Adam Cornwell, Managing Director of Feltrim International comments: “As Spain struggles to cope with the collapse of its construction industry, many properties now lie in the hands of the banks. While many are below par at best, there are some genuine top quality homes within their stock including golf-front.

“As the Government aims to clean up and restart the banking system, lenders are being asked to recognise bigger provisions on their property portfolios which encourages them to offload the stock by dropping prices and offering significant financial incentives to purchase. This means that not only has the clock turned back six or seven years in terms of pricing, but also in terms of lending with 110% mortgages reappearing on bank-owned developments.”

Rental income

Hoyo 19 is a top-end gated apartment resort finished in a contemporary style

Golf property always has appeal, particularly on the Costa del Sol with its 70-plus courses, short flying times from northern Europe and reliable, year-round climate. Owners soak up all the benefits of discounted green fees or rights of play, protected attractive green views, a well-maintained community, gated access and security, additional on-site leisure and social facilities and enhanced potential for rental income as golf continues to grow in popularity as a sport. These benefits used to come at a cost, but with the market at rock bottom that’s a thing of the past.

Adam continues: “It’s an ongoing debate – is the Costa del Sol property market at rock bottom? – and I can only say that if a bank is prepared to lend 110% on heavily discounted property, it must have confidence in the long-term value of that home in that particular location.

“The inventory of unsold property in prime coastal areas for discerning buyers is dropping, demand is growing from overseas buyers and they are looking with a long-term lifestyle perspective rather than a short-term investment mentality. The new Government, sworn in in December 2011, has offered political stability and created reasonable expectations for the coming years that have instilled a degree of confidence and optimism in the market. If the price, location and quality stack up, there is no reason to wait to buy.”

Three 18-hole golf courses

Somewhere the figures do stack up is in the resort of Los Flamingos just to the west of Puerto Banús in a countryside setting yet a stone’s throw from the beach. Boasting three 18-hole golf courses, a driving range and an acclaimed American Golf Academy, Los Flamingos has hosted the European Senior’s Circuit final, no less than three Daily Telegraph European Seniors Match Play Championships and the 2010 Ladies Spanish Open won by Laura Davies.

At Hoyo 19, the properties all enjoy top specifications

Hoyo 19 is a top-end gated apartment resort finished in a contemporary style. Entirely orientated to the south and southwest, all homes have views of the Los Flamingos golf and the Mediterranean coastline – a view that becomes ever more dramatic as the sun sets and night falls. The apartments themselves enjoy top specifications as well as private underground parking and storage while community facilities on-site include a Spa, putting green, tennis courts and two private swimming pools.

Now under bank ownership, the one, two and three bedroom Hoyo 19 apartments are being sold for half the developer’s price of three years ago with some incredible terms. Clients are able to take advantage of a specially negotiated 110% mortgage, to cover all closing costs, and take two years interest-only repayment terms with rates from as low as 0.25% plus Euribor – all for just a 2% commitment fee. Key-ready furniture packages are also available. Prices start from €238,000 (approx £198,500) for a two-bedroom, two-bathroom apartment.

For more information, visit www.feltriminternational.com.

British Consulates in Spain are among the busiest in the world

How the staff of British Consulates in Spain help citizens in distress is to be highlighted in a new TV documentary series to be broadcast next month on the UK’s Channel 4.

The problems caused by lost and stolen passports, and the costs and consequences of failing to buy holiday insurance, are just two of the biggest calamities for homeowning residents and holidaymakers who turn to the British Consulates for help.

The new TV series, filmed last summer, reveals how consular staff come to the rescue of Britons who find themselves in trouble. From helping victims of crime to advising Brits arrested by the police, the series also follows consular staff as they visit holidaymakers who end up in hospital and meet expat residents to hear their property concerns.

The three part series, called ‘Our Man In…’, provides unprecedented access to the work of British consular staff. It will be shown on the UK’s Channel 4 on Thursdays 1^st, 8^th and 15^th March at 22.00 GMT (23.00 CET). The first programme features Mallorca and Ibiza, the second follows the team in Alicante and the third covers Tenerife and Barcelona.

