• Taylor Wimpey España’s Pier is breathing new life into Sotogrande
• 60-year history gives Taylor Wimpey España unique insight into buyer trends
• 30% of homes at the €23 million development have already been reserved

Just like foods, clothes, brands and more, holiday destinations go in and out of fashion with the passing of the years. Spain has been the favourite country for Brits to visit almost every year since the 1960s, but within Spain, different areas have gained and lost in the popularity stakes over the years. This is true not just for those holidaying in Spain, but for those buying second homes there as well.

“We saw a major influx of expats back in the 1970s and many of those moving to Spain from the UK chose to settle in the upscale Sotogrande area. Over the years, Sotogrande slowly fell out of fashion, but now it’s back with a vengeance! There are some beautiful new homes springing up in this area, with demand driving the development of a new wave of luxury dwellings.”

Marc Pritchard, Sales and Marketing Director of Taylor Wimpey España

Leading Spanish home builder Taylor Wimpey España is one of those focusing on Sotogrande – already famous for its hosting of the Ryder Cup and numerous polo tournaments – and its appeal to a new generation of expats. The company has just announced the beginning of construction work on Pier – a €23 million development that will include as first phase of 56 apartments. Sited around the stunning marina (hence the development’s name), the homes will offer superb views, as well as spacious, stylish interiors.

The fact that 30% of the Pier homes have been reserved in the four months that it has taken for the Spanish authorities to approve the development’s building licence says much about Sotogrande’s resurgence. British buyers are leading the charge, accounting for 50% of the Pier reservations. Tinsa’s recent IMIE local markets report also flagged up San Roque, where Sotogrande is located, as one of the most favoured municipalities in the region.

“Taylor Wimpey España has been building in Spain for 60 years, so we are well positioned to understand what buyers are looking for when it comes to Spanish homes. We’ve poured all of that expertise into the design of Pier, which is going to be one of our most impressive developments to date.”

Marc Pritchard, Sales and Marketing Director of Taylor Wimpey España

Pier will offer two- and three-bedroom apartments, with the option for buyers to purchase two and transform them into ultra-luxurious four- or five-bedrooms homes. The building of this first phase should take just under two years, with apartments delivered to owners in Q3 2020. The homes are priced from €398,000 plus VAT.

For more information please contact Taylor Wimpey España today on 08000 121 020 or visit http://www.taylorwimpeyspain.com/. If you reside outside of the UK you will need to call 00 34 971 706 972.

• Spain comes 2^nd globally for experiential parts of living overseas (HSBC)
• Costa del Sol and Costa Blanca perfect for meeting Brits’ needs (Taylor Wimpey España)
• Andalusia property transactions up 15.3% in year to September 2018 (INE)

Spain has some of the best beaches in the world and ranks second globally for quality of life in terms of the experience of living there. Pair that with a booming property market, with values increasing faster than those in the UK, and it’s easy to see why so many foreigners are keen to buy homes in Spain.

“Despite the uncertainty created by Brexit, British buyers still make up the largest group of foreigners buying homes in Spain, albeit at a more cautious pace these days. Areas like the Costa del Sol and Costa Blanca have that winning combination of sun, sea and sand that so many of those in more northern European nations are currently pining for. Add in welcoming locals and superb cuisine and you begin to see just why Spain’s quality of life is rated so highly.”

Marc Pritchard, Sales and Marketing Director of Taylor Wimpey España

The HSBC Expat Explorer Survey quizzed a staggering 22,000 expats on their experiences of working and living abroad. A total of 27 areas were considered, split into three categories: experience, family and economics. It was in the experience category, which includes factors such as health, security, integration and culture, that Spain ranked second globally.

In terms of its beaches, Spain has more Blue Flags than any other country, with 696 in total, as a result of the quality, safety, management and environmental credentials of its sandy shores.

Spain’s beaches do much to draw tourists to the country, along with its fantastic cities and Mediterranean diet, which UNESCO has recognised as part of the region’s intangible cultural heritage. Visitor numbers for the 2018/19 winter season are already looking promising, with NOVASOL reporting a 15% increase in bookings compared to last year, making Spain the most popular self-catering holiday destination of the season.

