Below you will find a selection of villas for sale in El Madroñal. Please read more about El Madroñal here and do not hesitate to contact us should you require further information on other properties for sale in El Madroñal.

A normal macroeconomic downturn has been exacerbated by a private sector crisis in 2008 and a public sector crisis in 2011. As a result, the little solid footing we thought we had is fast turning to quicksand and the markets are reacting accordingly, fluctuating wildly but mostly downwards. In times like these, confidence is a concept lost and economic boom an almost unimaginable state, so we turn to those things that offer solidity – like gold, land and, in some cases, bricks and mortar – and wait out the storm.

The closing months of 2011 should bring clarity one way or another, and though many possible scenarios are currently being sketched, from dissolution of the Euro and even the European Union to a satisfactory solution to the sovereign debt crisis and accompanying financial instability, it is important to remember that things are never quite as critical as they might seem at a time like this, just as they are never quite as wonderful as they seem during periods of boom and plenty.

Click here to read the report

The reduction will apply only until the end of the year and it is considered a “provisional and exceptional” measure as a reply to the demands of the construction industry which represents 4% of Spain’s GDP.

Salgado, Spain’s Ministry of Economic Affairs, says that this will have a positive impact on economy, improving credit flow and will not increase the so-called ‘real estate bubble’.

For example, a 200.000€ apartment will benefit from approximately 8.000€ reduction.

Diana Morales Properties would like to present you with a selection of properties found on the Golden Mile within these charming and picturesque residential communities.

Also, please, remember that anytime you want, you can browse our full Marbella and Costa del Sol property portfolio on our website or directly check out our latest listings or properties with reduced prices.

Essentially Marbella’s style is an amalgam of ancient, modern, local and indeed international influences, and in this it is of course no different from other parts of the world. In an area defined by a benevolent climate the prevailing style is above all shaped by the enjoyment of a lifestyle that brings the outdoors in and makes outdoor areas as stylish and comfortable as possible.

Hispano-Moorish
With this as the overriding principle, the Marbella style has evolved from a great many cultural sources. Beginning with the local Hispano-Moorish styles of Andalucía, Marbella has a rich heritage to draw from. Itself influenced by Roman principles of masonry, proportion and layout, as seen by the classic central courtyard with fountain that is such a feature of Marbella villas, Arab architecture has also contributed the soft-edged plasterwork that typifies especially apartments and townhouses in the region.

Rustic
Also well represented are the rustic styles of the interior. The so-called finca style traditionally features low-rise country properties characterised by rough plaster, typical Mediterranean terracotta roof tiles, ornate ironwork and interiors in which solid wood and handmade tiles add a touch of rural gravitas.

Modernist
As Marbella became a jet-set destination in the 1960s it started to attract avant-garde architects, many of whose designs have become timeless features of the local landscape. Specialising in a softly rounded modern geometry – often in white plaster or concrete – that suits the Mediterranean vernacular well, their works remind us of the energy and belief in the future that characterised their era. They continue to be a source of inspiration for many of today’s ‘modern’ architects.

Colonial
By the 1990s the demand for higher build qualities resulted in more sophisticated homes, designed more for luxurious year-round living than just a summer season. The typically Mediterranean and Hispano-Moorish styles began to evolve, giving rise to increasingly luxurious and extravagant villas and penthouses endowed with all manner of luxuries such as saunas, spas, gyms, private cinemas, multi-car garages, designer kitchens and sumptuous marble bathrooms.

Gradually, white was replaced with mustard yellow or khaki tones, and a ‘Marbella style’ typical of the times evolved, still featuring traditional elements such as rustic ‘Ronda’ doors, terracotta tiling and central patios, but now also sporting modern comforts. Inside, the dominant tendency was towards colonial styles, with Asian antiques and furniture sharing space with African and European pieces in an ensemble that suited Marbella’s climate and lifestyle very well.

Computer Aided Design
In architectural terms it is possible to speak of the watershed created by the ubiquitous AutoCAD drafting system. Since its launch in the early 1980s this humble (though extremely powerful) computer software application has come to dominate architecture, changing the way designs are produced – and the designs produced. Although AutoCAD is a highly versatile application that has opened new doors to the world of design, it cannot be denied that it has had a profound impact on architectural styling across the world – producing the jagged, rectangular lines favoured by this computer-generated form of design.

Modern architecture
As systems like AutoCAD become more sophisticated and adaptable, however, the styles they allow/encourage are already showing themselves to be more fluid and inventive again, sparking hopes of a revival in true modern, perhaps even avant-garde architecture. While some of the naïve enthusiasm of the 1960s may have been lost in the 21st century, the emphasis on technology and the challenge to meet eco- friendly goals is creating a new kind of architecture, such as that of prominent American architect Daniel Libeskind, whose marvels of modern styling concepts and materials represent the latest evolution in Marbella.

As more and more buyers seem to want modern and even very avant-garde homes, the look and shape of villas in the area is once again becoming increasingly individualistic and bespoke. While not all attempts at modern architecture can be called a success, the movement back towards sleek white homes with large window frontage and irregular forms is creating exteriors that finally match the cool designer kitchens, bathrooms and living spaces of the interior realm.