 Residents and tourists

The British Consulates in Spain are among the busiest in the world. “The series shows the hard work and professionalism of our staff in helping Brits abroad”, says Dave Thomas, Consular Director for Southern Europe. “We’re here to assist, and residents and tourists can find even more information on our ukinspain website.”

The series reveals the consequences of failing to prepare properly for a holiday. Even if you’re staying with friends and family, travelling without insurance could cost you many thousands of pounds if you’re injured abroad.

“Losing your passport will cost you time and money”, says Dave Thomas. “And without an EHIC health card, you’ll find it harder to get medical care. By taking a few simple precautions, you can avoid a dream holiday turning into a nightmare.”

In Mallorca, a premature baby and his mother are taken onto a plane

On the party island of Ibiza, consular staff tackle the fall-out from a new drug on club scene – the so-called ‘pink pill’. A young tourist is found lost, nearly naked, and unable to recall anything but his name. Then the Brit dealers who supply the pills also need help after they’re arrested.

In Mallorca, staff deal with a young Brit who’s been tasered by overzealous police. A holidaymaker from Essex has been run over by a drunk driver, and lies seriously injured in hospital. And a Lancashire couple’s holiday is transformed by the arrival, nine weeks early, of their tiny baby son.

The programme on Alicante shows the pro-active face of the Foreign Office, with staff seeking out Brits caught up in a forest fire, tackling a death in Benidorm, and working with local police to manage an invasion of Scottish football fans.

In Barcelona and Tenerife, crime has its effects on visitors and on the workload of the Consulates.  Street robberies and stolen passports lead to inconvenience, distress and unexpected costs for holidaymakers. Meanwhile consular staff are also busy helping some of the people who need it most – expat prisoners and homeless Brits who simply want to go home.

‘Our Man In…’ was filmed in August and September last year and is produced by Screenchannel Television, a London-based independent production company. The executive producers are Emma Barker, a former commissioning editor and controller at ITV, and Peter Lowe, a former executive producer and programme editor at BBC Television and controller at Carlton Television.

(www.homesandtravel.co.uk recently published an article on the new EU-wide emergency services phone number entitled: Homeowner Or Holidaymaker in the EU? The Number For Emergency Services is 112. It’s really worthwhile making a note of this number).

Key insights from the reports reveal that:

• Prices in the prime locations of Barcelona remained resilient through 2011 but it remains possible to purchase properties at discounts of up to 30% on 2007 prices.
• The Ibiza property market experienced a healthy 2011 with strong demand from international buyers for luxury properties across the island
• The Mallorca market is currently very slow but there are signs that it will replicate the 2011 success of Ibiza with predictions of increased foreign property investment in 2012

The signs for properties in Cataluña have proved to be positive for 2012

The company believes that 2012 will be another very important year for the Spanish property market. Alex Vaughan, Director at Lucas Fox International Properties states, “We are fortunate to be specialised in the sale of luxury property in prime locations to international clients and are still receiving strong interest from our buying clients many of whom are keen to take advantage of the discounted prices that are possible.

“The story elsewhere in the market is less positive with agents in some areas of Spain such as Murcia and Alicante reporting that there are large amounts of property stock on the market and a very low volume of transactions. In these affected areas, 2012 looks set to be another crucial year for sellers and agents alike.

“There are, however some positive signs in the market as a whole. Last year the Spanish government lowered the purchase tax payable on new build property that stimulated transactions in the last quarter and the new PP Government have announced that this measure will be continued through 2012.”

The areas that Lucas Fox covers are some of the least affected. “Properties in Barcelona and on the islands of Mallorca and Ibiza have

There are definite opportunities for purchasers of homes on the Costa Brava

proved to be very price resistant and there are few distressed properties on the market. The signs for 2012 are positive with a much larger amount of enquiries from international buyers across all of our offices than we normally experience at this time of year.”

“We are seeing that buyers who have been observing the market for the last few years have now decided that it is the right time to show their hand and start negotiating on their ideal property” commented Stijn Teeuwen, Director of Lucas Fox International Properties. “For those clients that get it right there are possibilities to buy prime properties in the best locations at major discounts on the prices that there were being sold at prior to 2007/2008.”

