Luxury Real Estate

Courtesy of Kirsty Bryson of Luxury Homes by VAPF

As promised in our press release dated the 24th of May this year, we can now proudly announce that the Spanish television channel Canal 9 screened the footage filmed at a luxury villa in the Cumbre del Sol residential estate on their program Interiors, on Saturday the 4^th of June at 3:30pm, straight after the afternoon edition of the news.

This TV program specializes in design and architecture in the Region of Valencia on the Mediterranean coast of Spain. The program centres on luxury villas, castles or unusual homes which stand out from the neighbouring properties because they have that extra something that makes them special.

They chose to film the luxury villa built by the Spanish construction company and developer VAPF Group because of the beautiful neoclassical design, that takes you back to the elegant buildings erected during the Roman empire, with large arches and majestic columns, and also because of the fantastic sea views that all the villas at the Cumbre del Sol residential estate enjoy.

In fact, when the team finished recording at the villa, they proclaimed that it had been the best property they had visited to date, and with an average of three properties per program with 30 programs behind them, that certainly takes some beating!

Check out the video to see for yourselves what living on the North Costa Blanca in Spain is like and, with the option of building a home to suit your own particular tastes and requirements, with the sound advice and experience of the VAPF Group behind you, then making a move to this outstanding location is as easy as just saying: ‘Yes! We want a better quality of life!’

Courtesy of Kirsty Bryson of Luxury Homes by VAPF

Although struck by the crisis, Spain is a solid economy, showing signs of recovery. Economic strengths and reforms lay the foundations of a sound and rebalanced growth for the Spanish economy. Take a look at just some of the reasons why purchasing a property in Spain is a safe bet:

Infrastructure:

- Spain has the biggest highway net in Europe and is the first European country and second in the world, behind China, in high speed railway line miles

- The Spanish Airports and Air Navigation Company AENA is the world's leading airport operator in terms of passenger numbers, handling nearly 200 million. It manages 47 airports and 2 heliports in Spain and participates directly and indirectly in the management of 28 more airports around the world. AENA is the fourth largest provider of air navigation services in Europe and plays a leading, active role in all European Union projects relating to the introduction of the Single European Sky.

Quality:

- First European country with the highest standard of living for expatriates

- 2nd most valued health system in Europe (HSBC Expat Explorer Survey)

- Spain now has 511 Blue Flags on its beaches, more than any other European country. The Blue Flag recognises the high quality of beaches and coastal waters. 104 of Valencia's beaches, 66 of Andalusia’s and 63 of the Balearic Islands' have received the awards.

Performance:

- 2nd tourist destination in the world by revenue and 3rd for passenger arrivals.

- Spain is one of the leading global economic powers: the 4th largest recipient of FDI among developed countries. Spain's appeal for foreign investors lies not only in its domestic market, boasting considerable purchasing power, but also in the possibility of operating in third-country markets using Spain as a base, courtesy of its privileged geostrategic position: it belongs to the European Union and is the gateway to North Africa and Latin America (due to its strong economic, historic and cultural ties in this latter case). Furthermore, Spain is a modern knowledge-based economy with services accounting for 71.09 percent of economic activity. The country has become a centre of innovation supported by a young, highly-qualified work force and competitive costs.

- The number of housing transactions (491.000) tends to recovery, partly due to fiscal incentives, partly because affordability indicators are once again at historically low levels. Foreign demand is starting to react to price signals, acquisition by expats in Spain has increased over 20% in 2010.

Courtesy of Michel Cruz of Rimontgó

While many bemoan the state of the property market, it is good to know that there are real estate companies that are recording good results. The success achieved may have been hard-fought, but it provides an encouraging sign that those who are willing to innovate and adapt – and are well-prepared in terms of marketing, organisational structure and the service they provide – can do well.

In terms of significant sales, i.e. the sale of so-called important properties, Inmobiliaria Rimontgó recorded four such transactions in its home market area in 2010. These included two luxurious villas in Jávea, along Spain’s scenic east coast, a large villa just off the city of Alicante, a little further south, and a grand property in the region of Elche.

But in addition to such ‘local’ transactions of note have come the fruits of the international cooperation that Rimontgó has worked so hard to develop, and which finds itself embodied in EREN (European Real Estate Network) and the other international organisations that the company belongs and contributes to.

Most notable among these are a luxury Vienna apartment bought by an American-based

couple that was being transferred to the Austrian capital. Working closely with its EREN partner in Vienna, Marshall Immobilien, Rimontgó succeeded in finding its transatlantic client a beautiful new home and concluding the multi-nation deal in an efficient and transparent manner.

