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Costa del Sol – Bad Weather and Short Memories!
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Gecko Towers Not seven days ago we were all ranting, along with the conventional and online media about the appalling weather being visited on the Costa del Sol by various very unpleasant storms coming primarily from the Atlantic. The wreaked havoc on lives and homes in the area causing huge…
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Costa del Sol – a Great Choice for Retirees
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Gecko Towers There are some simple mantras that are key to the thinking of retirees when planning their next steps. Put simply these are Quiet Luxury, Community & Retirement Lifestyle. As we are always told write about what you know and the two locations along the Costa del Sol that…
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Costa del Sol – the Smart Choice for Property Buyers?
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Gecko Towers The Costa del Sol isn’t just an amazing place as a visitor — it’s a strategic location in Europe to buy property. Whether you’re investing, relocating, retiring, or purchasing a second home, this stretch of coastline offers a rare mix of lifestyle appeal, infrastructure, legal security and long-term…
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So, you’d like to buy a property in the Marbella region?
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Gecko Towers We’re continuing our Buyer’s Guide series with an edition titled “Buying a Property in the Marbella region”. This guide aims to be simple and practical, offering a quick reference for anyone thinking about buying a home on the Costa del Sol. What do Estate Agents do in Marbella?…
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Avoid making this basic mistake when buying a property in the Marbella region!
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Gecko Towers For many years I was employed as an “in-house lawyer”. I worked for music publishing and record companies. However, my message to you is identical. My “client” was never the songwriter or recording artists, with whom my employer was seeking to enter into an agreement. My client was very definitely…
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San Pedro de Alcantara – Marbella’s neighbour.
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Gecko Towers I confess I have a vested interest in the successful and sustainable growth of San Pedro de Alcantara, it has been home to my family for years and we love it. And it really is, Marbella’s authentic and unassuming neighbour. I also run and have grown exponentially over…
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Why is Marbella’s weather so great?
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Gecko Towers Cited by many as the core reason for their move to the Costa del Sol, the weather in Marbella is simply exceptional. It’s really important to make distinctions when a sweeping generalization is bound to require some clarification. There are hotels some fifteen plus kilometers away from “Marbella”…
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With us, You are never on your own!
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Gecko Towers Once a Client always a Client. For those of us who have been resident on the Costa del Sol for a number of years, in my case over two decades, there may be some complacency that it is easy to relocate to this beautiful coast. The cold hard truth is…
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Retiring Aboard: Marbella, Costa del Sol
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Gecko Towers Sometimes it’s a little difficult to take a “helicopter view” of a life in retirement, but Carla Seely, a correspondent with Bermuda’s respected The Royal Gazette has done just that. She identifies largely compelling reason as to why retirement on the Costa del Sol requires seriously strong consideration.…
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A Storm is Coming to the Costa del Sol!
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Gecko Towers The British are known for their fascination with the weather. Being an island – inevitably surrounded by seas with conflicting winds and thermal conditions -means that along with Radio 4’s “Shipping Forecast” the dynamics of British weather are never just dull nor particularly extreme. Yet they are the…
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Who is a Spanish “Non-Lucrative Visa” right for?
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Gecko Towers Freedom of Movement – one of the core tenets of the European Union – is a brilliant concept designed for European integration, co-operation and development. The UK took a decision in 2016 – that’s ten years next year – and voted to leave the EU. A disaster that…
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Malaga Airport: Gateway to the World.
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Gecko Towers It comes as no surprise after more than two decades here that I really love living and working on the Costa del Sol. In that twenty plus years we have seem some amazing developments, changes that have challenged the conservatism of more traditional Spain. One barometer of the…
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Thinking of relocating to the Costa del Sol after life in the Arabian Gulf? If so, read on….
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Gecko Towers Being an Expat requires certain resilience and tenacity that enable you to challenge the unfamiliar and conquer, and thereby thriving, in your chosen location. Once you have mastered this life skill when the opportunity arises to downsize or to consider retirement this is, again, a challenge to be…
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What to do on the Costa del Sol when it rains?
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Gecko Towers Strange as it may seem, given an annual average of 320 days of sun – though to be honest I’ve not measured it – there are some days that our Irish clients call “soft days”. These occurs when the sun doesn’t shine through the clouds and the heavens…
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Marbella is awesome. Surely, there’re no drawbacks to life on the Costa del Sol? Are there?
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Gecko Towers We read the property sales updates that confirm what we, who are involved in the Marbella region’s property market, know the Brits and other non-Spanish foreigners are still hoovering up Spanish property. Much of this activity takes place on the western Costa del Sol around the flagship town…
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Great news for short-term rentals. But how to ensure that a Costa del Sol property allows such use?
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Gecko Towers For many prospective owners of a property on the Costa del Sol the idea of securing short term rentals is vital to your property owning business plan. The aim being, primarily to assist with monthly costs like mortgage repayments and Community Fees (that may be billed quarterly) and…
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When seeking a Costa del Sol property, why it’s essential to have an Abogado at your shoulder?
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Gecko Towers Many of our Estate Agency colleagues tell us that ahead of searching for a property it is not at all unusual for a prospective purchaser to have already appointed a Spanish Lawyer. Smart planning from the outset is a great idea and having their expertise “in your corner”…
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Property Buyer’s need to know: “Why grant a Power of Attorney to your Abogado?”
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Gecko Towers: Having selected your preferred Spanish lawyer (Abogado), and we are well placed to advise you on this vitally important appointment, the next challenge is determining whether granting a Power of Attorney (Poder Notarial) to your trusted Abogado is right for you. When purchasing property on the Costa del…
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Property Buyer’s need to know: “What is an NIE?”
