GUIDE ALL-INCLUSIVE HOLIDAY HOME IN SPAIN CONTENT 8. Choiceofarea 7. points Otherimportant 6. Deedandtakeover 5. Contract 4. Choiceoflegalcounsellor 3. Choiceoffinancing 2. Choiceofhome 1. Choiceofagent HOLIDAY HOMEINSPAIN - Checklistwhenbuying aholiday home inSpain - Inspectiontour - NIE-nummer - Tax whenpurchasingahouseinSpain - Notary - Lawyer - Financinginyour homecountry - FinancinginSpain your budget- Determine - Newdevelopment - Resale - - All-inclusive counsellingpackage What shouldIpay attentionto, whenselectinganagent?

...... 19 17 16 15 14 12 10 7 FACTS: BUYING OR RENTING HOLIDAY HOME Information regarding purchase and rent of holiday home: • The increase in the volume of residential property sales nationally in 2017 has been, as expected, the largest since 2007, rising 14,6% over 2016 with Málaga province leading the way.

• According to the Spanish property registry, the prices on Spanish properties increased by 7,6% in 2017.

• The Swedes are the second largest group of buyers in (11,2%), followed by the English (26,8%). The Belgians make up 7,7%, French (4,8%), Germans (4,7%), Dutch (3,1%), the Danes (2,7%), the Norwegians 2,5% and the Russians 2,1% of the buyers.

• In 2017 the rental prices increased by 20,8% in just 1 year. The higher rental prices were due to increased demand, particularly for luxurious and modern properties.

M21 s.3 HOLIDAY HOME IN SPAIN

With increasing prices on the Spanish housing market and cheap flight tickets to Spanish airports, the number of people from Scandinavia, Benelux, France, Germany, Russia and Poland buying holiday homes in Spain is drastically increasing.

It is called “Europe’s California” - the international city of and region - just 3 hours or less away from the Northern and Eastern European Airports.

Here you will find the sum of all the enjoying experiences and the world-famous lifestyle: Beautiful architecture, fantastic surroundings for an active lifestyle with golf, mountain biking, cycling, climbing, trekking, horseriding, polo, swimming and surfing.

The 320 sunny days a year, the international community and lots of outdoor freetime activities, makes the Spanish suncoast “” one of the absolute most popular places to purchase a holiday home in Europe.

This particularly counts for the regions in and around Marbella, which has grown into one of the most sophisticated and trendy places to purchase a holiday home, or “second home” since the new part of the city’s foundation around the Marbella Club Hotel on Golden Mile in 1954 by Prince Alfonso of Hohenlohe-Langeburg.

Marbella’s housing market is in such heavy growth, that many of the housing market experts appraise this exact region to be on the threshold of a new Golden Age. With increasing housing prices pending, Marbella is the perfect choice to buy a second home right now.

M21 s.4 Although, it is always a good time, if you buy with a lifestyle in mind. And lifestyle has always been the most important selling argument for those who choose Marbella. Though the prices are on the rise again, they have not at all reached the levels of 2006 and 2007 in most parts of the municipality.

Historically low variable and fixed rates on mortgages, explosive tourism statistics, which year after year sets new records, national and local economies in substantial improvement, Spaniards, who themselves have started purchasing in Marbella once more and funders from 2012 who have invested hundreds of millions of Euros in land and project on the entirety of Costa del Sol, are all of the factors that help create a success for the property tourism.

But, which region should you choose in Marbella? How will you get the financing for your property purchase in Spain? How are the Spanish inheritance and tax laws in relation to your home country? And how does the purchasing process work?

All of that, and so much more, we can help you to understand in this guide, where we have collected the most important pieces of information you need to know, before purchasing a holiday home in Spain.

M21 s.5 FACTS: RESIDENTIAL TOURISM AND YEAR SEASON Information regarding property tourism and year season:

• In 2017 Spain set a new record with 82 million international visitors. Thus Spain overtook USA, for the first time ever, as a tourist destination.

• GDP growth in Spain above 3% in 2017 (with a similar forecast for 2018), record numbers of tourists, declining unemployment, an improving international credit rating, and record low interest rates point to a positive outlook for the Spanish economy and the property market for the foreseeable future.

• Spain benefits from safety concerns in the Middle Eastern tourist destinations, such as Turkey, Egypt and North Africa, where most aren’t ready to travel to.

• In January 2018, Marbella received a total of 28.630 visitors, which equalled an increase of 18,49% compared to January 2017. More than 74% of the registered visitors came from foreign countries, which is an increase of more than 24,5% in comparison to last years numbers. This proves a tendency, known as long-term residency, that Marbella has developed a year season.

• In an area such as Marbella well known for residential tourism, that is, tourism based on the purchase and occupancy of a second home, real estate sales are closely related to the high number of tourists who is attracted to Marbella and its world-famous lifestyle.