“There are still plenty of opportunities to purchase well-located, quality properties at interesting prices throughout Costa Brava, including in some of the established areas of interest around Begur/Tamariu/Llafranc and S’Agaro/Platja d’Aro,” said Tom Maidment, Director at Lucas Fox Costa Brava.

Lucas Fox releases half-yearly market reports based on property data from the Spanish and Catalan Statistics Institute, property and online data websites, and from its own data sources.

For more information, go on-line at: www.lucasfox.com

Los Tres Reyes - The Three Kings - are essential to the Spanish festivities

One thing is certain if you spend Christmas in Spain – it is going to be considerably cheaper than it would be in the UK. It’s not that the Spanish do not celebrate the Christmas period but on the whole they haven’t gone mad with the commercialism of the event. For Spaniards, Christmas has retained its religious focus with traditional nativity scenes present in most homes, decorations throughout the towns and villages and a general feeling of peace to all men.

The ‘stars’ of the Christmas period in Spain are The Three Kings, Balthazar, Melchior and Gaspar. Father Christmas and Rudolf play much smaller parts and in years gone by were unknown. The Three Kings are the same ones that we know in the UK. They saw the Star in the West and followed it to Bethlehem bearing the gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. It is representations of these gifts that are exchanged on 6 January in Spain.

British expat Dean Wilkinson has lived in Spain for 12 years. He has often spent Christmas there as opposed to trekking back to the UK for turkey and perhaps a little more commercialism than he wishes to stomach. Dean explains: “Spanish Children don’t expect gifts on 25 December. Some may receive a few but it will be more of a token gesture while they wait for the big event on 6 January but for British and other European expats, 25 December remains the main event.

An alternative place to celebrate 25 December

“Being in the UK is so much more frenetic and stressful at Christmas than in Spain where the pace of life is so much more relaxed and gentle. The thought of trekking round the M25 or queuing in supermarkets in the UK is not something I miss. I am very lucky to have purchased an apartment in the hills on the Costa del Sol. I’ll be enjoying the company of good friends, delicious Spanish food and some ice cold beer on Christmas day this year,” explains Dean.

The festive calendar in Spain follows this format:

• The 21 December marks the shortest day and in many cities this is celebrated with big bonfires where the crowd will be seen jumping through the flames to protect themselves against illness.
• 22 December is a big day in the Spanish diary as this is the date that the annual Christmas Lottery is drawn – the event takes all day and is a much bigger lottery draw than anything that would be seen in the UK. This is known as ‘the fat one’ (El Gordo) and there is great excitement and ceremony over the whole occasion.
• Then 24 December is known as Nochebuena. This is a very important family gathering in the social calendar. Food, cava and festive sweets make this evening stand out and this night is as big in Spain as New Year’s Eve.
• The 28 December is known in Spain as El Dia de Los Santos Inocentes – this translates to Holy Innocents and is our equivalent of April Fools Day. In Spain you can find whole communities engaged in frivolous activities such as making the Mayor sweep the streets.
• New Year’s Eve is a big celebration throughout Spain much as you will see throughout the world.
• Then the Christmas period culminates with the Feast of the Epiphany on 6 January when the Three Kings arrived in Bethlehem. For Spanish children this is the most important day of the year when they wake up to find that Los Reyes Magos (The Three Kings) have left gifts for them in their house. Three Kings are their favourites, especially Baltasar who rides a donkey and is the one believed to leave the gifts. During the day of 6th The Three Kings continue their good work and are seen distributing gifts to children in hospitals all over Spain.

This could be your Christmas home in Mallorca!

Marc Pritchard, Sales & Marketing Director of Taylor Wimpey España, who lives on the island of Mallorca explains why the festive season in Spain is so special: “I love the deep traditions of a Spanish Christmas. My advice is to come out and experience the tradition for yourself – and sooner the better!

“We have property available from €114,920 at the moment; there has not been a better time to buy in Spain for many years and spending the festive season in the sun with the joy and fun of the Spanish is really something very special.”

For more information contact Taylor Wimpey España via www.taylorwimpeyspain.com

Mallorca has been an international star for many years among those seeking homes in the sun

Stephen Dight, Managing Director of Mallorca Sotheby’s International Realty, looks back on 2011 and looks forward to 2012.