For those who want more of a Spanish connection than just a week or two, leading Spanish home builder Taylor Wimpey España has some beautiful, key-ready properties on the Costa del Sol and Costa Blanca.

On the Costa del Sol, Green Golf provides the perfect setting for relaxation. The views of Estepona golf course and the coastline just 3 km away are absolutely stunning. The smart townhouses offer spacious, homely living environments, with plenty of private outdoor space for enjoying the sunshine. There are also lush communal gardens and swimming pools on the site. Prices start from €280,000 plus VAT.

Meanwhile, a little along the coast at Villajoyosa, Costa Blanca, the lovely La Vila Paradis development is home to frontline beach properties that provide direct access to Paraíso beach. Communal pools and pretty grounds complement the stylish homes of this gated development. Prices start at €285,000 plus VAT.

“Property prices in Spain are rising at a steady rate, which means that the market offers excellent potential for capital gains right now. Strong demand from both Spanish buyers and foreigners is fuelling a buoyant market.”

Marc Pritchard, Sales and Marketing Director of Taylor Wimpey España

The latest housing market figures from Spain’s National Statistics Institute (INE) certainly bear that out. In September 2018, properties registered in the Spanish land registers were up 7.7% compared with the year before. In the Andalusia region, the increase stood at 15.3% for the same period.

The takeaway from all this? It’s simple: buy in Spain for a better life in the sun!

For more information please contact Taylor Wimpey España today on 08000 121 020 or visit http://www.taylorwimpeyspain.com/. If you reside outside of the UK you will need to call 00 34 971 706 972.

• Costa del Sol and Costa Blanca remain firm favourites with foreign buyers (Taylor Wimpey España)
• Spanish property prices rising faster than UK values (TINSA)
• Britons still buying almost double number of properties of any other nationality (Association of Spanish Land Registrars)
• Plans in place for Spain to continue courting Brits post-Brexit (Ministry of Trade, Industry and Tourism)

Leading Spanish home builder Taylor Wimpey España reports that the Costa del Sol and Costa Blanca remain firm favourites with foreign buyers, as figures from the Association of Spanish Land Registrars show that foreigners now account for almost 13% of Spanish property purchases. Overall, the Spanish property market continues to perform strongly, with local demand and foreign demand almost neck and neck.

“Foreign buyers play an important role in the Spanish property market. Right now, we’re seeing both local demand and foreign buyer demand increase, which is excellent news for the health of the overall market. In terms of foreign buyers, new build homes in sunny, well-established coastal areas are some of the most sought after properties.”

Marc Pritchard, Sales and Marketing Director of Taylor Wimpey España

In total, foreigners purchased some 17,338 properties in Spain in Q2 2018. Of those, 2,590 purchases were by British buyers. The next largest group of overseas buyers were the French, who purchased 1,315 Spanish homes. The figures show the importance of British buyers to the Spanish market – something which Spain is considering carefully in light of the UK’s imminent departure from the EU, both from a property perspective and a tourism one.

Tourism numbers and foreigners buying Spanish property tend to be interlinked. After all, the more people who visit Spain and fall in love with its culture, cuisine, beaches and more, the more there are who yearn to own property there. In the first nine months of 2018, data from the Spanish National Institute of Statistics (INE) shows that 66.2 million foreign tourists visited Spain, spending 2.5% more than in the same period of 2017.

In order to ensure that Spain continues to benefit from British interest, Minister for Trade, Industry and Tourism Reyes Maroto has been meeting with top travel companies in order to ensure Britons can continue visiting Spain, regardless of the final terms of Brexit.

It certainly seems as though British holidaymakers are unphased by the prospect of Brexit disrupting their travel plans. Toni Mayor, president of the Hosbec Costa Blanca hoteliers association, has reported stable bookings from British tourists for 2019, despite the current lack of certainty around travel arrangements after 29 March.

