Our independent property expert Mark Stucklin analyses the state of the Spanish property market

Invasion of the cranes: Mar Menor's population could double

Foreign investment in Spanish property hasn't lived up to the optimistic forecasts of just a few years ago, when 'experts' predicted that Britons and other Europeans would increase spending every year.

In reality, foreign investment in Spanish real estate has fallen since 2003, and by the end of May was some 33 percent below the level for the same period in 2003.

Nevertheless, I still think there are good grounds for optimism about the future of the Spanish property market, at least in those areas popular with foreign buyers.

European baby boomers officially start to retire this year, and will continue to do so over the next 20 years.

With the right financial advice millions of them will be able to afford a place in Spain, and I'm confident that many of them will end up buying into Spain's higher quality of life and lower cost of living, where pensions go that bit further.

Though I see plenty of evidence that today's buyers are more cautious then they used to be, I see little evidence of demand for Spain's lifestyle evaporating.

I still expect significant problems in short term, and I think a few agents and developers might go out of business before the smoke clears.

But it's still early days for Spain as the California of Europe, and looking 10 years ahead, I can only see it becoming more popular.


Market news

Foreign investment in Spanish property continues falling.

Foreigners spent EUR 1.962 billion on Spanish property in the first 5 months of the year, 13.2 percent less than a year ago.

10m want to quit 'over-taxed' UK

One in five Britons - nearly 10m adults - are considering leaving the country amid growing disillusionment over the failure of political parties to deliver tax cuts, according to a new poll by ICM.

Euro base rates and Euribor continue to rise

The European Central Bank (ECB) raised base rates from 2.75 percent to 3 percent at the beginning of August, citing concerns over inflation.

Consequently Euribor - the rate used to calculate interest payments for most mortgages in Spain - also rose in August to 3.615 percent, the 11th consecutive monthly increase, and the highest rate since July 2002.

One in eight homes are bought by foreigners

The latest figures from the Spanish government show that foreigners bought
31,342 Spanish properties during the first quarter of the year (January -
March 2006), which amounts to 13.4 percent of the total number of properties sold in the period (233,670).

Tighter regulations on the way for estate agents in Spain

The Spanish press reports that María Antonia Trujillo - Spain's Minister for Housing - hopes to introduce new regulations for estate agents by the end of the year.

Trujillo wants to tackle the speculation and abusive practises
plaguing the sector, and increases legal protections for consumers.

 "It's not right that in Spain someone can earn more with one phone call than other workers can earn in a whole year", says Trujillo.

200,000 new properties planned for Mar Menor area of Murcia

The Spanish daily 'ABC' reports that 200,000 new properties are planned for
the Mar Menor area of Murcia, to add to the 60,000 presently under construction, and the 70,000 already built.

If this happens, it will take a heavy toll on the environment and more than double the population in the summer high season to over 1 million. 33 large resorts are included in the plans already approved by Murcia's government.

Mark Stucklin

Mark Stucklin also writes for The Sunday Times on Spanish property.

See www.spainishpropertyinsight.com

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[September 2006]

Subject: Spanish property analysis