2011

During 2011 the Mallorca property market has been exceptionally good and has held up surprisingly well. This year has seen a marked improvement over 2010 in terms of sales, a year I would cite as being the absolute bottom, albeit still far off the volumes seen in the peak years of 2007 and 2008.

Correctly priced villas in near-perfect condition in coveted locations will sell comfortably. They not may sell at a huge premium but neither will they sell at a huge discount. From the 2007 peak to the 2010 bottom, prices in this sector only dipped 10 or 15 per cent.

Two key factors have been responsible for Mallorca’s spectacular resilience and they are a lack of product and a vast mixture of nationalities participating in the property market. Especially at the top end of the market, there is simply not the same over-supply as you would find on, for example, the Costa del Sol.

Once we have a buyer’s specific requirements we can pretty much show them every house that fits that criteria in a day or two – there just isn’t an abundance of quality property on the market and therefore any need for huge discounting. I would argue that Mallorca is crying out for top quality apartment communities with on-site facilities such as tennis courts, indoor pools and spas, landscaped gardens, gymnasiums and concierge services – these are few and far between on the island yet in enormous demand.

Hugely motivated

Another factor is the different nationalities participating in real estate here. Over the years Germans have made up the majority of foreign homeowners in Mallorca and their recession is behind them so there is not a huge supply of interested sellers on the island.

Many of them are now hugely motivated to release the capital tied up in their second homes in order to fund their businesses and their interests back in the UK at a time when the British banks have effectively stopped lending. As sterling has depreciated, these vendors are prepared to slash prices in the knowledge that the exchange rate will protect them against huge losses. This scenario has not existed in Mallorca. And, interestingly, more British buyers are participating in Mallorca real estate than perhaps people realize.

At Mallorca Sotheby’s we’re receiving many British buying clients, especially those who converted their assets into cash before the recession hit or those entrepreneurs who have been able to profit from the recession. One notable sale in 2011, although not one Mallorca Sotheby’s can claim responsibility for, was the so-called most expensive property in Spain, the 232 acre estate of La Fortaleza near Pollenca, changing hands from one Brit to another at an alleged sales price of €40 million.

As I said, most buyers believe, as do I, that prices in Mallorca bottomed out in 2010 and will fall no further. If a suitable property becomes available there is no reason not to buy. There is no benefit to be gained from waiting – in fact that property is likely to have sold.

2012

C'an Amengual at Fornalutx, Mallorca

For 2012 we expect a top down recovery, that is to say continual improvement in the top quality end of the market with a trickledown effect spreading to the lower priced property. I also expect the European printed press and television media to bring closure to their antagonistic approach to Spanish property, an approach that has been very scattergun, painting all of Spain in a bad light regardless of quality or region.

The Spanish Government is also taking positive steps to restore confidence in its property market, to stimulate growth whereas before, it at best ignored problems or at worst positively damaged the market with inconsistent and questionable practices. These practices are firmly in the past.

I don’t have a crystal ball, but every recession is cyclical and as it comes to its inevitable end the British will return in numbers, the German buyers will return in droves and confidence in Mallorca will be restored leaving it as strong as ever. Mallorca will always be a loved destination for many people. It’s easily accessible from across Europe with direct low-cost flights, has that indefinable island vibe and is simply beautiful from coast to mountain.

To contact Mallorca Sotheby’s International Realty visit www.mallorcasir.com

London

£125,000

Royal Albert Dock Hotel, London

Obviously this sort of money will not buy you a penthouse flat in London, (Lonely Planet’s Top Destination for 2012), but if you are looking for a double digit return from a UK property investment then take a look at the Royal Albert Dock Hotel operated under the Holiday Inn Express brand.

Available at pre-launch prices, 22% below independent RICS valuations, the Royal Albert Dock Hotel capitalizes on the thriving London hotel market which PricewaterhouseCoopers identified as the best in Europe in 2010.

Located at Royal Albert Dock, just minutes from the financial centre of Canary Wharf and the entertainment hubs – the O2 arena and ExCel exhibition centre – the hotel should attract both business travellers and tourists alike and for a limited time is priced at £125,000 for a suite (with VAT paid by the developer). Investors can expect 7.5% NET yield rising to 10.5% by year five and up to 50% non status finance is available.