Other enquiries for international real estate that came through Rimontgó’s award winning website and which were successfully concluded with the EREN partners in Switzerland,

Portugal, New York and Florida respectively, are:

· A record sale to a Danish citizen of an estate in Lugano listed at CHF30 million

· A beautifully restored city apartment bought by a French family in Lisbon’s historic Chiado district

· The close working relationship with its partners in New York was also emphasised in the purchase of an important apartment by a Venezuelan national

· When a Florida resident wanted to sell his property in the Oliva Nova Golf Course near Valencia, without having to travel to Europe. Powers of Attorney were issued on behalf of Rimontgó and the proceeds from the sale of the property to a Madrid family were wired to the seller, who was very pleased with the service received

It all proves that international cooperation between likeminded companies can produce excellent and mutually beneficial results. For Rimontgó, the good results of 2010 serve as further encouragement and reward for the hard work and dedication they have shown in pursuit of a clear and effective market strategy.

Courtesy of Kirsty Bryson of Luxury Homes by VAPF

The 19^th of March is a big day in the Valencian region of Spain: not only is it Father’s day throughout the whole of Spain, but it’s also the day the “Cremà” takes place. And what is the “cremá” you’re probably thinking? Well, “Cremá” is the valencian word for “burning”, and it refers to the burning of the paper-mâché monuments known as “Fallas”.

The main celebrations take place in the city of Valencia during the week leading up to the 19^th of March, with open-air concerts, parades, massive firework displays, street dancing etc and culminate on midnight of the 19^th, when the monuments (that can take a whole year to design and put together) are burnt to the ground. Each individual falla follows a theme which generally aims at criticizing or picking on public figures, mainly politicians and famous personalities who have at some point during the year have been the centre of attention for something they have done or said which has not gone down very well with the general public.

A number of towns in the Valencian region of Spain celebrate the Fallas although, obviously, not at the scale of the Valencia festivities, which has become know as the “City of Fallas”, with more than 400 different monuments all over the city and surrounding neighbourhoods. These monuments, built using a combination of paper, wax, wood and Styrofoam, can be up to 5 stories high and cost ridiculous amounts of money.

Each day of the fallas festivities commences with a loud awakening before sunrise called la despertà with brass bands marching down the streets playing lively music followed by the falleros (each Falla monument has a team of falleros behind it which is in charge of organizing the fallas events in their particular area of the town) setting of noisy firecrackers in the street as they go.

Later on in the day, at 2pm, just in case you’re feeling a little bit dozy, they set off the “Mascletá”, a daylight firework display comprising a long succession of explosions that is almost unique to the Valencia region and is an extremely popular event. The “Mascletá” is held in the Town Hall square and the pyrotechnicians that take part compete for the honour of providing the final “Mascletá” of the fiestas on March 19^th.

The monuments are erected in a ceremony called the “Plantá” on the 15^th of March, and a jury of experts has to decide, over the next few days, which is the best falla in the city and which is the best figurine or ninot, which will be saved from the burning. The jury takes into account several different factors to reach their decision, including monumentality, risk, theme, etc

The night of the burning is the most emotional event when, with solemn anthems playing in the background, the falleros see their treasured falla that they’ve worked so hard for burnt to the ground.

Courtesy of Michel Cruz of Rimontgo

Kenneth Tynan, once Britain’s foremost theatre critic, quoted Lord Harlech after visiting Valencia 40 years ago: “To be alone in Valencia is to be permanently twenty minutes this side of suicide.” Tynan went even further, naming Valencia ‘the world capital of anti-tourism’, citing its dirtiness and unfriendliness to visitors as two excellent reasons to give it a wide berth.

Oh, how things have changed since Tynan poured his elegantly phrased vitriol on the city! Now Valencia regularly attracts tourists from around the world, as writer Jason Webster acknowledges. In a recent article in The Telegraph (“Valencia: an edgy and vibrant expat city”) he traces his adopted home’s astonishing trajectory from being the Republican capital during the Civil War - and consequently severely punished by General Franco - to the most recent recipient of the high-speed AVE train route.

Webster sees plenty to celebrate in present day Valencia, such as the fallas that herald the coming of spring and reveal the citizens’ love of ear-wrecking pyrotechnics and “bonfires that would pull at the heart-strings of any self-respecting arsonist”.

