• Spanish house price rises in sharpest upturn since Q1 2008 (INE)
• Economy could grow by as much as 3% during 2015 (Economy Minister)
• Discerning buyers opt for off-plan properties (Taylor Wimpey España)

With the Spanish property market beginning to look healthy once more (home buyers spent 23% more in 2014 on Spanish property than they did in 2013, according to the Ministry of Development), buyers are becoming more choosy about what they buy and where.

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

“There has been a rush of buyers, particularly from overseas, looking to pick up bargain properties in Spain while prices are low and the exchange rate is favourable. What we’re seeing now is purchasers honing their requests and seeking out properties that particularly suit their needs – while still enjoying bargain prices.”

Eef Meijer and Lydia Kosijungan are a great example. They purchased an off-plan apartment with Taylor Wimpey España at Los Arqueros Beach, San Pedro de Alcantara, a few kilometers from Marbella. The couple wanted a number of modifications to their holiday home, including a larger living room, a bathroom combined in an open plan format with the bedroom, changes to the kitchen and larger doors.

Eef and Lydia’s changes were easily incorporated into their apartment and the couple were delighted with the results, which were just as they had hoped. They are now enjoying their second home for frequent holidays, while planning their retirement move from their native Netherlands to the Costa del Sol.

At the stunning Camp de Mar Beach at Puerto Andratx, Taylor Wimpey España is able to offer second home buyers a wide range of customisation options for townhouses in Mallorca. The resort enjoys direct beach access in an area of outstanding natural beauty, as well as some of the best golfing facilities on the island. The two and three bedroom properties will enjoy spacious terraces, lush communal gardens and a generously sized swimming pool.

Properties at Camp de Mar Beach come with air conditioning, double glazing, security doors and designer fixtures and fittings as standard. Prices start at €359,500. As to the modifications, it’s really up to the buyer, as Marc Pritchard states,

“We are open to suggestions! From minor layout changes to more substantial alterations, everything can be considered. It is part of the beauty of buying off-plan – purchasers can shape their apartments to perfectly suit their needs and desires.”

The latest Economic Information White Papers from Funcas (the Spanish Savings Banks Foundation) has highlighted the role of developments such as Camp de Mar Beach in driving forward the Spanish economy over the years ahead. The “budding recovery” of Spain’s construction sector is expected to lead to property price rises from this year forward.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Rajoy is confident that the overall economy will see growth of more than 2.4% during 2015. Economy Minister Luis de Guindos is even more confident, projecting growth of between 2.5% and 3% over the course of the year. Employment is set to grow by 2.7%, according to the Bank of Spain.

Naturally, Spain’s economy and its property market are intrinsically linked and it is encouraging to see both of these elements reporting positive news. The National Statistics Institute (INE) reported a rise of 1.8% in the housing price index for Q4 2014 compared to a year earlier. The figure is the sharpest rise since Q1 2008 and the Q1 2015 data is eagerly awaited, to see how well the figures support the positive predictions pouring out of Spain right now.

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.

• GBP/EUR exchange rate reaches 7.5 year peak (Currency News)
• Balearic property transactions up 29.2% in 2014 (Spanish government)
• Luxury beach properties from €230,000 (Taylor Wimpey España)

With the sterling to euro exchange rate hovering around the 1.39/1.40 mark, having this month reached the best rate in more than 7.5 years, many Brits are seeing now as the perfect time to invest in luxuries across Europe and in Mallorca, luxury shopping is easy to do. The largest of the Balearic Islands, Mallorca offers high end goods at high end prices from designer clothes to yachts.

With the favourable exchange rate, Mallorca’s temptations have become even more attractive to British buyers and many keen sailors are looking to do the double while the price is right and buy that holiday home and yacht that they have always dreamed of. The forthcoming pensions freedom day in the UK makes the proposition even more exciting.

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

“Mallorca is known for its idyllic climate, stunning beaches and fantastic sailing clubs. Porto Cristo is one of the most beautiful places on the island and a popular marina with those stopping off for a day or two of shopping and with those looking to spend longer periods of time on Mallorca.”

Mallorca is a favourite of the sailing community and the island frequently hosts world cups, regattas and other events. From serious competitions to regattas held purely as social events to celebrate a love of sailing, the calm waters and glorious sunshine of Mallorca position it perfectly as a host island.

Many of those who visit Mallorca are quickly drawn in by its unique charms and discover it is the perfect location for the second home they have always dreamed of. Property sales on the island are on the up. In fact, transactions across the Balearic Islands increased by 29.2% from 2013 to 2014, according to data from the Spanish government.