For more information contact Property Frontiers at www.propertyfrontiers.com.

Spain

Under £192,500

Mallorca

On the Balearic Island of Mallorca in Spain, leading house builder Taylor Wimpey España is marketing Phase III of Cala Magrana. This development has direct access to the sea, close to superb golf courses and is five minutes from the unspoiled fishing village at Porto Cristo.

Just 20 apartments have been released on Cala Magrana and they are likely to sell fast. All apartments are being built as two-bedrooms with air conditioning, designer brand fixtures and fittings and a sea view. All this for a price of just under £192,500 + VAT.

Contact Taylor Wimpey España at www.taylorwimpeyspain.com for more information.

France

Just over £144,000

The Village, a new active-living development in France

In the Dordogne, a brand new active-living village is being created. This ‘village’ is for those over 50 who want to live in an environment where every day was made for living.

A log cabin or resort style home will be built to the highest standard. With stunning views over the Dordogne and Vezere valley, owners will be able to enjoy the finest horse riding in France plus walking, cycling, canoeing and golf. And for the more adventurous, activities such as potholing, hot air ballooning and even hang gliding will be available. Or for a quiet day there is excellent fishing in the private lake.

The Village will also offer other entertainment, culture and sporting activities as well as superb on-site amenities such as tennis courts and indoor pools. Prices start from just over £144,000.

For more information contact The Villages Group at www.thevillagesgroup.com

Turkey

As little as £57,750

Istanbul

Turkey continues to be a good investment and the wise money is being spent in Istanbul where there is an acute shortage of rental property. Completed in January 2011 Kensington Residence comprises 1-, and 2-bedroom apartments in seven blocks of seven floors each. The properties have a very modern design and the very best in luxury on-site facilities.

Kensington Residence is located in the western suburb of Beylikduzu which has one of the strongest growth scenarios within Istanbul due to its proximity to the city centre. This is combined with the benefits of living in a well serviced environment away from the over-crowded city centre.

Price indicators show 30% growth on current projects from off-plan to completion in 18 months. A one-bedroom apartment will cost as little as £57,750 and 2-beds for just £95,950.

For more information contact Property Frontiers at www.propertyfrontiers.com.

 Albania

Under £205,000

Lalzit Bay, Albania

For an alternative European investment then you might like to consider Albania. There is a strong likelihood that property bought now will enjoy big returns as this country establishes itself as a global tourist hub.

The Adriatic resort occupies a fantastic position in the centre of the unspoiled natural beauty of Lalzit Bay. The resort is just 30km from the international airport with direct flights across Europe and 30km from the cosmopolitan capital of Albania – Tirana.

The resort will benefit from a beach club, sports and tennis club, indoor hydrotherapy pool as well as more traditional indoor and outdoor infinity pools situated around the resort. Shops and boutiques catering for all tastes and an excellent selection of restaurants are on-site offering a range of different cuisines.

For more information contact Lalzit Bay at www.lalzitbay.com.

The rugged mountains of the Serra de Tramuntana rise to 1,445 metres and its proximity to the coastline ensures an attractive Mediterranean backdrop for properties

During the 35th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee held in Paris this June, Mallorca’s Serra de Tramuntana landscape was recognised for its outstanding universal value. The sheer-sided 90km mountain range running from Andratx in the southwest to Pollença in the northwest has now earned a place on the World Heritage List for its continued protection.

Stephen Dight, Managing Director of Mallorca Sotheby’s International Realty, comments: “The Serra de Tramuntana is an enormously popular part of the island in which to live and holiday as the scenery is so dramatic. Towns such as Deià which has been home to Mick Jagger, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Richard Branson and poet Robert Graves, Fornalutx which has twice been elected Spain’s most beautiful village and Valldemossa which has hosted Polish composer Frédéric Chopin and French writer George Sand, all occupy this geographical area of Mallorca and each attracts a wealth of expatriates from across the globe keen to soak up the culture, the sea views and the sunshine. Properties in this region often command high price tags and rarely stay on the market for long.”

Characterised by agricultural terraces, dry stone walls and large farming estates often owned by wealthy Mallorcan aristocracy, the Serra de Tramuntana is the most significant limestone area on the island and it has been eroded by centuries of weather and water to create deep torrents and dramatic gullies. Native flora includes holm oaks and pine forest while a variety of fauna from goats to sheep and ospreys to falcons, have all made the Serra de Tramuntana their home.