“For both tourists and property buyers, Spain has much to offer. House prices here have risen faster than in the UK according to the latest TINSA data, meaning that Brits buying in Spain can enjoy superior potential for capital growth at present when compared to those buying in the UK.”

Marc Pritchard, Sales and Marketing Director of Taylor Wimpey España

TINSA’s figures show a 5.3% increase in property prices in the year to October 2018. Both major city locations and the Mediterranean coastline are faring well, according to TINSA, with rises of 8.5% and 6.0% respectively.

With 60 years of experience in building and selling property in Spain, Taylor Wimpey España is enabling foreigners to buy with confidence. The quality of homes such as those at La Vila Paradis, at Villajoyosa (Costa Blanca), speaks volumes. With beautiful sea views and on-site swimming pools, the apartments and townhouses are ideal for those looking to make the Spanish sunshine a regular fixture in their lives. Just two key-ready apartments and one townhouse remain available at the development, as a result of strong demand for the high spec homes. Prices start from €285,000 plus VAT.

Over on the Costa del Sol, at Elviria, Marbella, Taylor Wimpey España’s La Floresta Sur development is also offering key-ready homes to those with an eye for quality. The spacious apartments offer luxurious surroundings with large terraces, complemented by two communal pools, all from just €228,000 plus VAT.

For more information please contact Taylor Wimpey España today on 08000 121 020 or visit http://www.taylorwimpeyspain.com/. If you reside outside of the UK you will need to call 00 34 971 706 972.

• Darker evenings prompt push for sunshine holidays (Taylor Wimpey España)
• Costa del Sol offers perfect combination of beaches, golf and great weather
• Jet2 adding 100,000 extra winter sun seats to routes from UK to mainland Spain

British summer time is officially over. The clocks have gone back and our evenings have been plunged into darkness for another year. It is no wonder, then, that the attraction of sun-kissed beach holidays suddenly seems so much more powerful. According to leading Spanish home builder Taylor Wimpey España, the end of the summer is always a key driver for British buyers to seek out second homes in the sun.

“Throughout September and even much of October, the UK usually has enough sunshine left to keep people going. However, the end of British summer time means that dark evenings and cold weather are suddenly stretching out ahead for months on end. As such, searching for a sunshine-filled holiday, or indeed a second home somewhere warm, suddenly takes on a renewed sense of importance.” 

Marc Pritchard, Sales and Marketing Director of Taylor Wimpey España

For those seeking the sun, the Costa del Sol is ideal. With beaches aplenty, as well as world-class golf courses, it not only makes for a wonderful holiday destination, but also has excellent potential as a place to retire to.

Nor is it just British holiday makers and second home buyers who are focusing on the Costa del Sol at this time of year. 1 November (All Saints’ Day) is a holiday in 14 European countries and the Taylor Wimpey España team is expecting a regular seasonal increase in the number of visitors and enquiries over the course of the long weekend. The allure of the Spanish lifestyle appeals to many of those living in Scandinavia, Germany and other European countries, as well as those in the UK.

Cultural activities and Spain’s superb gastronomic offering are part of the attraction, as is the country’s easy accessibility. For those in the UK, Jet2 has recently announced the addition of an extra 235,000 seats on its routes between the Midlands and Spain, with up to four services per week into Malaga as part of its Winter Sun 2019/20 schedule.

“The fact that the Costa del Sol is so quick and easy to reach is really the icing on the cake. It’s a holiday destination with it all, and it’s just a short hop from the UK. These fundamental characteristics are the reason that the area has earned such immense popularity with British holiday home buyers – it’s the perfect sun-kissed getaway location.”

Marc Pritchard, Sales and Marketing Director of Taylor Wimpey España

Those looking for the perfect second home in Spain would do well to consider Green Golf. Just 3 km from the beach (and with some spectacular sea views), Green Golf is part of the lush Estepona Golf course. The private residential development boasts pretty communal gardens and outdoor pools, while individual homes feature large, south facing terraces for making the most of the abundant sunshine. Prices start from €280,000 plus VAT.