M21 s.6 CHOICE OF AGENT and your budget. important The professional agentisaparticularly and whocan, andwill, help you finding thehomethatsuitsyour needs available homesinthearea–bothnewdevelopments andresales- There isabenefit ofchoosinganagent, whohasaccesstoallthe south topurchaseyour dreamhome. andbewellyou prepared, todressproperly even before you travel in regionsandproperties, itisbesttochooseanagentwho willhelp a housepurchase, financially, localexpertise legally andwhatconcerns To achieve aspects of and to cover maximum security the most crucial All-inclusive counsellingpackage • • • • • which: That iswhy you withaprofessional shouldally agentinSpain, yourself about theSpanishhousingmarket. ofholiday have homebuyers The vastmajority limitedknowledge 1. CHOICEOF AGENT experienced all-roundservice. experienced andhotelbooking, assistancetoairline Offers and VIP services yield ofyour inspectiontourdown south. Can prepareyou toreceive before thebestpossible departuring, afullcounsellingpackagefor FREE. Offers inthelocalmarket. Has madesuccessfulexperiences Receives goodcustomerrecommendations. • • • • • • • • Advantages ofusingaprofessional agentinSpain: a bunch ofotherthingsthatcanbedifficult inanothercountry. minimization ofpurchasecosts, choiceoflawyer, and choiceofnotary house purchasewithaneye for investment, loanapproval atthebank, region,to e.g. reductions, ofthisparticular maximum price appraisal conditionsregardingthetrade. with alotofimportant This applies counsellor andcoordinator, whocanalsohelpyou by providing you of a long term cooperation. of alongterm Good advicebefore, andafteryour purchase. during Establishment NIE-number. Help withcreatingaSpanishbankaccount andapplicationfor an Help withchoiceoflawyer andnotary. andconditions. price Assistance withnegotiatingtheseller orbuilder, of interms thatthehouselives uptotheexistingSpanishlaws. Certainty reasonable. problematic, andqualityare andselectedhouseswheretheprice andhas inadvancedeselectedhouseswhichare the market Saves time, becausetheagenthasaccesstoallhouses on Help advancingapproval by creditinstitutions. for your lifestyle. Thorough introductioninthelocalareasandactivities, thatmatter M21 s.7 What should I pay attention to, when choosing an agent? It’s important to choose an agent, in which you trust. If the chemistry and the first impression isn’t good, there’s a big possibility of a bad cooperation.

You should always choose an agent with detailed knowledge of the area. That will guarantee, that you are purchasing at the right price and that the house is in an area in which the conditions are as you wish.

Also make sure that the agent speaks English on a high level or your own language.

CHOICE OF AGENT That way you can avoid any linguistic misunderstandings, which may be expensive in the long run.

And it is also extremely important that your agent understands your culture. There is a big difference in how purchasing a house in your home country takes place, and how it takes place in Spain. That way, you will receive the best counselling and avoid any uncomfortable surprises.

M21 s.8 Checklist for choice of agent:

• Is there good chemistry and a good first impression? • Avoid agents who pressure you to buy, without you having had • Is it an agent with detailed knowledge of the area? proper time to deliberate. • Does the agent speak good English? • It is very okay to be thrilled, but avoid buying on an impulse during • Does the agent have an understanding of your culture? your “happy holiday in the sun”. You risk ending up with a house • Do you experience of good level of service with the agent from that you do not need, rather than the one that you do need. the start? Is there time for you? Are your inquiries answered • Avoid letting yourself be pressured (or pressure yourself) too much quickly? Does the agent understand your needs? on the budget. In the end, it is a lot easier and faster to complete a

CHOICE OF AGENT • Can the agent counsel or convey counselling regarding all the purchase with a realistic budget. aspects of the trade and take your national background into • Avoid leaving a security deposit in a house, before you have the consideration in relation to Spanish legal, financial and local finances and a purchase agreement in order, and if you do choose conditions? to leave a security deposit to reserve a house, e.g. to take it off the market, then leave the deposit with your own lawyer’s client Worst case scenarios you should avoid: account. • Never buy anything without your occupancy permit - let your • Don’t believe anything that sounds too good to be true. For lawyer check these conditions. example, there are a lot of agents who will draw in customers by • Avoid projects where you run the development risk, that advertising some attractive houses for an unrealistically low price means when and if you get a building permit, unless you have online. By doing that, they make you travel south. When you then a professional background of doing so. For example, you can arrive and ask to see the dream house in person, it has always buy a supermodern villa project, which would normally cost been sold a short time prior. The agent will then quickly suggest EUR 2 million, but at half price, without a guarantee of when the something, that is either more expensive or worse, than the other construction is complete. It can be delayed 1-2 years, or in the and that you should strike now, fast, to not “miss” the opportunity worst case scenario even longer. again. The truth is that the attractive house which you have been promised a tour of, was sold several months ago and usually at a much higher price.