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Gecko Towers: Core to our purpose is to identify those elements that you, in your search for your perfect Costa del Sol property, will need to consider, deal with and, probably, sign in pursuit of your goal. You are not alone in this confusing and alien world as our team…
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Property Buyer’s need to know: “What is a Contrato de CompraVenta?”
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Gecko Towers: Core to our purpose is to identify those elements that you, in your search for your perfect Costa del Sol property, will need to consider, deal with and, probably, sign in pursuit of your goal. You are not alone in this confusing and alien world as our team…
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Property Buyer’s need to know: “What Due Diligence is essential when buying on the Costa del Sol?”
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Gecko Towers: It’s essential to conduct thorough due diligence to ensure a smooth and secure transaction. More usually your trusted local and highly-experienced Spanish Abogado (Lawyer) will initiate this work and report to upon the findings made. The aim of this piece is to provide you with the substantive insight into what…
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Property Buyer’s need to know: “What is a Contrato de Arras?”
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Gecko Towers: Core to our purpose is to identify those elements that you, in your search for your perfect Costa del Sol property, will need to consider, deal with and, probably, sign in pursuit of your goal. You are not alone in this confusing and alien world as our team…
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Is Costa del Sol the Best Place to Live In Europe?
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Gecko Towers The Costa del Sol is often considered one of the best places to live in Europe, and for good reason. It’s not a one-size-fits-all paradise, but it ticks a lot of boxes for different lifestyles—from retirees and digital nomads to families and investors. Here’s why: 1. Incredible Climate •…
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Thinking of making the Costa del Sol your home? Here’s some great news…
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Gecko Towers If you’ve been following us, you may have seen our recent post on “What Non-European Buyers Need to Know When Purchasing a Property in Marbella.” https://marbellapropertylawyers.com/what-does-a-non-eu-property-buyer-on-the-costa-del-sol-need-to-know/ What I didn’t dive into then—but I’m excited to share with you now—are some very positive updates to the Non-Lucrative Visa (NLV), often the residency…
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Rain On It’s Way? The Alphabet of Spanish Storms
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Gecko Towers: During the Spring, the pernicious weather systems that battered the Costa del Sol, Storm Laurence, dropped around a metre of rain on Malaga province between 17/18th March leading to flooding and associated mayhem across the province. Hard on its heel, on 20th March, we awaited the arrival of…
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What does a Non-EU Property Buyer on the Costa del Sol need to know?
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Gecko Towers My fellow Brits, for the purposes of Spanish residency issues, you are regarded as Non-Europeans (Non-EU). The same classification is also given to Americans, Canadians, those hailing from UAE, Australia, New Zealand etc. As a result, Non-EU buyers often have additional concerns when compared to nationals of EU member states…
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What do Marbella Property Buyers worry about?
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Gecko Towers Buying a property in Marbella is a thrilling experience, but many buyers share the same concerns. Here’s what they worry about most — and how my team can help you to overcome them: 1. Legal Uncertainty & Title Issues Fear: “What if the property doesn’t have clean paperwork, or…
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At the Taller (pronounced “Tayer”).
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Gecko Towers When your car’s dashboard screen, if it’s young enough to have one, delivers after a few thousand kilometers a polite message reading ”Change Engine Oil Soon”, you maybe surprised by the speed at which you receive a more urgent “Oil Change Required” screen. It’s now that you feel…
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Avoid the legal roadblocks when buying a home in the Marbella region.
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Gecko Towers How Property Buyers in the Marbella Region Can Avoid the Most Common Legal Roadblocks? 1. Verify Urban Planning Compliance • Roadblock: Buying a property that violates zoning or planning laws (very common due to Marbella’s complex urban history). • Solution: Have your lawyer confirm the property’s status under the latest…
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Welcome to Hotel Gran Marbella
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Gecko Towers Here’s a splendid piece from The Times in celebration of the opening of yet another superb hotel in the Marbella region. Sited in Elviria, to the East of Marbella, the hotel is near to the most beautiful beach. The title suggests Marbella was once trashy – it has…
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Post-Brexit Spanish solution for on-line Brits.
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Gecko Towers The thorn of Brexit still proves painful for many Brits who would love to enjoy a better quality of life on Spain’s Costa del Sol. Spain continues to be a massive draw for digital nomads looking to work abroad. There’s just something about the Mediterranean lifestyle, weather and…
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Does the Costa del Sol have enough Water?
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Gecko Towers Over the last couple of years I have reported extensively on the precarious nature of the supply of fresh water here on the Western Costa del Sol. We have been in drought conditions for much of that time but in the last year or so, combined with a…
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Great news for Brits who own a Marbella property.
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Gecko Towers The British may still be among the largest groups of property buyers in the Marbella region but the impact of Brexit, rendering Brits as non-EU residents, had posed a hurdle to the full realization of opportunities to rent out their properties. The Spanish tax authorities had insisted that…
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Marbella Property Buyer’s Protection Checklist
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Gecko Towers Essential Legal & Practical Steps for a Secure Real Estate Purchase In my working life in the Marbella region, both on and offline, we are often asked for a stripped back checklist of those matters a potential property buyer – seeking a reasonable level of protection – should…
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Legal certainty from Marbella’s new Urban Plan
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Gecko Towers: Marbella’s New Urban Plan Secures Certainty and Growth for International Buyers and Luxury Real Estate Investors Marbella is on the cusp of a major transformation with the anticipated approval of its new PGOM (Plan General de Ordenación Municipal) this June—a landmark moment that delivers the legal certainty and…
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Impact on UK visitors of the Brexit Reset deal.
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Gecko Towers: For British expats and home owners in the Marbella region, recent developments in the UK-EU relationship could have a significant impact on your travel and lifestyle. A key agreement between the UK and EU allows for easier travel between the two regions, with UK travellers being able to…
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Marbella Property – Who to be Wary Of?
