Shun the single supplement – holiday homes for singletons

Shun the single supplement – holiday homes for singletons

by Charly Portugal Spain Turkey World , , , ,
  • 51% of England & Wales is now single (ONS)
  • 24% of overseas travel is by solo tourists (Visa)
  • Perfect holiday homes for singletons available from €75k (Ideal Homes International)

In 2015 the Office for National Statistics released figures that showed that 51% of the population in England and Wales is single. The demography of these nations has shifted significantly over the past decade and companies and services are racing to keep up with the new shape of modern society. So why are single person supplements of between 10% and 100% of the standard accommodation rate still so widely used by the travel industry?

“It’s not a system that meets the needs of today’s travellers,” comments Martin Dell, Director of Spanish property portal Kyero.com. “In both the rental and the sales sides of our business we’ve seen the impact of the growth in single travellers. The industry needs to catch up or risk missing out on a key emerging market.”

The 2015 Visa Global Travel Intentions Study found that 24% of people travelled alone on their most recent foreign holiday. It’s a rapidly growing sector. Indeed, some singletons are already taking matters into their own hands and shunning hotels and their single supplements in favour of second homes of their own overseas.

Chris White, Founding Director of Ideal Homes International, explains,

“Property prices in destinations like Portugal are so affordable right now that it’s perfectly possible to pick up a holiday home on a single income. Second homes are definitely no longer just the preserve of wealthy couples entering their retirement years.”

In Portugal, a beautifully refurbished townhouse in the heart of the historic town of Silves can be bought for just €75,000. Single buyers with a bit more cash to spend have a vast range of options available to them. One upscale five-star resort and spa complex in the popular Algarve town of Carvoeiro is offering one bedroom apartments with lush outdoor gardens from €260,000.

Singletons looking to travel a little further afield are discovering the delights of beach resorts around the globe. Over in Istanbul, the prime seaside district of Beylikduzu, Gurpinar is home to the beautifully designed Rose Residence, available through Universal21. With shops and restaurants on the doorstep, the beach just a few minutes away (top floor apartments enjoy fabulous sea views) and pool and health club facilities on site, the apartments are perfect for active solo travellers looking for a base in this bustling city.

Of course, it’s not just young singletons who are travelling overseas on their own these days. An increasing number of older travellers – both married and single – are choosing to holiday solo as a means of escaping the noise of modern life for a short while. Golf resorts can be a popular choice for this demographic, particularly when you consider what you can get for your money in sun-kissed destinations like Spain.

Leading homebuilder Taylor Wimpey España offers a range of apartments and townhouses in popular Spanish locations. At Brisas de Alenda Golf, near Elche on the Costa Blanca, a three bedroom townhouse costs just €145,000. The private, tranquil development offers high spec homes, excellent golfing facilities, private gardens, a swimming pool and access to the Alenda Golf complex’s small supermarket, restaurant, bar, clubhouse centre and paddle tennis courts. It’s an ideal location for solo travellers looking for peace and relaxation, all within an easy flight from the UK.

The trend for solo travel looks set to continue growing, at least for the foreseeable future, and with such a range of affordable holiday homes available to single buyers across Europe, it is reasonable to expect that overseas estates agents will increasingly be looking to capture the attention of this rapidly emerging market.

For more information please contact:

Kyero.com: www.kyero.com

Ideal Homes: 0800 133 7644, +351 289 513 434, www.idealhomesinternational.co.uk or www.idealhomesportugal.com

Universal21: 0203 287 8700 or visit www.universal21.com

Taylor Wimpey España: +44 08000 121 020 or www.taylorwimpeyspain.com. Those residing outside of the UK should call 0034 971 70 69 72.

Cave homes – the ultimate retreat from the pressures of modern life

Cave homes – the ultimate retreat from the pressures of modern life

by Charly Spain
  • 9 million working days lost to stress in 2014/15 (Labour Force Survey)
  • Spanish cave homes available for as little as €9k (Kyero.com)
  • Luxury off-grid living in split-level caves available for €475k (Kyero.com)

Modern life can be stressful: political and financial worries, work-related stress and societal pressure to always be happy, healthy and at the top of your game all add up. According to the most recent Labour Force Survey, work related stress, depression and anxiety alone were responsible for 9.9 million lost working days in 2014/15. At times, the thought of ditching the strains of modern life and hiding out in a cave, hobbit-style, can be rather tempting. And with hundreds of cave houses available in the Spanish sunshine, many people are opting to do just that.