M21 s.9 CHOICE OF HOME prices aremuch morereasonable. prices limited -however thereareplenty of otherareaswithaequivalentlevel, wherethe was soldfor €1.150.000in2017. InthisareaofGoldenMile, the demandisnaturally in2011.the market A typicaltwo-bedroom flat, whichin2011wassoldfor €600.000, For example, inthePuenteRomano areahave theprices doubled sincethebottomof in thesespecific areas. the beachsideonGoldenMile, whichresultsinasubstantially pushupwardsinpricing In themostpopularareasofMarbella, thedemandisbiggerthansupply, suchas phase,is inthecontract meaningover 50%ofallnewbuildings aresold. €4.000.000. Intotal2.657properties, whereof61%ofwhichhave alreadybeensoldor sale inMarbella, Ojén, from€200.000to Benahavisrange andEsteponaintheprice approx.There arecurrently 60newdevelopment projects(intotalover 225)for between €200.000and€1.500.000for flatsand€700.000to€2.500.000for villas. whicharepriced thebiggestdemandisfor properties housingmarket In thecurrent properties, 381,163were usedand83,260new, meaningprojectsales. Malaga region. since2008.This isthehighestnumber ofsoldproperties Ofthese soldinSpain2017,Out ofthe464,423properties 1/3themwere soldinthe You must choose, ifyou wanttopurchaseResalesorNewDevelopment. 2. CHOICEOFHOME M21 s.10 Resale You can choose to purchase an existing home, which is either in good Generally there is no cheating or big risk involved regarding project condition, or one which needs to be renovated which in most cases construction. That is a thing of the past, that buyers lose their money can be done relatively cheaply. In general there are relatively few of on new buildings. Furthermore you must ascertain yourself that your these so called “craftsman offers” (apart from bigger villas, which lawyer checks that the right guarantees and insurances are part of the needs a loving touch), however a new kitchen, removal of a partition purchase agreement.

CHOICE OF HOME so you can have a more open concept and smart furnishing can often do wonders. Most people can - with good taste, smart interior design, A lot of modern flats and villas are built, but primarily east and west and a little paint - decorate very stylishly. of Marbella, as there are political reasons which have resulted in a construction ban in Marbella the last couple of years, and it looks like There is a wide selection of homes on the market, including flats, it will continue for a couple of years more. If you buy in Marbella, it townhouses and villas in various areas, each of which has its own will therefore most often be a existing property. character. You will have to prioritize the most important things which are a must for you, and accept the best possible solution, which can West of Marbella, a lot of construction takes place in Benahavis, then be renovated and decorated according to your wish. La Quinta, San Pedro and , and east of in the areas such as Cabopino, La Cala, and . Da Costa del Sol is Your agent must be responsive and must be able to offer you historically expanding west, which is also where you often find the everything, support in your choices, but also be able to inform you most unspoiled and scenic house projects. honestly if you are heading off course. You must choose an agent which has good cooperation agreements New Development and concrete experience with the project developers, so you can be If you want a new home in a modern style, you can, as many do, buy a introduced to one of the best new homes in the right price range - new development which is delivered in 1-3 years after the conclusion the purchase argreement must be reviewed with critical eyes by your of the purchase agreement. There is often a good profit of 20-30% lawyer. connected to such a purchase, as you receive something of value in the trade by being a part of it from the beginning. http://www.marbella21.com/new-developments/

M21 s.11 CHOICE OF FINANCING which banksoffer thebestconditions. some oftheagentshave, oftheircounsellingpackage, at agoodoverlook aspart documents,the correct sothatyou canbecomepre-approved for aloan. Moreover speaks your own languageorEnglishonahighlevel, aswell ashelpyou procure Your agentcanhelpyou withaSpanishbank, communicate thecontract whoeither Europeanbanks. andEastern to thestandardrequirementsasked inNorthern reliable. aregenerally the buyers The demandsaSpanishbankrequires, isequivalent throughtherecentyears,the north, wherethehasbeenaeconomicupsurge and bank. from interestedinreceivingcustomers alltheSpanishbanksarevery Virtually You caneasily choosetofinance your housepurchaseinSpainthroughaSpanish Financing inSpain you cannotreceive thefinancing for thepurchase. you finding your dreamhouse, only torealisethatitisoutofyour budget, orthat by lookingfor ahouse,Many withoutknowing start theirbudget. This canleadto how much todetermine you canpurchasefor fromthestart. It’s important Determine yourbudget 3. CHOICEOFFINANCING M21 s.12 Here are the typical requirements, asked in the housetrade and your economy regarding financing in Spanish banks:

• If you are not a resident in Spain, the amount you can loan goes up to 70% of the house’s value. • The house must live up to all legal requirements in Spain. • There can’t be any registered payment problems in your credit history. • You must, like in a bank in your homecountry, be able to document a stable salary. • The duration of the loan must be adapted, so it expires at its latest, when you are 75 years old. If there are more loan takers, this applies to the oldest loan taker.

CHOICE OF FINANCING However, this can be adjusted, if the youngest loan taker has the main income.

Financing in your home country You can also very often choose to finance the house purchase through a mortgage in your home country. Most often it will - like in your choice of agent - be best to choose a counsellor which has an understanding for the culture in your home country and of course a solid footing in Spain. This make the whole process both safer and faster.

The advantages by choosing financing in your home country is, that you can often mortgage the Spanish house’s value higher. Some places upwards of 80%. If you have equity in your house, you can with good benefit take a loan in this, which then can be used for the purchase of the Spanish house.

Last, but not least, this of course means that you are speaking with a bank, that speaks your own language. Good communication is always the key to a successful purchase.

