In Sotogrande Spain Tailor Made estate agents have more UK interest for Spanish luxury homes market

A upturn in the Spanish luxury homes property market and a strengthening of the Pound results in more Brits arriving and bargains being snapped up in Sotogrande Spain Signs of improvement in the UK property market and stronger Pound is having a knock on effect here in Sotogrande Spain. Am pleased to say the phones are ringing again as people revisit the prospect of buying a home in Spain.Having said that the hardest hurdle to bridge is the price difference between what owners will sell for and what buyers are willing to pay and with low interest rates continuing many owners in prime locations are holding their prices. Sales that have been happening have in the main been for bargain property. The press would have us believe that in Spain the market is littered with give away bargains and yes there are plenty of cheap homes around most areas. Having said that the press often fail to mention that a lot of these vacant properties in Spain were not desirable in the good times let alone a recession. Too many greedy developers over building and reducing building specifications creating concrete jungles many of which are half built or remain unsold. Here in Sotogrande much of the property that was for sale has been removed from the market because owners have rented them long term or simply decided to wait It seems to me that people are now street wise about buying in Spain and these days are asking all the right questions. As a country the South of Spain has tackled the huge corruption issues and many a developer, Lawyer, Planning officers and town Mayors languish in Spanish Jails guilty as charged.

The risk factor in the property market is not what it was and slowly but surely progress is being made. I feel people recognize the improvements and whilst many changes to the law are long winded, bureaucratic and frustrating the end result will be to stamp out many of the risks and issues Spain's property market.

As an agency selling property in Sotogrande Spain, the risk is further minimized simply because this area one of Europe's largest upmarket private residential estates is well established. The development was originally set out in the 1960s and has grown to become one of the main holiday home locations for many wealthy Spanish.

So there is no surprise that this estate with so much natural beauty and sporting facilities has attracted many city lawyers, top sports people and Spanish Government ministers to choose Sotogrande for their second homes.

My gut feeling is that Spain is about 18 to 24 months behind the UK market and for property in wealth locations particularly in respect of upmarket prime location homes.

Sotogrande does have its share of bargains although no where near the levels the generalizing press would have you believe. In the last 12 months property has been selling for me it is a reflection of some owners wanting to offload after reaching an impatience threshold.

On our books a 5 bedroom villa in Sotogrande that would once have been on the market for in excess of 1 million euros yet recently these owner have conceded to re-market the property inviting offers on 595,000.00 euros. In any given month you can find 1 or 2 such bargains but the truth is that with low interest rates many owners in wealth locations prefer to be patient. Trouble is that for some unknown reason Agents are still valuing property far too high and when presenting their values throwing in the old agency gem "We will put it on the market at price X but people will make low offers anyway so no point reducing" For me this is an outdated approach to agency, and any sales person worth their salt will know that if you establish a value close to your selling level then you are more likely to be looked at by a lot more prospective customers than you would with an extortionate unachievable price. This 3 bedroom waterside apartment once 760.000,00 euros has just exchanged contracts for 310.000,00 euros a real steel for a property on the waters edge and 100 meters from the beach.

Its not uncommon for a property in Sotogrande to go on the market at 1.5 million the owner knowing the reality that its not worth more than 900,000.00. Real buyers know their budget and may NOT look at property 100,000.00 over their budget so the closer a property is priced to the sellers bottom line the more chance there is of selling.

It is very frustrating for me as an agent when giving a true selling value that's a much lower valuation than provided by my competitors and then 2 years down the Road the property sells very close to my original indication.

Francis Payne Tailor Made estate agents Sotogrande tel.0034 956790320

Offices in Sotogrande Port

A lifestyle move to a special place and a Villa in Millionaires row fronting golf course and views of Mediterranean

Millionaires row high on the hill overlooking Sotogrande, Spain for an idyllic family lifestyle

The ultimate location with a view in Sotogrande Spain. Sotogrande is a millionaires enclave and one of Europes largest private residential gated communities where well heeled Spaniards and European expats enjoy life in the sun with all the sporting pursuits one would expect couple with some stunning real estate.