Martin Dell, Director of leading Spanish property portal Kyero.com, which lists more than 200,000 homes from 3,000 estate agents, comments,

“Spain is home to some wonderfully unique and quirky properties and its cave houses are some of the most intriguing. Built into hillsides and mountainsides, often with the rock being painstakingly hollowed out by hand, these homes offer truly individual environments for people looking for a different lifestyle.”

Cave houses are particularly prevalent in Granada: Kyero.com has hundreds of Granada cave homes listed as available for sale. They range from ‘unreformed’ cave homes from as little as €9,000 (essentially a hole in the mountainside, with no utilities) to extensive properties designed for luxurious off-grid living. In Bacor, a split-level cave home of more than 1000 m2, flooded with natural light and complete with solar power and its own water supply is available for €475,000.

Sean Lummis of Spanish Inland Properties has been selling cave homes for more than a decade. According to Sean, not every mountain is suited to cave homes, meaning that they tend to crop up in pockets. He explains,

“Cave homes tend to be situated on the outskirts of certain dreamy whitewashed Spanish towns and villages because the rock formation. For instance, in Galera the rock type consists of a type of sedimentary sandstone with layers of hard, almost horizontal rock interspaced with much softer layers, which in prehistoric times were dug by hand. The harder rock formed a layer impervious to water and provided the       strength needed for a safe, secure roof to the caves.”

Piet Quekel of Cuevas-Spain Inmobiliaria has also been specialising in selling cave homes since 2005, having lovingly restored his own cave home, purchased in 2002. He comments,

“Cave homes are plentiful in the Altiplano de Granada area. It’s a dramatically beautiful place, with big lakes, mountains, woodland and delightful little villages. Cave houses here come in many different shapes and sizes – their uniqueness is part of their charm. Generally a decent two bedroom cave house can be picked up for €40,000 to €60,000, while three bedroom ones range from €50,000 to €90,000.”

The delightful three bedroom cave home at Fuente Nueva is a great example. Available for €64,000, the traditional style home includes three bedrooms, an office, large family bathroom, living/party room complete with indoor barbecue and separate lounge with wood burning stove. There’s also a spacious courtyard style patio garden with further barbeque and ample room for parking.

Cave houses were popular homes for Spaniards in the 1950s and 1960s, but as the 1970s progressed and the Spanish economy improved many cave dwellers left their homes in favour of the attractions of local villages, which at that time included such technological advances as roads, electricity, running water and plumbing.

Many cave houses stood abandoned until the 1990s, when water and electricity began to be brought to cave areas, sparking a slow increase in interest. Once streets were made to access the caves, foreigners caught on to the vision of owning them as cost-effective holiday homes and the cave home boom began in earnest. British, Dutch, Belgian, French, American and German second home buyers all found their imaginations fired up by the simplicity and peace of the Spanish cave houses.

Today, cave homes remain popular with buyers from overseas, as Kyero.com’s Martin Dell explains,

“The financial crash in the late 2000s had a marked impact on cave home prices, just as it did on other types of property in Spain. Cave prices are slowly picking up again, but remain fairly low for the moment, meaning that there are some impressive bargains to be had for those buyers looking for a sun-kissed holiday home that is affordable, close to nature and highly individual.”

Cave house running costs tend to be low. As part of the mountain, they remain at around 16°C and 18°C throughout the year. It means they don’t require air conditioning in the summer and only need a little heating in the winter. Annual taxes are generally in the region of €250 for the average cave home, according to Spanish Inland Property’s Sean Lummis. Electricity costs much the same as in the UK, while a gas bottle is just €13.

Most modern caves come complete with internet access, electricity or solar panels, drinking water and terraces. Some also have gardens and swimming pools. According to Cuevas-Spain Inmobiliaria’s Piet Quekel,

“There are cave hotels, cave restaurants and cave B&Bs. There are caves in villages and there are caves in the middle of nowhere. For every taste there is a cave!”

The soft lines and curves of cave homes are often found to be calming by their owners, as are the breath-taking views and rural peace that many provide. The perfect antidote to the stress of modern life!

For further details on cave homes to buy, visit www.kyero.com. For the latest data on the state of the Spanish property market, visit data.kyero.com.

London versus the world! What can you get abroad for the price of an average property in the capital?