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Gecko Towers: When buying a property in the Marbella region, it’s essential to be cautious when accepting advice from certain individuals or sources. Here are some examples: Unregulated Property Agents Lack of oversight: Be wary of agents who are not registered with a professional body or regulated by a governing…
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Marbella, now a Tech Hub?
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Gecko Towers: An excellent piece from the EuroWeekly news. It highlights that like the rest of Andalusia, Marbella is not satisfied being a destination solely for retirees, it now offers a unique environment to thrive for those involved in startup and scalable tech-based enterprises. This is seen as contributing to…
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Marbella Property – Who can you Trust?
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Gecko Towers: When buying a property in the Marbella region, it’s essential to trust the right professionals for honest and transparent advice. But who should you trust – here are some options: Reputable Real Estate Agents Local knowledge: Look for agents with extensive knowledge of the Marbella region and its…
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Americans Relocating to Marbella
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Gecko Towers: We are being told that Spain generally is a great choice for US citizens seeking to relocate, particularly as pensioners. A study by Global Intelligence Unit, compared variables including the weather and taxes. Spain came out top ahead of Portugal. Spain’s comparatively low cost of living, excellent quality…
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Reduce Your Risks when buying “Off Plan”!
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Gecko Towers: Buying a property “off plan” in the Marbella region of Spain can be a great opportunity, but it comes with risks. Here are some tips to limit your risks: Research the Developer Check their reputation: Look into the developer’s track record, previous projects, and customer reviews. Verify their…
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MPL: Costa del Sol becomes Costa Verde!
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Gecko Towers: Over eighteen months ago I had the idea, in the depth of a horrible period of drought on the Costa del Sol, to report on the state of the local water supply and, in particular, the local reservoir near to my home in San Pedro de Alcantara. It…
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“Marbella 2.0 – Beyond The Bling?”
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Gecko Towers: The Financial Times – the Pink One – “the FT” – has an amazing reputation for combining the dullest of reams of share and fund performance statistics, understood by the jargonistas in Financial Capitals around the World with some keenly observed lifestyle content that stops you, thoughtfully, in…
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MPL: Los Monteros Hotel
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Gecko Towers: Back in the Day…and by this I mean the early 1960’s, when Marbella tourism was embryonic, there were only five hotels of note along the western Costa del Sol. The iconic Marbella Club, the golfing paradise of Guadalmina Golf Hotel, the now slightly marginalized Cortijo Blanco, the picturesque…
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MPL: Marbella’s Drought is Over!
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Gecko Towers: After a beautiful Easter Week, never failing to be deeply moved by the spectacle of penitents shouldering hefty silver thrones bearing the Virgin or Christ on the Cross, we returned to work with the news that as a result the recent rainfall Marbella’s drought is officially pronounced over!…
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Is now the right time to sell your Marbella property?
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Gecko Towers: The right time to sell your property in the Marbella region of the Costa del Sol largely depends on various factors, including the current market conditions, your personal circumstances, and the state of your property. Market ConditionsThe Costa del Sol property market has been experiencing sustained growth, with…
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Location is vital, but timing is also important!
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Gecko Towers: Is now the right time to buy a property in the Marbella region of the Costa del Sol? The Marbella region of the Costa del Sol is a fantastic place to invest in property, and 2025 is shaping up to be an exciting year for the real estate…
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Spanish Law of Horizontal Property
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Gecko Towers: In my last blog concerning the new Rules for Tourist Rental – please see here – I mentioned the curiously named Spanish “Law of Horizontal Property” (Ley de Propiedad Horizontal, (LHP)). It’s a concept more easily understood if you think in terms of apartment blocks where there are…
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New Rules for Marbella Tourist Rentals.
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Gecko Towers: STOP PRESS 07.04.25 There is a lot of debate about the changes to the Horizontal Law of Property effective as of 03.04.25 so I wanted to share a little more of this debate. A. Communities are authorized to impose up to a 20% increase in common expenses on…
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MPL: Condé Nast Traveller reviews Marbella’s Hotels
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Gecko Towers: There is much activity taking place in the hotel sector in Marbella with fabulous refurbishments of the older and breaking ground to build the new. That ever trusty resource, Condé Nast Traveller, is on hand to rate their preferred hotels in the Marbella region. This may be a…
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Marbella is “A priority for luxury real estate investors.”
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Gecko Towers: Quite a lot of what I have been banging on about for years is coming to the ears and eyes of the international investment community and their trusted “taste-maker” www.Forbes.com. Here, in an excellent piece, the coincidence of strong economic growth, the enviable lifestyle and the surge in…
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MPL: Biblical Rain!
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Gecko Towers: March 5th 2025 – We are told that we may well be in for a prolonged spell of wet weather. Warnings – including the Yellows from the Spanish Agency AEMET – are given and the prediction services say the rain will be with us for at least a…
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MPL: Is the Drought Over in Marbella?
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Gecko Towers: Update – 07.02.24 – We have today received the following from the Colegio de Administradores de Fincas de Málaga y Melilla – the Organisation that represents the Administrators of Communities of Owners. “We inform you that, according to the latest update on the drought situation by the Junta…
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MPL: Understanding Electricity v5.
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Gecko Towers: This is the fifth in a short series aimed at demystifying that household essential – Electricity. As explained in earlier articles, the variable charge each month is the number of Kwhr used during the month. There are a number of good housekeeping habits that can control this. The famous water heater: In…
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MPL: Will Spain’s Transport chief act to reduce the jams?
