Here is a quick guide meant for those who have been planning to go to Nueva Andalucia and would like to know more about the area.
We feature a fantastic expat interview with Alan Wentworth-Harley of One Marbella who was more than willing to share with us his experiences in Nueva Andalucia.
Particularly, we want to know from Alan why people would consider going to Nueva Andalucia whether for a brief holiday or for staying permanently.
Alan, thanks for helping our readers. I guess we should start off by asking what would you say would be the advantages to living in Nueva Andalucia compared to other Costa del Sol towns?
Being based in Nueva Andalucía means you are central to everywhere and everything, beginning at the bullring which is situated on the right then going straight up into the mountains. Most places are a five to ten minute drive away, Puerto Banús with its glitzy clubs bars and restaurants or Marbella town for a walk along the cobbled streets surrounded by local tapas restaurants and bars. Living here means you’re only a few minutes from all the top restaurants, many golf courses and some of the best properties on the whole of the Costa del Sol.
Would the area not suit certain types of people, i.e. are there any possible downsides?
I would say that the only down sides are that Nueva Andalucía is built on a hill that leads far up into the mountains therefore a car is a must, saying that though many properties being built here now offer shuttle services that take you into Puerto Banús or Marbella town free of charge.
What proportion of the local population are Spanish?
In Nueva Andalucía you will find a complete mixture of nationalities, from English, Spanish, German, Scandinavian, French, Dutch, Russian. There are not one nationality that is predominant over another here unlike some areas.
What are your favourite things to do in the area?
There are so many things to do here, obviously we work hard during the week but when I get some free time I like to play some golf and to just relax in one of the many restaurants here, there are many new bars and places to eat that have opened over the last couple of years and all seem to be doing very well even in the winter months.
Can you give us some insider tips to the best bars or restaurants?
There are too many bars and restaurants to recommend but a few popular ones would be, La Sala where you might even see a few famous faces, Tuk Tuk asian cuisine, many burger places such as Yanks, for a great Indian meal there is Masala and just above that there is Bar Six which is one of the trendy bars.
Are there many facilities such as doctors and dentists, shops etc?
There are many good dentists located near to centro plaza where many people go to have veneers and perfect smiles.
What are the nearest international schools and how good are they?
Popular schools are Aloha college, Laude, Swans, EIC and many more all within 5 to 10 minutes’ drive, all are excellent schools.
Is crime an issue for expats?
Crime is a problem all over the world, certain areas of all countries are more prone to various types of crime but in Nueva Andalucía nearly all properties are guarded by 24 hour security and are gated making this one of the safest areas to live in.
Coming onto buying property, what is the market like now in terms of prices going up, or down or staying the same?
The property market hasn’t been this good in at least 10 years, property that has been on the market for years is now selling fast and new clients are coming to buy all the time, this part of Spain is still one of the most popular areas to buy in.
Is this a good time to buy and are there any repossessions or very cheap properties still available to buy?
In the first three months of this year the average market price of residential property in Spain is reported to have risen by 4.2%, I would advise people who have been thinking about buying here to get in now as prices will not fall any lower they will keep rising.
What urbanisations are there and can you describe each one and how they might differ from each other?
There are many new developments being built in Nueva Andalucía and all are selling out before being completed, properties here are being built to a contemporary style now as that is what clients are tending to go for more now.
How much are the typical property prices in Nueva Andalucia for apartments, villas etc?
Prices for properties here vary greatly, 2 bed apartments can be picked up for as little as 170,000 € and at the other end of the scale villas can be up to 10 million euros.
Any tips and advice to people looking to buy in Nueva Andalucia or surrounding area?
My tip would be to call our team now and get your viewing trips organised sooner rather than later as prices are not dropping any lower, if you wait you will find prices increasing.
Alan, thank you so much for taking the time to help our readers with your experiences in Spain. If you want to contact him, you can find his details below.
Calle Pleyades 29
Nueva Andalucia
Marbella 29660
Tel. +34 952 492 660
Email: info@one-marbella.com
Website: one-marbella.com
Contact us to be featured – we want more expat interviews for our newsletter and website. You don’t need to be an estate agent, we want to hear from anyone who lives in Spain whether you are working or retired.
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