We’re seeing more families building villas on the Costa del Sol
COVID changed a lot of people’s minds about where they wanted to live and how they wanted to live their lives. It made people value family time and free time and gave many the opportunity to work remotely. This new perspective and freedom to work from anywhere has led many families to think where they want to be and start dreaming of a life under sunny skies, where their kids can grow up and have a wonderful childhood.
Thanks to the new Digital Nomad Visa, people who are able to work remotely for international companies can easily come and live in Spain and bring the family with them. The Costa del Sol is particularly attractive for these families, thanks to a fantastic climate, a very kid friendly society, lots of amazing sports facilities and a wide range of highly regarded international schools to choose from. The ease of travelling from Malaga Airport for work and to see family also makes this area particularly popular for families with one or more parent working remotely.
There are over 40 international schools listed online between Malaga and Sotogrande, offering quality education for children from nursery up to college and university level. There are schools teaching in Swedish, German, French, Finnish, as well as Spanish and English, and many different curriculums are covered. These schools are often the reason why an international family will choose their area and are causing an influx of families based within easy reach, or on the bus route of these schools.
Family villas on the Costa del Sol
Families, with parents working from home, need plenty of space – inside and outside. They usually want villas, with one bedroom per child, a master bedroom, plus at least one guest room and a dedicated office. They are also usually looking for a garden and a pool, so the whole family can enjoy the amazing weather. They also prioritise a large kitchen, dining and living space to entertain when extended family come over.
This doesn’t sound like too much to ask, but we’re increasingly finding families speak to us about building a house because they just can’t find what they are looking for to buy. These families are not passionate self-builders, but after a long time looking, they just can’t find what they need at a sensible price and feel like they have no option but to build to get the home they want to bring up their kids.
The demand and lack of supply was identified by an American fund, who contracted MDCI to manage and drive forwards a project of family-friendly, medium sized villas in Estepona. These comprised of 3-4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, gym and cinema rooms in basements, pools and small, manageable gardens and carports. Such was the success of this format, that before the project was constructed and delivered, all 18 Arboleda Villas were sold.
Since the completion of this project, we’ve been asked to lead the design and project management of a complex of 12 individual, compact, family-style villas in a gated community. These are being bid for at the moment and will soon become available for purchase. Due to the demand, we expect them to sell very quickly.
Where families are choosing to build
We’re speaking to a lot of parents of kids at Sotogrande International School for example, who are really frustrated by the lack of quality stock and the high prices being asked for family villas. They are struggling to find a modern, large home, which is energy efficient and doesn’t need a huge amount of work done to it. They are concerned about the costs of running the older, and poorly built properties, as well as the cost of modernising them, and just don’t feel like what’s out there is worth the money. Sotogrande has a lot of available land, and so this makes it even more attractive to build and get exactly what they want.
Other areas attractive to families, because of the availability of commercial areas, easy transport, sports and outdoor life, schools and entertainments facilities are; Benahavis, La Cala de Mijas, and also parts of Calahonda and Riviera del Sol. Developers are responding to this demand with a number of spacious townhouse projects aimed at the family market, including a project of 22 units that MDCI is managing.
We’re also seeing new projects aimed at the family market being launched in Benalmadena, Mijas and Estepona, located outside of the main town, but with easy access. These represent better value for money, than those in Marbella, Golden Mile, New Golden Mile and Sotogrande and are within reach of some of the top international schools. But the only way to ensure you 100% get what you want, is to build it yourself!
Building a future-proof home
Many families are also looking ahead and thinking about aging parents and creating a home which works as well for young kids, as for older people with mobility issues. We’re seeing an increased interest in properties which suit multi-generational living, as most of the current stock offers limited options for having parents age in place.
By designing and building your own luxury villa, you can create space suitable for all ages and address accessibility issues too.
It’s all in the timing
A word of caution if you’re experiencing these challenges. It’s sensible to start this process while your children are still young and any relatives are still mobile and healthy, as building a luxury villa does take time. You don’t want to be up against a ticking clock of kids leaving school or rapidly declining health, so think as far ahead as you can, and get the project on the go quickly, so you can all enjoy the property to the full with as many school years available to you as possible.
The first step is to talk to a Project Manager, even before you buy the plot or instruct an architect. They can guide you through the plot selection process and choosing a suitable architect to make your dream a reality.
MDCI can help you to keep the stress out of your project.
Get the right professionals on your side
If you’re feeling like building a luxury villa in Spain is the only option left to you, but you’re nervous about the process, we understand. It’s a big undertaking, but with the right professionals on your side, you can hand it over and continue with your busy lives and let us take the strain.
As confirmed by one of our satisfied clients: “It is a great testament to MDCI that even though we were unable to visit the project, the confidence we had in them was such that at no stage did this cause us concern, we knew we were being looked after very well, and came to believe that, had we been able to visit more often, we probably would have just got in MDCI’s way.“
Having a professional, independent Project Manager working with you and representing your best interests during the planning and construction side makes a big difference. They will be able to guide you and help you to make the right decisions in the early stages, as well as ensuring you don’t open yourself up to any unnecessary risks, or fall foul of unscrupulous suppliers or builders.
With an experienced Project Manager like Mark Lawson working with you from the outset, the guess work will be removed and the pressure taken off you. You will be kept informed on progress and have peace of mind that your project is in safe hands. Contact us to discuss building a family home on the Costa del Sol today.