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Gecko Towers STOP PRESS: 18.12.24 This piece first appeared in June and as I suggested it was useful to watch this space. Please see the following piece by Ignacio Lillo for Sur in English, that records that Spain’s transport minister, Óscar Puente, has promised to make Costa del Sol train…
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MPL: December ‘24 Water Update
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Gecko Towers: Following a fabulous four day “puente” (bridge) holiday weekend that combined both secular and religious days, when the Western Costa del Sol was blessed with brilliant sunshine and temperatures in the early 20’s (Celsius), the impact of Storm Bert, which has raged in Northern Europe, has been predicted.…
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Spain’s Updated Residency Rules for 2025
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Gecko Towers: The thorny questions of legal residency in Spain have provoked much debate. Spain, which, as ever, is keen to regularize the position of those willing to play their active part in the country, have issued a new opportunity. The results of the Brexit Vote have impacted on many…
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MPL: Hotel El Fuerte Marbella
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Gecko Towers: When I first arrived in Spain and started working with clients seeking to relocate or to buy a holiday property in the region we used to often meet at the Hotel El Fuerte. It was charmingly shabby, a little down at heel with livered valets parking cars in…
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Your Man in Marbella.
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Gecko Towers: Our website www.marbellapropertylawyers.com is receiving many hundreds of daily visits and it is again time to give a human face to our activities. I was kindly reminded today of a piece I posted late last year. Here it is, featuring me, Mark FR Wilkins, talking about my work…
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MPL: The Rain in Spain….
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Gecko Towers: To vary the slightly hackneyed lyric from the musical “My Fair Lady” – the Spanish planes have had their fair share but…. “The Rain in Spain Has Fallen Heavily on the Costa Del Sol”! A week on from the deluge we are all analyzing the effects of the…
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MPL: Recent Rains Positive Impact on Agriculture
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Gecko Towers: There is often a suggestion that, those of us involved in the international property market, our sole focus is on persuading those from other parts of the World to consider a property purchase on the Costa del Sol. I make no apologies for the fact that my family…
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MPL: Marbella v Barcelona
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Gecko Towers: No, this is not yet a football fixture, outside the dreams of those supporters of Marbella FC, it’s a comprehensive review of luxury property in each location by leading estate agency, Knight Frank. Their Lifestyle Report 2024 suggests that at circa €8,900 to €9,800 per m3, Marbella may…
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MPL: Rain First Thing, Now Bright Sunshine!
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Gecko Towers: Let’s not be shy, I love both the climate and the weather that visits us here on the Costa del Sol but it can sometimes be a little contrary. Emerging from the house this morning the weather Apps assured me it was “Light Cloud” but perversely, in reality…
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MPL: Results of the Recent Rain
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Gecko Towers: I am delighted that in addition to my core business at www.MarbellaPropertyLawyers.com over the past year I have been provided with a platform to comment on the state of the water reserves, in particularly, the Marbella region of the Costa del Sol. Your support, for which I am…
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MPL: More Rain To Fall in Marbella
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Gecko Towers: Stop Press at 21.30 on 12.11.24 – the Spanish meteorological agency, AEMET, raised the threat level to the local population and their possessions to a Red Alert. We have received texted alerts on our mobile phones from the Civil Protection authorities. Bracing ourselves for violent storms. At the…
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MPL: North Americans are finding new lives in Marbella.
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Gecko Towers: Stop Press 27.11.24 Given the massive amount of online and press interest in my proposition, here is a good piece from the people from AZBigMedia. It adds to the conclusion that those from the USA are seeing the Costa del Sol as the new “SoCal” with all of…
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MPL: Are you a Non-EU citizen? So, you’ll need a Spanish Visa.
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Gecko Towers By nature I am a “democrat” – with a small “D”: I recognize the true value in democracy and the Rule of Law. I didn’t like the Brexit vote in 2016, nor the unfolding disaster that it has meant to the UK economy since the UK left the…
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MPL: The Costa del Sol – the Best Place to Live in Europe.
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Gecko Towers Having been based with my wife and kids in the Marbella region for 20 plus years, the answer to this question is a subjective, unqualified and resounding ….Yes! Over two decades has taught us a few things that I feel compelled to share. However, it is vital that…
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MPL: A Week of Rain!
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Gecko Towers Yesterday we were placed on an Orange Alert warning by the Spanish State Meteorological Agency regarding the prospect of heavy rain on the Costa del Sol from 18.00 last evening. No sh** Sherlock! It threw it down, combined with thunder and lightning over the beach in San Pedro…
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MPL: Marbella Club Hotel
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Gecko Towers Stop Press – 17.12.24: Reports are circulating that Marbella Club Hotel has been honored by the illustrious Condé Nast Traveller magazine naming it as one of the 70 best hotels in the World! An amazing honor from this highly respected paragon of great taste. See here a piece…
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MPL: Desalination in the Axarquía.
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Gecko Towers When you are very familiar with your immediate region and its inherent issues, even the smallest deviation may seem to take you far from home. The Axarquia region is very picturesque and rural setting to the North and East of Malaga. It sits at the foot of the…
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MPL: A Brief Water Update
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Gecko Towers This morning at 10.00 the Embalse de la Concepcion in Istan sat at 42.09% of full capacity. That is up from 40.49% on Wednesday 16th October, so we can conclude, despite continued use by the local community, that the run-off from the recent rain storms will have contributed…
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MPL: What did you do this Weekend?
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Gecko Towers There are very few reasons, to drive past Tarifa on the coast road, the N340, and not stop to take in the wonderful, sand, wind and spray that comes from the Atlantic Ocean. Hitting the beach at Tarifa and its neighbours with a combination of force and majesty…
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MPL: The Rain, The Aftermath.