On the property market in the Serra de Tramuntana:

Deià, West Mallorca

A classic 230m² built townhouse dates back to 1880 and is located in the centre of Deià, one of the most sought-after and picturesque villages on the island. Arranged across four storeys, the ground floor, which used to be a carpentry, comprises two split-level rooms and a recent extension of 30m² that has been converted into a bedroom and washroom – this part of the house would make an ideal separate apartment with its own street and garden access. The main entrance is on the first floor with an open-plan living/dining room, woodstove and kitchen with open fireplace while the second floor accommodates the master suite with 20m² dressing area. Two further bedrooms are found on the third floor with sloping wooden ceiling beams. The lovely 195m² garden with various terraces has breathtaking views of the village and mountain range.

Price 880,000 euros

The views from the historic townhouse at Valldemossa, Mallorca are exceptional

Valldemossa, West Mallorca

Charming 150m² built historic townhouse situated in the centre of the popular mountain village of Valldemossa. The spacious and well-loved accommodation comprises a large open-plan lounge/dining room with terrace and feature central fireplace, separate television room, office, an en-suite master bedroom, two further bedrooms and a family bathroom – all with panoramic views of the village, La Cartuja (15th century former royal residence) and mountains.

Price 380,000 euros

Contemporary semi-detached villa of 190m² set high above Puerto Soller with fantastic views of the marina.

Puerto Soller, West Mallorca

The home has three en-suite bedrooms, a double aspect lounge with patio doors leading out to the barbecue area and terraces, a large kitchen/dining room with patio doors and a guest cloakroom and laundry room. Extras include hot and cold air-conditioning, an internal lift, full alarm system, carport and a stunning infinity swimming pool set on a 980m² plot.

Price 875,000 euros

Contact Mallorca Sotheby’s International Realty by visiting: www.mallorcasir.com

Scott's Hotel in Binissalem, Mallorca is one of the most desirable places to stay on the island

George Scott spent his life until the age of fifty doing almost everything except what he really wanted to do: write mystery novels.

He made documentary films, traded in gold and silver, ran a charitable foundation, flew planes and restored historic houses. His life was far from dull.

But during all that time what he really longed to do was lead a relaxed life, meet an abundance of interesting people, have time off for travel and reading and music and sports and the chance to pursue that elusive hobby — penning those murder mysteries.

Regrettably, for a half century he never found anything to do that wasn’t time consuming, long on stress and short on leisure. Everything seemed to be so all or nothing. Or else it was boring.

Love at first glance

Until one day back in the middle eighties, when he and his partner Judy, an architectural designer, were on the island of Mallorca (or Majorca) and ran across a lovely 1783 historic ruin – no electricity, no drains, no water, and with a tree growing through the roof. It was the old cliché of love at first glance.

Comfort and attention to detail are what Scott's provides for its clients

The building was decidedly all wrong for them — a potential money pit that would involve bureaucracy, a sheaf of permissions, and the logistics of working in a language neither of the Scotts spoke, and all this in a medieval wine village with dusty streets of golden stone whose cobbles had rarely been trodden by a foreigner, unless it was someone from the next town up on the map, (three miles away but decidedly foreign territory).

In spite of all the drawbacks, something kept bringing George and Judy back to that town and that historic ruin, and after three years, more money and more work than they ever could have imagined, Scott’s Townhouse Hotel opened its doors to immediate and virtually universal praise: from the press, from travel experts, but most important, from their guests.

And from then on, George was able to begin living that original dream; fascinating people did indeed come to visit, including many famous folk looking for a secret hideaway, a place where they were treated as special, not because of who they were, but because the Scotts treated everyone as special.

The work itself of running the place was soon a routine which could easily be delegated, and finally there was time to be semi-retired, to visit places long on the Scott’s wish list, explore opportunities that came up via the new friends their guests were becoming. Some guests became virtually part of the Scott family.

Along the way, as twenty-some years rolled by, awards came, their reputation grew, and it even turned out that George finally had the time to have a go at those books he’d always wanted to write.