For more information please contact Taylor Wimpey España today on 08000 121 020 or visit http://www.taylorwimpeyspain.com/. If you reside outside of the UK, you will need to call 00 34 971 706 972.

• Mediterranean diet reduces risk of depression by up to 33% (UCL)
• Gastronomic experience highlighted as key Spanish attraction by visitors (Taylor Wimpey España)
• Local, seasonal produce makes for unique culinary experiences in every region

The link between sunshine (or rather, lack of it) and depression has long been established. However, there is now growing evidence to show that diet can also play a key role in our mental health. A recent study led by UCL’s department of epidemiology and public health has found that people who stick most closely to a traditional Mediterranean diet have a 33% lower risk of developing depression in the next eight to 12 years (when compared to those whose diets least resembled the Mediterranean diet).

“There is compelling evidence to show that there is a relationship between the quality of your diet and your mental health. This relationship goes beyond the effect of diet on your body size or other aspects of health that can in turn affect your mood. We aggregated results from a large number of studies and there is a clear pattern that following a healthier, plant-rich, anti-inflammatory diet can help in the prevention of depression.”

Dr Camille Lassale, Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, UCL

The Mediterranean diet is rich in vegetables, fruit, nuts and fish and low in saturated fat, sugar and processed food. Seasonal and often locally sourced, it makes for a delicious and nutritious culinary experience, as well as one that brings notable mental health benefits. In fact, it is often highlighted as a key attraction by those holidaying and buying second homes in countries such as Spain, according to leading Spanish home builder Taylor Wimpey España.

“Spain’s gastronomic offering is a real strong point for visitors. With a temperate climate year-round, the Costa del Sol is blessed with plenty of fresh, local food throughout the year, while the coastal location introduces plenty of options in terms of sparklingly fresh sea food.”

Marc Pritchard, Sales and Marketing Director of Taylor Wimpey España

When it comes to food, it’s hard to decide whether Spain is most well-known for its national dish, paella, or for its style of eating: tapas. Adapted to each season, tapas excite the sense with a wide range of typically Spanish scents and flavours, including fried fish with olive oil, garlic prawns, anchovies in vinegar, slivers of unimaginably delicious ham from acorn-fed pigs, vegetable dishes such as aubergine with honey, potato omelette, patatas bravas and plenty more.

Each area of Spain also has its own regional tastes. Valencians are fiercely protective of their ‘official’ recipe for paella. Those visiting Andalusia, meanwhile, can enjoy the simple, salty richness of salmorejo – a tomato/bread soup garnished with chopped, hard-boiled egg and ham. Gazpacho, of course, is also a must. In the winter months, bowls of thick, rich stew are the perfect way to keep warm as the evenings close in.

Those seeking out Spain’s fabulous combination of sunshine and healthy diet will be delighted by the properties available at La Floresta Sur in Elviria, Marbella. Available from Taylor Wimpey España, the spacious apartments have two or three bedrooms and large terraces, which are perfect for enjoying long, relaxing meals on after a day spent working up an appetite in the site’s two large pools. Prices start from €228,000 plus VAT.

La Floresta Sur’s delightfully appointed terraces are also the ideal spot in which to enjoy a glass of local wine while enjoying the spectacular views. The Costa del Sol boasts plenty of superb wines at vastly affordable prices, particularly compared to how much those living in the UK have to fork out for a decent bottle. The delightfully dry ‘fino’ (‘refined’) sherry is also readily available from the nearby Jerez de la Frontera sherry-producing region.

“Spain offers a real culinary adventure for those who want to try the local delicacies. In the Marbella area, there are plenty of outstanding seafood dishes to try, but also classics like oxtail in red wine sauce. The deserts are also fabulous – be sure to try tarta malagueña and the deep fried, sugary borrachuelos.”

Marc Pritchard, Sales and Marketing Director of Taylor Wimpey España

For more information please contact Taylor Wimpey España today on 08000 121 020 or visit http://www.taylorwimpeyspain.com/. If you reside outside of the UK you will need to call 00 34 971 706 972.