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Posting videos, as I have done on my Facebook feed, about my First World Problem of too much water in our swimming pool, I have receive literally hundreds of useful tips from around the World on how to store excess water for later use in garden irrigation. I will, of…
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MPL: It’s Raining Again
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Gecko Towers Our Irish friends call it a “soft day”, but like my old Piaggio Vespa scooter – which I used come rain or shine to get to my office in London’s Mayfair – the Marbella rain has two gears, spitting and torrential. Over the last three days I have…
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MPL: Rain, finally!
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Gecko Towers I always say, to anyone who asks, there is no way that you should move away from a place you are familiar with, have friends and family connections or may be even were born and grew up, simply because of the weather. When you do decide that moving…
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MPL – Marbella’s Desalination Plant – an Update
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Gecko Towers With the impending news of updated water restrictions in the Marbella area, I did a little digging. Assurances had been given earlier in the year that the slack in the water supply would be taken up by cranking up and modernizing the Desalination Plant situated on the road…
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MPL – A Marbella Water Update 30.09.24
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Gecko Towers Welcome to a post Summer reality. The Puerto Banus traffic jams and the crowded favourite bars are a thing of the recent past, they are now gone. While this may give rise to some limited celebration it’s my job to impart some negative news. You’ll recall that the…
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MPL: Costa del Sol Experiences.
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Gecko Towers We are told that the young and old alike are now more into seeking experiences than they are into “stuff”. If you are on holiday with younger members of your family, tearing them away from their screens is a triumph. Offering them a genuinely enjoyable experience, a step…
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MPL: Costa del Sol – Water Supply.
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Gecko Towers Update 06.08.24 An interesting piece in www.euroweeklynews.com (by Adam Woodward) noted that volume of water at the Concepcion reservoir, in early August, stood at 59.04% of capacity which is up on 2023. Meanwhile, over at www.surinenglish.com, Chus Heredia, noted that Acosol’s two phases of work to improve the…
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Costa del Sol: Forbes – A Best Place to Retire.
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Gecko Towers Forbes Magazine, the influential guide to all things of worth and value, have decided that the Costa del Sol is one of their recommended places to retire for US nationals looking for an overseas location for their Golden Years. Please see here the full list – and there…
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MarbellaPropertyLawyers: Spanish Golden Visas
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Gecko Towers Mark Stucklin takes a deep dive into European Golden Visas. He notes that Spain’s Golden Visa continues to be offered for qualifying investments including those in property. We have an Associate who handles such Visa for international clients (outside EU/EEA) who are seeking to avail themselves of the…
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MarbellaPropertyLawyers: New UK Government and its impact on Spain
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Gecko Towers They say great minds think alike. In all modesty, I was thinking that the there is likely to be a marked impact on the Spanish property market as a result of the landslide election of Labour in the UK. The inevitable specter of higher taxes and a likely…
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MarbellaPropertyLawyers: Foodie tours
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Gecko Towers As subscribers to my blog at www.marbellapropertylawyers.com will already know, I really enjoy a trip to one of the many local municipal markets. The two in central Marbella, the fabulous Mercado Central de Atarazanas in Malaga centre and the excellent one in the Malaga suburb of Huelin. See…
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MarbellaPropertyLawyers: Murcia, no water but no shortage. Why?
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Murcia has no water but no water shortage. Why?
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MPL: Marbella Club Hotel at 70.
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Gecko Towers The word “iconic” is often overused. However, Marbella Club Hotel, which in 2024 celebrates its 70th anniversary, remains a beacon of luxury and old school sophistication. Set in the heart of Marbella’s Golden Mile it spawned a lifestyle of subtle luxury that continues to this day. See this…
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Marbella’s AP-7 – Taking Its Toll
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Gecko Towers STOP PRESS 10.07.24 Update 2: Marbella and Estepona’s Mayors, respectively, Angeles Munoz and Jose Maria Garcia Urbano, have turned up the heat on the Madrid central government’s refusal to sanction plans to develop a commuter train connection between Malaga and the Western Costa del Sol. The Mayors argue…
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MarbellaPropertyLawyers: Could the UK rejoin the EU?
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Gecko Towers The new UK Primer Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, has been previously characterized as “passionately opposed to Brexit” and he has “argued for a second Referendum.” Could this be excellent news for those keen to live in the Marbella region free of the post Brexit residency issues? He has…
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Nick Foulkes’ Marbella.
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Gecko Towers Style guru, Nick Foulkes, loves Marbella. In this piece in the Financial Times he shares some tips including his preferred places to eat, to visit and to enjoy in, particularly, the charming Old Town, heart of Marbella.. Please follow this link – https://on.ft.com/3xJAI32 Should you be interested in…
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MarbellaPropertyLawyers: Investment in Water
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Gecko Towers Given the gravity of the water situation on the Western Costa del Sol, it is hugely encouraging to read this Sur in English piece announcing over a third of €1bn is to be invested in water, it’s conservation, treatment and recycling. See here https://www.surinenglish.com/malaga/acosol-faces-historic-investment-for-more-drinking-20240701081240-nt.html Should you be interested…
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MarbellaPropertyLawyers: Weather Warning
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Gecko Towers So a brief storm is not that unusual though out the summer months but around 2.00 am today our house – in San Pedro de Alcantara – was being by fork lightening. The dogs howled, we woke up and the rain poured – not for long – but…
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MarbellaPropertyLawyers: Local News
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Gecko Towers An undeniable fact is that property prices along the Costa del Sol, between Nerja and Sotogrande, have continued to rise. Here is an excellent Sur in English piece that documents the current trends. It should be noted, unlike other countries you may be more experienced in, the barometer…
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Marbella’s Desalination Plant – An Update
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Gecko Towers STOP PRESS FURTHER UPDATE: For the Estepona region I have received the following update. There are two solar-powered operations currently underway. Firstly, there will be a water cleansing plant – to treat brackish well water – from the Padrón boreholes, pipeworks are already underway at the site. The…
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MarbellaPropertyLawyers’ Guide 9 : Sweating Your Asset.