Property on Mallorca offers incredible value for money in light of the current exchange rate. Taylor Wimpey España’s stunning Cala Anguila II site, where prices start at €245,000 for a two bedroom apartment, is just 3 km from Porto Cristo. One of the last remaining developments with direct access to the beach on the island, it features high end apartments arranged in small clusters around generously proportioned communal pools. Designer fixtures and fittings, air conditioning, double glazing and security doors are all included as standard.

Also near Porto Cristo, Cala Magrana III, where two bedroom apartments cost from €230,000, is just 600m from the beautiful Cala Anguila beach. The apartments enjoy spacious terraces, gardens and/or roof terraces, with key ready properties that are perfect for those looking to make their Balearic dream come true.

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.

• Spanish supermarket sales expected to rise in 2015 (Kantar Worldpanel)
• Spring fairs and Easter feasts held across Mallorca, including local produce markets and annual Pollensa Wine Fair in April
• Test out your Balearic culinary skills in your own kitchen with a luxury second home from Taylor Wimpey España

The economic crisis affected countless areas of life in Spain and one of the hardest hit sectors was the food and services sector. Quite simply, a struggling economy meant families were eating out less and cutting down their weekly shopping bills. Restaurants failed as their clientele dwindled and Spain’s supermarkets saw sales drop by 2.9% in 2014.

However, a new report from Kantar Worldpanel has shone a beacon of hope onto the Spanish supermarket sector, predicting a modest recovery in sales volumes over the course of 2015 as shoppers relax their budgets slightly and begin adding treats to the trolley once more.

The quest for value has seen many shoppers turn away from the big stores to local food outlets and markets instead, where they can shop more often and spend a little at a time. It’s a habit that promotes economy and reduces waste. Marc Pritchard, Sales and Marketing Director of leading Spanish homebuilder Taylor Wimpey España, has observed the trend on his home island of Mallorca. He comments,

“There’s definitely a focus on buying local produce right now. For some shoppers, it makes sound economic sense. For others, it’s a matter of environmental concern, with buying local produce offering a way to reduce their carbon footprint. At this time of year, the spring fairs will soon be underway here on Mallorca, and many locals and visitors to the island will be keen to sample the tasty treats that the myriad local markets provide.”

Spring is also the time for Mallorca’s Pollensa Wine Fair, which allows visitors to try a range of wines from Mallorca and the other Balearic Islands in the atmospheric setting of the Claustre del Convent de Santo Domingo. Held in April each year, the event calls out to those who know their wines, from local connoisseurs to second home owners looking to stock up on refreshing local vintages.

Easter’s arrival is also an important time for the Spanish food industry. Rich, wine and honey-soaked torrijas, chocolate Monas de Pascua, sesame and honey pastries, Easter doughnuts and sweet, crunchy flores do Semana Santa provide a delicious gastronomic tour of this important event in the Spanish religious calendar.

One of the delights of owning a holiday home is the ability to experiment with cooking local produce, which those staying in hotels can only enjoy by eating out. Taylor Wimpey España’s homes have been designed with buyers’ stomachs firmly in mind, with high end kitchens encouraging families to enjoy the host of delicious produce on offer and outdoor terraces that are perfect for long, relaxing meals as day slowly melts into night.

At Cala Anguila II at Porto Cristo, where prices start at €245,000, the two bedroom apartments are part of one of the last remaining developments with direct beach access in Mallorca. This peaceful development is close to the bustling shops and supermarkets of Porto Cristo, ensuring that owners can enjoy shopping locally and stocking up their well-appointed kitchens. The coastal location means that locally caught seafood is in plentiful supply, though those who don’t fancy tackling a lobster in their own kitchen may prefer to opt for one of the area’s many excellent restaurants!

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.

• Property employment in Spain expected to rise from 7% to 10% by 2020 (KPMG)
• Leading developer Taylor Wimpey España takes on new recruits on Mallorca and beyond
• Mallorca sees 1 in 3 properties bought by foreign buyers (Association of Property Registrars)

Spain’s property market is expanding rapidly once more, with the latest figures from the Spanish notaries showing a 19% year on year jump in the number of properties sold there during 2014. Prices are on the up too, with the Ministry of Public Works reporting a rise of 0.5% in Q4 2014, the first uptick in the market since 2008.

