• US visitors to Kyero.com up 75% year on year
• UK interest remains steady for now but will be hostage to Brexit negotiations
• Chiclana De La Frontera races up ranks to become 9^th most popular location

The official March report from Kyero.com has, as ever, revealed some interesting insights into the Spanish property market.

The portal received 65,473 property enquiries during the month, up 19.55% year on year, while visitor numbers reached 594,917, up 41.7%.

From this wealth of data, Kyero.com reports that UK buyers remain steadfast in their love for Spanish property, despite the triggering of Article 50 towards the end of March.

“With Prime Minister May emphasizing how slow the Brexit process is going to be, with the UK being hostage to the negotiation cycle, it seems that Brits are happy to take a ‘keep calm and carry on’ approach to buying homes in Spain. Interest has slowed, but is far from going into reverse – in fact, British visitors to Kyero.com have increased by 30.2% over the past year.”

Richard Speigal, Head of Research at Spanish property portal Kyero.com

While Theresa May seems to be keeping British buyers calm, President Trump’s countrymen seem to have found a fresh desire to pick up properties in Spain.

US visitors to Kyero.com have surged, up 75.3% year on year. US buyers are now firmly in the site’s top ten list of nationalities interested in buying in Spain, as life far away from Donald Trump’s America takes on added appeal.

Meanwhile, prices across Spain are growing steadily. The median asking price across Kyero.com’s 200,000+ listed properties now stands at €244,000, an increase of 5.9% over the past year.

“When it comes to location, Gran Canaria’s Playa Del Ingles has reclaimed the top spot, knocking Torrevieja down into second place once again. Other traditional favourites like Playa De Las Americas in Tenerife and Alicante continue to rank among the most popular destinations for those buying in Spain.”

Richard Speigal, Kyero.com

The biggest mover in terms of the top ten locations is Chiclana De La Frontera in Cadiz, which shot up six places to become the ninth most popular location in March.

With a rich history of sherry production (it’s just 40 km from the sherry heartland of Jerez De La Frontera), Chiclana offers visitors easy access to the ‘real Spain’ – away from the vast hordes of tourists flocking to the beaches of the southern coastline.

As well as its own architectural and culinary charms, the town offers easy access to Cadiz (for outstanding tapas and beautiful beaches), Gibraltar, Portugal and Morocco, all of which can be reached easily in under three hours, making Chiclana De La Frontera an excellent base for those wanting to use their base in Spain for exploring other locations.

As political instability continues to rock the foundations of both the UK and the US, it will be interesting to see how this is reflected in the Spanish property market. Home to the largest British expat population in Europe and to a somewhat smaller but still sizeable population of American expats (estimates put the figures at around 300,000 and 41,000 people respectively), Spain’s second home market stands to be singularly affected by political happenings in both countries. Needless to say, the folk at Kyero.com will continue to monitor the situation closely.

For further details, visit www.kyero.com.

• Traditionally popular locations losing out to less developed towns like Albox
• 3% of Brexit-conscious Brit buyers looking for sub-€50k homes
• Property sales in Almeria have risen 93% since Brexit referendum
• Apartments are property type of choice for value-focused buyers

Brexit-conscious British buyers took quite a while to let the impact of the referendum sink in, but the imminent triggering of Article 50 has finally shaken up their pursuit of Spanish property.

While no fundamental changes to property rights, obtaining mortgage credit or even inheritance tax are expected, there will be a degree of uncertainty over the coming months, and that’s making buyers more cautious. However, where there’s a threat, there’s also usually an opportunity.

“While traditional more established (and expensive) Spanish locations are beginning to feel the Brexit blues, buyers aren’t abandoning the country entirely. Instead, they’re looking for less developed areas, which is giving smaller towns an opportunity to shine.”

Richard Speigal, Head of Research at Spanish property portal Kyero.com

The province of Almeria is at the epicentre of the shift, with sales rising 93% in the post-Brexit period.

Prices across the province have lagged behind the rest of Spain, with an average value of €129,000 – almost half the national average. Prices are expected to rise following the post-Brexit spike in sales, but haven’t done so yet, creating an interesting opportunity for buyers with an eye on potential capital gains as well as a sun-kissed second home.

The addition of Almeria to Jet2’s summer 2017 flight schedule is also interesting news to those seeking an easily accessible, bargain holiday home with great potential for capital gain.

