Real Estate Market Reports

Marbella has long been considered one of Europe’s premier luxury real estate destinations. With its endless summer sunshine and mild winters, low-rise and low-density construction, mature infrastructure, and stable economy, it is no wonder a diverse global population continue to flock here either as a holiday destination or for permanent residence.

Well, the past few years have certainly been eventful. After very difficult conditions for Marbella society and property sector alike in 2020, the Covid restrictions abated long enough in 2021 to produce one of the best years on record. But what is the situation a year on?

Who would have thought it a year ago, but not only did Marbella enjoy a good summer holiday season, where normally visitor numbers drop after the heights of August they have now continued almost unchanged – resulting in record statistics for the months of September and October.

A recent property poll once again confirmed that when it comes to luxury homes, the Costa del Sol tops the list in Spain. In fact, out of the top-ten addresses in the whole country, five were located in Marbella and Benahavis, with the remainder to be found in Madrid and Mallorca. This means that the Costa del Sol leaves behind even the high-end destinations of Ibiza and world class city such as Barcelona.

It’s fair to say that most of us are indeed looking forward to 2021, and ready to look back at a year that will go down in history as one of the strangest ever. 2020 will not be remembered fondly by most people around the world, having brought us a virus and accompanying restrictions that have had a profound impact on the economy and society, in Marbella as elsewhere, but it was also a year that allowed us to slow down, take stock and perhaps appreciate the more important things in life.

While it is true that the travel restrictions resulting from the Covid-19 crisis have greatly reduced the number of international tourists to the Costa del Sol, the impact on the higher end of the Marbella property market has been pretty much non-existent. In fact, local studies and market reports indicate a flood of new enquiries coming in as the lockdown eased, and by mid-June sales began to rise to above the same level last year.