Welcome to Barrington Homes

February 13, 2018

Manilva, Duquesa and Casares Costa – The place for investment in 2018

Filed under: 101 reasons to love Manilva,News,Property,Useful Information — Barrington Homes @ 3:54 pm

Property prices have increased throughout the Malaga Provence and show no sign of slowing down. According to Kyero, the median asking price is 330,000 Euros with an annual trend of plus 7.7%. When I reviewed their stats, they focused on 10 destinations within Malaga – Marbella came out top with an average price of 650,000 Euros to Torrox with an average price of 149,000 Euros.

Mijas Costa had the highest annual trend of 28.9% with Estepona area not far behind. This is due quite heavily in the new development surge at the end of 2016 and 2017, with a lot of focus in Mijas Costa – particularly La Cala and areas surrounding Fuengirola. In Estepona, there are many new developments around La Resina, Selwo, Estepona Golf and frontline towards Casares Costa.

Demographically, the highest investment groups are within the 45 – 64 age range – Nationality is 61% European, 29% British and 15% International. The main investors are English speaking with a high percentage of Dutch, Flemish and French investment.

The most interesting figure for us as an Estate Agent in Manilva is the comparison between property available for sale versus buyer´s enquiry patterns. Investors are still looking for bargains and demand for property between 100 – 150,000 Euros is the focus when 2 years ago, it was below the 100,000 Euro mark. In comparison the budget of 250 – 500,000 Euros is the price bracket of new developments, but not a high investment at this time. We have heard of Scandinavian investment within this price range but long term this is not sustainable due to their smaller populations. The British buyer is still the strongest and most consistent on the coast.

Demand for apartments out-weighs villas and townhouses, so perfect for Manilva and Casares Costa with all the wonderful established developments we have in close proximity to facilities and the beaches.

This information is very encouraging as growth may have spiked in certain areas of the Costa del Sol, but Manilva and Casares Costa is showing a positive healthy increase and property sales are buoyant.

In summary, Manilva, Duquesa and Casares Costa are the areas who have the supply for the demand of the current investor and if the start to 2018 is anything to go by, the future is very promising indeed.

 

February 6, 2018

Bitesize Property Review with Barrington Homes

2017 has been a good year for the real estate market with interest and confidence growing due in part to an improvement in the European economy. House prices have increased in the second-hand housing marketplace with an average increase of 5.1% over the previous year. This is the largest annual increase since 2006 when it was an increase of 7.7%. The highest increase is in the Balearic Islands with a staggering 15.1% and Catalonia of 10.5% showing even with the recent political climate, it is not putting a damper on investment.

Malaga has had an increase of a very healthy 4.5%. This supports our successful year with sales of property in Manilva, Casares and Estepona. According to Tinsa (leading independent valuation experts with over 30 years’ experience), the average timeframe for selling a property in Spain is 8.6 months and in Malaga 7.2 months. Barrington Homes averaged for 2017 at 5.7 months and we are extremely encouraged by our strong start this year with an impressive January, historically a quieter month.

Manilva, Casares and Estepona are certainly providing the best investment opportunities with new developments both east and west of Estepona offering new contemporary, modern living. Good news for those already invested in this area as prices are moving in the right direction albeit not to the values achieved prior to the economic crisis. According to Tinsa, the residential market maintains moderate price growth but it is still 38.3% below the maximum reached in 2007.

In 2014 and 2015, the average sold price of a property was approx. 15.6% below the marketed price and in 2017 this percentage shrunk to an average of 10.2%, demonstrating demand and quality has improved.

Mortgage applications are highly sought after with all nationalities being approved and processed quickly. Savvy British buyers realise the potential in applying due to the weak pound against the euro and are securing up to 70% mortgages, (this will change to 60% for non-EU residents when Britain leaves the EU) and the average monthly mortgage payment for Malaga province is 555 Euros.

Barrington Homes wanted to provide you with a summary of 2017 and not bombard you with pages of stats and percentages. We hope this blog is helpful for those investing or selling, but please feel free to get in touch with the team if you require further information.

Manilva Municipality Spain

Manilva Municipality Spain

 

January 23, 2018

Living by the sea is better for your health!

Filed under: 101 reasons to love Manilva,Lifestyle — Tags: , , — Barrington Homes @ 4:57 pm

Living by the sea is better for your health!