Within Almeria, the town of Albox is the one to watch, according to the experts at Kyero.com, which lists more than 200,000 properties each month.

Flanked by the Sierra de las Estancias and the Sierra de los Filabres mountain ranges, Albox benefits from being less than an hour’s drive from the coast and just over an hour from Almeria Airport. The town’s white-washed homes, pretty plazas and narrow streets boast plenty of the kind of authentic Spanish charm that many British buyers are seeking.

“Over 50’s British buyers may be sitting on huge equity thanks to rising UK house prices, but sterling’s fall has hit their budgets, which in turn has led to a hunt for value. As healthcare and pension arrangements aren’t guaranteed to remain the same after Brexit, retirees are holding back from blowing their budgets on huge villas in prime locations. Instead, apartments in less well known locations are coming to the fore. The Costa del Sol’s loss is Almeria’s gain.”

Richard Speigal, Kyero.com

The average property in Albox costs just €129,000 – the same as the provincial average, based on Kyero.com’s figures.

Those looking for a substantial project can pick up a townhouse ripe for pulling down and rebuilding for €9,000. A quirky, renovated four-bedroom home with a sunny roof terrace can be picked up for €39,950. Albox apartments are priced from €65,000, while buyers with €100,000 or more can enjoy a selection of spacious villas. Villas with their own pools start from €120,000.

Prices in Albox have risen by 2.2% in the last year. Meanwhile, buyer enquiries are running at four times the average for the Kyero.com site. In February alone, 17,000 people searched for property in the town, with British buyers topping the table when it came to the nationality of those looking at Albox homes.

The majority were bargain-hunting, with 62.3% looking for properties costing less than €50,000, and apartments being the first choice when it came to property type. A further 22.4% were looking to spend between €50,000 and €100,000. Just 14.7% of potential buyers were considering spending over €100,000, reflecting the Brexit-inspired push for bargain holiday homes.

While there’ll no doubt be plenty of vocal lobbying from Spanish property owners and expats once Brexit negotiations are underway, for now buyers are voting with their wallets, meaning that towns like Albox are emerging as 2017’s hottest Spanish holiday home destinations.

For further details, visit www.kyero.com.

·         62% of people factor in portal usage when selecting an agent (Harris Interactive)

·         Extra effort with images can generate 54% more leads (Kyero.com)

·         55% of visitors spend under 15 seconds on the websites they visit (Chartbeat)

Property portals are big business. Research by Harris Interactive found that 47% of the UK population used a property search website in the year to April 2016. Not only that, but 62% reported that the portals on which an agent advertises would be a factor in their selection of an agent when selling or letting their home.

Clearly, agents who are smart in their use of property portals stand to gain a great deal of business, both from those selling and letting their properties and from those looking to buy. As such, Spanish property portal Kyero.com, which lists more than 200,000 properties each month, has analysed buyer enquiries in depth in order to produce a list of quick wins for agents using property portals in 2017. The site’s newly updated agent dashboard is transparency in action.

Kyero.com’s Head of Research Richard Speigal comments,

“Agents who maximize their use of portals have a lot to gain. That maximization doesn’t have to be time consuming or difficult – usually it just means adjusting a couple of procedures. For a small investment of time, the benefits can be huge.”

Top tips for getting the most out of your property portal from Kyero.com

1.       Presentation is key

According to Chartbeat, 55% of visitors spend under 15 seconds on the websites they visit. That’s not a lot of time for visitors to read detailed property descriptions! It will be a property’s images that initially capture a visitor’s attention, so agents should ensure that corners aren’t cut when it comes to photography. Quite simply, the best looking properties generate the most buyer enquiries. Kyero.com’s research has shown that agents who make the extra effort when it comes to imagery generate 54% more leads. That’s quite a result from paying a little extra attention to a few snaps!

2.       Use data to your advantage

Property portals have access to a vast amount of data – on popular locations, buyer trends, average prices and more. Kyero.com invites all agents who list properties on the portal to use that data freely. Head of Research Richard Speigal explains how this is beginning to change the conversation between vendors and agents,

“Transparent, data-based reporting has had some interesting results in Spain. Many Spanish vendors had a difficult time adjusting to the property crash. They became wedded to unrealistically high prices and this cluttered the market with unsellable property. This left agents with a tough dilemma – if they were too honest on (low) pricing, vendors simply went to other agents who were prepared to give a higher valuation. Alternatively, if they priced too high, they were stuck with a stagnant portfolio they couldn’t sell.

