• Dutch travellers took 2.79 holidays per person during 2013 (NBTC-NIPO)
• Dutch property buyers show largest increase of any nationality (Taylor Wimpey España)
• Mallorca clocks up more than double the sunshine hours of the Netherlands (Weather Online)

A perennially popular choice with Dutch tourists, Spain has been in the top five countries that the Dutch choose to spend their holidays in for years. In 2013, it was the fourth most popular destination, according a report from NBTC-NIPO Research. The report states that Dutch travellers undertook an average of 2.79 holidays per person during 2013, spending a total of €15.5 billion.

While the majority of Dutch travellers chose hotels or motels as their holiday accommodation, the NBTC-NIPO figures reveal that a significant proportion (21%) stayed in a holiday cottage or private home instead. The data correlates with the findings of market leading Spanish homebuilder Taylor Wimpey España, as the company’s Sales and Marketing Director Marc Pritchard observes,

“Our cumulative October 2014 data shows that the largest increase in purchases of our holiday homes across Spain is from Dutch buyers. Experience has shown us that buyers from the Netherlands are looking for high quality accommodation with luxury touches. Balconies, gardens and roof terraces are all popular with Dutch buyers, as are facilities such as communal pools and landscaped gardens, which all Taylor Wimpey España developments feature.”

The Taylor Wimpey España data also shows a significant increase in sales of properties located on the sun-drenched Balearic island of Mallorca, where the new Cala Anguila II development is already proving extremely popular. Prices for the two bedroom apartments begin at €242,000 and all benefit from the development’s direct beach access. Meanwhile the company’s Cala Magrana III development has key-ready properties available at a special price of €230,000, for buyers who want to complete their purchase in time for Christmas.

Flights from Holland to Spain can be purchased at bargain prices thanks to budget airlines, making visits to the Iberian nation excellent value for Dutch owners of holiday homes. The short flight time is no doubt another plus for those looking to own a second home in the sun.

Mallorca is a particularly attractive location for the health-conscious Dutch, thanks to its extensive coastline and the wide range of water sports available. Those looking for active holidays can enjoy everything from stand up paddling to kite surfing. Those wishing for slightly less intensive activity can enjoy Mallorca’s fantastic golf courses, taking in a round or two under the delightfully warm winter sun.

Of course Mallorca is also the perfect location for holidaymakers who want to do little other than sunbathe, enjoy a glass of wine on the terrace and let the sea breeze refresh their spirits. According to Weather Online, Mallorca during the winter months enjoys more than double the number of average daily sunshine hours that the Netherlands does, making it an extremely tempting destination for buyers looking to swap their scarves for suntans and enjoy some winter sun.

For more information please contact Taylor Wimpey España today on 08000 121 020 or visit www.taylorwimpeyspain.com. Those residing outside of the UK should call 0034 971 70 69 72.

• 1.7 million over 60s in UK live in poor quality housing (IPPR North)
• Dream Spanish retirement properties from €262,000 (Taylor Wimpey España)
• Spanish Government actively courting over 55s

With 95% of the UK’s housing stock not fully accessible for older people, according to IPPR North, it’s perhaps unsurprising that increasing numbers of individuals are setting their sights on overseas properties in which to spend their golden years.

Spain is an extremely popular choice of both holiday and retirement destination for UK citizens. The reliably warm weather and low cost of living are perfectly suited to pensioners looking to make their budgets stretch further while escaping the English rain, whether for a week or a lifetime. As the IPPR North report projects that households of over-65s are set to grow dramatically over the next decade, while the number of over 85s is set to increase even more (by 33%) it looks like Spain’s charms will be appreciated by a growing number of older people over the years ahead.

Spain’s modern, accessible transport infrastructure and the easy access that its numerous airports provide to the UK make it an even more attractive destination for older people. It’s a fact that is certainly appreciated by the Spanish Government’s Ministry of Industry, Energy and Tourism, which in collaboration with SEGITTUR has announced the delivery of the 2014/2015 Europe Senior Tourism Program. The initiative sets out to court travellers aged 55 and above from with the EU, tempting them to choose Spain for their holidays and benefit from the low price tag that the country is able to offer.

