Bella Benady, Author at Luxury Sotogrande

According to Spain’s Instituto Nacional de Estadística (National Institute for Statistics) the number of properties sold in Spain continues to be on the increase with INE reporting 45.900 transactions in the month of July 2018 and a total of around 308.000 Spanish property transactions in the first seven months of 2018.

The July figures are 16.9% up year-on-year and are so far the third highest monthly figure in 2018, an 11.7% increase on the 2017 figures. 38.120 second hand Spanish properties exchanged hands in July whilst 7.780 new build Spanish properties were exchanged. The market for resale property in Spain dominated with around 83% of all transactions.

According to the official figures published by the Instituto Nacional de Estadística, the top four places in Spain for property sales in July were Andalucia, Catalonia, the Valencian Community and Madrid. Each of the areas reported more than 7.000 property transactions each with the Comunidad Valenciana reporting the strongest per 100.000 inhabitant sales at 185, while madrid reported 137 sales per 100.000 inhabitants and the Balearic Islands reported 172 sales per 100.000 inhabitants.

The sale of Spanish homes has grown 16.2% year on year during the month of July, with an increase of more than 20% in Aragon (32%), Galicia (28.6%), Castilla-La Mancha (27.1%), Comunidad Valenciana (25.7%), Extremadura (23.8%), Castilla y Leon (23.4%), Murcia (23.1%), Islas Baleares (20.4%), and Andalucia (20.9%).

Madrid and Catalonia registered year-on-year increases which were below the national average, with Catalonia only seeing a year-on-year increase of 4.4%. Two communities, Canarias and La Rioja, registered decreases of almost 4% on their year-on-year sales.

In 2008, there were some 552.000 property transactions recorded. If property sales in Spain grow at the same pace for the rest of 2018, it is expected that there will be some 530.000 property transactions this year.

Según la unidad central de estadísticas del gobierno español, el valor de mercado de la vivienda fue 2.6% más alto durante el segundo trimestre de este año que en 2017.

El índice nacional de precios inmobiliarios es un 23,9% más alto que hace cuatro años, lo que indica que el mercado inmobiliario español se está recuperando bien.

Los británicos TODAVÍA lideran el camino como la mayoría de los compradores activos de propiedades españolas de acuerdo con el Centro de Información Estadística de Notarios en España

Según los datos publicados recientemente por el Centro de Información Estadística de Notarios en España, los británicos siguen SIGUIENDO a la cabeza, lo que equivale a la cantidad de compradores extranjeros activos en el mercado inmobiliario español en 2017.

Las ventas de propiedades en España se estancaron en 2008, ya que tanto los españoles como los compradores internacionales redujeron su nivel de actividad en el mercado inmobiliario español tras el inicio de la crisis económica en España.

Sin embargo, más de 500.000 transacciones inmobiliarias españolas se registraron en 2017, un aumento de alrededor del 17% con respecto al año anterior. De esas transacciones, los compradores extranjeros representaron casi el 20%, un aumento interanual de más del 14%. A pesar de mostrar una disminución en el número de compras de propiedades hechas por británicos en el primer trimestre de 2017, el número de transacciones por parte de los británicos aumentó en el segundo trimestre, lo que hizo que los británicos mantuvieran el primer puesto como el comprador más activo dentro del mercado europeo. Unión (UE) con el 14% de las transacciones inmobiliarias registradas. Les siguieron los franceses (8,6%), los alemanes (8,2%), los rumanos (6,9%), los belgas (6%) y los suecos (5,3%). Fuera de la Unión Europea, los marroquíes, los chinos y los rusos registraron un buen porcentaje de transacciones inmobiliarias con un 5,5% (un aumento del 36% respecto de 2016), un 4,9% y un 3%, respectivamente. También hubo más actividad de los ecuatorianos (aumento del 33% desde 2016), rumanos (aumento del 31% desde 2016), portugués (aumento del 30% desde 2016) y estadounidenses (aumento del 27% desde 2016). La Comunidad Valenciana es la más popular entre los compradores extranjeros de propiedades en España con el 28% del número total de transacciones inmobiliarias. Andalucía ocupa el segundo lugar con el 18% de las transacciones inmobiliarias y Cataluña, a pesar de la inestabilidad política de los últimos meses, ocupa el tercer puesto con el 15% de las ventas.

According to the central statistics unit of the Spanish government, the market value of housing was 2.6% higher during the second quarter of this year than it was in 2017.

The national property price index is 23.9% higher than it was four years ago indicating that the Spanish property market is recovering well.