M21 s.13 CHOICE OF LEGAL COUNSELLOR can notbesubsequently changedaftersigningthedeed. purchaseagreement,There couldbeconditionsintheprivate which after signingthedeed. purchase agreementtakes place,before signingoftheprivate andnot precautions.right The lawyer shouldbeinvolved aspossible, asearly ofthepurchaseprocess, alltheparts andtake the you understand also speaksEnglishonahighlevel. This way, you willmake surethat information.crucial The bestistomake useofaSpanishlawyer, who you couldsuffer losses, astherecouldbealackofexchangeregarding at anindependentlawyer anyway, couldgowrong, oreverything and be involved, we strongly recommendthatyou seeklegalcounselling Eventhough therearenorequirementstellingyou thatalawyer must Lawyer involved withthesignatureof the deed. there must be anotary and sellerneedingalawyer tobeconnectedthetrade. However, inSpain,For housetrade therearenorequirementsaboutabuyer 4. CHOICEOFLEGALCOUNSELLOR Tip: Your agentcanhelpyou, by referring you to agood locallawyer andnotary. whom you canfreely choosebetween. the Spanishstateadministration. However, traders, theseareprivate isanindependantthirdpart, whohasbeenappointedby The notary purchase canbebroughtintotheSpanishlandregistry. authentic. hassignedthepurchaseagreement, After thenotary the receives thattheagreementis anofficial statusandtoguarantee function istomake sure,The notary’s thatthesignedagreement involved. By signingthedeed, is itisdemandedby thelaw thatanotary Notary M21 s.14 5. CONTRACT

Before signing the deed, a contract is made, CONTRACT which outlines rights and obligations for both seller and buyer. The contract is valid until the final deed is signed.

By signing the contract, the house is reserved for the buyer, and normally the buyer simultaneously makes a deposit equal to 10% of the purchase price.

The Spanish legislation establishes most of the conditions regarding the housetrade, which is why most people use a standard contract - possibly with a few alterations.

M21 s.15 DEED AND TAKEOVER purchase iscovered by allguarantees. without thepresenceofanotary, isimportant, tomake surethe andtheregistering register.registered intheSpanishproperty The purchase cannotberegistered The documentisalways signedinSpanish, andefterthesigning thepurchaseis independant witnesstothetrade. thesigning,During abuyer andseller, isinvolved, aswell asanotary asan whoworks Normally, thesigningofdeedand thetakeover takes placesimultaneously. AND TAKEOVERDEED 6. M21 s.16 OTHER IMPORTANT POINTS deducted in the property taxyou pay inyour home country. deducted intheproperty When purchasingaholiday homeinSpain, thespanishIBItaxisoften some smallerongoingfees toe.g. daily renovation must bepaid. In additiontothesetwo, taxinyour home country, and theproperty • • Annual taxation: • • At thetimeofpurchase: Overview oftaxesregarding housepurchases inSpain: value,property’s althoughthistaxisrelatively limited. with thepurchaseitself, andthenyou willbetaxed annually ofthe your homecountry. Hereyou pay boththetax/VAT inconnection regardingpurchases ofSpainarealotdifferent thanin The taxrules Tax whenpurchasing ahouseinSpain 7. OTHER IMPORTANT POINTS without a permanent residenceinSpain),without apermanent whichiscalculatedas Sobre laRentadeNoResidentes(incometaxfor foreigners €400 withadeedvalueof€200.000Impuesta. IBI (taxofthehouse’s value)whichistypically around cadastral AJD (stampduty)of1-1,2%onresaleand1,5%newbuildings. buildings. IVA (SpanishITPfee) of8-10%on resalesand10% VAT onnew market value). market valuetimes2%(or1,1%withrevised 19‑24% ofthecadastral easily whenyou canlookthemintheeyes. your agentandchoosing your lawyer andbank. This isdonemost areas andproperties. Meanwhile, tomeet it’s alsoagreatopportunity toseedifferent The inspectiontourgives you agoodopportunity Inspection tour package attheprofessional charge. agentandwithoutany extra Requisition ofaNIE-number isincludedinthecompletecounselling it yourself. lawyer dotheregistration, eventhough it’s moreexpensive thandoing local requirements. That’s why itcanbeanadvantagetomake your But even heretherecanbealotofbureaucracy, alotofwaitingand you doitinSpain. embassy inyour homecountry. You willgetthefastesttreatment, if where you wishtopurchaseproperty, orapply throughtheSpanish You must eithermeetupatthepoliceinmunicipality inSpain, estate inSpainmust have one. Spanish domesticministry. whopurchaseorsellreal All foreigners A NIE-Numberisanidentification number, whichisappointedby the NIE-nummer M21 s.17 If your agent arranges the tour well, it doesn’t need to last more than Check list when buying a holiday home in Spain: 2-3 days. But most likely you will want to stay much longer, when you first get a taste for the atmosphere in Marbella. • Choice of agent. • Make a budget covering how much you can buy for (remember to The tour should take place during weekdays, as it gives the best account for approx. 11,5% in trade costs, taxes and fees). opportunity to visit banks and lawyers. If you buy a property during • Get a pre-approval at a Spanish bank or a bank in your home construction, it’s also necessary to come on a weekday to gain access country. to the construction site and to see the area. • Go on an inspection tour. • Choose area. Make sure your agent plans the tour, so it doesn’t happen during any • Choose lawyer. local festivities. That will give the wrong impression of the area, and • Create a Spanish bank account. can also mean that there won’t be access to all the things you need to • Order a NIE-Number. see and visit. • Sign private purchase agreement with seller. • Choose notary. It is recommended that you rent your own car for the inspection tour. • Sign deed and receive keys to the house. Partly, it’s cheap to rent a car, partly you will then take responsibility

OTHER IMPORTANT POINTS IMPORTANT OTHER yourself to get to know the areas in a whole other way, than if you were in the backseat of your agent’s car.