London versus the world! What can you get abroad for the price of an average property in the capital?

by Charly Portugal Spain United States , , ,
  • Average London house price is £514,097 (Gov.uk)
  • This is enough for 3 detached villas with pools in Spain, with €80k change (Kyero.com)
  • Or 2 5-bedroom resort homes with pools in Florida (Ideal Homes International)
  • Cliff-top townhouses with infinity pool in Mallorca also an option (Taylor Wimpey España)

According to the UK government’s December 2015 House Price Index, the average property in London now costs £514,097. Based on a quick Rightmove search, £514,097 is enough to purchase a new build one bedroom flat in Newham, a two bedroom flat in a converted house in Acton or a four bedroom mid-terrace house in Tottenham in need of some serious modernisation.

But what could you get for the same money overseas? £514,097 is worth just over €656,151, or USD $743,053, at today’s exchange rate, which opens up a wealth of property options to those looking to buy on the continent or even further afield.

Chris White, Founding Director of Ideal Homes International, explains,

“There are some fantastic bargains to be had when it comes to overseas property at the moment. Portugal and Spain are offering incredible value for money and are just a short hop on a plane from the UK, making them ideal locations for second homes or investment properties that you want to keep a close eye on. For fans of the US, Florida is also offering some serious bargains and is a perennially popular destination thanks to its winning combination of sun, sea and theme parks.”

In Portugal, €650,000 is enough for a four/five bedroom villa in the hills at Soalheira, 10 minutes from the beaches and golf courses of Vilamoura and just two minutes from the town of Loulé. The villa comes complete with swimming pool, Jacuzzi, sauna, pergola sunbathing area, pool house and gardener’s bathroom, two double garages, ocean views, grill house with sink, fridge and BBQ, cinema room, wood burning fire and under-floor heating in the two bathrooms. A far cry from a run-down terraced house in Tottenham!

For beach bunnies, the Spanish island of Mallorca is the ideal location. There, €625,000 will buy a premium frontline townhouse with incredible sea views, close to the golf courses and marina of Porto Cristo. There are just seven spacious three bedroom townhouses on the Cala Magrana Mar development, from leading Spanish homebuilder Taylor Wimpey España, which also benefits from a communal infinity pool and sunbathing area, designer fixtures and fittings and the latest security features.

Another option for those with €650,000 to spend is to invest in more than one property, which is easily achievable for this budget in both Portugal and Spain. Martin Dell, Director of Spanish property portal Kyero.com, comments,

“It’s staggering what you can get in Spain for the price of an average London property. Those looking for rental investments can pick up a whole string of properties in idyllic coastal locations for that kind of money.”

In the pretty seaside town of Javea, for example, detached villas with pools can be bought off plan for £189,800, with scope for the buyer to personalise the layout, with the build completed within 5-7 months. Instead of a one bedroom flat in E16, a buyer could pick up three of these villas and still have €80,000 left in his pocket.

Over in America, a buyer can easily pick up two five bedroom villas with pools in the hugely popular Kissimmee area of Florida for $743,053, the equivalent price of the average London home. Resort homes with screened in pool and spas in gated communities just a few miles from Walt Disney World are available for between $350,000 and $450,000. Certainly food for thought for all those thinking about buying a home in London at the moment!

For more information please contact:

Ideal Homes: 0800 133 7644, +351 289 513 434, www.idealhomesinternational.co.uk or www.idealhomesportugal.com

Taylor Wimpey España: +44 08000 121 020 or www.taylorwimpeyspain.com. Those residing outside of the UK should call 0034 971 70 69 72.

Kyero.com: www.kyero.com

A picture is worth a thousand words – why great photography is essential in selling overseas property

A picture is worth a thousand words – why great photography is essential in selling overseas property

by Charly Portugal Spain World , , ,

The concept of a single image being able to portray a situation or an idea more evocatively than whole paragraphs of text is not a new one. In fact, the old adage that ‘a picture is worth a thousand words’ dates back to the early 1900s. However, it remains just as relevant today as it was when the expression was coined.

This is particularly true when it comes to selling overseas property. The majority of potential buyers will use the internet to begin the search for their dream home overseas and in a marketplace crowded with information the perfect image can stand out like a beacon, calling to a buyer to find out more. In the same way, a poorly staged image can cause a property to be passed over with little more than half a glance.

“Good photographs are absolutely essential when it comes to selling overseas property,” observes Marc Pritchard, Sales and Marketing Director for leading Spanish homebuilder Taylor Wimpey España. “You need a photographer who can highlight the property’s features, both inside and out. If you build high quality developments, the images need to reflect that quality. Otherwise so much of your hard work is undone. Quite simply, poor imagery can result in fewer sales.”