There are still, however, lots of variations between the 17 autonomous regions of Spain. In Madrid, property prices increased by 10.1% over the last year whereas they only increased by 1.5% in Castilla-La Mancha. In the Murcia region, the increase was only 1% in the second quarter of 2018 and 2.6% during the year.

Despite continued demand for property in the Murcia region, the property price index is still only 9% higher than it was in 2014 when prices were at their lowest.

According to data recently published by the Statistical Information Centre of Notaries in Spain, Brits are STILL in the lead which is comes to the number of foreign buyers active in the Spanish property market in 2017.

Property sales in Spain ground to a halt in 2008 as both Spanish nationals and international buyers reduced their level of activity in the Spanish property marketplace following the onset of the economic crisis in Spain.

However, more than 500.000 Spanish property transactions were recorded in 2017, an increase of around 17% from the previous year. Of those transactions, foreign buyers accounted for almost 20%, a year-on-year increase of more than 14%.

Despite showing a decrease in the number of property purchases made by Brits in the first quarter of 2017, the number of transactions by Brits picked up in the second quarter resulting in the British maintaining the top spot as the most active of all buyers within the European Union (EU) with 14% of the property transactions recorded. They were followed by the French (8.6%), Germans (8.2%), Romanians (6.9%), Belgians (6%), and the Swedish (5.3%).

Outside of the European Union, the Moroccans, the Chinese, and the Russians recorded a good percentage of property transactions with 5.5% (an increase of 36% from 2016), 4.9%, and 3% respectively.

There was also more activity from Ecuadorians (33% increase from 2016), Romanians (31% increase from 2016), Portugese (30% increase from 2016), and Americans (27% increase from 2016).

The Valencian Community is the most popular with foreign buyers of property in Spain with 28% of the total number of property transactions. Andalusia takes second place with 18% or property transactions and Catalonia, despite the political instability of recent months, takes third position with 15% of sales.

Sotogrande is celebrating the return of the World Championship J80 event. The community of Sotogrande boasts a unique positioning between the two continents of Europe and Africa. Thanks to its location and Sotogrande’s prestigious environment, it is the ideal setting for this compelling race. The unpredictable wind patterns and temperamental Mediterranean Sea makes this event a truly thrilling experience, not one that should be missed.

The J80 event is named after the sports boat that competes within this spectacular race. Known as the best-selling boat in Europe, the J80 is a thrilling sports boat, yet is less intimidating than other modern sport boats.

The championship itself attracts over 100 boats, each boat containing 4 or 5 crew members. The J80 Championships have brought together teams from across the globe, including professionals and international Olympic racers.

Overall this is a world-wide covered event, bringing our community sport, passion and media coverage. We encourage for all our clients and followers to check it out.

Sotogrande Grand Prix

The luxurious gated community of Sotogrande is gearing up to host the first Sotogrande Grand Prix from the 24^th – 28^th of May. Over the course of these five days there will be five different spectacular events. Renowned car collectors from around the world will be traveling from Seville, through Cordoba, to Sotogrande. Once they reach their final destination, there will be an array of events, including rallies, auctions, parades and exhibitions of world-class cars ranging from classical cars, luxury automobiles and futuristic models.

These exceptional car models will be displayed in the Sotogrande Marina and La Reserva from Friday the 26^th – Sunday the 28^th of May. This elegant event should not be missed as it will not only have car enthusiasts excited, but is a fantastic way to kick off the summer here in Sotogrande.

In addition to the exhibitions and parades of world-renowned cars, there will also be a exclusive cultural event that embodies the society of Sotogrande. Displays of fine yachts, polo matches and a show of the beautiful Andalucian horses are additional events that will be adding to the luxurious experience over these exciting five days.

Lone Star will look to build 3,250 new homes in Spain this year.

Those big, hulking Wall Street investment firms do not make hefty investment decisions lightly.

So it should be taken as excellent news indeed that Lone Star Funds – which first invested in the Spanish construction sector in 2015 – has pledged to ramp up the scale of house building in Spain over the course of the next few years…

Having built 2,000 new homes in 2016, the private equity-backed investment firm is eyeing more than 3,200 new homes a year between now and 2020 in a move that speaks volumes of Spain’s maturing property market.

Between 2009 and last year, bank lending to Spain’s real estate industry fell by 65%. This altered the landscape of the nation’s construction industry to the point where private backing was all but required in order to finance any large-scale construction projects.