In conclusion, you travel to Spain to enrichen yourself with good experiences, and it’s here where it’s best to start the process, before actually purchasing a property, so you can base your choice of area on real personal experience.

M21 s.18 CHOICE OF AREA open year round as morerestaurants, includingonthebeach, businesses andmore, are thewinterseason,highseason -July and August - hashelpedshorten all oftheyear’s 12months. outofthe number oftourists The rising September andregainslife againinthespring, Marbellais “open” citieswhoshutdown intheend of Unlike mostMediterranean out thewholeyear. housing costsregardingyour own holidays inthehouse, ifyou rent it that therentalincomescancover your housingcosts, andeven the oftheyear.your holiday homesomeparts Actually, you canexpect are alsoassuredafixed oftourists, current ifyou wishtorentout you annually inMálagaairport And withmorethan16millionarrivals to getby aroundhere. fromallovertourists theworld. Soyou don’tneedtospeakSpanish Del Solandamongoneofthemostpopularholiday destinations for climateallyear round,With itswarm onCosta Marbellaisapearl timetoinvestattractive inahouseMarbella. inthecomingyears. housingprices age ofrising This makes itareally inthemunicipality ofMarbella,that thehousingmarket isatagolden assessment the general The increaseinthehomesalessupports 8. CHOICEOF AREA • • • • • • • an area: General questionsyoushouldconsiderwhenchoosing destination. mostsouthern quality oftheMediterranean’s avoid thecoldwintermonthsinrestofEurope, tovisitthehigh Marbella developing itspopularity, asmoreandpeoplewishto low seasonactivityisjustoneofthemanyThe rising signs, pointingat mountains, soyou caneasily gettowhereyou wanttobe. where you live inthearea, you willlive closetobothbeachand a littlehigherupinthemountains?Remember, thatnomatter day,beach every ordoyou appreciatethepeace andscenicview How much doesthebeachlife meantoyou? Doyou gotothe Is itasafe area, whereyou cantravel freely atalltimesoftheday? inthearea? and internet How stable arethesupply services, suchaswater, electricity, gas inthearea? How isthepublic transport point A topointB? Is itrelatively closetohighway A7, soyou caneasily travel from and police? Are theregoodpublic services, suchashospital, posthouse, school andnightlife intheareayear round? opportunities Is thereaccesstorecreationalactivities, restaurants, shopping M21 s.19 THE AREAS IN MARBELLA the areas from Sotogrande inthewest,the areasfromSotogrande toMalagaintheeast. you canachieve intheareasandaroundMarbella, abetterinsight-firstly andthen activity, areas. thereareawholelotofoasesandfantasticlittlelarger Hereunder As we withahighlevel have of theareathroughmorethan10years experienced high season. is anexcellentreference point, the crowd-puller during besidesalsobeingthelargest the center, eventhough gothere, least, mostpeoplerarely but atthevery themarina In theMarbellaareathereisnospecific center. Banus toas isoften referred Puerto south. make iteasytotravel directly and morecheapflightconnectionsfromthenorth fromalloverThat’s - theworld hedonistsandconnoisseurs why Marbellaattracts region withanactive 12-monthseason. nightlife,attractive intheMediterranean makes Marbella the only holiday resort inthemountainsandpolo-3marinas, riding andan goodrestaurants horseback areas-withpossibilitiesofclimbing, natural grand trekking, mountainbiking, surfing, morethan40golfcourses,infrastructure, tennisclubs, facilitiesofallsorts, sport There isnoplacelike Marbella. andsafety, Excellentpublic services good The areas inMarbella M21 s.20 MARBELLA

What was once a small white village for local fishermen, is, thanks to the German MARBELLA prince Alfonso Hohenlohe, who established the legendary Marbella Club Hotel and its descendants, has become known as one of the most cosmopolitan beach resorts and tourist attractions.

Marbella has a grand nature, which is protected by the beautiful Sierra Blanca mountains, as well as a surprisingly attractive and charming casco antiguo (old district) filled with narrow streets with little tapas bars, bodegas, delicious gourmet restaurants and well-groomed flower decorations. Particularly known in Marbella’s old district is “The orange square” (Plaza de los Naranjos), which is very popular both with the locals as with the tourists - in here you can find little icecream bars and wine bars, where you can for just 2 Euros enjoy a good glass of local wine and olives.

M21 s.21 PUERTO BANUS (5 km west of Marbella)

Puerto Banús is a very popular coastal city and marina located in Nueva Andalucia,

PUERTO BANUS PUERTO just west of Marbella - it was built in May of 1970 by José Banús, a local property developer - as a luxury marina and shopping complex. It has since then become the most central hub on Costa Del Sol with 5 million visitors annually - also popular among international celebrities.