“Being able to quote Kyero.com’s numbers about what was selling, in which areas and at what price, meant that all parties could be better informed. This kept negotiations realistic.”

3.       Make conversation

Feedback from agents is an essential tool for operating a popular and easy-to-use property portal, according to the team at Kyero.com. Agents who want to get the most out of their portal in 2017 should let the portal know if they encounter any snags when listing properties, or have ideas about how things could work faster. No portal wants to make it difficult for agents to list properties, so agents who raise ideas for improvements are valuable to those who run the portal.

Kyero.com has incorporated user feedback into its newly launched agent interface. The results have been extremely well received thus far, with agents reacting positively to the changes.

4.       Be clear and concise

Remembering how little time agents have to capture viewers’ interest online, it’s essential to be clear and concise when listing a property’s details. A good approach is to try and include all the headline features in the first two or three sentences of the description. If those features are exciting enough, the visitor may well read on.

As Kyero.com’s Richard Speigal advises,

“If you have a villa that has a spa, a wine cellar or a cinema room, be sure to shout about it early on in the description. Don’t bury it at the end of the copy or you may well have missed your chance to excite the viewer with that piece of information. Remember, too, that writing for the web should always be in short paragraphs and that bullet points are your friend when it comes to online audiences.”

5.       Look at each listing with a buyer’s eyes

Finally, agents are advised to check over their listings with a buyer’s eyes. A surprising number of properties are not listed correctly when it comes to price, amenities, number of bedrooms, property type and so forth. If those details aren’t correct, fewer potential buyers will find that property online. Thus agents need to step into the buyer’s shoes and review their listings critically to ensure that every last detail is perfect.

For further details, visit www.kyero.com.

• 5 Spanish provinces beating UK for property price growth (Kyero.com)
• Ibiza property prices up 27.2% in past year
• Visits to Kyero.com up 42.3% in 12 months

Newly published data from Spanish property portal Kyero.com, has revealed that Spain is giving the UK a run for its money when it comes to property price growth.

Annual asking price growth reached 27.2% on Ibiza in the year to January 2017, with five other Spanish provinces comfortably outpacing price growth in the UK over the past year (which stood at 4.5% year-on year, as at December 2016, according to Nationwide).

 “The past year has seen 6.9% price growth across Spain as a whole, with a median asking price of €245,000. The market is returning to strength and we’ve seen a number of provinces rivalling the UK when it comes to price growth. That’s great news for those investing in property in Spain, as well as second home owners and retirees who are looking for a good opportunity for capital gain.”

Richard Speigal, Head of Research at Kyero.com

The five provinces enjoying higher annual price growth than the UK over the past year are Tenerife, Mallorca, Cadiz, Gran Canaria and Ibiza, with growth ranging from 8.0% in Tenerife to 27.2% in Ibiza.

That four of the top five destinations are island-based, while Cadiz enjoys a stunning coastal position on the mainland, shows that it’s not just financial benefits that buyers can enjoy.

The cheapest of the five provinces, in terms of average price, is Gran Canaria. Prices there have risen by 12.8% in the past 12 months, with an average price of €227,000. That’s enough for a light and spacious three-bed triplex in San Fernando, or a two-bedroom Playa De Cura apartment with pool and sea, mountain and golf views.

The most expensive of the provinces by far is Ibiza, with an average price of €1.15 million. That’s enough for a large, secluded villa with pool, chill-out area and fishpond. For those looking at Ibiza through entrepreneurial eyes, it’s also just the right amount for a three storey bar and restaurant with a large terrace overlooking the castle.

With annual price growth of 8.7%, Mallorca is the second most expensive of the five provinces. The average property price there is €491,000 – enough for an exclusive Santa Ponsa Nova apartment with an extensive terrace overlooking the pool and lush gardens.

As the only non-island province to enjoy UK-beating growth, Cadiz is generating excitement among buyers on the mainland. Prices there shot up by 8.9% in the last year, while the average price of €269,000 makes it much more affordable than some of its island counterparts. That’s enough an apartment with four bedrooms, an outdoor terrace and ocean views in an excellent location within this lively city.