The first one, The Bloody Bokhara, about a murder that takes place inside the hotel; fiction, but based on a real Bokhara rug that’s outside one of the suites, sold well in the UK, but then went on to became a top bestseller in Germany and eventually Book of the Month for Europe’s largest book club.

His second one, The Chewed Caucasian, sold out its first two printings and is even hard to find now on amazon.co.uk. A third one is now in the works.

Scott's Hotel in Galilea has one of the most spectacular views on the island

Looking back, George calls his life over the past two decades: “a programmed dream, all I ever wished for and clutches of lovely experiences I never could have imagined.”

However, all things have an end, and now at 75, with his health – and that of Judy – increasingly fragile, the Scotts are looking for someone to whom they can pass the torch, people who will maintain the standards and the reputation they’ve secured, and who they hope will find the same degree of creative fulfilment they did running a hotel that renowned hotel critic Alistair Sawday named in the Sunday Times as one of his six favourite hideaways in the Mediterranean.

Scott’s Townhouse Hotel: Fact Sheet

• Official Spanish government category: Hotel with 4 gold stars.
• Constructed: 1783. Completely renovated in 1995, well maintained since. Listed on the Spanish register of historical buildings.
• Location: In the central church square of Mallorca’s wine capital, a town of 7,000 just twenty minutes from Palma, the island’s capital, ten minutes from the mountains, and less than half an hour to sandy beaches, sailing, golf and other attractions. There is free parking directly outside the hotel.
• Rooms: 18, licensed capacity 33. Five double suites, one triple suite, six deluxe double rooms, six superior doubles, one of which is small enough effectively to be a single room.
• Size: Approximately 1,500 square metres of constructed space on a plot of 2,000 square metres.
• Amenities: Roman pool with swimjet and massage jets, two sun terraces, bar, breakfast room, private entrance hall, library, two sitting rooms, guest tea service facilities, WiFi, TVs on demand with satellite connection, patio garden.
• Reviews and reputation: Listed by the London Sunday Times as one of the Mediterranean’s six best hideaway hotels. Fine reviews from virtually all of the quality guides and hotel information publications and websites.
• The buyers we’re looking for: Having spent over twenty years building the reputation of Scott’s, we would like to find people who’d like to carry the torch forward, maintaining, even improving, on the loyal customer base we’ve built, and our impeccable reputation. The hotel can be run full time, or for as little as eight months a year, which means it could be an ideal semi-retirement project.

Address: Plaza Iglesia 12, 07350 Binissalem, Mallorca, Spain

Telephone: (34) 626 486644

Websites: www.scottshotel.com and www.scottstownhousehotel.com

IBIS Clubhouse and Pool

Ibis Club, Naples, Florida, USA

Apartments in IBIS Club are available from an unbelievable £35,000 and come with tenants already in place offering you returns of 7% – 9% NET from day one. Ibis Club is an upscale 134 apartment residential development. The community is built over 15 acres and features an attractive two acre lake, which affords lakefront views from a selection of units. Apartments are located on the ground and first floors. Apartments are available as 1-, 2- and 3-bedroom options and are priced from just £35,000.

For more information contact Property Frontiers on +44 (0) 1865 202700 or visit www.propertyfrontiers.com

Richmond House

Richmond House, Beylikduzu, Turkey

Located in the Istanbul district of Beylikduzu,  Richmond House provides elegant 1, 2 and 3 bedroom apartments that have been carefully designed to maximise their rental and resale potential.  Richmond House is superbly equipped with a high quality finish for today’s demanding professionals with a Jacuzzi, Fitness Centre, Cinema, Saunas and an underground multi floor car park. The nearby seaside area of Büyükçekmece (five minutes away) is very popular for being a favourite day trip and weekend break. Prices for a 1-bed apartment start from £50.000 and has a rent guarantee of 7.5% for two years £356.25 per month. Prices for a 2-bedroom apartment start from £65.000 and has a rent guarantee of 7.5% for two years £456.25 per month.

