Data from the office of Andalusian Employment Service in Marbella (SAE).

The advance of the summer season has given respite to the usual unemployment in Marbella, this time higher than last year. In the municipality 709 people have found work during the month of May (-4.26%), so that the total number unemployed stood at 15,913. These figures represent a decrease over the same month of 2012 (-0.9%), but there are still more unemployed than in previous years such as 2010 and 2011.

The month of May is again one of the periods of the maximum boost for job creation in Marbella, and comes very close to the high summer season. This time, it leaves 15,913 unemployed (-709), of which 7,469 are men (-351) and 8,444 women (-318).

The number of registered unemployed in Marbella is starting to fall for the third consecutive month, after the run of seven months in which unemployment had been increasing, according to data made public on Tuesday by the Andalusian Employment Service (SAE).

The drop in percentage terms from the previous month is a 4.26% less, well above the national decline (-1.97%), regional (-2.39%) and provincial (-2.44%).

Regarding the last twelve months, the decline in Marbella is only 0.9%, and  currently 147 fewer unemployed than in May 2012.

Unemployment down for the summer season

The figure is not as good when compared to the same month in previous years, because there are still more than 1,523 unemployed in 2010 and 1,369 more than in 2011.

At the provincial level, in May there has been a decline of 5,247 unemployed, leaving the total at 209,362. However, there are 5,514 more unemployed than a year ago.

Andalucía in absolute terms, in which more unemployment fell in May, saw a decrease of 26,529 persons (-2.39%), to be 1,081,493.

In Spain, the total reduction is 98,265 people (-1.97%), allowing the total number remain below the five million (4,890,928).

Unemployment data for months in Marbella:

January 2012: 16,930 (+518)

February: 17,215 (+285)

March: 17,058 (-157)

April: 16,538 (-520)

May: 16,060 (-478)

June: 15,048 (1012)

July: 14,448 (-600)

August: 14,452 (+4)

September: 15,052 (+600)

October: 15,805 (+753)

November: 16,773 (+968)

December: 16,904 (+131)

January 2013: 17,053 (+149)

February: 17,225 (+172)

March: 16,737 (-488)

April: 16,622 (-115)

May: 15,913 (-709)

In March, the average house price fell gradually, year after year, to 10.7%, compared with 11.6% drop registered in February, after tax benefits for home ownership were removed from January 1st 2013.

Considering the drop in March, the cumulative realignment of housing prices has come out at 36.3% from the highs it reached in December 2007, before the beginning of the economic crisis.

New-house-prices-drop-to-2003-levels

Metropolitan areas suffered the largest declines in March, with house prices falling by 14.3% year on year, followed by capitals and major cities, with an yearly decline of 13.7%, and then the Mediterranean coastline, where the prices fell 10.7%, year after year, that coincides with the overall average.

Below average are the Balearic and Canary Islands, a decline of 5.2% annually, and the remainder of their municipalities that fell 6.3%.

Since December 2007, the cumulative decrease in house prices has reached 41.9% on the Mediterranean coast, 40.3% and in major cities, 39.5% in metropolitan areas, 29.6% in other towns, and 29% in the Balearic and Canary Islands.

When we analyse thoroughly the preferences of this group, we find that most Russians are searching for homes on the Mediterranean coast particularly in Torrevieja Alicante, Valencia and Murcia, where there is already a large colony of Russian citizens.

In second place is Barcelona, Marbella and just lately the Canary Islands, as outlined by statistical information requests received in one of the most favoured real estate portals in Russia.

As far as selling prices are concerned, 60% of the consultations are below € 100,000, 15% below € 150,000, another 15% below € 300,000 and a reputable 10% of consultations over 300,000 €.

In a nutshell, Russian housing demand in Spain has adopted a clear upwards pattern since the beginning of 2007 and they seek sun and well priced properties.

Furthermore there is a group of Russian citizens with high economic capacity and a specific requirement that we should not, for any reason neglect when we establish our strategy to capture demand from Eastern Europe.

All signals are this trend will continue in the coming years and who is to say if they get to oust the British and French position of the first and second position respectively.

The Spanish property market continues to pick up in tourist hot spot areas, whilst other areas recorded falls in sales and between January and March 2013, 54,512 homes were sold.

The statistical results of the residential property transactions made ​​before a notary show that in the first quarter of 2013, 54,512 homes were sold in Spain, representing a drop of 21.5% from the first quarter of 2012.

Luxury Villa, Golden Mile, Marbella

In the last twelve months period April 2012-March 2013, residential real estate transactions made ​​before a notary totaled 348,715, representing an increase of 1.3% over the previous 12 months.

In relation to the territorial distribution of transactions, all regions recorded falls except for Murcia-year, with sales increasing 10.3%.

By provinces, four recorded annual increases, Alicante (10.5%), Murcia (10.3%), Almeria (7.9%) and Tarragona (6.6%). Among those with negative changes include Ávila, with decreases of 51.2%, Navarra (-49.5%), Soria (-48.5%), Salamanca (-45.6%) and Álava (-45.3 %).

With respect to the last 12 months, ten communities recorded growths, especially La Rioja, 12.7%; Aragon, 11.7% and Murcia and Valencia, with 10.8%. Meanwhile, eight communities and autonomous cities recorded declines, highlighting Navarra (-21.5%) and Cantabria (-14.5%).

With regard to the nationality of the buyer, the transactions made by foreign residents in Spainish real estate experienced growth for the seventh consecutive quarter, in particular by 5.0% from the first quarter of 2012, with 8,457 purchases.  Stresses that the percentage of all purchases made ​​by foreign residents amounted to 15.5%, the highest of the series.

By provinces, those with the highest number of purchases by foreign residents are Alicante (2,485), Malaga (992), Tenerife (771), Barcelona (652) and Almeria (471).