GUEST COLUMN: What can a small town in Austria teach Spain about tackling its housing crisis?
In a first guest column for the Olive Press, regular reader and commenter Mark Leonard took the time to write about his experiences in the
MULLINS IT OVER: I am outraged at new mega-project plan – but red tape is sure to come to the rescue
By Charlie Mullins I ALMOST can’t believe the outrage in my own inner voice. How dare they come over here and concrete over one of
MULLINS IT OVER: Spain’s political scandals make Westminster’s sleaze look like small change, writes Charlie Mullins
WHAT is it with Spanish politicians?It’s as if corruption and dodgy deals are a kind of parliamentary sport – and getting into power has less
How to Teach Kids Money Management: Top Financial Lessons for Parents in the UK, US and Spain
By Peter Dougherty WHAT large financial risks do you currently face? That your investment portfolio might suffer losses if there’s a sudden stock market downturn?
FROM THE ARCHIVES: Jack Gaioni reveals the fascinating story of Lola Montez, the fake Spanish dirty dancer who captured a king’s heart
She portrayed herself as nobility from a long Moorish/Andalucian bloodline. Yet birth records indicate she was 100% Irish, born in County Sligo to “common stock”.
MULLINS IT OVER: I might even relocate my new family enterprise to business-friendly Spain
By Charlie Mullins SINCE I moved to Spain, I’ve never for a moment thought it was the wrong move. But it’s a nice bit of
Spain’s historic stock exchanges still power the economy – but few know how they work or why they matter
By Peter Dougherty of Bissan Wealth Management MANY people are familiar with the New York Stock Exchange (founded in 1792) or the London Stock Exchange
MULLINS IT OVER: Everyone loses over Gibraltar – but the monkeys couldn’t care less
By Charlie Mullins READING the headline in the Olive Press – Surrender or Triumph I can’t help but come to the conclusion that like all
Mullins it over: Spurs, sun and crime, Charlie Mullins’ take on a year in Spain
AS I’m sure you’ve all heard by now, I’ve officially embraced my role as a full-time expat resident in Marbella – and, I’ve got to
MULLINS IT OVER: From Spanish property madness bureaucratic blind spots, life abroad isn’t all sunshine and sangria
By Charlie Mullins I’VE no regrets about relocating to Spain a year ago, but there are times when it really hits home that you’re squatting
LIFE (AND DEATH) IN SPAIN: Michael Coy examines how funerary rites differ from those in the UK
DID you know that Spain’s constant good weather is attributable to an Atlantic Ocean patch of high air pressure? It’s true. We fall within the
Pedro Sanchez’s proposed Spanish housing law is a timebomb – and he knows it
SPAIN’S proposed new housing law, unveiled by PSOE on May 22, 2025, is a political stunt dressed up as reform – and a dangerous one
No silver bullet: Despite new housing laws and government intervention, Spain’s rental market remains under severe strain
THE rental housing situation in Spain remains dire. The number of long-term rental units continues to decline, even as demand keeps rising. Everyone agrees something
MORTGAGE THINK TANK: Riding the Eurozone’s easing tide but will Trump’s tariffs upset the markets and affect interest rates?
MARBELLA’S property market is feeling the ripple effects of the ECB’s 2025 rate cuts. A steady series of 25-basis-point reductions has lowered key rates, directly
MULLINS IT OVER: From delayed footpaths to Brexit border queues, life in the sun runs on its own clock, writes Charlie Mullins
SPAIN as a nation, is famously inefficient – where getting anything done feels like a miracle, and when it does happen, it takes 10 times
MULLINS IT OVER: Welcome to the Costa del Crime; sun, scams and a shooting near my front gate – but leave my name out of it, insists Charlie Mullins
I MIGHT have only just unpacked the boxes and put the kettle on in my new life as a full-timer on the Costa del Sol,
Will Trump’s tariffs affect the Spanish real estate market, asks Property Insider Adam Neale
THERE is a lot of economic anxiety around the world at the moment. This comes after Trump’s April 2 announcement of tariffs on every single
A rising star: Property Insider Adam Neale casts his eye on Estepona
ONCE a quiet fishing village, Estepona has transformed into a thriving cultural and travel hub. With a population nearing 79,000 in 2024, the city has
Chaos continues: Housing problems in Spain not solved as tourist rental law comes into force, writes Property Insider Adam Neale
SPAIN’S housing crisis has entered a new phase of uncertainty and tension as sweeping reforms to tourist rental laws took effect on April 3, 2025.
Ever higher: Marbella’s luxury market set to continue growth, writes Property Insider Adam Neale
THE March release of the Knight Frank Wealth Report is another clear sign that Marbella’s trajectory as a luxury home destination is set to continue.
Clock is ticking: Is it the end of holiday rentals in Spain? asks the Property Insider Adam Neale
BIG changes have come in about how tourist rental apartments are regulated. Very big changes. If you already have an apartment that you rent out
MULLINS IT OVER: Rather than complaining about tourists, locals in Spain should complain about building standards, writes Charlie Mullins
IT’S my first Easter as a proper member of the ex-pat community. Sure I’ve been here over the bank holiday before, but now I’ve decided
EXPANDING HORIZONS: Chocolate is not just for Easter, but what is Susannah Grant’s favourite Spanish choccy treat?
WITH Easter fast approaching my thoughts are turning to chocolate. Apparently, the price of cocoa beans has more than doubled in the past year. Ghana
THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE IRRESPONSIBLE: The government’s housing reforms are a terrible idea, writes Property Insider Adam Neale
WHEN Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced a raft of new property proposals, not just the country but half the world followed it up. Proposed
EXPANDING HORIZONS: As AI is brought in, it still takes good old fashioned humans to fix problems – or simply book a table in Madrid
WE live in Bot City. Bots are driving me dotty. Whatever happened to personalised customer service? We are constantly subjected to endless algorithm-driven adverts, but
Ambiguous and alarming: Marbella property expert Chris Clover insists the government’s proposed new controversial housing measures could create disruption and won’t solve the crisis
AS a real estate expert in Marbella with over five decades of experience, I feel compelled to respond to Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez’ plans for