“The competition’s really hotting up now, with the impact of Article 50 on the UK’s property market to be felt over the coming year, we expect to see more and more Spanish provinces outpacing the UK’s property price rises.”

Richard Speigal, Head of Research at Kyero.com

That fact is reflected in the huge growth in buyer demand that Kyero.com is experiencing. Property enquiries made through the site have risen by 36.07% in the past year, while overall visitor numbers are up by 42.32%.

Does this mean that UK buyers plan to abandon their own property market in favour of an Iberian one? Only time will tell.

For further details, visit www.kyero.com.

• 60% of top trending locations based in the Canaries (Kyero.com)
• New ‘rising star’ locations reflect British hunt for value
• Lliria, Oliva and Santa Pola all ready to boom this summer

Love is in the air across the UK as Valentine’s Day approaches, from couples opting for an evening out to families looking to fan their passion for holidays in the sunshine. And when it comes to second homes in Spain, British love for overseas property has rarely burned more strongly.

Richard Speigal, Head of Research at Spanish property portal Kyero.com, reveals,

“The Brexit referendum back in June seems to have started a snowball effect. Each month we’re seeing record-beating numbers of searches for second homes in Spain, with Brits eager to pick up bolt-holes within the confines of the EU.”

The latest data from Kyero.com (Jan 2017) reveals that enquiries into Spanish property are up by 36.07% year-on-year, while Kyero.com’s overall audience has grown by 42.32% over the same period. The most popular locations are Playa del Ingles, Torrevieja and Gran Canaria’s Puerto Rico.

Island life is certainly drawing in plenty of enquiries, with six of the top ten most popular second home destinations located across the Canaries. However, buyers are still being cautious with their expenditure while facing the uncertainties that the Brexit process holds. Of the top ten locations, only two had an average price of more than €200,000.

The latest Kyero.com figures also reveal that buyers are increasingly falling in love with areas of Spain that are less well-known as second home hotspots.

Lliria and Oliva in Valencia, and Santa Pola in Alicante, were all new entrants into the top 20 most popular destinations, at positions 16, 19 and 17 respectively. The average price is €110,000 in Lliria, €130,000 in Oliva and €159,500 in Santa Pola, again emphasizing the push for reasonably priced properties in run up to Article 51 being triggered.

“The trend is becoming clearer as each month’s figures come in,” observes Kyero.com’s Richard Speigal. “Brits aren’t letting Brexit affect them in terms of their Spanish property ownership goals. In fact, more than ever seem to be falling for the sun-kissed lifestyle that Spain can offer. But that doesn’t mean they’re not thinking carefully about the future. Caution is very much the watch-word when it comes to Brits buying in Spain these days.

“The new entrants into the top 20 trending locations definitely reflect that. It means that Lliria, Oliva and Santa Pola are all names that are going to become increasingly familiar to Brits over the coming months.”

It’s easy to see why. An average-price, €110,000 property in Lliria is enough for a smartly decorated three-bedroom villa with its own pool, terrace and orchard complete with fruit trees. In Oliva, €130,000 is enough for a stylish second line beach apartment with sunny terrace, on a complex with pools for adults and children, garden areas and communal terraces.

Meanwhile in Santa Pola the average cost of €159,500 is sufficient for a three-bedroom, two-bathroom apartment overlooking the sea with shared pool on a gated complex, with private solarium with barbecue and kitchen.

With properties and prices like these available, the British “Brexit, what Brexit?” attitude looks set to continue working wonders for the Spanish property market over the months ahead.

For further details, visit www.kyero.com.

• 37% of Brits currently regretting their Christmas spending (Nationwide)
• Bargain hunting particularly important to second home buyers in the New Year (Kyero.com)
• Playa del Ingles and Almeria named top destinations for making a saving (Kyero.com)

According to Nationwide, 37% of Brits will currently be regretting the amount they have spent over Christmas, while 19% will still be paying off their festive spending in March. Across Europe, Christmas spending was projected to hit £77.56 billion in 2016, based on research by the Centre for Retail Research and RetailMeNot. Meanwhile, while in the US, Deloitte’s 2016 Holiday Survey predicted that spending would pass the $1 trillion mark.