The city also has a proud culinary boast in the shape of paella, a dish that most evokes Spain in the minds of foreign visitors. Actually, this is very much a valenciano creation, in its purest form a combination of the characteristic saffron rice, chicken, rabbit and snails, although the seafood version seems to have travelled further throughout Spain and across the world.

Webster’s article does contain elements of criticism: the writer is doubtful that the Town Hall has the city’s best interests at heart when there is talk of bulldozing the magnificent Art Nouveau houses in the fisherman’s district of El Cabanyal to make way for a by-pass. He also acknowledges that some parts of the city have problems with drug abuse and the sex trade, yet without these areas of darkness Webster would find it difficult to create his series of Valencia crime novels, the first of which was published by Chatto & Windus in early February.

Or the Bull Kills You introduces Chief Inspector Max Cámara, a man who is likely to do for Valencia what Ian Rankin’s D.I. John Rebus has done for Edinburgh. It will also undoubtedly provide a further boost for Valencia’s already booming tourist trade.

There is no better time to visit Valencia to buy a property in this vibrant city. Take a look at the range of luxury homes for sale with Rimontgo and if you don’t find what you are looking for then contact us for more help.

Courtesy of Michel Cruz of Rimontgó

Rising in the distant Montes Universales, the Turia River traverses the province of Valencia before flowing through the region’s capital city and into the Mediterranean. As its main river, and the reason why the original settlement grew into a major port city, the Turia is inextricably linked with Valencia.

For centuries it provided a navigable link between the sea, Valencia’s port and the agricultural areas immediately beyond the town walls, yet after a devastating flood in 1957 it was decided to tame the Turia by rerouting it southwards around the city. The decision to stop the river from flowing through the city centre, as it had done for countless generations, was a difficult one, but within a few months the course was diverted and the flowing water ceased to be the focal point of life in Valencia.

From Decay to Delight

Neglected and forgotten, the old riverbed dried out and eventually became an eyesore littered with garbage and vermin. From the 1980s on, however, efforts were made to clean it up, though no clear plan emerged until later, when it became the focal point of the urban regeneration of Valencia.

Since then the Turia riverbed has been converted into a delightful green oasis in the midst of the city, offering a parkland environment where people can relax, jog or simply enjoy the beauty of the Jardin del Turia gardens. In true Spanish style there are cafés, but also artwork displays, a Zen garden, climbing walls, an athletics track, football fields, racket clubs and playgrounds for children.

Two metro stations, one on either bank, link the area to the city’s public transport network, while traffic moves overhead on the many bridges linking the two parts of town cleft by the former river. A particular attraction is the Parque Gulliver, a children’s attraction that includes a huge model of Gulliver, while the pride of the project is the modern Palau de la Musica Valenciana.

Converted from a decaying and neglected area, the old riverbed has been converted into an oasis of greenery and a recreational space that serves as an example to town planners around the world.

Courtesy of Michel Cruz of Rimontgó

Hispania Racing Team, who made their Formula One debut last year, will be joining other teams such as Toro Rosso in pre-season testing at Valencia’s Ricardo Tormo circuit.

Though still dependent on a big-name Spanish sponsor to secure their place on the 2011 grid, HRT insist they will be present at the pre-season test rounds that are so vital in preparing a competitive package. Chances are the team will be using the 2010 chassis and have yet to confirm the driver line-up for the coming season, but Hispania have already gained a reputation for defying the odds to come out fighting, and if it’s down to team owner José Ramon Carabante they will not only be lining up at Bahrain in March, but looking to rise up the rankings.

It’s the kind of ambition that has seen other one-time write-offs like Brawn, Jordan, Wolff and Sauber defy the critics to come through and mix up the established order. In fact, Formula One has somewhat of a tradition of producing David-versus-Goliath success stories from time to time, so there is no reason to write off the ambitious Carabante and his first-ever Spanish F1 team.

Having said that, Hispania will have plenty of challenges to overcome just to present a new car in 2011, let alone one that can consistently compete for points, but according to a team spokesman they are close to announcing a major Spanish blue chip sponsor that will not just ensure their immediate future in Formula One racing but also provide the resources to become increasingly competitive.

While most Spanish racing fans will be pinning their hopes on Ferrari star Fernando Alonso once more, thousands will be turning up in Valencia to catch a glimpse of their very own HRT team.

Courtesy of Michel Cruz of Rimontgo

To count on the international scene a city needs a certain...well, stature. Names such as New York, London, Paris and Rome speak for themselves, and are so famous that they promote not just a city but country too. In Spain cities such as Madrid and Barcelona enjoy that kind of status – and Valencia would very much like to join this elite group.

