MY VIEWING TRIP EXPERIENCE, KATIE DAVIES

After working at our UK head office for nearly 12 months, we sent Katie (our International Marketing Assistant) over to the Costa del Sol to experience one of our viewing trips and to see some of the fantastic new properties we’ll be bringing onto the market very soon. 

First thoughts

“I’ve worked at Sequre International for a year now, and I’m really familiar with the Spanish developments we bring to the market. I’m responsible for ensuring that we have great imagery, that our property descriptions are as engaging as possible, and that our marketing coverage is maximised across all on and offline channels.

I was keen to experience a viewing trip from a client’s perspective. As a team, we often receive emails from customers praising our Spanish teams and applauding the level of detail and organisation which is involved with a trip, and whilst I didn’t have a full 3-4 days on the ground, I did ask to be shown as much as possible in the two days I was there. 

My trip began with a flight from Manchester Airport to Malaga; it’s quite surprising that the sunnier climate of the Costa del Sol is just a mere 2-and-a-half hours away. This particular Spanish coastline is the go-to destination for property buyers with over 300 days of sunshine a year, a wealth of Blue Flag beaches, luxury marinas and great amenities. There’s little wonder why this area is often right at the top of buyer’s wish lists.” 

The Beautiful Costa del Sol

“Once I’d landed, I was greeted at the airport by some of the Sequre team and whisked away for a whistle-stop tour of some of the new developments which are likely to hit the market over the next few months. With the first glimpse of the shimmering Mediterranean Sea, I could instantly appreciate why many buyers flock here to purchase property. The images I work with on a daily basis do absolutely no justice to the surroundings I found myself within – the tree-lined streets, beautiful marinas and the stunning scenery couldn’t have been more of a contrast to Manchester, a city I’d left behind just 4 short hours ago."

"We stopped briefly at Benalmadena Marina. This fleeting visit highlighted how tranquil the port was; with beautiful boats, restaurants and a relaxed atmosphere which was a welcome retreat from my hectic British lifestyle. After a short stroll, we continued our journey along the coastline complete with fantastic commentary from the Sequre reps on local know-how, stunning scenery and a run-down of the best bars and restaurants in town.” 

5* Resort and a Meet and Greet with the Developer in Fuengirola

“The first property I viewed was a luxurious new development in Fuengirola, slightly set back from the coastline but with some spectacular sea views. Apparently, this resort is one of the most sought after destinations in the area and it didn’t disappoint! The developer met me at the door and welcomed me into the beautifully finished show home. With a number of phases yet to be completed, over half of these ultra-modern apartments had already sold out, demonstrating the huge desire for properties like this within the area. After a short presentation and a cup of tea, we had a guided tour of the apartment where every question was answered comprehensively and our Sequre rep was on hand to assist with any language barriers - which was great as my Spanish isn’t quite past the basic level just yet. I was shown the plots of land which were available (a common scenario with off-plan developments) and I was also shown around a completed phase to enable me to have a visual comparable.

One of the aspects that particularly interested me was the level of detail the resort amenities featured. Developers in Spain are no longer just building apartments and villas, they’re creating communities with individual appeal. The 5* facilities available at this development were nothing short of hotel-grade, which would usually be expected from a holiday resort – all available to the buyer and right on the doorstep. I’m not surprised the first phase had completely sold out with prices from just €299,000. After snapping a few photos for our social pages, I was back in the car and onto the next development.”

“As we continued our journey, we began to see the beauty of the Costa del Sol coastline. The beaches are stunning, the sea is a tropical blue colour, palm trees fringe the road and luxury hotels, bars and restaurants line the promenade. It really does look like paradise. 

The Rise of High Spec Golf Resorts

“The next stop was slightly more inland and is one of the most prestigious golf resorts in the area. With the ever rising popularity of frontline golf resorts, many developers are keen to cater for avid golf lovers and have started to concentrate on developments solely focusing on this market. Another perk for buyers is the fact that being close to a golf course can increase property prices by up to a quarter – so if buyers purchase a property during its early stages, there should be plenty to gain in years to come. Buying a property off-plan is hugely common in Spain and I found (by speaking to potential buyers over there) that it’s a preferred method. The options to choose plot size, location, customise the build and hand-pick fixtures and fittings are of huge importance to buyers and developers are incredibly accommodating in this respect. In this particular development, there are a range of 2 and 3 bedroom apartments and 3 bedroom townhouses with front or second-line views of the course. The show house was ultra-modern, spanning over 4 floors with a stunning rooftop solarium and panoramic views of the surrounding area. Starting from €270,000 and with discounted access to the club house and course, these properties really impressed me.”

“We visited a range of developments in the area, all centred around the exclusive award-winning golf course. What struck me most was the quality; everything from the design and build, to the internal fittings and finishing, no stone had been left unturned. From designer appliances to high spec features such as smart home technology, developers are certainly delivering modern day conveniences one would expect from a holiday home or permanent residence.”

A Rapidly Changing Landscape

“As we stopped for lunch in the club house of this golf development and reflected on what we had seen, it was clear that the Costa del Sol’s landscape was changing at a rapid rate and the quality of housing had reached new heights. We carried on our journey along the coastline towards Estepona, stopping off at several impressive developments. We visited the luxurious marina of Puerto Banus and saw some refurbished apartments which were all within walking distance of the sea and featured beautiful sea views. These were probably the most traditional style properties we viewed and prices started from €199,000 for a 1 bed.  Next we drove around the beautiful area of Nueva Andalucía, here we were treated to some amazing views of La Concha mountain and ultra-luxurious villas nestled on the hill-side. Most of the properties in this area were off plan, customised villas which focused on having only the best fittings, access to first class facilities and a healthy lifestyle for their residents. Quite a few of these developments were also centred around the popular golf courses that surround the area. Prices in this area are understandably higher because of how desirable Nueva Andalucía is, however the properties matched the price. A state of the art modern villa with 3-4 bedrooms start at around €450,000, however this is including customised interiors, private swimming pools and access to the best facilities on the Costa del Sol.”

Time to Reflect

“After each day of property hunting we returned to our hotel in the centre of Marbella to think about each development and to review the images and videos we had taken. Our Sequre property advisor gave us some great suggestions of places to eat and we were left alone to make our own decisions. Each day was busy but not overwhelming; we saw enough properties to really make decisions about what would best suit us and by the end of the trip, each of us had a clearly defined idea of which development we’d purchase. I can’t help but feel that had I gone out there on a solo mission, the trip wouldn’t have been half as productive or as informative as I’d have imagined. In fact, there’s every chance I’d have missed appointments and failed massively at driving on the opposite side of the road. The Sequre team really know their way around. It’s much more than just property with them; they understand that clients want to experience the lifestyle, which is why their knowledge of the best beaches, restaurants, bars and shopping centres is really invaluable.” 

“What was also interesting was the type of properties we viewed. I had expected to see more traditional, finca-style properties however, the skyline is dotted with modern architecture and I’m told that this is due to buyer demand, particularly from the British, Scandinavian and Belgian markets who all desire a much more modern, high spec abode.” 

“The number of cranes and plots of land being prepped for construction was also remarkable. Along the coastline and up into the hills towards La Concha, the landscape has a hive of development activity; demonstrating that Spain’s property market is continuing to recover at a rapid rate. If we return to the same areas in 2-3 years’ time, I have no doubt that the landscape will have completely changed. The Spanish property market is definitely booming and shows no sign of slowing down."