The numbers from the Ministry of Housing on the number of transactions for Marbella and Benahavis confirm the tendency we have been observing recently: things are getting better.
If we look at Benahavis and although the closed transactions for 2013 are slightly lower than the ones closed in 2012 (11% less), a year comparable to the pre-crisis 2006 and 2007 years, it has been a good year only a 18% below the best year in the history of the village, 2006. That situation can be seen on the attached chart.
If we look at Benahavis and although the closed transactions for 2013 are slightly lower than the ones closed in 2012 (11% less), a year comparable to the pre-crisis 2006 and 2007 years, it has been a good year only a 18% below the best year in the history of the village, 2006. That situation can be seen on the attached chart.
On the other hand, if we look at the chart showing the information for Marbella, the tendency is more than evident. The levels of the “good” years have not been reached yet but we are on the way. This information matches with the one I published last month on the stock of properties for sale: the stock is going down because the number of transactions is increasing.
The only negative variable are the prices that are still flat with a slight down tendency but if the stock keeps on going down, the prices will start to go up.
In summary, I am quite optimistic for the future and seems that the situation is finally recovering. We do not know yet if that recovery is going to be fast or gradual but it is starting. On the personal side, I have to say that even though 2013 was my best year since I started with RE/MAX, my feeling for the beginning of 2014 is the same I had during 2013: it is still quite complicated to close operations and selling a property requires significant amounts of work.
The only negative variable are the prices that are still flat with a slight down tendency but if the stock keeps on going down, the prices will start to go up.
In summary, I am quite optimistic for the future and seems that the situation is finally recovering. We do not know yet if that recovery is going to be fast or gradual but it is starting. On the personal side, I have to say that even though 2013 was my best year since I started with RE/MAX, my feeling for the beginning of 2014 is the same I had during 2013: it is still quite complicated to close operations and selling a property requires significant amounts of work.