A centre of business, tourism and conferences, as well as cultural and sports events, Valencia has much to gain from such international recognition. While it has firmly cemented its status as the third largest city in Spain, both in terms of population and its contribution to the national economy, this Mediterranean port has sometimes struggled to be recognised on the international stage.

Putting yourself ‘on the map’

The likes of Seville and Granada long overshadowed Valencia in this regard, but thanks to a host of prestigious high profile events the metropolis of around one million people has been able to make its name resound to the farthest corners of the globe. The America’s Cup came to Valencia in 2007, while Formula One started using the city as a backdrop for the European Grand Prix in 2008. Both events ensure the international jet-set comes to town, along with TV audiences of several hundred million, but Valencia’s facilities also enable it to host Moto GP races, Champions League football, visiting orchestras and important European and global conferences and trade fairs.

Valencia’s international stature is now as high as it ever was, and the ‘brand’ is achieving international recognition as one of the places not to miss in Spain. In the wake of this has come the growth of cultural, sports, business and tourist traffic, as the city raised its corporate profile and established itself as a major Mediterranean centre. Visitors, whether here for business or pleasure, will perhaps be surprised to find this an elegant city with grand boulevards and stylish shopping districts, where the beautiful historic quarters balance the modern edge present in the avant-garde architecture of the City of Arts and Sciences.

This vast complex, designed by Valencian-born Santiago Calatrava, has helped to define the city just as the Eiffel Tower does Paris. Moreover, it has become the symbol of the dynamism and confidence that has elevated Valencia to its newfound status.

www.rimontgo.com

Courtesy of Michel Cruz of Rimontgo

Every year the popular travel guide, Lonely Planet names its Top 10s of places to visit during the following year. Previous recipients of an acknowledgement from the Lonely Planet experts have witnessed a definite increase in visitor numbers, so the announcement of next year’s likely hotspots is always a key moment for tourist boards.

This year the city of Valencia has been named as one of the Top 10 cities to visit, along with New York (USA), Tangier (Morocco), Tel Aviv (Israel), Wellington (New Zealand), Iquitos (Peru), Ghent (Belgium), New Delhi (India), Newcastle (Australia) and Chiang Mai (Thailand).

This announcement shows that Valencia has not only improved its international status but is now considered on a par with Madrid and Barcelona.

Lonely Planet’s website described the city thus: “Valencia sits coquettishly and again confidently along Spain’s Mediterranean coast. For centuries, it was overshadowed by larger Spanish cities – hard-nosed, commercially-minded Barcelona and Madrid, the nation’s capital. Not any more. While retaining its provincial charm, Spain’s third city now mixes with the international crowd. Host of a couple of America’s Cup yachting jamborees and an annual street circuit Formula 1 motor race, it’s also European Capital of Sport for 2011 and a favourite destination for conferences and congresses. Valencia enjoyed its golden age two full centuries before the rest of Spain.”

The Lonely Planet writers have also been at pains to understand the city’s unique relationship with the rest of the country, describing it as being, “both of Spain and distinct from Spain.” Naming its chief attractions as the fallas, it is praised for its lovingly preserved history and its plans for the future.

Both ancient and spectacularly modern, we have been telling the world that Valencia is one of Spain’s top attractions for years. It’s good to know that the experts at Lonely Planet agree with us.

www.rimontgo.com

The new Alicante airport, known as the El Altet international airport, will be the most modern structure of its kind in Spain when it opens in February 2011, with a capacity for 20 million passengers per year, almost doubling present day numbers.

With the opening of the new terminal, El Altet’s luxurious facilities will cover an expanse of eight floors, topped by twenty spectacular large glass domes. The overall investment in extension work is around 670 million euros and the area has increased sixfold (from 54,800 square meters to 333,500 square meters).

The new airport terminal in Alicante will have an upgraded shopping and commercial area which will include a restaurant owned by the prestigious chef Quique Dacosta, awarded with two Michelin stars. Dacosta's restaurant, called the “Air Tapasbar” will provide a higher quality level and cachet that the previous airport lacked. Quique Dacosta was born in Cáceres, in the west of Spain, but has nevertheless made the Alicante province his home, thanks to his establishment “El Poblet” located in Denia town on the North Costa Blanca.

This commitment to increase the quality of airport services denotes a higher quality of tourism that this area of the coast, the Costa Blanca, is now receiving, as it emerges as the new destination for luxury home buyers.