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The stunning home pictured enjoys a wonderful elevated position with views directly over Almenara golf and the famous San Roque golf resort and beyond to the meditteranean sea with beach a 10 minutes drive away. Houses in this street start at 8000 sq ft and there are several built at 15000 sq ft and another currently under construction indicated at 20,000 sq ft

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The beautiful villa featured was completed within the last 5 years to a very high specification and incorporates the best of modern finishes.This Sotogrande property is a grand design set inside beautifully landscaped grounds enjoying southerly views fronting a beautiful golf course.

to find out more about this stunning home click on the link Villa Sotogrande.

Sotogrande resort unlike Marbella has been carefully planned offering low rise developments and luxury homes on landscaped grounds along palm tree lined avenues where you are never far from nature yet safe within a security patrolled gated community

Calle Granada is the premier street of Sotogrande Alto and this part of Sotogrande attracts people who love to wake up to the best of views so this street its panoramic.

So what does it mean to bring your family to Sotogrande. Well Sotogrande will provide your children with a lifestyle like no other.The Sotogrande International school is warm friendly and welcoming and kids soon integrate and in no time at all will be looking to pursue similar interests as their friends in this very safe environment. From my own experience my children have enjoyed golf, tennis, horse riding, sailing and particularly dance.As one off activities in summer or winter camps within the estate they have tried children's polo fun, kayaking on the river, padel boarding at the beach and many kids surf. As parents in Sotogrande its good to know that wherever the kids go they are never far from recognizing people they know and so often in my daily travels people stop me to say they spotted my daughter on the beach at the port and this in itself has given us a lot of reassurance. Sotogrande is a community and parents will soon find themselves adapting and attending fitness classes, gymnasiums, tennis clubs, golf clubs, book clubs, cycling groups at all levels. Back in UK my wife was not a sports person and despite being here 7 years still isn't but does attend sport on a social basis as well as joining the odd gymn class and playing padel tennis once a week for fun and making new friends as new people arrive in the area and join in the fun.I myself love the sports here and am a member at the San Roque golf club I also love playing padel tennis and normally aim to play in the open mixings 3 nights a week. I occasionally try the odd cycling trip through beautiful Andalusian country and forests that surround Sotogrande. Fishing is another favorite hobby and I have even caught several good sized Tuna over the years its fun to be out on the water particularly when the dolphins are about. Our teenager is of course a worry aren't they all but at the end of the day this place is reasonably safe and kids love hanging out at the late night beach bar or in the local village out door disco. At least you know there are lots of friends around at all times. Occasionally they worry us more with the odd trip to Marbella but its 45 minutes drive and these night out are not frequent.Our lives here have changed from the UK where the day ended at 7pm wife watching TV kids home and bed by 9.30. Socially I would go for a curry with mates on a Thursday night, maybe out with wife Saturday and a Sunday roast with friends after Sunday morning golf. Now a typical work day for me in the summer means the Sotogrande Port at 9am coffee with friends {and theres always a few there} until Tailor Made estate agents office opens at 10am I will work until 2pm take 30 minutes for tapas and a drink then if I have no viewings i head home 4pm to enjoy pool fun with my youngest. My youngest depending how she feels may come with me to padel tennis at 6pm where she meets other kids and I get strenuos excercise until 8pm promptly followed by a cold beer.