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Gecko Towers For many owners of a property in the Marbella region, be they long term owners or recent buyers, there are several drivers that cause them to chose to invest in this market. It may be a lifestyle purchase, a reward for a lifetime of hard work, a the…
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MarbellaPropertyLawyers’ Guide 8 : Joining a Community of Owners.
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Gecko Towers If you buy a property in the Marbella region that is located on an Urbanisation – generally understood to be a development or group of developments of Town Houses (Adosados) or Apartments/Flats (Apartamentos/Pisos) – it is entirely usual that your property will comprise part of a Community of…
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MarbellaPropertyLawyers’ Guide 7 : “Off Plan”- Don’t get ripped off!
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Gecko Towers There is currently a stone-cold reality that on the Costa del Sol, particularly in the Marbella area. There is insufficient available property stock to satisfy the huge demand that local estate agents are experiencing from clients keen to buy here. The natural bed-fellow to a lack of stock…
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MarbellaPropertyLawyers’ Guide 6 : The Costs of Buying.
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Gecko Towers A ‘Wealth Warning’! ….This is a breakdown of the costs of buying in the Marbella region of Southern Spain – but specifically excluded are the actual cost of the property itself – and is in relation to the “typical” purchase. It is intended as a rough guide only…
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MarbellaPropertyLawyers’ Guide 5 : Funding Your Purchase.
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Gecko Towers “Money makes the World go around…..“. Well no it doesn’t, of course, but in making an acquisition of a property in the Marbella region it is something that you are going to need to take care of. Not only having it available, but having it to hand at…
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MarbellaPropertyLawyers’ Guide 4 : Due Diligence and Paperwork
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Gecko Towers In making a property purchase in the Marbella region my strong advice is to ensure that you seek the guidance and wisdom from a locally based specialist in Spanish law. Your chosen Abogado (Spanish lawyer) should be a member of the local Colegio de Abogados (Spanish Bar Association).…
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MarbellaPropertyLawyers’ Guide 3 : Affordability.
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Gecko Towers Demand for properties in the Marbella region of the Costa del Sol has remained reasonably consistent post Covid. Although there were many transactions in 2022 and 2023, there is evidence of some stability in the higher-end market heading into later Summer 2024. However, prices for all manner of…
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MarbellaPropertyLawyers’ Guide 2 : Back to Basics.
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Gecko Towers The sources of information available to the prospective Marbella property owner are virtually endless. Can I recommend that you focus on those objective, “honest broker” and third party pieces written with you, the prospective client, being the sole focus. With this in mind, please delve into our blog…
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MarbellaPropertyLawyers’ Guide 1 : Buying a Property
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Gecko Towers: Today, we start a part work of stripped down, practical advice and a simplified guide to buying a property in Marbella. Our first stop on this journey is the reason why, the motivation to buy – what can you hope to achieve from a well-selected and carefully chosen…
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Marbella: “Off-Plan” Purchase Protection
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Gecko Towers Buying “off plan” – and it is important to note that we are talking here about a yet to be built developer constructed and/or promoter promoted multiple apartment, villa or town house type development – may not be for everyone but its seems they are fast becoming a…
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Marbella: Thinking of buying “Off Plan”?
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Gecko Towers There is a simple truth is that Marbella property is selling – and, I am told, selling fast. With the decline in available stock more developers are entering the market offering new “off plan” prospects. For “off plan” read “yet to be constructed” but this expression may also…
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Marbella: 01.06.24 – Water Restrictions Relaxed.
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Gecko Towers Updated 04.06.24 There have been various reports that the local water supply companies, Acosol and Hidralia are having to dispatch technicians to remove the “cable tie locks” that have been applied to community swimming pool water supply preventing use. To remove these without a technician exposes the urbanization…
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Marbella: The Costs of Buying a Property
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Gecko Towers A ‘Wealth Warning’! ….This is a breakdown of the costs of buying in the Marbella region of Southern Spain – but specifically excluded is the agreed purchase price of of the property itself. Furthermore, the following is in relation to the “typical” purchase. It is intended as a…
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In Marbella: Looking after your best interests?
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Gecko Towers Most information services about purchasing a property in Marbella, or pretty much anywhere else, have one abiding message. Their mantra is clear – make sure that you retain the services of an independent lawyer from the start of your purchase process. If you take on board no other…
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Marbella: Why Not Renovate to Create Your Dream Home?
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Gecko Towers Like many property seekers looking to settle in the Marbella area, we had seen a lot of property. A lot! The ramshackle “country property” that the agent, who we’d not met previously, would confide in us was only partially legal, as though that were a positive quality. Apparently,…
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Water Update ……17th May 2024
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Gecko Towers: I have just been sent the following Press Release from Acosol, the publicly owned water utility company, with confirmation that the contents of my earlier post – sent out today – are, indeed, completely correct. And breathe! Should you be interested in discussing the process involved in buying…
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A Water Update…..15.05.24
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Gecko Towers: As promised, I am scouring the media for various recent posts regarding the water situation and particularly the treatment of pools and irrigation. Yesterday (15.05.24) the Euro-Weekly News carried a piece by Kevin Fraser Park that reported from June 1st, the filling of private swimming pools on the Costa del…
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Is Marbella saying no to tourists? Er, no….
