Real Estate & Environmental News in Spain from Propertyshowrooms.com

Spain named a top destination for quality of life

Mon, 3 Oct 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Spain has been singled out as one of the best places in Europe in terms of life quality, with only France ranking higher.

The uSwitch Quality of Life Index looks at a range of factors, including average earnings, spending on healthcare, utility prices and the number of hours of sunshine per year.

Some of the indicators where Spain stood out include the amount of sun residents see, the number of days of holiday workers are granted annually and life expectancy.

Meanwhile, uSwitch also revealed that the nation is the most popular choice among Brits when deciding to move abroad.

Over one in ten (13 per cent) of respondents stated they would prefer to move to a property in Spain than anywhere else in Europe.

These results are also supported by a recent study carried out by Post Office International Payments, which found that Spain was the fourth most popular place among those considering emigrating, and the highest placed country where English is not the first language.

Only Australia, the US and Canada ranked above the European destination.

Drought leads to more Spanish property insurance claims

Wed, 6 Jul 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Severe dry spells across Europe have resulted in a rise in the number of insurance claims as a result of subsidence damage to properties, it has been revealed.

A report published by Swiss Re and the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology found that subsidence-related claims could rise by as much as 50 per cent in some areas between 2021 and 2040.

Matt Weber, head of property and speciality underwriting at Swiss Re, commented: "As our climate continues to change, the risk of property damage from subsidence is not only increasing, but also spreading to new regions in Europe."

According to the Economic Times of India, parts of Northern Spain are among those affected by these issues.

People thinking about purchasing a property in this part of Spain may therefore want to consider such risks when looking for the ideal home.

The authors of the report have stressed that soil subsidence needs to be tackled as part of wider climate change efforts.

Spain's Blue Flag beaches celebrated

Fri, 10 Jun 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Demand for property in Spain could be set to rise following news that the country has been awarded 511 Blue Flags in recognition of the country's beaches.

Spanish property developer Taylor Wimpey de Espana believes that the Blue Flags will be welcome news for home owners with properties located close to the various beaches.

The firm noted that this could help retain a higher value over time and see greater rental appeal.

Ignacio Osle, sales and marketing director of Taylor Wimpey de Espana, says: "It is hard to find a better more beautiful beach haven than in Spain.

"Beaches across Spain have been vastly improving year on year and along with the relatively short flight times from anywhere in Europe combined with declining holiday costs, visitors will with no doubt continue to flock to Spain to sample its glorious beaches."

The Blue Flag is a recognised international standard that celebrates the high quality of beaches and coastal waters.

Online property searches climb in December

Wed, 19 Jan 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Against the usual seasonal decline, online searches for real estate overseas climbed by 4.8 per cent in December, the latest figures from Rightmove have suggested.

The news could be of interest to individuals looking to purchase property in Spain, with the country boasting a large distressed property market, with homes available at below market value.

Rightmove's head of overseas Robin Wilson said: "Typically we'd see a seasonal decline in search activity from November to December of around five per cent, so a positive upswing of 4.8 per cent was welcome at year end."

And speaking to Overseas Property Professional, Mr Wilson added that he believes that the increase in activity was a result of the "horrific" weather conditions experienced in the UK.

"There was more web traffic generally, and people were bored at home and so were feeding the dream of a property in the sun," he explained.

The best performing countries were the US, which recorded an increase of 16.5 per cent on the previous month, and Germany, which posted a 15.5 per cent increase.

UK winter could lead to more Spanish property buyers

Mon, 8 Nov 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Shorter days, a lack of sunshine and the distance until the return of summer are all driving factors behind individuals looking for property overseas.

A spokesperson for Joslin Rowe, a UK-based recruitment firm, told Shelter Offshore that the want to relocate abroad was often sparked at this time of year.

The news could lead to an increase in the number of individuals looking to Spain to fulfil their property desires, with the country boasting a better climate than the UK.

"Skilled workers are being drawn to extremely competitive overseas packages, many of which offer tax-free salaries, relocation costs and first-rate health care. These can prove very tempting to British workers, and even more so if the job is based in a country with a temperate climate," added Stephen Riley, director of IntaPeople.

Another reason which could tempt buyers to invest in the country could be the surplus of bargain distressed property which is currently available with big discounts on market values.

Spanish population decline to hit property market

Fri, 5 Nov 2010 00:00:00 GMT

A decline in population growth in Spain is likely to have long-term consequences on the country's property market.

Demand for real estate in Spain could fall in the coming decades in line with a reduction in population growth.

According to data from the country's national office of statistics, the population is expected to expand by just 2.7 per cent compared to the 14.8 per cent seen over the last decade.

The Instituto Nacional de Estadistica figures show a projected annual growth rate of less than 0.35 per cent, due to a drop in immigration from abroad and an ageing population.

Falls are expected to be seen in a number of regions by 2020, including Principado de Asturias, Pais Vasco, Castilla y Leon, Galicia and La Rioja.

Meanwhile, individuals looking to buy real estate in Spain could be about to benefit from a new wave of distressed property coming onto the market.

Banks in the country have revealed that they are looking to address the large amount of foreclosed assets which currently sit on their books.