Once home I may fire up the BBQ and sit out on the terrace chatting with the wife for an hour. Alternatively during the week if not busy I often get to play twilight golf and there are 6 courses within 5 minutes drive. On a weekend I aim for a golf game in the weekend competition. On Sunday mornings there is open play padel tennis and normally the day continues with lunch at the beach or up in the mountains. What about the wife I hear you say, well the wife here in Spain is a lot more chilled these days it comes with the more relaxed lifestyle. For my wife she keeps herself entertained coffees,lunch, beach club, shopping in Marbella some social sport and getting involved as a helper in the numerous community social charity events. Living here you also get a lot of invites for dinners BBQs and family day sporting events.For instance for us there are various family fun days at the Octogano tennis club. I know from being here 7 years that there are wives who have never been sporty and are now total fitness fanatics with Piloxing Yoga Pilates Zumba running club and a lot into equestrian pursuits. Of course it wouldn't be Sotogrande without a few family trips to the Polo and the Santa Maria Polo club is an excellent centre to pass a few hours sipping Pimms shopping in the various stalls and sitting out in the sun watching skilled horsemen thundering past. For our family we have a wonderful social life with a large circle of friends and sometimes we feel there is simply too much going on week to week. Of course if you are not into a lot of activity it is the best place to grab a book and lay be the Pool or chill at at one of the several beach chiringitos or the luxury beach clubs. Marbella wasnt for us it was simply too built up and the roads were chaotic not to mention the seedy side of Banus too close for comfort when bringing up teenagers. In Sotogrande we are away from the madding crowd but with the added benefit if we need a small piece of England Gibraltar is 25 minutes away. My parents live in Northern Spain and regularly visit us. When they arrive one of my dads first trips is to Gibraltar and Morrisons he wants his Branston Pickle, Birds Custard and a Christmas pudding.

We believe that Sotogrande is a family and community lifestyle like no other place in Spain. Moving abroad is about integrating and improving your life and I believe Sotogrande offers all the options towards such a goal

. Driving through the estate several times may give you the impression that its a little sleepy. You will not get to know Sotogrande by a drive through there are places that you will not find there are restaurants in stunning locations you will not see unless you know a local who can show you. The main thing is that you Visit us and get expert advice

As you can see I am very enthusiastic about Sotogrande Spain even after 7 years I still wake up for work feeling like I am on Holiday. I am happy to share my experiences as a family man moving to Spain and settling. I always thought it may have been my wife who would not settle but she loves it here and we call it home. Its important before buying or renting a home and moving over that you establish what this community has to offer and how it may benefit your own life and I am happy to meet for a coffee and chat before even discussing property in Sotogrande.

Francis Payne. Tailor Made estate Agents Puerto Sotogrande Spain

tel. 0034 956790320

Tailor Made estate agents also have offices on the Sandbanks Penisula Dorset UK & Poole town centre rental agency Dorset

The estate agents fee are they worth it

The 30 minute phone call
appointmnent agreed
15 minutes to get there
30 minutes to assess
1 hour to discuss and agree
1.5 hours preparing spec
40 minutes attend on brighter day for pictures of product
7 or 8 hours setting up promotion websites portals hardcopies, window cards
45 minutes per property preparing adverts
cost of adverts with no guarantee of selling every property
20 attendances in 12 months 15 min each way travel say 1 hour each viewing
20 minutes Vendor calling in calls to discuss market
20 minutes Vendor calling in to change price
4 or 5 hours agreeing contract terms
4 or 5 hours assisting with problems and there are always problems

Oh dear it hasnt come off and the deal is dead calculate the lost time

Another 10 viewings average time with buyer 1 hour and finally another deal
2 hours preparing & often amending several times the sale in hand details
few more hours meeting experts
several hours negotiations
several more hours chasing lawyers, surveyors, quotations

loose deal due to arguments over costings

few more hours retreaving deal between both sides

Finally a completion

Multiply this by 160 properties on your list and keep in mind that you may only sell 40 to 50 of them

Howm much work does an estate agent provide free of charge and how much do we actually get paid for. The get paid for part is a small percentage

Calculate the cost of this amount of time spent for a plumber electrician lawyer

Occasionally a property comes on the market and sells quickly, vendors often believe its down to the property. Often its more down to an agents costs in getting noticed by prospective buyers. The more hot buyers they have is often down to the more advertising and promotion that they do.

A buyer walks into an agents office or comes to find an agent because of the costs the agent has spent in attracting that buyer

Estate Agents do provide a good service for the charges they make. In UK commission is lower but there you expect to sell 4 or 5 times more property than in Spain.