Marbella’s Golden Mile or Sierra Blanca may be out of reach for
many holiday or retirement house hunters, but other districts of sunny Marbella
such as Guadalmina for example offer great choices at equally great prices.
Naturally, there are spectacular villas in Guadalmina, which will cost more
than EUR 7 million, but the typical dreamy holiday home costs far less than
that.
Starting at the top of what’s currently for sale in
Guadalmina, an 11-bedroom cortijo or traditional style villa with its own 5,790
sqm plot - which includes a 250 sqm terrace and a 210 sqm pool house - is on
the market for a wallet-busting EUR 7.5 million.
Next in line in terms of luxury, views and future lettings potential
are two villas for the price of one – or EUR 3,710,000 to be precise – offered
with a 3,000 sqm plot including pool. The main house has 5 bedrooms but there’s
also a guest villa for great entertaining. Within a short walk of both beach
and golf course, the villas are a great investment and ideal for holiday lets.
Leafy and green with stunning sea views, Guadalmina is
within walking distance of San Pedro town centre and shops, restaurants and
bars. A typical 2-bed apartment starts at EUR 250,000. There are no high rises
here, just small, tasteful developments that are equally well suited for
holidays and all-year living.
For 2-bed, 2-bath apartments within a stone’s throw of the
popular Guadalmina Golf Course buyers will have to spend an additional EUR
55,000 for the privilege of being that close to the green, but it is certainly worth
it, when considering Spain welcomed more than one million golf tourists last
year alone and numbers have steadily been going up year after year.
Away from golfing greens and beaches prices fall off sharply
and start at around EUR 220,000, but are typically heavily discounted to come
in under the EUR 200,000 mark. Private sales tend to be even cheaper, as
sellers are looking to complete quickly and are adjusting prices downwards for
the recent increase in VAT on purchases. In a private sale it is quite possible
to find a 2-bed, 2-bath Marbella home for around EUR 170,000, which benefits
from close proximity to San Pedro town and the fact that it is located in a
5-star rated urbanisation.
Buyers from the United Kingdom may have stayed away from the
Spanish property market for the last few years, after reports of planning permission
scandals and corruption scared them off – especially as the week pound against
dollar and Euro makes Spanish holidays now more expensive; however, UK buyers
are gradually returning to the Marbella housing market, because buy-to-let
properties are surprisingly affordable and make perfect sense as a long term
investment vehicle.
Luxury holiday accommodation is Guadalmina Alta can attract
high rentals per week – around £1,350 for villas sleeping approximately 8
people. For around £275 per week during off peak season 6 people can rent a 2-bed
apartment not quite so close to the golfing attractions.
3-bed properties located near the golf course attract weekly
rental rates of £450, if they sleep at least 6 people and come with access to communal
swimming pools and all onsite amenities.
Further out in San Pedro, which is very close to Puerto
Banus, holiday rentals per week cost around £490 in 4-bed apartments with
access to communal swimming pools. In the neighbourhood of Guadalmina Baja
3-bed apartments that sleep up to 6 people attract weekly holiday rental rates
of around £500 per week.
Guadalmina, a beachside community located within a 10 minute
drive of Puerto Banus and boasting a number of championship 18-hole golf
courses, is a great place to retire to, but is also perfect for spending part
of the year on extended holidays.
Upmarket but still affordable, this is a part of Marbella
where quiet sophistication rather than showbiz glitz and glamour reigns
supreme. Guadalmina Golf Club and Spa Hotel attracts a well-to-do clientele,
from which the whole area has benefited over the years. Marbella property may
be a little more expensive than that of other resorts at the Costas, but that’s
because it is a cut above the rest.