Why Spain is the One to Watch in 2017, Which Features Sell Homes, Plus More

Welcome to the first edition of the Marena Murray newsletter.

Each month we will be sending you all the latest news from the property market, as well as helpful and interesting content on living in Spain.

This month we will be looking at why Spain is one of the most exciting places to buy in 2017. Also this month we'll be taking a look at why La Manga Club is the best resort in Europe, we look at which home features are the most likely to attract a prospective buyer, and we offer a guide for first time buyers on how to get started.

Why Spain is One of the Best Places to Buy in 2017

There are very few locations on the planet that are perfectly suited to every type of home ownership, but Spain is versatile enough to handle all comers.

Whether you’re looking to invest in property, buy a holiday home or move to Spain, the Spanish property market is a hospitable place, that can cater to any need.

Listed as one of the top 10 places to buy in 2017, Spain is in a unique position in that it’s a country with a warm climate in a desirable location, whilst being relatively close to the UK. Tourism is presently booming, the economy is growing and unemployment is dropping. The property market continues to improve following the crash in 2013. Property sales are up by 12% and have grown at this level since March 2014.

So which areas are currently considered to be the best for property? Murcia is currently a big up and coming area. Just off the south eastern coast of Spain, Murcia is home to world famous sporting resort, La Manga Club. Property remains affordable in this desirable area.

Surrounded by quaint fishing villages and with the city of Murcia a short drive away, there’s plenty to do outside the resort territory, all of which are dedicated to relaxation around communal pools and golf courses.

So why Spain?

1. The weather – It’s glorious in Spain pretty much all year round. For some that would be a good enough reason to make the move
2. The cost of living – The cost of everything is Spain is considerably lower even when the exchange rate is not at its best, from essentials like fuel and bills to the fun stuff like food and alcohol.
3. Jobs – Experts are predicting Europe will be seeing 6% more business this year. The upshot of this is Spain is predicting a rise in the number of jobs in hospitality – perfect for those with English as a native tongue.

It's easy to see why so many people start with a holiday home and then convert into a Spanish Citizen. If you're interested in buying a property in Spain, get in touch with the friendly team here at Marena Murray on 34 968 175 087.

La Manga Club is the Best Resort in Europe!

Perfectly situated behind the rolling coastal hills of the Mediterranean sea, La Manga Club lies is in a unique, self sufficient location along the Costa Calida, South Eastern Spain just a few miles from the fabulous cultural city of Cartagena in the region of Murcia.

Nestled in over 1400 acres of lush green land and patrolled by private security guards, the Resort offers exclusive accommodation for you and your family from a studio apartment up to a six bedroom fairway villa. The resort is divided into communities of various sizes, each built around a community swimming pool. There is also a number of individual fairway and non fairway villas with a private swimming pools. Each property is individually owned and reflects the taste of individual owners so whether you are seeking rustic or modern style there is a property for you.

Enjoy a totally relaxing holiday in a completely secure and private location. This is the perfect location whether you seek a tranquil getaway or an active fun holiday participating with fellow visitors and La Manga Club owners in events at their first-class professional sports and leisure facilities

La Manga Club is widely renowned as a holiday Resort for friends, families and groups. It is famous for its three championship golf courses and as being a centre of training excellence for International Premier League football clubs. The quality of the sports facilities has earned numerous prestigious international awards. Apart from the corporate and group activities that are available such as football, cricket, lacrosse, netball, rugby pitches etc.

here a just a few of the wonderful facilities on Resort that you, your friends and family could enjoy
• Tennis - 22 tennis courts on a variety of surfaces,
• Hiking – wonderful walking routes, mapped out and ready for you
• Scuba diving – an on Resort, PADI qualified business
• La Manga Club Spa – with an Olympic sized swimming pool, gymnasium, hairdresser and treatment rooms for wonderful massages, facials and beauty treatments
• Supermarkets, boutiques, Cafés, bars, late night life venues and fabulous international and themed dining venues.
• La Cala (seasonal) - a private beach cove on the Resort with it’s very own restaurant serving the best of the local Mediterranean Cuisine

Just a short ride from Resort you can visit
• Los Belones – the local village with it’s friendly atmosphere and weekly market
• The towns of the “Mar Menor” (the Small Sea), Europe’s largest sea water lagoon, perfect for diving and water sports
• Cartagena City – a hugely important historical city with it’s fabulous cruise ship Marina and international shops set inclean, friendly, traffic free streets
• Murcia City – another cultural wonder with it’s important Gothic cathedral and more

Come and join us – have the time of your life!! Contact us on 34 968 175 087.

Which Home Features Has the Most Influence on Prospective Buyers?

According to a recent survey, almost half of prospective buyers are most influenced by a new kitchen when buying a new home, with an additional 28% would be prepared to offer a higher price as a result.

Following closely behind is a new bathroom, which would influence 46% of home-hunters with a quarter of those saying they would pay a higher price tag.

Surprisingly, new windows were ranked third most important, however, as a reason for upping the price, a new extension was more important.

The level of desirability appears to depend mostly on how practical a feature is. New windows, loft insulation and boiler are all useful features which can contribute to keeping a home more comfortable and keep your energy bills down.

Whilst the results are mostly for fun, it’s extremely helpful for those thinking about renovating their home or for those looking to gauge what prospective buyers are currently interested in when it comes to property.

Guide for First Time Buyers: How to Get Started

The housing market is an inhospitable place for first time buyers in Spain. It requires a dedication to an end goal that borders on single minded and many sacrifices along the way. Are you up to the challenge to achieve that life time dream?

Getting Started
Save: It’s a simple first step, but it’s the one that most buyers struggle with the most. Putting a little away here and there simply won’t cut it, you need to be consistently squirreling away money, sacrificing holidays and big money spends, in an attempt to scrape your deposit together. You will need a minimum of 35% deposit plus the additional 11% buying costs.

Fortunately, there is help out there. Do some research and find a savings account with the best interest rate. Speak to local Banks in your area and see what they have to offer.

In general non residents will need to have their deposit. However, if purchasing a bank repossession there are times when you will still be offered 100% for the property. Buying costs still need to be found.

What are your options?
0% mortgage: A 0% mortgage is similar to a 5% mortgage, in that a guarantor must put forward 10% of the deposit, whilst you put down nothing. The guarantor will receive the cash back, provided you keep up with the mortgage repayments.

Bank of Mum and Dad: When all else fails, what better place to go than the good old reliable bank of mum and dad. Many of the options above require your parents to act as a guarantor anyway, so why not just go straight to the source?

Whilst it might seem daunting to begin saving for a property, there are many options that can help you take your first tentative steps onto the property ladder. Do some research and find out which options suit you best.

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