For Taylor Wimpey España’s La Vila Paradis apartments on Spain’s Costa Blanca, the photographer needed to capture the light and space that flows through the apartments, as well as the sizeable swimming pool, golf views and sparkling sea in the background. The result was an excellent set of shots that truly represented the luxurious feel of the property.

So what makes a good image when it comes to overseas property? Martin Dell, Director of Spanish property portal Kyero.com, should certainly know. His company lists more than 200,000 homes from 3,000 estate agents. He comments,

“When it comes to property photography I think I’ve seen everything, from the very worst to the very best! Good images can certainly help a property to generate more interest and sell faster, particularly on a portal like Kyero, where buyers are scrolling through lists of potential homes – it will be the one that looks instantly appealing that is likely to capture their interest first.

“The same is true of rental properties, which we also list on Kyero. Those that have the best pictures are usually the ones that are snapped up first. If a landlord has dressed the property nicely – that is, if it’s clean, tidy and well presented – then a few great photos will really bring it to life in the eyes of those viewing it online. They’ll be able to imagine themselves there, which is precisely the point.”

Chris White, Founding Director of boutique real estate agency Ideal Homes Portugal, concurs.

“It’s all about selling the lifestyle associated with the property through the imagery,” he explains. “Many buyers seek to find at least a handful of properties they like before going to the expense of travelling overseas for a closer inspection. A property that shows its potential and that they can picture themselves in, will be one that sparks buyers’ imagination.”

Chris cites the stunning apartments in Salgados as an example. The private resort enjoys proximity to both beach and golf, with spacious apartments and wide terraces designed around enjoying the outdoor pursuits that the Algarve has to offer. Seven swimming pools and extensive grounds make the resort ideal for families, with an emphasis on health and happiness, which is precisely what the artfully staged photographs convey.

Selling property overseas is about more than selling houses – it’s about promoting a dream lifestyle that individuals can buy into. And for that kind of venture only the very best photography will suffice.

For more information please contact:

Taylor Wimpey España: +44 08000 121 020 or www.taylorwimpeyspain.com. Those residing outside of the UK should call 0034 971 70 69 72.

Kyero.com: www.kyero.com

Ideal Homes: 0800 133 7644, +351 289 513 434, www.idealhomesinternational.co.uk or www.idealhomesportugal.com

Visitor numbers rocket as the Canaries find favour with holiday home buyers

Visitor numbers rocket as the Canaries find favour with holiday home buyers

by Louise Spain
  • Bookings to the Canary Islands up 72% (Holiday Hypermarket)
  • Foreign buyers account for 30% of sales in Canary Islands (Ministry of Development)
  • Canary Islands are officially the sunniest place in Europe (Holiday Weather)
  • 2 bed Tenerife apartment with pool just €54,500 (Kyero.com)

The Canaries are currently enjoying a bumper winter season. According to Trivago, hotel searches for Las Palmas, Gran Canaria, are up 95% compared with the previous year, earning the destination the fifth place on the company’s list of up and coming destinations for 2016. Meanwhile, Holiday Hypermarket has revealed that bookings for the Canary Islands as a whole have risen 72% year on year.

Just four and a half hours from the UK by plane, the Canaries offer a sun-kissed paradise for holidaymakers looking to escape the gloom of the UK weather. In fact, according to Holiday Weather, the Canary Islands are the sunniest and lightest part of Europe, enjoying 3,000 hours of sunshine and 4,800 of daylight per year. Perfect for beating those winter blues!

The clear blue skies and golden sands make the islands popular with second home buyers, but the Canaries’ idyllic setting is not just down to nature as Martin Dell, Director of Spanish property portal Kyero.com, explains,

“The Canaries are known for offering some of the clearest skies in the world, with thermal inversion and trade winds deterring cloud formation, but that’s not the only reason that visitors can enjoy such open blue skies. The Law for the Protection of the Astronomical Quality for the Conservatives of the Canary Islands Astrophysics Institute controls a number of factors, including light pollution and flight routes. The result is a huge expanse of deep blue sky, which is best enjoyed from the comfort of a sun lounger, with an ice cold drink in hand.”

Is a scenario that works well for UK holiday home buyers, who have for decades had a soft spot for the sun-drenched shores of the Canaries. While international buyers account for 18.41% of all property purchases in Spain as a whole, according to the Ministry of Development (Q3 2015), in the Canary Islands the figure rises to 29.77%.

