Simply oozing Luxury

Simply oozing Luxury

There are parts of the Costa del Sol where the soul cries out at the sight of man-made destruction of the coast’s natural beauty, but in other parts of this sun-blessed part of Europe developers have surpassed themselves and have created modern urbanizations that blend harmoniously into their environment.

La Reserva de Alcuzcuz, La Zaglaleta, Los Arqueros and El Madroñal are hilltop urbanizations that sit among the pine and cork forests overlooking the glamour resort Marbella. Wandering among the cypress trees and beautifully landscaped, mature gardens, Marbella’s night clubs, the famous Golden Mile, all night TV celebrity parties and super-yachts gently dozing in Puerto Banus Marina seem unreal, a lifestyle that belongs to the loud and brash 80s and 90s, not the post-crash, sobering year of 2013.

Only the wealthiest of buyers go house-hunting in these exclusive gated communities, where plots below 2,350 square meters are considered miniscule, only fit for Wendy houses and gazebos.
However, the recession has not gone unnoticed in this part of Marbella either; plots typically costing EUR 700,000 are being sold for half their value; 3-bed villas with panoramic mountain and sea views are being reduced to just EUR 895,000, normally costing from EUR 2.5 million upwards.

Savvy Russian and Chinese buyers may be forgiven for snapping up these “bargains” - luxury Andalucia style homes with 5 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, in their own plots with 5,000 square metres of mature gardens can be bought for around EUR 995,000 in El Madroñal. There is 24-hour security in these gated communities, perched some 400m above sea level, just a 20 minute drive from Marbella city centre.

Marbella divides those who come to visit for the first time; you either love it or hate it, there’s no middle way, not even in Essex. The hit series “The only Way is Essex “ on ITV2 has just returned for a new series; having a devoted fan base among British expats already at home in Marbella, the new series is bound to attract more wannabies dreaming about life at the Costa del Sol.

Sitting smugly at the foot of La Conche Mountain, Marbella simply oozes luxury and wealth. Its glamour appeal has endured even throughout the recession, despite a property crash that leaves more than 1 million homes unsold, amid corruption scandals that rocked the nation. Every year around 1 million tourists flock to Puerto Banus Marina, Marbella Old Town and the Golden Mile to snatch a piece of that exclusivity, that Hollywood glamour, that elusive feeling of being part of the “in-crowd”.

With 300 days of sunshine and endless miles of sandy beaches, Marbella life for those with money couldn’t be better. There are large international expat communities living here, Russians, Germans, Scandinavians and British.

American buyers are also increasingly discovering the delights of the area, so much so that “The American College of Marbella” will soon be offering US style higher education to students. Wealthy US buyers are increasingly travelling to the Costa del Sol and to Marbella to look for luxury properties. Their children will now be able to attend the American College in Marbella and study for the first two years of an American Bachelor’s degree, after which they can transfer to a US university of their choice to complete their studies.

This part of the Costa del Sol is often referred to as the “California of Europe” - over in Granada province, snowboarding and skiing holidays beckon within an hour’s drive. With Benahavis mansions reduced to under EUR 2 million, yet offering all the luxury of a EUR 7 million home, there’s little doubt more American buyers will flock to Marbella soon.

El Madroñal’s stunning views are matched by the variety, luxury and quality of design of its properties. Situated just a few minute’s drive from popular San Pedro de Alcantara and just 10 minutes from Puerto Banus’ nightlife, El Madroñal is easily accessible for semi-residents, too.

Both Malaga and Gibraltar airports are just a 45 minute drive away and with so many budget airlines offering daily flights to these airports, “commuting” between Britain and the Costa del Sol is not impossible either for those lucky few who can work flexi time.