The increase in silver travel will include many of those considering settling on Spain as a retirement destination. Leading Spanish homebuilder Taylor Wimpey España is one company that’s ahead of the game when it comes to offering high end properties as holiday homes that can in time become full-time accommodation. Marc Pritchard, Sales and Marketing Director, explains,

“Many of our buyers are looking for holiday homes right now but with a view to one day living in them permanently, once they retire. They are seeking high quality homes on developments that provide them with luxuries they don’t have in the UK, like swimming pools and balconies on which to enjoy the sun. We bear all of this in mind when we begin a new development, so that our apartments and townhouses appeal to buyers of all ages.

“All of our developments are compliant with the latest European building regulations, meaning they include wheelchair-friendly access and lifts. Our Costa Beach development in Mallorca’s Port Vell, for example, has two properties in the second phase that have been built with wheelchair users in mind, with wider doors and adapted bathrooms.”

Prices at Costa Beach begin from as little as €262,000.

The IPPR North report goes on to state that there are already 1.7 million people in the UK over the age of 60 who are living in houses that do not meet the UK Government’s Decent Homes Standard. Add to this the dismal UK winter weather and is it any wonder that so many retirees are turning to Spain to live the dream during their golden years?

For more information please contact Taylor Wimpey España today on 08000 121 020 or visit www.taylorwimpeyspain.com. Those residing outside of the UK should call 0034 971 70 69 72.

• Only 16% of shoppers prepared to pay full price (Statistics Brain)
• Costa Blanca apartment discount drops price to just €249k (Taylor Wimpey España)
• 25% of all personal spending takes place during Christmas season (Statistics Brain)

The end of this month will see Americans hit the stores in a shopping frenzy as Black Friday – the day when the Christmas shopping season officially begins – sees stores across the country offer impressive discounts in order to kick start the traditional holiday spend-a-thon.

According to Statistic Brain, a staggering 25% of all personal spending in the US takes place during the Christmas shopping period, with Black Friday 2013 seeing total spending of $57.4 billion. However, that doesn’t mean that shoppers are prepared to spend money without careful thought – the same research showed that just 16% of shoppers were prepared to pay full price for their purchases.

Indeed the popularity of Black Friday has meant that it is now being embraced by more and more UK shops most notably, supermarket chain Asda, who offered discounts across its stores on 29 November 2013. The result was astonishing, with the retailer reporting a month’s worth of televisions sold in just 45 minutes! Across the week, sales were up 400% on the year before.

With shoppers becoming evermore savvy in their hunt for discounts and bargains, the range of products on offer has increased hugely. Even holiday homes can now be purchased at discounted rates by those who shop around.

Marc Pritchard, Sales and Marketing Director of leading Spanish homebuilder Taylor Wimpey España, comments,

“Often those buying homes overseas can benefit from one-time offers and discounts if they buy in the right location at the right time. Our La Vila Paradis development, for example, has an offer currently on one of the remaining three apartments, which will see the price reduced from €265,000 to €249,000 if legal completion takes place before the end of the year.”

La Vila Paradis is a contemporary beachfront development in the Costa Blanca, with direct access to Villajoyosa beach, just 20 minutes from Alicante. Two and three bedroom apartments feature high spec interiors, with well thought-out layouts that ensure beautiful views over the Paraíso Beach and sea. The gated development includes swimming pools, prettily designed communal gardens and private parking. Three bedroom townhouses are also available, starting at €359,000.

With the unusually warm autumn weather in the UK about to give way to winter, many are looking to fight off the cold by holidaying overseas. For those who love Spain and visit frequently, a second home makes excellent financial sense, particularly when it can be bought at a discounted rate. Thanks to Taylor Wimpey España’s La Vila Paradis promotion, a second home overseas might not have to wait to be added to Santa’s list this year, as smart shoppers look to bag their bargain well before the year ends.

For more information please contact Taylor Wimpey España today on 08000 121 020 or visit www.taylorwimpeyspain.com. Those residing outside of the UK should call 0034 971 70 69 72.

• Costa Blanca leads the way for Russian property sales (Taylor Wimpey España)
• Russian visitor numbers to the Costa del Sol up 17% (Tourism Board Malaga)
• Air passenger traffic up 4.6% overall (AENA)

There’s no questioning the attractions of the Spanish Costas. With sea, sand and sunshine, they make the perfect location for everything from a quick weekend break to a permanent move overseas. While Brits and Germans have been heading to Spain for decades, Russian property investors and tourists have been a more recent addition.