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Gecko Towers: A few years ago on the Circle Line boat tour of Manhatten Island, our guide, after detailing the various shore-line properties and the location of the just completed, High Line, paused. He asked whether we knew what was the single biggest contributor to the GDP of New York…
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Hey Brits, life can still be enjoyed in Marbella!
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Gecko Towers: If the Post Brexit, Post Pandemic and, the soon to be, Post Gibraltar/EU negotiations have taught us Brits nothing, they demonstrate that we are an irrepressible race and have a wanderlust to experience the new and challenge the discomfort of obstacles placed in our way. In so doing,…
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Welcome to MarbellaPropertyLawyers.com
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Gecko Towers: After several months of design and planning, I am delighted to launch my www.marbellapropertylawyers.com portfolio website. This resource features a combination of the essential property and associated buying services, that I provide here in Marbella, together with a new home for my blog. It has been converted to…
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Marbella Property Buying: Local knowledge is vital!
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Gecko Towers In searching for your Marbella property, you may have seen that over the last few years the market has suffered a level of uncertainty as a result of a lack of a new town “General Plan”. The full name in Spanish is the ‘Plan General de Ordenacion Urbana”…
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Marbella Property Buying: How helpful is online advice?
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Gecko Towers Of the myriad of uses to which the Internet can be put, for many, one of the core drivers, is the giving and receiving of advice. Apparent experts and novices, alike, share the same enthusiasm to demonstrate knowledge and a willingness to provide solutions. For those who make…
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Marbella: Is continually evolving.
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Gecko Towers When we first settled in Marbella in the early 2000’s something used to infuriate me. Those, particularly, older Expats, who had lived here since the 1980s would suck their teeth and mourn the loss of a particular amenity. A bar, a restaurant or a shop, as though its…
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MPL: Appointing the right Abogado for you?
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Gecko Towers There is a trusted mantra used by those experienced in delivering constantly good professional client services: “Do a great job and the client will tell one person, do a bad job and the client will tell ten people!” In a smallish market, where there is healthy competition to…
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Why is Marbella such an awesome location?
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Gecko Towers We are told there are three fundamental rules in the hunt for great property which are really rather simple. They are, yes you knew it …. Location, Location, Location! So why is the Marbella region such an awesome location? In case you need additional justification as to why…
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Selling (Your) Marbella Sunset
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Gecko Towers Over the last year I have provided an depth analysis, for those keen to buy a property in the Marbella region, in a nine chapter “guide” series – which is revisited here: Buying a property in the Marbella region – V1 – Our Guide. Buying a property in the…
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Relocating to Marbella – lessons learned.
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Gecko Towers In 2002, with my wife and three kids (aged 7 and under), we decided that a home in Wandsworth, South West London and a partnership in a Mayfair law practice had passed their sell by dates and we needed a new dream. My wife, who has been coming…
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Is Marbella’s the lifestyle you’ve been seeking?
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Gecko Towers In recent months, particularly following the return in the Summer of direct flights from Newark (NJ) to Malaga, (The Bird Has Landed) we are seeing increased interest from particularly, North Americans, keen to explore the idea of a vacation property or even a wholesale lifestyle change to settle…
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Marbella – an Entrepreneur’s Paradise.
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Gecko Towers Update 09.04.24: An announcement has been made by the leader of the Socialist Government in Spain, that his government plans to amend or repeal the “Golden Visa” legislation. Currently no timetable for these changes has been suggested and there is opposition to any revision. That said, this discourse,…
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In Marbella, money is only part of the solution!
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Gecko Towers Over the last week certain of the UK’s right wing/red-top “news” outlets have been advising tourists, planning to visit the Costa del Sol over Easter, that they should be cautioned to pack a bullet-proof vest along with their factor 30 SPF. Since the rationale seems to be “bad…
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Costa del Soul
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Gecko Towers Popular wisdom has it that interest in formal organized religion is waning. Not necessarily are we becoming more secular nor is our interest in the Devine less relevant, for me its more about the simple notion of “self”. This has caused us to be less likely to reach…
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Is Marbella Cool Enough For You?
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Gecko Towers Last week, I attended an online webinar about client generation funnels, truly fascinating and quite inspirational. It certainly got me thinking. A comment was made by the UK-based presenter, that the participants may be increasingly able to choose from where they’d run their businesses. He felt that not…
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Marbella – Lacks Just One Thing.
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Gecko Towers UPDATE (25.03.24) Along with the already underway improvements at the Desalination Plant on the Istán Road outside Marbella, comes an exciting announcement from Acosol – the publicly owned water management company. The Junta de Andalucia has given the green light to an investment valued at €35m with work…
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Marbella, All Year Long….
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Gecko Towers When many of us first came to the Marbella coast, on Spain’s Costa del Sol, there was a limited season of between three to four months – starting in late May and ending in early September – perhaps a little longer for the golfers – but there was…
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Marbella Tops Forbes’ 2024 “Best European Destinations.”
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Gecko Towers Are some of your closest friends and family just a tad too cynical or too logical for their own good? Do they believe that the collective role of popular media is to beguile? Ok, so the conversation went something like this: “Just how sceptical are you of “Surveys”…
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Why is Independent Due Diligence essential when buying on the Costa del Sol?
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Gecko Towers In recent months a number of real estate agencies in the Marbella area have added an “in house Lawyer” to their team. This is excellent news as it will enable them to analyze the properties that they are seeking to sell, to collate the all-important seller’s pack (an…
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“El Pimpi” is Coming To Marbella
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Gecko Towers Featured in the recent series on Spain of the “Gordon, Gino and Fred” franchise, and pretty much every international cookery programme on UK and US. TV, the “El Pimpi” restaurant, an icon for more fifty years on the Malaga tapas scene, is expanding by the addition of a…
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How Marbella Is Solving its Water Crisis.