Property prices in Santa Cruz de Tenerife rose by 7.56% in the year to October 2015, according to the Kyero.com portal, which lists more than 200,000 homes from 3,000 estate agents. In Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, the rise has been much more pronounced, shooting up by 26.09% over the course of the year.

A two bedroom apartment with pool in Gran Canaria will now set buyers back anything from €83,000. Though it’s still not a lot, particularly compared with the price of UK property, the increase in demand over the past year has certainly had an impact. Meanwhile an equivalent two bedroom apartment with pool in Tenerife can cost from as little as €54,500 – just shy of £40,000 based on the exchange rate at the time of writing.

Kyero.com’s Martin Dell comments,

“Both Gran Canaria and Tenerife offer excellent value for money. Tenerife has the edge at the moment, with prices there lagging a little behind Gran Canaria. Tenerife could make a great spot for holiday home buyers looking for a place in the sun that also has the potential to gain in value over the next year or two.”

For further details on properties to rent and buy across the Canary Islands and mainland Spain, visit www.kyero.com. For the latest data on the state of the Spanish property market, visit https://data.kyero.com.

The Spanish housing market in 2016 – Kyero.com explains where, when and why

The Spanish housing market in 2016 – Kyero.com explains where, when and why

by Charly Spain
  • The Spanish property market WILL grow in 2016
  • The British love affair with Spain has officially resumed
  • Alicante and the islands are the safest places to invest
  • Talk of property bubble is grossly premature

The turbulence of the Spanish property market is recognised across the world, yet 2016 is shaping up to be a good year according to Spanish property portal Kyero.com.

The portal, which lists more than 200,000 homes from 3,000 estate agents, and is at the forefront of market sentiment in Spain and has spent months researching data on the property market in the finest detail. The result is the vast data resource data.kyero.com, which launched in late 2015. Based on this data, Kyero.com’s Head of Research Richard Speigal believes it is possible to predict where the market might be headed over the course of the year ahead.

He comments,

“There are some stark variations across Spain’s regions and provinces but as a whole the market looks poised for growth in 2016. The national economy is rebounding and GDP in Spain is currently up 3.4% year-on-year – more than twice the Eurozone average. Spain’s eye-watering unemployment level is also finally coming down, along with the cost of living. More jobs and more purchasing power for Spaniards is a healthy platform for growth.”

Foreign buyers will also play a role in the projected growth. Currently overseas buyers account for around 18% of the Spanish property market, though in some areas this rises considerably – in Alicante half of all buyers are non-Spaniards.

Thanks to their own country’s recovery and a strong pound, UK buyers have resumed their love affair with Spain. Visitor numbers dropped by nearly a quarter from 16.3 million in 2007 to 12.4 million in 2010, but have since climbed back up to an expected 15.5m in 2015, with a still higher number expected in 2016.

So where should Brits look to buy in Spain in 2016?

The Kyero.com team has examined several factors, including healthy domestic demand and a strong base of international investment, to rank Spain’s most promising property hotspots for 2016.

Alicante properties were the clear winner, with the sheer size of the overseas market offsetting domestic worries like unemployment. With half the market made up of international investors and very strong increases in sales volumes, Alicante is a place to feel good about in 2016.

Homes in the Spanish islands also look promising. Kyero.com’s Richard Speigal explains,

“The eastern Canaries – Gran Canaria, Fuerteventura and Lanzarote – look particularly strong with a fast improving jobs market, strong growth in lending and very active overseas interest. Twelve months of sunshine is enduringly appealing. Meanwhile international investors love the Balearics and have driven strong sales growth in 2015: foreign investment now accounts for more than 40% of the market. The Balearics also benefit from one of the lowest unemployment rates in Spain, making a happy overall picture for property investment there in 2016.”

Malaga and Murcia complete the top five likely 2016 hotspots, Malaga thanks to high international investment and stead growth in sales, and Murcia due to rising sales, increased domestic lending and overseas buyers accounting for a quarter of the market.

With rises in sales volumes and price increases, talk of a bubble has been inevitable, but such chatter is grossly premature, according to the Kyero.com team. The company cites transaction data from the Spanish notaries and registrars, which provides a more reliable flavour of market activity than headline grabbing price jumps. The latest mortgage data may show a year on year jump of 18.71%, but in the big picture the property market is still at a very low ebb compared to the boom years. Even triple digit rises would still leave the market a long way from the boom and bust experienced during the decade to 2013.

