Marbella, the Andalusian pearl of the Costa del Sol, has been attracting the attention of tourists and investors for years. Recent years have also seen a growing interest from Poles, who bought nearly 2,500 properties in Spain in 2023 alone. Why do our compatriots choose the Iberian Peninsula?
In an interview with Tomasz Reich of NowaWarszawa.pl and NewMarbella.es, Agnieszka Kostrzewa spoke about the development of the property market in Spain and the advantages of living on the Costa del Sol from the perspective of 28 years living in Marbella. It is a small town of 150,000 people on the picturesque Mediterranean coast, but this number increases by at least half during the tourist season. Marbella offers not only beautiful sea and mountains, but also proximity to Africa or many Spanish cities.
What attracts the Costa del Sol?
For a long time now, we have seen an increased interest in Spain from Poles. Although the pandemic has brought many challenges, it has also opened up new opportunities – such as remote working, which has been one of the key factors in many Poles moving to the Costa del Sol. As Agnieszka Kostrzewa highlighted, in the era of the pandemic and the war in Ukraine, many of our compatriots were making very quick investment decisions, sometimes even buying properties… over the phone, which shows the high level of trust in Agnes Inversiones – the largest, oldest and most recognisable Polish real estate office on the Costa del Sol.
Marbella and the Costa del Sol are attracted by the number of sunny days per year, the microclimate, the beaches and the picturesque views of the African coastline – described as a ‘million dollar view’ for good reason, the excellent food and much more!
Residents of Marbella also mention the high level of medical care or education (thanks to international schools), which is very important when moving with the whole family. This is an increasingly common model of living, with the first step involving a long-term (e.g. one year) rental property to get to know the future place of residence. The next step is already buying a house or flat and moving to the Costa del Sol permanently.
The Costa del Sol is alive all year round
Marbella is alive all year round and, unlike typical tourist destinations, it does not close after the high season, thanks in part to the golfers. A special time to get to know Marbella and the Costa del Sol is during the festive season, when the towns are lit up with unique illuminations, the famous lottery takes place and, if you are lucky, you can even… swim in the sea. Skiing enthusiasts, on the other hand, can head to the Sierra Nevada.
Marbella overlooks the African coast, so a trip to Morocco and a visit to Tangier takes just one day. Its proximity to Seville and Granada and the ability to reach Madrid in 2.5 hours by high-speed train are other advantages of its location. A trip to Gibraltar would also be an interesting alternative, and Marbella – located in the central Costa del Sol – is an excellent base for visiting the most important sites and monuments of Andalusia.
Andalusia combines many cultures, including Arab and European. By visiting beautifully located hotels in historic buildings, you can be transported to Andalusia hundreds of years ago. Spanish culture is also fantastic cinema, film locations: the famous Tabernas desert or Seville, where Game of Thrones was filmed. Málaga is home to Antonio Banderas and the city is the birthplace of great artists such as Pablo Picasso, Federico García Lorca, Joaquín Cortés and María Zambrano.
Attractive property market
The purchase of a property in Spain is encouraged by the lower inflation rate than in Poland, thanks to which a house or a flat on the Costa del Sol will be a stable and attractive investment of capital – regardless of whether we live there permanently or whether it will be a holiday location, for rent during the rest of the year. Just as when buying a property, it is worth entrusting its rental to a trusted and experienced office. It is estimated that the real rental rate is 4-6%, depending, among other things, on the location, as, for example, in the booming city of Malaga it can be higher. It is worth adding that the purchase of a flat in Marbella is comparable in price to the purchase of a flat in Sopot or Warsaw.
Interestingly, in Spain, on average, a property changes hands once every five years, so despite the relative scarcity of land available for new development in some areas, the market is booming. A good time to buy property in Spain is January and the months following the holidays, when there are more offers. However, the market for houses and flats on the Costa del Sol is specific, which, combined with a different official language or regulations, requires special knowledge. Founded by Agnieszka Kostrzewa, the Agnes Inversiones office already has more than 17 years of experience in the market and a vast knowledge of all the nuances of local real estate.
“Ransomas” does not apply to the Costa del Sol
More publications are appearing in the media on the phenomenon of ‘ransomas’, or the occupation of properties and living in them without the owner’s consent. In Spain, the problem of wild tenants affects property owners in Spain leaving the country for a long period of time, as well as banks and investment funds – who own many undeveloped and unoccupied properties. It is these types of ‘ransomware’ entities that give themselves away by settling in houses and apartment complexes that have been standing abandoned for long periods of time.
The problem of ‘ransomas’ does not apply to the Costa del Sol. There have only been isolated cases of such actions against private properties in the last 2 years. This is due to the fact that the coast does not become empty after the summer season. Indeed, when the peak tourist season ends, the golf season begins. In addition, in the area around Marbella the estates are virtually permanently inhabited and the Costa del Sol is alive all year round. It is visited by tourists during the summer season or by golf enthusiasts during the winter season, and at the same time more and more people are choosing it as their permanent home.
A Polish slice of Spain
Well-known Polish accents on the Costa del Sol over the years include the mural of Wislawa Szymborska in Estepona or the monument to General Władysław Sikorski in Gibraltar. Poles feel comfortable in Andalusia because its people have similar attitudes and values, such as family, meetings, friends, good food and shared meals. At the same time, they don’t know what a rush is and ‘mañana’ means tomorrow, which could be… next week or later ;-). This is conducive to a relaxed and peaceful life on the Costa del Sol, which more and more Poles are opting for.
The Polish community in Marbella is going from strength to strength, and one of the important local events has become the finale of the Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity in Marbella – (Fuengirola), organised by the Agnes Inversiones team. In last year’s edition, a total of more than €20,000 was raised through auctions – including Robert Lewandowski’s jersey – and around 700 people attended the event. Local Polish shops and media are also developing. The quarterly Hola Polacos is published and the NewMarbella.es portal is starting its activities.