Russian buyers in the Costa del Sol are nothing new. For several years now Russians have been scouring the area for upscale properties, so much so that the luxury market is flooded with them. In fact, recent data from the General Council of Notaries has shown that buyers from the former Soviet Union are now at the top of the ranking of investments in property costing €500,000 or more in three Spanish provinces.

Figures from the Tourism Board Malaga-Costa del Sol have shown a 17% year on year increase in Russian visitors arriving at the Malaga-Costa del Sol airport, with visitor numbers this year up to 42,861 from 36,610 the year before. Clearly the Costa del Sol continues to tempt Russian buyers, but the real story at present is the Costa Blanca.

At the same time as the Spanish Tourism Office in Moscow is reporting a sharp upturn in the number of people wishing to travel to Spain, based on visa application numbers, Marc Pritchard, Sales and Marketing Director of leading Spanish homebuilder Taylor Wimpey España, is experiencing a boom in Russian buyers looking to be part of the Costa Blanca property scene. He explains,

“We’ve noticed a definite increase in demand from Russian buyers of late. While interest in the Costa del Sol still exists, it’s actually the Costa Blanca that is attracting the majority of our Russian purchasers. Front-line properties that are well located for international airports, such as Alicante, are top of the shopping list, so developments such as La Recoleta III, Montesol and La Vila Paradis are all extremely popular.”

According to Eye on Spain, the Costa Blanca is becoming so popular with Russian buyers that they have overtaken even the British when it comes to foreign investment in the Spanish property market. While Russian buyers represented less than 5% of the foreign purchasers in Alicante just four years ago, they now account for half of the 7,000 sales made to non-Spaniards last year.

Taylor Wimpey España’s Costa Blanca developments showcase the high spec accommodation that Russians are seeking. Just two minutes from Punta Prima beach, La Recoleta III is a tranquil development of two and three bedroom apartments, including luxurious penthouses with solariums and outstanding sea views. Prices start at €142,000. Montesol in Calpe, one of the Costa Blanca’s most beautiful locations, has townhouses for sale from €252,000, while La Vila Paradis combines both apartments and townhouses, starting at €265,000. In line with Taylor Wimpey España’s reputation for delightful design, all three developments include prettily landscaped grounds and generously sized swimming pools.

Spain has experienced a country-wide improvement in air passenger numbers so far this year, with data from Spanish airports network AENA showing a 4.6% increase in air passenger traffic during the first nine months of 2014. The increase took the total to more than 153.2 million passengers, many of them travelling from Russia for inspection trips or to make cash purchases.

As well as visitors, investment capital has also been flowing into Spain. According to a report from Money Market UK, Spain is positioned first in Europe in terms of the amount of foreign investment received during 2013, equating to some €28,755,000.

Much of the investment has been in property and a recent report from Knight Frank Russia & CIS has placed Russians fifth for total investments in Western European real estate. As the Spanish market stabilises, thanks to both an increase in foreign buyers and strengthening domestic demand, rating agency Fitch has observed in a recent statement,

“The house price and mortgage market stabilisation reflects Spain’s macroeconomic recovery and banks’ increasing willingness to lend.”

With Russian interest continuing to drive forward property sales in the Costa Blanca, developers such as Taylor Wimpey España are feeling positive about the signs of the property market’s reinvigoration within the area. Marc Pritchard concludes,

“Russian buyers are not only providing a strong boost to the Costa Blanca’s property market, they are emphasising the desirability of high end developments across the Costas. The attractions of Spain’s golden visa programme mean that many of those purchasing property here have serious cash to invest, which is helping to ensure a healthy and stable property sector once more.”

For more information please contact Taylor Wimpey España today on 08000 121 020 or visit www.taylorwimpeyspain.com. Those residing outside of the UK should call 0034 971 70 69 72.