For further details on properties to rent and buy across Spain and full details of the team’s predictions for 2016, visit www.kyero.com. For the latest data on the state of the Spanish property market, visit https://data.kyero.com.

The best places to buy holiday homes in 2016

The best places to buy holiday homes in 2016

by Charly World , , ,
  • Got €50k? Head to Spain (Kyero.com)
  • For €100k seek out the Cypriot sun (Ideal Homes International)
  • Make Portugal your choice for €150k (Ideal Homes Portugal)
  • Try island living with €200k or more

The turning of the year is always a good time to start dreaming of sun-drenched beaches, the sound of the ocean lapping at the shore and lazy evenings spent eating al fresco while a warm breeze rustles through the leaves of nearby citrus trees. It’s a particularly popular pastime in the UK, where it can rain for days on end while plentiful sunshine is available less than three hours away by plane.

Europe’s attractions are many and varied for those looking to pick up a dream holiday home and you don’t need a huge stack of cash in order to turn the dream into a reality. Martin Dell, Director of Spanish property portal Kyero.com, comments,

“There are thousands of Spanish properties available for under €50k. Nor are they just remote country houses in need of vast repairs. €50k gives you plenty of choice in Spain these days. You can pick up a three bedroom townhouse, a six bedroom country cottage or a city apartment with a shared pool – there are literally thousands of possibilities.”

For buyers looking to spend closer to €100k, Cyprus offers excellent value for money. Ideal Homes International offers a range of properties in good locations for that amount, including this light and airy two bedroom apartment in Pafos with shared pool. Founding Director Chris White observes,

“Cyprus has got some real bargains at the moment and the stunning climate is perfect for those looking for a holiday retreat away from the rain and cold back home. The market is unlikely to move much over the next few months, which means UK buyers can take their time to research the area they would like to own in without fear of getting priced out of the market while they do.”

Chris White also runs boutique estate agency Ideal Homes Portugal and has chosen to make Portugal his home. It is there that he recommends buyers with €150k look for their dream holiday home in 2016.

Portugal’s Algarve is easily reachable from airports all over the UK and offers in excess of 300 days of sunshine annually, making it an ideal year-round destination for second home owners. €150k is enough for a two bedroom apartment with huge terrace and garden in the popular city of Portimão, or a three bedroom duplex with pool in Albufeira.

But when it comes to spending €200k or more, it has to be island living, says Marc Pritchard, Sales and Marketing Director of Taylor Wimpey España. A resident of the Balearic Islands himself, Marc explains,

“There’s nothing like owning property in an island location for achieving ultimate relaxation, which is precisely what a holiday home should provide. For many people the sea has a calming effect and Mallorca’s plentiful restaurants, shops, beaches, golf courses and marinas really do offer something to suit all tastes.”

Taylor Wimpey España offers a range of stunning holiday homes on Mallorca, from two bedroom apartments with direct beach access from €235k at Costa Beach, to spectacular frontline townhouses with cliff top communal infinity pool from €625k at Cala Magrana Mar.

With such a wealth of property available so close to home, it’s clear that short-haul European destinations are going to enjoy immense popularity during 2016 when it comes to holiday home ownership overseas.

For more information please contact:

Kyero.com: www.kyero.com

Ideal Homes: 0800 133 7644, +351 289 513 434, www.idealhomesinternational.co.uk or www.idealhomesportugal.com

Taylor Wimpey España: +44 08000 121 020 or www.taylorwimpeyspain.com. Those residing outside of the UK should call 0034 971 70 69 72.

Latest Kyero.com data reveals soaring confidence in Spanish property market

Latest Kyero.com data reveals soaring confidence in Spanish property market

by Charly Spain
  • 3% of Spanish estate agents report increasing confidence
  • 1% indicate an increase in sales
  • Just 3.4% report falling foreign buyer numbers

The latest Agent Confidence Survey from Spanish property portal Kyero.com has revealed soaring confidence in the Spanish property market. Of the 408 Spanish-speaking and English-speaking agents interviewed by the portal, 74.3% reported feeling more confident now that they did this time last year. A further 22.1% reported feeling the same level of confidence.

At the same time, a high volume of agents also reported a rise in sales over the past year, with 58.1% reporting an increase and a further 36.0% reporting the same level of sales as this time last year.

