surrounded by generous gardens with native Balearic plants and 3 communal swimming pools. Costing from €149,500 this sophisticated complex is within reach of the blue flag beach, Cala Mondrago and within easy reach of the glamorous harbours.
Following the success of Cala Magrana I and II Taylor Wimpey España have launched phase III located just 500 metres from Cala Anguila beach and a stone´s throw from the sea.
The Cala Magrana III residential complex is situated very close to several golf courses and the marina of Porto Cristo. The properties consist of 2 bedroom apartments with sea views with a Mediterranean design surrounding a communal garden and swimming pool priced from just €190,000 + VAT.
For more information please contact Taylor Wimpey España today on 08000 121 020, or visit www.taylorwimpeyspain.com for more information. If you reside outside of the UK you will need to call +34 971 70 69 72.

It’s time to celebrate as Taylor Wimpey España achieves yet another year of 100% customer satisfaction

by Georgina Spain

Spain has always been a popular destination for Brits looking to move abroad or to own a second home. Spain’s lure of sunshine, stunning coastal scenery and lively cities has been attracting interest for years and it seems that the trend isn’t about to change any time soon.

 

The latest HiFX Property Hotspots Report has highlighted that the demand for homes abroad remains high, with Spain voted the second most popular destination (second only to France) and recent figures from the Spanish Ministry of Development add further weight to the suvey’s findings, with house sales in Spain rising 3.6% in 2012 over the previous year.
Yet for some, despite technology and globalisation making the world a smaller place, buying abroad remains a daunting prospect. Not speaking the language and being nervous about hidden pitfalls make many UK buyers uncertain about whether or not they should pursue their dream. That’s where Taylor Wimpey España comes in.
Taylor Wimpey España, the Spanish arm of prestigious house builder Taylor Wimpey, is proud to have been operating in Spain since 1958. It began with an ethos of providing high quality homes and delivery first-rate customer service. This approach remains at the core of the company today – its 2012 annual report has just confirmed that 100% of Taylor Wimpey España’s customers in Spain would recommend the house builder to friends and family. The figure was the same in 2011, highlighting the company’s commitment to ensuring full customer satisfaction.
Mark Pritchard, Sales and Marketing Director of Taylor Wimpey España, comments,
“We are delighted that our customers have yet again given us such a glowing recommendation. We work hard to ensure that the experience of buying in Spain with Taylor Wimpey España is clear and straightforward, so it’s great to receive such positive affirmation that we are doing things right.”
Mr Pritchard was also positive about the company’s great start to 2013. Sales in Mallorca were up 100% in February 2013 compared with February 2012, while buyers in the Costa del Sol for the same period had increased by an impressive 183%.
Cathel Bethune from Inverness was one buyer who chose Taylor Wimpey España to help him find his perfect home in the Costa del Sol. He purchased a two bedroom apartment in La Floresta de la Mairena, set near the village of Elviria and its beach. La Floresta is set the beautiful surroundings of a UNESCO-declared natural biosphere reserve, with stunning views over the oak and pine forest and towards the sea. The apartments are typically Mediterranean, with large terraces, two communal swimming pools and landscaped gardens, all available from just €166,000.
Mr Bethune said of his experience,
“This was so much easier than buying in the UK. The whole process was handled by professionals and I would have no hesitation in recommending this company.”
Taylor Wimpey España’s Mallorca development, El Puerto, is equally popular with British buyers: 50% of the company’s 2012 Mallorca sales were to British purchasers. The El Puerto property is located in Cala d’Or on the island’s south-eastern coast, close to the glamorous Marina de Cala D’Or. The high standard of design is clear, with the spaciously appointed apartments offering private gardens or sun terraces, along with three communal swimming pools surrounded by generous landscaped gardens. Prices start from as little as €149,500.
For more information on buying property in the Costa del Sol and Mallorca contact Taylor Wimpey España today on 08000 121 020, +34 971 70 69 72 (from outside the UK) or by visiting www.taylorwimpeyspain.com for more information.