For many Spanish developers, this meant they have had to sit it out and wait for more bank or government funds. But these US firms are a completely different beast, analysts say.

“Lone Star’s model is typically Anglo-Saxon,” said Fernando Rodríguez, general director of R.R. de Acuña & Asociados, a real estate firm based in Madrid. “They do their research in minute detail and don’t build unless it’s clear there’s demand today, tomorrow, and in two years.

“It’s what the sector needed and it’s nothing like Spanish developers that used to build whatever, wherever and however many homes they wanted.”

New homes built in Spain numbered 675,000 a year between 1997 and 2006, leading to some 1.4 million properties lying empty during the height of the crash. Many of these homes have now been sold, but a large proportion are likely to remain unsellable, having been built in planned towns or urbanisations that have never materialised. In 2015, just 39,890 new homes were built in Spain.

However, in the country’s more popular regions – the Costa del Sol, Madrid and Barcelona – there is now an acute shortfall of new properties, with demand outstripping supply. Lone Star’s involvement and desire to build a limited number of homes in select areas shows that the company has done its homework, market analysts say.

The wider property market of Spain – including resale properties – grew by more than 13% last year, and similar double-digit growth is expected in 2017 as the market returns to “normal” levels not seen since before the boom years of 2007-8.

Sotogrande, the first real estate and leisure destination created in southwest Spain in 1962, welcomes the automobile super-elite to Andalusia in the first event of this kind throughout its illustrious history.

Over five days from Wednesday 24 May to Sunday 28 May 2017 and hosting five major events, southern Spain from Seville to Sotogrande will be home to rallies, exhibitions and auctions of some of the world’s finest classic cars and premium marques from pre-1965 to today. The focus for SOTOGRANDE GRAND PRIX® is on flawless mechanics, exceptional workmanship and exemplary car models that demonstrate engineering brilliance from a bygone age through to the near future.

One of the major events is the SOTOGRANDE RALLY®, a three-day route through Andalusia starting at the Plaza d’Espagna in Seville, stopping over in the heart of Cordoba and culminating in Sotogrande. For those participating in either a timed race or the more casual promenade, the scheduled route will take in some 300 km each day of Andalusia’s most breathtaking scenery, principally along public roads. Celebratory evening events will be held in exclusive secret venues in Seville and Cordoba for drivers and their guests.

The cars will make an eye-catching entrance into Sotogrande as they race the FLYING ¼ MILE® over Sotogrande’s historic Guardiaro River bridge.

A key feature of the SOTOGRANDE GRAND PRIX® will be the SOTOGRANDE SALE® with British auction house, Bonhams, which will include an auction of fine vintage cars and luxury classic car-related memorabilia, fashion and luggage.

The remarkable SOTOGRANDE CONCOURS D’ELEGANCE® will showcase some of the world’s finest cars, with award-winners judged according to the scrupulous guidelines of the International Chief Judge Advisory Group.

Meanwhile a SOTOGRANDE TOP MARQUES® exhibition will display the newest models and premieres from prestigious international car brands against the backdrop of Marina Sotogrande and La Reserva.

On the final day of SOTOGRANDE GRAND PRIX®, about a hundred exclusive and modern GTs will take part in the SOTOGRANDE GT TOUR®. Automobiles built between 1996 and the present day are invited to participate in a breath-taking jaunt of speed and agility, touring through the Andalusian surroundings, and performing different tests on closed tracks.

The SOTOGRANDE GRAND PRIX® is the first extension to the now very well-established and high society ZOUTE GRAND PRIX® which this year hosted its seventh edition at Knokke, Belgium. A major event in the classic car calendar, Zoute – Knokke has steadily gained ground to be one of the finest international automobile events in Europe. ZOUTE GRAND PRIX® has built its reputation as a leading classic car event through working with scrupulous federations across sectors: these ensure authenticity of the vehicles, exactitude in time trials and awards for the finest vehicles nominated by the highest level of the profession.

“Following on from major international sailing events and world-class polo, hosting SOTOGRANDE GRAND PRIX® is the next step in the transformation of Sotogrande. This lifestyle and real estate destination is a place to enjoy exceptional experiences and moments, and a place for families and friends to connect and relax. Having a major stretch of Andalusia involved in this fantastic international rally is sensational. Many government bodies and communities are behind this to make it an outstanding event.”

“Sometimes you don’t need to look very far to find paradise. Of all the places in the world we have visited, Sotogrande is the perfect match.”

Spanish property in greater demand as INE confirms July numbers push transactions to more than 300.000

Sotogrande Grand Prix