Settling into Marbella Life after Relocation

The quest for a better lifestyle leads many people back to the sunny shores of the Costa del Sol. Property prices in Marbella are still adjusting downwards, so it’s very much a buyers’ market with hundreds of amazing property bargains still waiting to be snapped up. If you have already made the move to the Costa del Sol, winter shouldn’t become the time of discontent. Get involved, take the plunge and meet your new neighbours!

Sand, sun and culture

There’s more to Marbella life than golden sandy beaches, cool nightclubs or going shopping for designer clothes. The area has a wealth of cultural events and venues to offer. The Malaga province is home to some great museums and art collections: this year the Picasso Museum in Malaga for example celebrates its 10th anniversary. If you are artistically minded and have moved to Marbella permanently, why not seek out other artists and have your very own “Picasso” workshop celebration?

Making new friends can be a little daunting, but there are plenty of opportunities to get involved. Do you enjoy organising events? Do you have a special flair for imaginative marketing? How about promoting your local drama group’s Christmas panto?

Apart from typically Spanish events, fairs and fiestas, there are also many seasonal festivities that relocators can get involved with, such as October’s Halloween events, which this year took place in venues across Marbella, even though this is not a traditional Spanish type of celebration. There may not have been much trick-or-treating going on in La Zagaleta, Elviria or San Pedro, but Halloween parties certainly featured heavily in many foreign communities in Marbella.

From the Galaxia Playcenter Halloween Party for kids held at Centro Comercial Guadalmina in San Pedro to the Halloween party held at the Hard Rock Cafe in Puerto Banus, glowing pumpkins made an appearance throughout the town. For relocators Halloween events are a fantastic chance to mingle with local and foreign vampires, witches, ghouls and expat wizards.
 
Get your hands sticky with kids’ face-paint or act as judge in best costume competitions. Why not host your own party next year, with a bouncy castle in the garden for neighbourhood kids and plenty of tapas for everybody – it’s a great way to get to know your neighbours. Feel like showing off your card tricks? Stage a magic show by your very own swimming pool in Gualdamina!

Cost of buying a Marbella property is no longer a nightmare

According to property portal kyero.com and property valuation appraisers Tinsa’s latest IMIE Index prepared by real estate appraiser, Andalusia property prices fell by an average of 10% to 12% between the months July to September 2013. This is great news for investors and those looking to buy either a Marbella holiday home or permanent residence at the Costa del Sol.
 
On average home buyers with a mortgage signed up for interest payments at 4.44% for finance packages with a 20-year mortgage term, making a property far more affordable now than at any time over the past decade.

Going skiing with new friends

Have a look out for local paper’s small advertisements – are their local groups organising ski trips into the Sierra Nevada?

Joining a beginners’ group for skiing tuition is a great way to meet new people - getting friendly with other snowboarding enthusiasts will come naturally the moment everybody ends up in a snow-covered heap at the end of a thrilling downhill run!

Pluck up your courage and get involved. The Sierra Nevada ski resorts are just a couple of hours’ drive from Marbella and a mere 30 minute drive from Granada, another great place for affordable property in Spain.

If skiing or snowboarding is a little too energetic for you, take the kids to Kidz Kingdom in nearby Estepona, which hosts many fun events throughout the year. Chat to other parents while your kids let off steam.
 
Winter is a great time to visit Marbella and discover if this is the year-round destination for you. Contact a couple of reliable, reputable estate agents and visit several Marbella neighbourhoods for an initial property hunt at the Costa del Sol, before making a final decision.