The positive movement in the market looks set to continue, with KPMG predicting that the number of jobs in the Spanish property sector will rise from the current level of 7% to reach 10% or workers by 2020. Marc Pritchard, Sales and Marketing Director of leading Spanish homebuilder Taylor Wimpey España, certainly believes that will be the case. He comments,

“We’re seeing property employment rise across Spain right now. Taylor Wimpey España has taken on six new employees in the last few weeks alone and the expanding property market should see additional increases in jobs over the course of 2015 and beyond. Right now, foreign demand for Spanish property is soaring and employment in hotspots like Mallorca is increasingly rapidly as a result.”

Property in Mallorca is so popular with overseas buyers that the Association of Property Registrars in the Balearics has reported a tripling in the number of foreign-bought homes, with 30.7% of homes sold in the islands picked up by non-Spanish buyers. And it is the luxury end of the market that is attracting keen interest, with 15% of purchases topping €500,000 (compared with a Spanish average of just 5%). Wealthy foreigners have taken such an interest in the island that the president of Mallorca’s marketing board has proclaimed the airport didn’t have room for any more private jets last year!

Figures from Taylor Wimpey España show that it is German buyers who are taking a keen interest in Mallorca, with a cumulative increase of 200% so far in 2015. The exclusive Camp de Mar Beach development at Puerto Andratx, where two and three bedroom townhouses are set in lush communal gardens with a large modern swimming pool, is one of the island’s most exciting developments, with buyers able to personalize their purchase in order to create their dream home. Prices start from €377,000.

Dutch buyers are also a key market for Mallorca over the months and years ahead, having grown significantly in number over the last two years, so much so in fact that Taylor Wimpey España has just launched a Dutch language version of its website.

Of course Mallorca also remains popular with British buyers and the forthcoming Pensions Freedom Day is expected to make it even more so, as Marc Pritchard concludes,

“Mallorca has long been a popular location for British buyers wanting second homes due to the island’s fantastic climate, stunning scenery and the wide range of sailing and water based activities available here. With Pensions Freedom Day on the horizon, we expect that even more Brits will look to use their pension monies early to purchase their dream holiday home in this island paradise.”

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.

• New rail route being considered for Alicante region
• Tren de la Costa will cost €955 million
• Townhouses on the Costa Blanca available from €145,000 (Taylor Wimpey España)

It is common knowledge that when the crisis struck, builders across Spain downed tools, leaving the country with a swathe of unfinished housing. But it wasn’t just developers who paused in their endeavours – infrastructure projects also suffered.

Now, with more positive economic times on the horizon, one such project is being revisited by the Spanish government. The ‘Tren de la Costa’ investment program would see rail network expansion throughout the Costa Blanca, enhancing the area’s accessibility even further. Though the plans were paused during the crisis, work was still going on in the background, with the total cost of the project being reduced significantly from €1.3 billion to €955 million.

The four phases of the Tren de la Costa would revolutionise the Costa Blanca’s rail network and make transportation from Alicante-Elche airport across the province easier and faster. Marc Pritchard, Sales and Marketing Director of one of the homebuilders who did carry on successfully building throughout Spain’s recession, Taylor Wimpey España, comments,

“At the moment we see a lot of travellers who fly into Alicante using hire cars to explore the region. While that is a great way to see this beautiful area, not all holidaymakers want the expense and hassle of hiring a vehicle as part of their time away, so the proposed railway plans are excellent news for the Alicante region.”

Taylor Wimpey España has a number of extremely popular developments in the Costa Blanca. All but three of its luxurious townhouses at Montesol have sold, while only two remain available at nearby Calpesol. Prices are from €249,000 and €179,500 respectively.

Those looking for key ready properties will be delighted with the stunning, south facing townhouses at Brisas de Alenda Golf, where prices start at €145,000. As well as boasting frontline golf properties, the site features private gardens, a generously proportioned communal swimming pool and is only 15 minutes from the golden sands for which Alicante is famous. The townhouses are spread across two floors and include generous terraces and gardens perfect for outdoor living. Stunning views over the golf course and the Sierra de las Aguilas Mountains complete the idyllic atmosphere.

The presence of the proposed rail route is tipped to impact positively on property prices in the Alicante region and those looking to buy there are keeping a close eye on the local news for further developments. The work will also see parts of the tram network modernised, as well as improvements to existing single line rail routes.

While approval of the scheme is still some way off, the fact that it is being considered is a positive step forward for Spain as it continues down the road of economic recovery.

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.