Puerto Banús is developed around a coastal city in the Mediterranean architectural style, and here you can find expensive shopping malls, restaurants and bars. There’s also a large scene for exotic cars and sports cars, owned by internation celebrities and wealthy owners, who also own the big yachts.

M21 s.22 NUEVA ANDALUCIA San Pedro. buildings orculture. Forthatyou inMarbellaor would needtogotheolddistrict only thingthatNueva longhistory,Andalucia doesn’thave, old isaparticularly you need, atCentroPlaza. aswell asthewonderful starting Saturday market The Nueva Andalucia ismore ofaresidentialareathancity, but ithasallthefacilities entire CostaDelSol. bars, nightlife ofthe andfacilitiesintheareaanexcellent basefor exploration distance, withoutthecrowd, bustle, andnoise. traffic Closetobeaches, restaurants, for thosewhowanttoliveThe areaisamazingandsupercentral withingwalking from bothMarbellaandSanPedro de Alcantara. Banus andwithina5minute drive ideally locatedinwalkingdistancefromPuerto among Scandinavians -notleastScandinavian andtheinternational -youth and Nueva popularandwell-established residentialarea,Andalucia isavery especially (5 kmwestofMarbella) NUEVA ANDALUCIA M21 s.23 SAN PEDRO beach, boardwalkandalotofdeliciousbeach restaurants. acharming and smalllocalboutiques. ofthecityconsistslongstretches of The otherpart oftheoldneighbourhoodwithlittle,consists primarily cobblestone narrow streets movingmore popularfor holiday in. ofthecity guestsandforeigners Onepart The cityisstillunderdevelopment andinthelatestyears, hasbecomemoreand where thehouseandcitydevelopment istakingshape. and businesses areblooming. Likewise you willalsofind thelargest, widestbeaches, Nueva istheareawithnewly built boardwalk,Alcántara wherenewrestaurants Here therearecalmparks, squaresandbeautifulgardens. The cityisvery Andalusian withnarrow, shoppingarea. littlestreetsandacentral Here you willfind, whatismostlikely themosttypicalSpanishcityonCostaDelSol. San Pedro liesjustwest ofMarbella, Banus. andamere5minute fromPuerto drive (8 kmwestofMarbella) SAN PEDRO M21 s.24 GUADALMINA ruins of an ancientRoman bath,ruins and cafes. selection ofrestaurants aswell asa large Near thebeachyou willalso find the beautiful, LasBovedas, historical whicharethe hordes oftourists. you caninsteadenjoy thisbeautiful, beachwithoutbeinginvaded family-friendly by house many oftheotherwisely known beachactivities. However, itdoesoffer that tenniscourts. Otherwise,The hotelalsooffers thebeachatGuadalminaBajadoesn’t you canenjoy bothgolfandthebeachlife. reach alltheway down tothe beach,Resort, where9holesonthe golfcourse so Along thebeautifulbeachPlaya GuadalminaliesHotelSpa&Golf Guadalmina GolfResort. neightbourhood, whoamongotherthings, areknown golfclub, for thetraditional There arealotofresidents, aswell aslocals, inthe livingherepermanently andsupermarkets. restaurants get around, itisinGuadalminaquiteeasytoeitherwalkorcyclearoundvarious totherestofregion, tohaveIn contrast acarto whereitisoftennecessary The Alta neighbourhood, speechmerely known asGuadalmina. isineveryday Alta. Alta means “up” andhasreceived thename, becaueitliesonthemountainside. and theareaismostexclusive inthetown. OntheothersideliesGuadalmina On thebeachsideofcoastalroad A7 liesGuadalminaBaja. Bajameans “down” walking distancetotheboardwalk. The coastaltown Guadalminaisbeautiful, peacefulandislocated centrally, within (10 kmwestofMarbella) GUADALMINA M21 s.25 BENAHAVIS place tohave your house. to 15, ofthenextdecade. desired inthecourse Benahavis iswithoutadoubtvery onCostaDelSol.The areahas9ofthe60golfcourses A number expectedtorise than inMarbella. of theregions. you much canacquireabuilding fasterhere, permit Furthermore, This isduetocommunity fees inthismunicipality issubstantially lower thantherest Meanwhile, theneighbourhoodislocatedinoneof “cheapest municipalities”. space ofthecoast. Marbella. That’s why itpullsinthecomplete Andalusian charm, intheinternational of theregion. Banus and Benahavis isthewhitevillagelocatedclosesttoPuerto Andalusia isknown for itssmallwhitevillages, spread across themountainsinall openhillyeach offering landscapes, intimacyandenjoyment. withcountlessoasises, greennaturepark by alarge The villageitselfissurrounded streets. narrow charming The villageisinlamentterms, called gastronomia”. “ruta Ronda 5kmfromthecoast. The villageisknown and for itslocalrestaurants Benahavis isaSpanishmountainvillage, locatedbetween Marbella, Esteponaand (12 kmwestofMarbella) BENAHAVIS M21 s.26 EL MADROÑAL (20 km west of Marbella)

On the edge of the nature park, Sierra De Las Nieves, lies the peaceful and withdrawn

EL MADROÑAL El Madroñal in the municipality of Benahavis. As in La Zagaleta, it is a well guarded area, which is only accessible to residents.

