Staff Reporter
AS 2016 kicks into life, Manilva’s property market has plenty to be excited about, according to Duquesa expert Lynn Van Wilderode from Primrose Real Estate.
With the Costa del Sol continuing to see healthy growth overall, Manilva’s superb beaches, proximity to Gibraltar and relaxed pace of life make it a standout draw for those looking to invest or rent.
The luxury €121 million Crystal Lagoons resort is also set to create a huge leisure area between Manilva and Estepona for local swimmers and for other watersports.
And with thousands of golf fans attending the Sergio Garcia-hosted Spanish Open at Real Club Valderrama this April, the future is bright for Manilva.
“We are really excited,” says Lynn, who has lived and worked in the area for 13 years.
“A lot of people are finding Estepona too busy, or too expensive, so they are venturing further down the coast.
“There are lots of changes happening down here and things are looking really promising.”
The area’s wide expanses and warm community spirit make it perfect for those looking to avoid the hustle and bustle of other Costa resorts.
“It’s nice and quiet,” says Lynn. “People are not crammed into a small space. It’s also residential – there are people here all year round.”
With a shortage of long-term lets in the area and demand high among people commuting to Gibraltar for work, it’s an ideal market for those looking to invest.
“I have seen an increase in people looking to rent and they can’t find properties. If people are looking for an investment, this is a great area,” says Lynn.
And with the rental market offering exciting opportunities, Lynn’s Primrose Real Estate are introducing a rental section to their website as the company expands.
Manilva’s resale market is also buoyant, with a lot of big investors buying half finished developments, finishing them off and selling them as separate units.
As always, British buyers are leading the charge on the Costa Del Sol. But concerns over security elsewhere in Europe appears to be leading a growth in interested buyers from elsewhere.
“There are a lot more Belgian people,” says Lynn, who speaks Flemish, Spanish and English.
“I was in a beach bar with a client the other day and every single person there was Dutch or Belgian.”
The USA firm Crystal Lagoon’s first project in Spain, Alcazaba, will create four-acre crystal-clear lagoon that is ideal for swimming, kayaking and other water sports.
The site will initially see 450 new apartments with 350 more to be added.
“It is something different we have never had here before,” says Lynn. “We are hopeful that when that is finished it will bring a lot of international people.”