We already know that living in the countryside is fantastic for your mental health, with green spaces often seen as de-stressing environments that have a positive impact on your wellbeing, but it turns out that living by the sea might be even better still.

Here are four reasons why you may want to move to the coast right now:

Sea air helps you sleep better – “Sea air is good for sleep because it is generally cleaner and fresher air, with higher levels of oxygen, which can improve sleep,” Dr Natasha Bijlani, a consultant psychiatrist at the Priory’s Roehampton Hospital, London.  “The sound of waves can be very soothing to the brain. If you relax, this can help clear the mind, lower stress levels and strengthen your immune system.

The sea helps you relax and distress – The seaside is also often linked to happy holidays for most people, and is associated with feeling relaxed, calm and rested.   As you take in the vastness of the ocean before you, it can also help put things into perspective. Small worries may seem unimportant as you look in awe at the coming waves.

You’re more likely to exercise – Living by the sea is like having your own massive swimming pool, which offers you the chance to exercise for free. You don’t need to join a gym to use pool facilities, but can just head on down to the beach for no cost at all.   Swimming in the sea not only offers a mental break but is great for your physical health too, helping manage weight, decreasing risk of heart disease, and lowering blood pressure.   Swimming is not the only form of exercise that is available by the coast though. You can take part in sailing, surfing, coastal walking, and wildlife watching, and more. The environment can be a great motivator.

Living by the sea is more calming than green spaces – Clearly, living by the sea is more calming than staying in towns and cities. But according to a 2016 study, it’s actually even more calming than green spaces. This is because the sea is all natural and provides a sense of space, openness and fresh air.   Historically, people who have been unwell are often told to have a break or a holiday near the sea to improve their health. These uncrowded places can reduce stress levels.

So if you don’t live by the coast, you could always book that much-deserved seaside holiday to feel the benefits of coastal living.

Sabinillas Beach

Sabinillas Beach

 

January 18, 2018

Investing in an Aparthotel – What you need to know

Filed under: 101 reasons to love Manilva,Property,Useful Information — Barrington Homes @ 6:10 pm

Aparthotels – the official definition is “a hotel with furnished suites of rooms including kitchen facilities, available for long-term or short-term rental”.

Aparthotels are an ideal base for beach holidays as the multi-bedroom concept makes it perfect for families or friends to stay together who wish to be self-sufficient but still have holiday resort facilities; the best of both worlds.  When you are looking to purchase an aparthotel room, the most important question is feasibility. Is it a hotel that will generate good profit and is its location going to help it do that? I have had a look at articles and other sources of information to clarify some details:

Personal Use
You buy the aparthotel room and are guaranteed a set amount of days every year when you can use it. You might be charged a nominal fee at a fraction of the regular room rate. The rest of the year, the hotel lets the room to other paying guests.  If the hotel is extremely successful, they may allow you to reduce the number of days you use the room in exchange for a portion of the extra income the hotel earns from other paying guests.

Shared Profits
Most investors in aparthotels benefit by sharing the income with the hotel management. This incentivises management to push other income generating facilities at the hotel. Often all the profits are pooled together and shared out equally among investors, in a similar way to how a company would pay dividends on shares. It ensures that no single room generates more profits than another.

Guaranteed Income
This type of return provides the investor with a known and fixed income on their investment. The management team are incentivised to get the room let in order to generate excess profits for the management company.  This type of return produces a stable, high yield for a fixed period. The investor benefits from knowing how much income the investment will generate, though foregoes participation in any extra profit that the hotel management team can produce through sales of other services and products at the hotel.  Often this type of return is combined with a guaranteed capital growth at the end of a fixed period.

Guaranteed Capital Growth
Some aparthotel room investments also offer guaranteed returns on the capital invested. In such a scheme, the investor buys the room and will be guaranteed a fixed price to sell the room back to the hotel management team after a fixed period.  For the investor, this gives the certainty of capital return (and capital growth). The hotel management team benefit from the capital injection that allows them to expand their business faster.

Flexibility for long-term financial planning
An investment in an aparthotel room is a low-cost alternative to traditional buy-to-let property investment. It offers a hassle-free, high yield investment that is particularly attractive to income seekers. With flexible options for the type of return, investors can choose to take a greater risk in return for potentially greater returns should the hotel capitalise fully on all its available amenities.  On the other hand, the certainty of high and stable income from a guaranteed income investment will be particularly beneficial to investors who want the certainty of income. When combined with a guarantee of capital growth, investors could benefit from a steady stream of high income with the additional benefit of an element of protection against inflation.  You’d be hard-pressed to find another investment that offers diversified exposure to property and a fast-growing economic sector, while simultaneously offering above average income and guarantees of capital growth.  Your investment is looked after, maintained, secure and gives peace of mind your asset will generate an income. Each aparthotel offers different packages but for those who want an annual dividend with minimal effort, it is certainly worth consideration.