For more information please contact Gem Invest on +44 (0) 203 287 7440 or visit www.geminvest.net

Apes Hill Polo Club

Apes Hill Polo Club – Barbados

Luxurious semi-detached club villas have been designed with a modern yet classic plantation theme featuring solid mahogany doors and cream coral stone finishes, plantation shutters, high ceilings, large living and dining areas, and ample outdoor living.   Property owners automatically qualify for membership in the Apes Hill Country Club and can take advantage of becoming a member of the Golf Club. Apes Hill Polo Villas, 3- and 4-beds with plunge pools. From £1,000,000.

For more information please contact Barton Wyatt on 01344 843000 or visit www.bw-international.com

El Puerto

El Puerto II, Cala D’Or, Mallorca

Two bedroom apartments located on the south east coast of the island very close to the glamorous Marina de Cala D’Or. With three communal swimming pools available these properties are surrounded by outstanding natural beauty offering various other activities such as water sports, biking and golf in the local area. These properties are available now from €177,000 + VAT.

Contact Taylor Wimpey España today on 08000 121 020 or visit www.taylorwimpeyspain.com for more information. If you reside outside of the UK you will need to call 00 34 971 706 244.

Stewart Andersen for www.homesandtravel.co.uk

Aires Pollensa apartments, just minutes from the beach. Thanks to the motorway from the island capital, Palma de Mallorca, the properties are around 30 minutes driving time from the airport

The capital city of Spain, Madrid, may be well known for its searing summer heat but this year’s hottest Spanish destination, in terms of property that is, could well be the Balearic island of Mallorca, according to Taylor Wimpey de España.

Ignacio Osle, Sales and Marketing Director of Taylor Wimpey de España, explains: “Over the last 12 months we have seen both visitor numbers and enquiries for property on Mallorca rise steadily. Buyers from the UK and Europe are not only looking at the traditional property hotspots on the mainland but further afield to Spain’s stunning islands such as Mallorca.”

Leading Spanish cities

And it’s not hard to see why this charming Mediterranean island is so popular. Mallorca offers something for everyone from amazing sandy beaches to stunning scenery, idyllic coves to traditional architecture and a wide range of sports and leisure activities.

Palma de Mallorca, the island’s capital, has also recently been voted one of the five leading Spanish cities for travel and tourism in 2010 by Exceltur.

Over 21 million passengers pass through Son San Joan airport at Palma de Mallorca every year, making it Spain’s third busiest airport and in summer, the busiest. In response to demand from the public, numerous airlines have increased frequency and started new routes to the island making accessibility even easier.

Taylor Wimpey de España are launching two new residential developments, Aires de Pollensa and a new phase at Los Altos del Golf in Andratx

Eastern Airways will be launching new weekly direct flights from London Oxford Airport to Palma this June, easyJet is now operating a new flight from Manchester, tickets are on sale with Jet2.com from Glasgow to Palma and budget airline Ryanair will commence routes from Birmingham to the island this summer as well as a new national route from its base in Alicante.

In addition to passengers coming to the island by air, Mallorca is also seeing significant numbers of visitor arrivals by sea with Palma receiving over 500 cruise ships last year, carrying some 1.3 million passengers. Docking in Palma has become so popular in fact that a designated berth is under construction at a cost of some 28 million euros by the Port Authority in the Poniente docks to accommodate up to five of the larger vessels.

The Balearic property market remains robust with a 145% increase in property sales in 2010 compared to 2009 recorded by the Public Works Ministry and Mallorca itself has the second highest average asking price in Spain at €428,300 according to the latest Kyero.com Spanish House Price Index (Q1 2011).

Interest is already high

Asking prices however have fallen over the last 24 months as the market has realigned and affordable properties are available. Taylor Wimpey de España, for example, are launching two superb new residential developments, Aires de Pollensa, just minutes from Pollensa beach in the north of the island and in respond to client demand, a new phase at Los Altos del Golf in Andratx, in the south west.

Both developments offer a very high standard of build, with spacious 2-bedroom apartments at Aires de Pollensa available from €260,000 and large detached 2-, 3- and 4-bedroom properties in one of Mallorca’s most exclusive areas at Los Altos del Golf available from €505,000.

Just launched to the market, interest in these developments is already high. For more information, contact Taylor Wimpey de España today on 08000 121 020 or visit www.taylorwimpeyspain.com. If you live outside the UK, you will need to call 00 34 971 706 244.