• Spain and France tied for first place as favourites with foreign buyers (HiFX)
• 89% of ‘foreign’ buyers already live in Spain (Ministry of Development)
• Spanish property costs 4.4 times average salary, versus 6.1 times EU average (Deloitte)

A popular winter sun destination, Spain is packed with delights to engage and entertain those looking to while away the days in a warmer clime than the UK affords. The temperate weather has appealed to holidaymakers for decades, with average temperatures remaining firmly above 10C/50F, even in the depths of winter. Even the sea remains a respectable average of 15C/59F at the coldest point in its annual temperature cycle, according to holiday-weather.com.

With property prices that have fallen significantly since the global financial crisis, many investors are seeing now as the perfect time to put their funds into Spain’s housing market. Spanish real estate and construction accounted for around 18% of Spain’s GDP back in 2007, with a market capitalisation of more than €30 billion. It is now about a tenth of that, with the result that economists and investors alike are looking at Spain as being one of the last bastions of good value property in Europe. European Portfolio Manager Dean Tenerelli of T Rowe Price summarises the situation succinctly,

“We are at an interesting juncture as real estate in Spain has reached a trough since the crisis; rent prices are historically low and there is an abundance of low-cost property on sale.”

Marc Pritchard, Sales and Marketing Director of leading Spanish homebuilder Taylor Wimpey España, at the heart of the Iberian country’s residential property market, comments,

“Spanish property is some of the best value in Europe. Buyers from across the globe are taking an interest in what Spain can offer, both as an investment choice and for the lifestyle benefits. We’ve found that our buyers include a mixture of those looking for an escape pad for long weekends, those chasing the winter sun and then summering in their country of origin and those looking to move fulltime to Spain and settle here for the long term.

“The Balearics are proving particularly popular right now. They provide fantastic value and developments such as our Cala Magrana III resort, which offers easy access to both golfing and beaches, are being snapped up at an impressive pace. So much so that we only have a few apartments left there.”

Two bedroom apartments at Cala Magrana III currently cost from €230,000 thanks to an end of season offer from Taylor Wimpey España. Foreign buyers are enjoying the high end apartments, with their designer fixtures and fittings, large swimming pool and communal gardens, as well as the sandy beaches, coves, water sports and crystal waters of the surrounding area.

Figures from the recent HiFX Property Hotspots Report confirm the interest that foreign buyers are currently taking in Spain. The latest report saw Spain tie in first place with France as the destination of choice for buyers, garnering some 35% of the vote. Additionally, the National Statistics Institute has confirmed that home sales are rising, up 8.8% in June 2014 compared with a year earlier, while Spain´s society of notaries has reported that foreign buyers favour coastal areas. The breakdown of foreign buyers included 15% Brits, 10% French, 9% Russians and 7% Belgians, according to the data.

While the influx of foreign property investors is good news for Spain’s economy, the situation for domestic buyers is also looking up. Deloitte’s fourth annual analysis of the Spanish housing market has shown that the average price of housing is now 4.4 times the individual gross salary. This compares with an EU average ratio of 6.1%, rising to 7.9% in France and 8.5% in Britain.

Interestingly, many of the ‘domestic’ buyers benefitting from this situation are foreigners already living in Spain. According to data from the Ministry of Development, 89% of foreign buyers in the second quarter of 2014 were already living in Spain. The figures reveal that Malaga is one of the most popular parts of Spain when it comes to home sales to foreigners, which reached a total of 2,499 transactions during Q2 2014 – a level not seen since 2007 and an increase of 30% over Q2 2013.

Taylor Wimpey España’s experience certainly supports the finding. Their Horizon Beach development in the Estepona area of Malaga has only a few apartments left for sale. One of the last beachfront plots in the Costa del Sol, Horizon Beach’s 36 two and three bedroom apartments and penthouses offer a level of exclusivity that sets them apart, having been designed to impress even the most demanding of buyers. Prices start at €370,000. Taylor Wimpey España’s Marc Pritchard concludes,

“It is the perfect time to buy in Spain right now, whether for foreign property investors or domestic buyers. Property here offers some incredible bargains and it’s great to see the market beginning to pick up pace as the world wakes up to the excellent value for money that the Spanish residential property market currently affords.”

For more information please contact Taylor Wimpey España today on 08000 121 020 or visit www.taylorwimpeyspain.com. Those residing outside of the UK should call 0034 971 70 69 72.