Spain has now become the 2nd most popular holiday destination worldwide, very positive for aparthotel investors which is rising globally and showing no signs of slowing down.  We are marketing some lovely aparthotel rooms in the area, so get in touch with the team to find out more.

June 10, 2016

Alcazaba Lagoons – New Starting price of 179,000 Euros

Filed under: 101 reasons to love Manilva,Property,Sport — Barrington Homes @ 11:27 am

The 1st Crystal Lagoon in Europe is advancing like scheduled and the launch of the next phase is getting closer.

So we are excited and happy to announce that the developer of Alcazaba Lagoon agreed on adjusting the prices for the remaining units in the first phase of Alcazaba Lagoon.

The new starting price is:- 179,000 Euros

This is the first crystal lagoon project in Europe and we are so lucky it is going to be right here in Casares. The apartments offered are 2 & 3 bedrooms with great modern finishes with ample space and storage throughout. It really is an exciting project for the Costa del Sol, as the lagoon itself is the size of 1.4 hectares or the size of 1.5 football pitches with more than 100m of private beaches. It is a perfect  to practice water sports such as: windsurfing, kite-surfing, paddle surfing, canoeing and many more.

For more information, please click take a look here.1-Picture1

Imagine all those new and amazing sports to learn for you and the whole family in a safe and secure environment

Rental potential for having Europe´s first Crystal Lagoon on-site

Still only being 5 minutes drive from the coast and all amenities

Be one of the few to own a piece of this amazing project

This is really something a little bit special and for all those water babies out there!!!

May 11, 2016

The beauty of Gibraltar Airport – a short but sweet blog!

I know, you are thinking what is beautiful about Gibraltar Airport. Well, think about it this way.

1-Gibraltar_Airport_panorama
• It is 20 mins from Duquesa
• Taxi costs approx. 50 Euros each way
• It is easy to get around and all the staff are very helpful
• Pleasant cafe environment
• Great Duty Free for Drinks, Cosmetics and Perfumes
• BA flies to Heathrow
• Monarch flies to Manchester, Birmingham, Luton & Gatwick
• Easyjet flies to Manchester, Bristol, Gatwick

Imagine having your own coastal property and just a short 2 -3 hour flight with a small walk across the border to competitive rental car outlets or simply jump in a Taxi and within a short space of time, you are in your coastal home. So tell me, what is not beautiful about that?

Barrington Homes have some excellent properties to offer and in particular, we have 5 great urbanisations literally 10 minutes from Gibraltar Airport in Alcaidesa and here is a link to all 5 to have a look at.  ALCAIDESA URBANISATIONS

I could go on about the amazing Golf Courses, the beaches, the restaurants, but I don’t think I need to as I think you are already booking your flights to come and see what this part of the Costa del Sol has to offer. We look forward to seeing you very soon!

June 7, 2013

9 – The things to do in Manilva

Filed under: 101 reasons to love Manilva,Things to do — Lucy @ 11:52 am

100 Reasons Why I Love Living In Manilva

Reason 9- The things to do in Manilva

I love living in Manilva as there are so many things to do for children and adults alike.

There is so much to do here in Manilva that even those who chose to retire here happily “complain” that there are not enough hours in the week to do everything they want to do.

Manilva has excellent sports facilities where you can participate in a wide variety of sports including football, basketball, netball, handball, padel tennis, tennis, karate, kick boxing, judo, fencing, rock climbing, rhythmic gymnastics, swimming and fitness classes.

Sports in Manilva

 

From the beautiful and varied beaches of Manilva you can take part in a variety of activities such as wind karting, paratriking, volleyball, beach tennis, beach football, sandcastle building, rock jumping or even just sunbathing!

Wind Karting in Manilva

Wind Karting on one of Manilva’s beaches

Paratrike over Manilva

Enjoy the exhilarating Paratrike experience and view Manilva from a different perspective.

