Spain

About Spain

Spain, officially the Kingdom of Spain is a country located in Southern Europe, with two small exclaves in North Africa, politically organized as a parliamentary monarchy. It is the largest of the three sovereign nations that make up the Iberian Peninsula-the others are Portugal and Andorra.

To the west and to the south of Galicia, Spain borders Portugal. To the south, it borders Gibraltar and, through its cities in North Africa (Ceuta and Melilla), Morocco. To the northeast, along the Pyrenees mountain range, it borders France and the tiny principality of Andorra. It also includes the Balearic Islands in the Mediterranean Sea, the Canary Islands in the Atlantic Ocean and a number of uninhabited islands on the Mediterranean side of the strait of Gibraltar. In the northeast along the Pyrenees, a small exclave town called Llivia in Catalonia is surrounded by French territory.

The name Spain (Espana in Spanish) comes from the Latin name Hispania.

General Information

Territory: 505,992 sq. km (195,364 sq. m)
Population: 44,395,286 people
Capital: Madrid
Official language: Spanish
Religions: Roman Catholicism

Invest Spain

According to an extensive article in Cinco Dias (a Spanish newspaper specializing in news on finance, markets and the economy), the real estate boom experienced along the Costa del Sol over the past few years is slowing down.

Since 2004, the property market in Marbella and the Costa del Sol in general has entered a new era, with new trends emerging. The boom prevalent from the mid-nineties until 2004 has cooled off, and the market is returning to more normal and healthier conditions. The market remains, in general, solid, but with adjustments. In the higher priced and best-located properties, the market remains strong.

So what has happened? The end user is the dominant player in the market today. The pure speculator for lower priced off-plan properties has all but disappeared.

The "in-and-out" speculator buyer in fact distorts the property market, and that the "off plan" purchaser is having far less influence on the market than in the past is a very healthy indicator of a return to more normal conditions than those of the last 7 or 8 years.

However, the speculator hasn't totally left the scene. Instead, he is more cautious, looking for very well located developments with excellent amenities, right at the start of construction, when he can get the very best choice and price. Location, quality of design, quality of construction, facilities, security and timing are the key factors they look for.

The sophisticated, very selective investor is also still present in the market place, purchasing the more expensive, best-located units in high-class developments, at price tags over €700,000 and up to even €3,000,000, for use or resale, often both together, enjoying the property for a few years and selling it on.

Sotogrande

Within the municipality of San Roque is one of the most luxurious sports and residential developments in Europe - Sotogrande. Its 2,500 hectares (6,178 acres) encompasses all the amenities you could imagine including golf, beach and marina with incredible bars, restaurants and leisure centres to choose from. Sotogrande's situation and fabulous all year round weather, makes it a unique experience for all.

Road access to Marbella, Malaga, Jerez, Cadiz and Seville and all along the Costa del Sol is easy by the motorway or new Toll Road. Gibraltar is the nearest international airport at just 15 minutes away and Malaga is 45 minutes.

Sotogrande has four golf courses to choose from; Valderrama (host to Volvo Masters and the Ryder Cup), Real Club de Golf de Sotogrande (Founded in 1964, designed by Robert Trent Jones), La Canada and Almenara, to say nothing of the further vast choice of courses along the coast, at just 30 to 45 minutes drive away.

The Sotogrande Marina has approximately 550 moorings and an impressive sailing club.

Within Sotogrande lies the Guadiaro Estuary, a protected natural area of 27 hectares of marshland on the west bank of the estuary at the mouth of the River Guadiaro. It is of particular interest to birdwatchers but anybody can enjoy a stroll along the wooden walkways.