The Agent Confidence Survey from Kyero.com, which lists more than 200,000 homes from 3,000 estate agents, is one of the most important indicators of market sentiment across Spain. Director Martin Dell comments on the figures,

“It is fantastic to see how resoundingly confidence has surged back into the Spanish property market over the past 12 months. Across the board we are seeing indicators that the market’s recovery is very much on course and the Agent Confidence Survey has shown that the majority of agents have faith in the direction that things are headed.”

Official figures from the Ministry of Development show that property transactions in Spain were up 22.11% in Q2 2015 on the previous quarter and up 13.91% annually. Prices have also risen, according to the General Council of Spanish Notaries, with the data showing annual increase of 4.01% to Q2 2015.

International buyers have played an important role in the market’s recovery, accounting for between 15% and 20% of the total number of property transactions conducted since the start of 2013. Their relevance has not gone unnoticed by agents, many of who have specifically sought to court foreign nationals as part of their sales strategy over the past year.

“Overseas buyers remain a core component of the Spanish real estate sector’s recovery,” continues Kyero.com’s Martin Dell. “We saw an initial surge in foreign buyers looking to pick up properties at rock bottom prices. Now, it’s more about buyers who are attracted to the increased stability of the Spanish market once more, though of course great prices also remain a key draw. It’s a customer group that’s going to remain important to Spanish real estate agents well into 2016 and beyond.”

A quick search on Kyero.com reveals just how low prices still are across Spain. The portal lists well over 5,000 properties available for less than €50,000, including country houses and apartments with shared pools. Compared with prices in the UK, where the average home costs £186,553 according to the Land Registry House Price Index, property in Spain offers an incredibly affordable way to own a second home in the sunshine.

The Agent Confidence Survey reinforces the importance of foreign buyers, with some 63.2% of agents reporting an increase in the number of foreign buyers compared with this time last year. Only 3.4% of agents reported a drop in foreign buyer numbers.

For further details on properties to rent and buy across Spain, visit www.kyero.com. For the latest data on the state of the Spanish property market, visit https://data.kyero.com.

Join the Millionaires’ Club: The best 7 figure homes around the world

Join the Millionaires’ Club: The best 7 figure homes around the world

by Charly Cyprus Portugal Spain Turkey United Kingdom , , , ,
  • Enjoy easy access to London from your Grade I listed home in Surrey (Barton Wyatt)
  • Buy a villa in Turkey so high-tech you can manage it from your phone (Universal21)
  • Relax in style in the Costa Blanca’s most sought-after postcode (Kyero.com)

Being able to spend a million pounds on a property opens up a huge choice of homes available. Knowing whether to opt for a plush pad perfect for accessing in London or a sprawling beachfront villa overseas can be a tough choice.

Within easy reach of London, the delightful community of Virginia Water offers an exceptional standard of apartment living for just under £1,000,000. The Grange at Virginia Park is a prestigious, gated development consisting of a handful of beautifully finished apartments set in a magnificent Gothic Grade I listed building, from renowned local estate agent Barton Wyatt. £935,000 will buy a two/three bedroom, two bathroom apartment with secure underground parking for three cars, 24 hour manned security and extensive leisure facilities including an indoor swimming pool with Jacuzzi and sauna, a well equipped gym and a tennis court.

For those who prefer to spend their million pounds overseas, Spain, Portugal and Cyprus all offer a host of fabulous properties. In Spain, €1,350,000 (which equates to around £1,000,000 at the current exchange rate) is sufficient to purchase a four bedroom, three bathroom villa with private swimming pool in one of the northern Costa Blanca’s most sought-after locations.

Martin Dell, Director of Spanish property portal Kyero.com, which covers sales, long-term rentals and holiday lets, comments,

“A million pounds is enough to secure some really beautiful Spanish properties right now. With prices in Spain still below their former peak, it’s a great time to buy, before prices rise substantially again, so you can pick up a fabulous second home that’s also a good investment for the future.”

Prices in neighbouring Portugal are also still below their previous peak, with the market having bottomed out in 2014. Buying through Ideal Homes Portugal, a four bedroom, six bathroom villa in Varandas do Lago, complete with private swimming pool, outside terrace and BBQ area within a 1,030 sqm plot, is available for €1,425,000.

Meanwhile in Cyprus, available through Ideal Homes International, the captivating resort of Minthis Hills near the city of Paphos includes a fabulous three bedroom, three bathroom villa for €1,350,000. Architects Woods Bagot have opted for convenience, comfort and luxury in the design of these stunning homes, which boast panoramic mountain and coastal views, an on-site clubhouse with restaurant, a spa and health club, housekeeping and a round-the-clock concierge.