El Madroñal is luxurious and attracts celebrities from all over the world, seeking to get away from the big crowds. The calm and idyllic surroundings with large beauitful cork trees, gives peace of mind and slows down the tempo. Although, the citylife of Marbella and the crowding on the beaches is merely a 20 minute drive away.

Known musicians such as Björk, Mariah Carey, Cher and The Cardigans, have all found inspiration in El Madroñals beautiful landscape, as they were in the now defunct El Cortijo sound studio.

M21 s.27 LA ZAGALETA (20 km west of Marbella)

La Zagaleta offers luxurious villas and mansions, which can only be matched

LA ZAGALETA by a few places in the world. The closed, well guarded area means that you can be undisturbed and be free of trespassers.

Residents in the area have the exclusive rights to the two golf courses, La Zagaleta and Los Barrancos. There are also private clubs with swimming pools, billiards, bowling and tennis courts, and in “The Riding Club” you can receive private horseback riding tutoring on majestic Arabian and Spanish horses, as well as Welsh ponies.

La Zagaleta is the creme de la creme when it comes to what the housing market can offer in Marbella. This extravagant and withdrawn village houses international stars, politicians and royals, who all want to holiday in peaceful surroundings, away from the spotlight of the media.

M21 s.28 ESTEPONA picturesque squareswithaspecialspirit. The white-walledcenterwithhandsomeflower decorations, has many shops and restaurants. and withmany tapasbars marina beaches withEF’s sports blue flagandamodern Estepona isapopularholiday destinationthewholeyear round. Ithastwo impressive. This accountsfor cleanstreetsandfascinating newrestaurants. old neighbourhoodinMarbella, andtherehasrecently beenablossoming whichis multiple visits,neighbourhood isworth ifyou areinthearea. thanthe Itislarger andholiday destination.is apopularresort old The authenticandcharming Estepona isknown for itswhitebeaches, strecthingalong21km ofcoast, and top ofLosReales. areas. dominates, Bermeja HereSierra withreachestheheightof1.449mon valleywithlittlecreeks, inafertile bigmountainsandnature 137 squarekilometers Estepona isamere15-20minute fromMarbella. drive anareaof Esteponacovers (25 kmwestofMarbella) ESTEPONA M21 s.29 CASARES

CASARES (40 km west of Marbella)

The picturesque city of Casares lies with its beautiful white houses, up along the mountainside with a Medieval castle on the top. The city lies 15 km inland from the coast, and with its mere 3.000 residents, it provides peace and quiet from the coastal cities’ busy touristlife, eventhough you are only a 15 minute drive away.

The city offers beautiful sights, hiking in the hilly landscape, beautiful ruins of old churches and castles, golf courses, as well as beautiful beaches - among them a dogbeach - all of this very closeby.

M21 s.30 SOTOGRANDE (50 km west of Marbella)

Sotogrande lies just by the mouth of the Guadiaro river, and here you will finds lots SOTOGRANDE of beautiful nature with the mountains in the background and the beautiful beach in the foreground.

There are many activities, e.g. the two golf courses Sotogrande and Valderama, the polo club, beach activities as well as a beautiful marina with restaurants and cafes.

Sotogrande also represents the summer residence of several of the most powerful families in both Spain, France and England.

M21 s.31 LOS MONTEROS offers lots of luxury villasandflats, lotsofluxury amongthemcompletely newbuildings.offers Hotel LosMonteros’ LaCâbane, andfamous. therich whoattracts The areaalso Marbella lifestyle inclubs suchas On thebeacheslives theluxurious andthrives has oneoftheabsolutebestbeachesinMarbella. withallthefacilitiesafew minutes away,calm surroundings drive LosMonteros also understandable. Because, isvery besidesprovidingThe areaspopularity you with up for offer. aresoldasfastthey areput attractive, thatmostoftheproperties is alsosovery Marbella, ofeastern however arehigherthaninany otherpart The prices thearea down by thecoast, andnearby Marbella, green, theareastilloffers calmsurroundings. andanumber ofprominentbusiness people.Banderas And depsiteitsplacement Altos deLosMonteros. This exclusive suchas areahousesHollywood stars Antonio Los MonterosisacohesionofthethreeareasMonteros, BahiadeMarbellaand (5 kmeastofMarbella) LOS MONTEROS M21 s.32 EL ROSARIO (10 km east of Marbella)

East of Marbella lies El Rosario, who is EL ROSARIO primarily a residential area with lots of beautiful villas and flats.

But, the little city has more or less grown together with the neighbouring city, Elviria, where there is access to both an international school, tennis clubs, golf courses, restaurants, cafes, beauty salons and some of the most popular beaches in Marbella.

The area is perfectly located near the beach, a 5 minute drive away from Marbella and a mere half hour drive from Málaga airport.

M21 s.33 LAS CHAPAS (10 km east of Marbella)

Just by Elviria you will also find the beach LAS CHAPAS area Las Chapas, which is very popular and nearly packed with people in the summer season.

This is the place of the famous Nikki Beach Club, where the rich and famous flood to. The area offers lots of hotels, restaurants, clubs, bars and cafes, which are all open the year round.