For those that love being in the sea www.duquesaactivities.com offer a number of fantastic activities such as jet boat rides, wake boarding, banana boat rides, kayaking, boat trips where you may see the dolphins, sea fishing, scuba diving, PADI courses and snorkelling.

aboard jetboat 1

 

Golf lovers can enjoy a lovely round of golf at the scenic La Duquesa Golf Course – www.golfladuquesa.com.

La Duquesa Golf and Country Club

There are also tennis courts at La Duquesa Golf and Country Club where you can have private lessons with Noe noetenis25@hotmail.com.

Tennis_Lessons_at_La_Duquesa_Golf_Club-001

If you love to sing and or dance there is a singing group called Parasol Singers and a number of dance schools teaching a wide range of styles from Sevillana and Flamenco classes to ballroom and even Hip-Hop.  There is also a new theatre in Manilva and a 600 seat  theatre being built down the road in Estepona.

If you enjoy exploring the countryside there are a number of beautiful walks and horse-riding and cycle routes.

horse_riding_in_manilva_1

If you enjoy dining out there are numerous high quality restaurants in Manilva Municipality to suit most tastes including traditional Spanish, International, Indian, Chinese, Thai, Italian, Japanese, British Fish and Chips, Argentinian and Mexican.

In the summer there are Arts and Crafts stalls in the marina of La Duquesa and many Arts and Craft exhibitions throughout the year for people to exhibit their work.

Manilva Town Hall Foreign Residents department organizes a number of fun events and days out throughout the year as well as organising group spanish lessons twice a week to help the foreign residents integrate and settle into the community.  There are also all the wonderful ferias and fiestas that are held thoughout the year that shouldn’t be missed.

In fact there is something to suit most people and if what you like doing isn’t available at the moment in Manilva let me know and I will see if we can set it up.

I will be blogging about my favourite activities and places in Manilva and if you would like to keep up to date with what there is to do in Manilva  and be notified of any special offers, please click  the “like” button on my facebook page https://www.facebook.com/thingstodoinmanilva

If you have an activity in the Manilva area that I have missed off the list please let me know by either emailing me at lucy@barringtonhomes.eu or by leaving a comment below.

 

May 23, 2013

8 -The Scenery in Manilva

Filed under: 101 reasons to love Manilva — Lucy @ 6:04 pm

100 Reasons Why I Love Living In Manilva

Reason 8 – The Scenery in Manilva

Manilva Municipality Spain

Manilva Municipality Spain

It is the scenery in and surrounding Manilva which makes Manilva stand out from the other places on the Costa del Sol and make it such a special and beautiful place to live.

I love the different views I see around Manilva whilst going about my daily life here.  Some of the views are so special they deserve a number each and I will be posting them as I see them over the coming weeks.

What do you love about where you live?  Please let me know by leaving a comment below or by emailing me at lucy@barringtonhomes.eu

 

May 22, 2013

7 – Autumn in Manilva, Spain

Filed under: 101 reasons to love Manilva — Lucy @ 5:56 pm

100 Reasons Why I Love Living In Manilva

Reason 7 – Autumn in Manilva

Mother Nature is clever with her seasons as by the middle of September when the kids are back at school you are ready for the cooler days and becoming more active again.

 

Autumn morning in Manilva

Manilva in Autumn

One thing I particularly love about Autumn in Manilva is eating the roasted sweet chestnuts that they sell on the street corners.

The average temperature in  Autumn in Manilva is 23 degrees celsius, 73 degrees fahrenheit.

What do you love about where you live in Autumn?

Please leave a comment below or email me at lucy@barringtonhomes.eu

May 19, 2013

6 – Summer in Manilva

Filed under: 101 reasons to love Manilva,Things to do — Lucy @ 5:52 pm

100 Reasons Why I Love Living In Manilva

Reason 6 – The Summer in Manilva

I love the Summers here in Manilva as the kids are off school for almost 3 months (c. 21st June – c. 10th September) and the pace of life slows down.

Fun_in_swimming_pool_in_Manilva_in_summer

The rushing around ferrying kids to school and back and then to their various activities is replaced by supervising them by the swimming pool or taking them to one of the lovely beaches in Manilva.

summer_fun_on_beach_in_Manilva_Spain

The average temperature in the Summer in Manilva is about 28 degrees Celsius or 83 degrees Fahrenheit.

What do you like doing in the Summer?

Please leave a comment below or email me at lucy@barringtonhomes.eu

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