For buyers wishing to head further afield with their million pounds, Turkey offers an excellent choice of second home location. The stunning Oceanic Bay View villas from specialist local property company Universal21 are available for TRY4,825,274 (£1,064,865). The luxury residences offer smart house systems, whereby devices in the villa can be controlled via computer or smartphone. Rainwater harvesting, solar panels and a wind turbine ensure that these homes offer the latest in green credentials, while the same care has been given to social facilities on the development. A clubhouse with indoor and outdoor swimming pools, fitness club, spa centre, restaurant, sauna, Turkish bath and steam bath provide the ultimate in rest and relaxation amenities.

Whether it’s a plush apartment in Surrey, an ultra high tech villa in Turkey or an opulent country home in Portugal, it’s clear that £1,000,000 opens up a vast array of property options to the modern buyer.

For more information please contact:

Barton Wyatt: 01344 843 000 or visit www.bartonwyatt.co.uk

Kyero.com: www.kyero.com

Ideal Homes Portugal: 0800 133 7644, +351 289 513 434 or www.idealhomesportugal.com

Ideal Homes International: 02477 050 898 or www.idealhomesinternational.co.uk

Universal21: 0203 287 8700 or www.universal21.com

Foodies fill their Basque-ts with bargain properties

Foodies fill their Basque-ts with bargain properties

by Charly France Spain
  • 10% of world’s top 50 restaurants in the Basque Country (Euromonitor)
  • Locals swapping pricey properties for fabulous food (Kyero.com)
  • Just 1,600 Brits live in the Southern Basque Country at present (Ministry of Employment and Social Security)

The Basque Country, spread across France and Spain in the Western Pyrenees, is a region with a well-known and fascinating political and historical story. But these days, the area also has a growing reputation as one of Europe’s most tantalising locations for foodies.

Basque Country cuisine draws elements from both Spanish and French cooking, blending them in ways that delight the taste-buds and draw in gourmet travellers from across the world. According to El Pais, the cuisine blends traditional methods, seasonal local ingredients and imaginative technical know-how in order to create something truly special.

The Southern Basque Country, consisting of the three provinces of Álava, Biscay, Gipuzkoa, the two enclaves (Enclave of Treviño and Valle de Villaverde) and the Chartered Community of Navarre, contains half of Spain’s eight restaurants with three Michelin stars. Three are in Gipuzkoa and one in Biscay. Not only that, but five of the world’s 50 best restaurants, according to the Euromonitor Consumer Lifestyles in Spain Aug 2015 report, are located in the Basque Country. Astonishingly, that’s as many as can be found in the whole of France.

The Basque city of San Sebastian is gourmet paradise, with a total of 16 Michelin stars awarded to restaurants in the city and its outlying areas. According to Euromonitor, no other area on Earth can claim to have such a density of Michelin stars.

But foodie heaven comes at a price. According to data from the Spanish National Statistics Institute (INE), although the Basque cost of living is spot on the national average for Spain, the cost of food and drink there is well above average.

At the three Michelin starred Arzakis, a meal can cost around €200 per head. Interestingly, the restaurant’s clientele consists largely of local middle class families, rather than the super-rich, according to Arzakis’ proprietor. Gourmet tourists are also drawn to Arzakis and the Basque Country’s other three starred establishments.

So how is it that locals can afford to splurge regularly on such fabulous and expensive food? Martin Dell, Director of Spanish property portal Kyero.com, which lists more than 200,000 homes from 3,000 estate agents, explains,

“It’s interesting in the Southern Basque Country to see that despite the average cost of living, property is 9% cheaper than the average cost across Spain, according to the INE House Price Index. It seems that locals – and second home owners – are balancing out their big food budgets by saving on property.”

Spain’s Basque Country regions are still relatively un-discovered (at least compared with the Costas) when it comes to British home owners. According to the Spanish Ministry of Employment and Social Security, there are just 1,600 Brits among the 56,000 foreign residents of the Southern Basque Country, with the majority being made up of Portuguese and Romanian settlers.

However, with the area’s fast-growing reputation as one of the tastiest places on the planet, Brits looking for a second home in Spain and thinking with their stomachs may well be inspired to head north instead of south in increasing numbers over the years ahead!

For further details on properties to rent and buy across Spain, visit www.kyero.com.