The beach provides lots of activies, and there is a lifeguard, showers, beach umbrellas, sunbeds and toilet facilities. In Elviria, bordering Las Chapas, you will find both good shopping capabilities and an international school.

M21 s.34 ELVIRIA quiet whenyou needtoretreat. 5 minutes away fromallthelife onthebeaches, but stillprovides lotsofpeaceand The beachesareboomingwithwateractivities, andtheresidentialareasareonly in themiddleofforest between beautifulpinetreesandoldcrooked oaks. areas’ GolfClub, SantaMaria best18-holegolfcourses wherethegolfing takes place you willfindIn Elviria bothtown halls, churches, postoffices, schoolsandoneofthe mall LaCañada, morethan150 shops. whichoffers if you needmoreshoppingoptions, you areonly afew minutes away drive fromthe In thecityyou andsmallerSpanishspecialityshops. willfind bothsuper markets And strecthing many selectionofrestaurants, kilometers, andcafes. alarge offers bars Just by ElRosario, liesElviria, withitsfantasticbeaches. The longbeachboardwalk, (12 kmeastofMarbella) ELVIRIA M21 s.35 CABOPINO (15 km east of Marbella)

CABOPINO Cabopino is a genuine Mediterranean city, offering a quiet and cozy marina, only a 20 minute drive away from Marbella. The city’s location makes it hard to spot from the big roads, which is why there are fewer tourists visiting here, than other places.

The marina still offers both bars and good restaurants. You will also find the golf course Cabopino Golf Course, as well as beautiful sandy beaches - there is even a nude beach west of the city.

M21 s.36 LA CALA DE MIJAS (20 km east of Marbella)

In the middle, between Marbella and Fuengirola, lies La Cala de Mijas down by the coast. The city has 24.000 residents and lots of tourist life. LA CALA DE MIJAS

The coastal city has a long history and holds a lot of handsome historical buildings. Among these are fortifications, originating all the way back to the 16th century, and was a part of the areas’ defense against the attacking Berbers of North Africa.

La Cala also offers gorgeous sandy beaches, as well as good restaurants and bars. And of course you can also swing your driver on the popular Calanova Golf Club.

M21 s.37 MIJAS PUEBLO (35 km east of Marbella)

One of the jewels of Costa del Sol, is the

MIJAS PUEBLO beautiful little village of Mijas, which lies on the mountainside 400 meters above sealevel, approx. 10 km from the coast and has a magical view. Out of the 7.500 residents, there are so many foreign citizens, that the town hall has established a very useful department for foreigners.

When you are walking through the narrow cobblestone streets in this white, charming Andalusian village, you will notice what has attracted foreigners to settle here throughout the years. Many artists and writers has made it their home and enjoy the benefits of the excellent year round climate, distanced from the commercial coastal cities further down the mountainside. That’s why you can find wonderful handcrafted ceramics and paintings by acknowledged local artists.

M21 s.38 BENALMADENA (45 km east of Marbella)

Benalmadena and its privileged location with a view of the Mediterranean, lies just 19 km from Malaga airport, so the city is BENALMADENA easy to reach both from Malaga and the airport using the country roads or by train or bus.

It’s always lively, but the busiest time of year is in the hot summer months, where the population more than triples with up to 100.000 people.

From the A7 you can travel by Arroyo de la Miel through beautiful gardens in La Paloma Park down to the coastal strip, Benalmadena Costa, running along the sea, where the area “Carihuela”, which is famous for its specialities’ in fish and shellflish restaurants begins. There is also amusement parks and a panoramic lift ride up to the mountain through lots of shops, bars, restaurants and an art museum.

M21 s.39 TORREMOLINOS (55 km east of Marbella)

Torremolinos is just 7 km west of Malaga airport and was known as the first place, in the 50’ies, to develop itself into an attractive TORREMOLINOS Costa del Sol holiday resort - now known for its clean sandy beaches, a wide selection of hotels, bars, fish restaurants and a variety of different entertainments, activities and nightlife.

Outside the season, the city has more character showing of it being a suburb of Málaga, and the atmosphere is much more Spanish, especially during the weekends.

Cuesta del Tajo, by the end of San Miguel, leads you down a steep stairway through the old fish district, El Bajondillo, which is a popular, picturesque area with restaurants and kiosks in a market style fashion - in the bottom lies El Bajondillo beach.

M21 s.40 MÁLAGA

MÁLAGA (60 km east of Marbella)

Malaga, the metropolis, offers everything from smart shops, beach life, cozy cafes and good restaurants, to sports, historical building and cultural experiences such as the Picasso museum, the modern art museum or the Pompidou center.

No matter if you wish to enjoy one of the traditional, freshly caught sardines on the waterfront, a tour of one of the many galleries, tapas on the Atarazanas market or just throw yourself into the thriving nightlife, then Málaga is the place. The city has experienced a rapid blossoming in the last couple of years.

And with the airport so closeby (just a 20 minute drive away), which offers lots of departures to and from all important northern, eastern and southern airports, you will arrive both fast and cheaply, to your second home in the warm and lovely Spain.

M21 s.41 [email protected] www.marbella21.dk // www.marbella21.com T: +45 31 31 00 10 // M: +34 639 25 11 77