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Gecko Towers It’s “Liquid Gold”, it’s the “New Oil” and in some regions it’s already rarer than hen’s teeth. We watch the weather forecasts to see if the trusty reservoirs, that have traditionally supplied much of Marbella’s water, are being filled by rain showers. They aren’t. One undeniable fact about…
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Marbella’s 2024 Message For You!
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Gecko Towers The Marbella Town Hall, led by the inspirational, Angeles Munoz, has commissioned a new tourism video that captures, in just a few minutes, the essence of Marbella and its location. You can almost feel the warmth……Enjoy! Marbella’s New Tourism Video Should you be interested in discussing the legal…
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A tram line from Malaga to Marbella
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Gecko Towers When you have been based on the Costa del Sol for as long as I have, I reckon every couple of years there is a new and ground-breaking project to improve infrastructure and various communication links. It may be as simple as a substantial resurfacing of older roads…
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Malaga comes out on top!
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Gecko Towers Is anyone noticing a trend here? Malaga has received a further bouquet being described as a City with a ‘lively atmosphere’ and is particularly noted as the “easiest place for Britons to settle in”! Please see the post here. Malaga Wins! What seems an essential observation of the…
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Pole Position, again, for Spain.
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Gecko Towers For those keen to explore the possibility of remote working – as a Digital Nomad – while living in the most beautiful country, steeped in culture, epic gastronomy and the “Best Climate in Europe”, may just have yet another reason to consider Spain. Condé Nast, that Bible of…
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Unsung Heroes of the Costa del Sol
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Gecko Towers The Doctors and Nurses of the Costa del Sol, along with their compatriots in the Police and the Fire Services are, quite rightly, the much-praised heroes of life here in the Marbella region. They confront on a daily basis the challenges that may impose on the lives of…
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Malaga Valley – Where Tech is Flourishing.
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Gecko Towers Thursday last week I was with a couple of my Biznaga Partners colleagues Biznaga Partners at an Innovation Hub in Malaga. One of a number of such centers springing up around the city. An informed, educated and active audience of entrepreneurs, who come from all over the world,…
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Malaga, the more you know the more you’ll love it!
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Gecko Towers Many who read my various blog posts are kind and motivated. It’s quite clear from their responses that they have a thirst to know more of the prism of delights that Malaga has to offer. As a consequence, I see my role as that of an Editor seeking…
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Now Malaga is Officially the World’s “Best City to Live”.
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Gecko Towers I have been saying for years that the Malaga region – known as the Costa del Sol – is simply the best place to live and work in Europe. Is the Costa del Sol the Best Place to Live in Europe? Now the mighty Forbes – of the…
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Does age matter? It’s a bonus in the Marbella region.
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Gecko Towers Let’s face it, there are not many advantages to getting older, but having hit a milestone, I thought I’d explore just what is available for me and my fellow Silver Surfers in the Marbella region of the Costa del Sol. Bursting through various chronological challenges, for that is…
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Málaga is awarded silver in Savills’ Executive Index rankings.
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Gecko Towers I only rarely share the posts of others unless they are highly insightful and/or contain excellent news. The following piece by Costa del Sol marketing guru, Alfredo Bloy Dawson – Savills.com – is both. And I quote: “Málaga claims second spot in the Savills’ Executive Nomads Index, trailing…
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Marbella – it’s just not like other European Sun locations.
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Gecko Towers This is an excellent piece on CNN that explores just why Marbella is proudly incomparable with other European Sun locations. A lovely Saturday read. Marbella on CNN Should you be interested in discussing the legal process involved in buying a property in the Marbella region, we would be…
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New Spanish “Start-Ups” – a Reality!
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Gecko Towers Over much of the last year, we have brought you various reports concerning the planned changes to Spanish company law aimed at making the set up and running of companies in the various strands of the new economies, including specifically, digital transformation, software, cyber security and, more generally,…
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Is your journey to Marbella as important as your Arrival?
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Gecko Towers I’ve met some fascinating people in the Marbella region. Their back stories are varied, enterprising and, invariably, engaging in equal measure. They range from European expats who have lived a life in, say, the Middle or Far East and are seeking a less frenetic rhythm to their later…
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Birkenstocks – Marbella’s favourite beach shoes
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Gecko Towers They are said to resemble the shoes worn by the early Christians, over the years they’ve been pilloried for being the chosen footwear of macrame knitting yurt dwellers, or their contemporaries, the devotees of the comfy-conscious Danish art of Hygge, but Birkenstock’s are simply the perfect summer shoes.…
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Citroën Méhari – the perfect Marbella beach car.
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Gecko Towers It’s getting really hot as we ease into July perhaps it would be cooler by the Mediterranean Sea. Yup, time to go to the beach? I am fortunate to see the beach regularly and am often joined by those who have what they call a “beach car”. This…
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Vilebrequin Beachwear in Marbella
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Gecko Towers Today I am exploring a new direction for the lifestyle element of the Marbella Property Lawyers blog. Throughout the year I am planning a series of blogs that identify and celebrate some of the iconic products without which my Marbella would be incomplete. The beaches within easy reach…
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MPL: Take care when selecting an Abogado.
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Gecko Towers I have discussed before the key choice that needs to be made in selecting your trusted Spanish Abogado. I cannot overstate my perception of the value of the relationship with your lawyer for the property purchaser in Marbella. See a previous post – Your Abogado – A Vital…
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MPL: Your Abogado – A Vital Relationship
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Gecko Towers You don’t need to be brave to buy a property on the Costa del Sol, but it really helps. Starting a blog with such a sentence conjures up images of cut-throat Barbary Pirates in hats with feathers, broken teeth and gold earrings ready to rip off the unwary.…