Whatever the total cost of the holiday season, the early months of the New Year are certainly a time when bargain hunting becomes a priority for many. Whether it’s the weekly shop or something altogether larger – such as a holiday home overseas – achieving value for money in January and February is a serious business.

Richard Speigal, Head of Research at Spanish property portal Kyero.com, comments,

“Clearly, everyone who buys a second home wants that property to be good value, but at the start of the year we see a particular emphasis on bargain hunting. Buyers are looking for properties that offer something exceptional for the money. Price reductions, even small ones, can make for quick sales at this time of year, as buyers are keen to snap up homes that mean they can make a saving while still achieving their dream of owning abroad.”

Those looking for a bargain holiday home would do well to make use of Kyero.com’s extensive data on market trends to scour Spain for the best areas to pick up under-valued property. The portal offers a dedicated data site to enable this (data.kyero.com) and also regularly reviews their latest search data for the most up and coming areas and those places where prices are lagging behind the national average.

Right now, Playa del Ingles in Gran Canaria is the place to buy for those looking for an up and coming area. Enquiries for properties in the Canary Islands always rise in the winter months, but 2017 has seen Playa del Ingles knock Torrevieja off the top spot of Kyero.com’s trending locations list for the first time ever.

The average property price in Playa del Ingles is €165,000, against €249,000 nationally, making it ideal for bargain hunters looking for all the benefits of Spanish property ownership but without the usual price tag.

For buyers looking for an area lagging behind the rest of the market, Almeria province is an excellent choice. Prices there are currently averaging €129,000 – nearly half the national average.

Despite a spike in sales since the Brexit vote, prices in Almeria have yet to catch up to those in the rest of Spain, creating excellent potential for future capital gains. Mojacar (average property price €165,000), Albox (€126,000) and Palomares (€84,000) are the three top spots, according to Kyero.com’s data.

Of course, discounted properties can be found in many areas of Spain, by those who know where to look. This spacious, three-bedroom frontline beach penthouse in Estepona has been reduced by a staggering €250,000, to €999,000.

Buyers looking for something more traditional can enjoy a €20,000 discount on this five-bedroom cortijo with private pool and terraces, now just €130,000. Meanwhile golfers can take advantage of the €40,000 discount on this three-bedroom villa near La Marquesa, now priced at €159,000.

“Spain offers something for everyone when it comes to bargain hunting,” concludes Kyero.com’s Richard Speigal. “There are plenty of price reductions available to buyers right now and some fantastic areas that offer excellent potential. It’s a buyer’s market for Brits looking to pick up a bargain holiday home.”

For further details, visit www.kyero.com.

• More second home buyers searching in Playa Del Ingles than Torrevieja (Kyero.com)
• Average property value sought in Gran Canaria hotspot, Playa Del Ingles, is €165k
• Torrevieja remains firm favourite with buyers on a budget

New data from innovative Spanish property portal Kyero.com has revealed that Playa Del Ingles has knocked Torrevieja off the top spot of trending location searches for the first time ever.

Figures from the past month show that more buyers are searching for properties in the stunning Gran Canaria location than in the traditional favourite within Alicante province.

Richard Speigal, Head of Research at Kyero.com, comments,

“Torrevieja is such a renowned hotspot and so popular with buyers of overseas property that we were surprised to see it had lost its crown to Playa Del Ingles. While both destinations are incredibly popular with those seeking sun, sand and good value homes, it’s the first time that our monthly search data has shown Playa Del Ingles to be the favourite.”

Buyers are searching for properties with an average value of €165,000 in Playa Del Ingles, which is sufficient for a two-bedroom apartment in a good location, with either sea views or a pool.

However, those still opting for Torrevieja are on something of a tighter budget, with the Kyero.com figures revealing an average search price of €116,000. That’s enough for a two to three-bedroom apartment with sea views, or even a three-bedroom villa with pool for those happy to live on the outskirts of town.

So, has Playa Del Ingles knocked Torrevieja off the top spot for good?

Unlikely, believes Kyero.com’s Richard Speigal. “Torrevieja has all the elements that make up the perfect Spanish holiday home destination,” he explains. “Playa Del Ingles does too, with both destinations boasting stunning coastline, fantastic food, a welcoming community and great weather. However, Torrevieja has the added advantage that buyers can get more for their money. Ultimately I believe that’s what will push Torrevieja back to the top spot before long.”

For further details, visit www.kyero.com.