With elements dating back to Moorish and even Roman times, this pretty maze of traditional Andalusian houses dissected by little alleyways, pedestrian streets and intimate squares has retained the charm of another era. As such, it is the ideal setting for some of the best restaurants and most ambient tapas bar and cafés in Marbella, as well as a selection of stylish boutiques and antique shops.

Yet Marbella’s old town, in places still ensconced within its medieval walls, is also a living district that has been home to a close-knit community for centuries. It is they who maintain the earthy charm of this otherwise elegant area that is so popular with tourists and locals alike. Set in between the homes and shops in this remarkably clean and pristine district are a number of charming hostels and exquisite boutique hotels that offer authenticity and designer comforts respectively.

Enjoy Marbella with your senses
Now a new initiative has been launched that celebrates and highlights the charms of Marbella’s old town. Named ‘Feel Marbella’, it was presented at a press conference in Marbella on 23 February and will commence on Saturday 19th March (due to bad weather on the 5th), to be repeated on the first Saturday of every month. “We are aware that in Marbella there is a public that demands these types of initiatives and the creation of new spaces and environments for culture and leasure”, commented Turism councilor, Jose Luis Hernandez. Drawing on the charm of the setting, the event will feature art exhibitions, live music and will enjoy the collaboration of bars and restaurants along the beautiful alleys and squares. In total over 70 artists, 4 simultaneous concerts and 22 gastro-bars will participate in this first event.

For a full programme of the day visit Facebook page: SOMOS 5001…¡¡ SIENTE MARBELLA!!

As one of the countries hardest hit by the financial crisis, Spain’s road to recovery will not be straightforward, but it is hoped that the low-point has now been reached and a new corner turned. Already one of the last industrialised nations to emerge from negative growth, the country had to endure almost two full years of economic contraction, yet the process seems to have been halted, with the overall figure for 2010 showing a contraction of 0,1%.

Export-driven recovery
As in most developed countries it was exports that drove the recovery, with technology-based services and, in particular industry, making up for the general drop in domestic consumer spending and investment flows. These, together with a booming construction sector, had been the foundations of a decade-long economic expansion that made Spain one of the most dynamic European countries of the 1990s and 2000s.

Although an increase in consumer spending around the Christmas period helped drive the recovery at the end of 2010, it is clear that the Spanish economy will not be able to rely on the above-mentioned staples to steer it back towards health. For this, it will come to depend more on the development and exportation of technology and expertise-based products and know-how to the world’s emerging markets.

Hurdles to overcome
Any list of Spain’s current economic weaknesses – and hence challenges to overcome – would include the high debt burden, the weakened construction and financial sectors, and labour laws that make it hard for the country to be cost-efficient in the face of stiff competition from abroad. For years Spanish economic growth was largely driven by investment in its internal infrastructures, and the industrial and consumer growth that derived from it, but increasingly the country will have to focus its energies on exports if it is to continue to prosper.

Serious cuts in public spending will hurt the economy in the short term – as is the case elsewhere in the developed world – but along with labour market and financial sector reforms they are needed to establish the proper conditions for longer-term growth. Such measures will see investment flows, the property market and consumer spending recover before long, though their contributions to the Spanish GDP will be diminished.

Strengths
While it may not quite have the export-credentials of a country like Germany, Spain is a fully-fledged member of the leading economies of the world. Much has been said in recent years about the rise of such economies as China, India and Brazil, though it must be remembered that while they are rapidly climbing up the rankings their per capita GDP levels are still well behind those of countries such as Spain.

This means that it must build upon the successes of recent growth sectors such as wind energy, specialist engineering niches, high-tech construction materials and luxury brands to open up new markets. The leading position of Spain’s top blue-chip companies in Latin America gives it muscle in a region in which it has a natural trading advantage. Moreover, since Brazil is not the only Latin American country in ascendancy this is one of the most important future growth markets in the world.

Spanish foreign investment has ensured a footing in these countries that is rivalled only by the Americans, so if it exercises budgetary discipline, liberalises the labour market and encourages the banks to start lending again the Spanish government will set the conditions for recovery in the short term. A new outward look, accompanied by investments in education and technological R&D are requirements for longer-term growth.

Michel Cruz, for DM Properties
Fuentes: BBC Business Desk, The Economist Intelligence Unit, The World Bank

Read more about the Golden Mile.

Interested in property for sale on the Golden Mile? Please view our portfolio of properties for sale on the Golden Mile.

Nowadays, Los Monteros is an established residential area elegantly settled by one of the best beaches of Marbella and is one of the most sought after residential areas boasting charming homes, magnificent beachfront estates and luxury apartments.

The estate lies between Bahia de Marbella and Las Chapas, to the east of Marbella town and enjoys privacy and a tranquil setting at about a 5min drive from Marbella centre and 15min from Puerto Banus.

Read more about Los Monteros in our blog.

The developer’s carefully planned master project of undeveloped plots of minimum 2000m² and buildable surface area of 12.2% which focused on low density, privacy and tranquillity has greatly benefitted Monte Mayor making it one of very few remaining valleys on the Costa del Sol where an abundance of natural vegetation and low density planning can be found. Read more about Monte Mayor.

View our portfolio of villas for sale in Monte Mayor or our plots for sale in Monte Mayor.