Marb Wire

Latest News

Marbella to raise IBI property tax to 10% for leisure and hospitality businesses

The measure, which will be approved on Thursday 19 September in an extraordinary council meeting, aims to raise an extra 2.1 million euros in the 2025 tax year

Marbella town hall is to put up its IBI property tax to ten per cent for owners of leisure and hospitality establishments, a measure with which it aims to raise an extra 2.1 million euros in 2025. This is the first increase planned for the next fiscal year, prior to the development of next year's budget, and will be approved on Thursday 19 September in an extraordinary council meeting. According to town hall sources, the measure will mainly affect hotel businesses.

Real Estate

The Cost of Building a Luxury Villa in Marbella

Building a custom luxury villa in Marbella, complete with technical installations, furnishings, gardens, and a swimming pool, currently costs around five million euros. This estimate comes from a guide produced by Pure Living Properties estate agent. The guide outlines all the necessary steps to build a first-class property and the total cost of the project, considering the current market situation and recent price increases in building materials, plots, and professional fees.

Variables That Influence the Final Price

The final price of the project can be influenced by countless variables that can significantly increase the price, depending on the client’s preferences throughout the process. Pure Living Properties produced this guide to assist clients who are unsure whether it is more cost-effective to build a custom home from scratch or to purchase a property and adapt it to their needs.

The Cost of a Medium-Sized Luxury Villa

The total cost of the project can be increased or decreased depending on the quality of the materials chosen, the size of the property, or the extras added during the process. Currently, the construction of a medium-sized luxury villa costs around two million euros. The interior decoration of a luxury mansion, including a design project, high-end furniture, and a kitchen, can cost up to 705,000 euros.

The Role of SmartHome Technology in Luxury Villas

Most luxury villas are equipped with intelligent home automation systems that allow owners to manage areas such as lighting, temperature, music, and security from anywhere in the world. Equipping a home with SmartHome technology systems costs around 485,000 euros. Additional installations such as an electrical system, air conditioning, underfloor heating, and intelligent lighting can cost up to 485,000 euros.

The Importance of Sustainable Outdoor Areas

One of the main reasons clients choose the Costa del Sol is the climate, which offers more than 300 days of sunshine a year. Outdoor areas, gardens, and swimming pools are particularly important in this type of property. Pure Living Properties guides clients to make their outdoor areas as sustainable as possible, using intelligent systems to conserve water in swimming pools and gardens, and recommending the use of native plants with low water consumption. The cost of designing a custom garden, creating green areas, and constructing a swimming pool can range from 115,000 euros to 305,000 euros.

Lifestyle

Brits and locals in Marbella fume after waiting more than six weeks for refunds following string of cancelled concerts: Fiesta Live apologises and insists money will be returned

Many expats and tourists had been looking forward to events from international stars like Blue, Pete Tong and Nancy Ajram. 

However, just a week before they were set to start, promoters Fiesta Live cancelled all but one of the star-studded events. 

Just Pete Tong’s Ibiza Classics concert on August 10 was left standing, with ticket holders for other events offered tickets for Tong or refunds. 

Now, more than six weeks after the events were cancelled, ticket holders are still waiting for their money back. 

In a statement released on August 1, Festival Live said: “The transitory nature of Marbella in summer and the reliance on last minute ticket sales meant it became too big a risk, which ultimately led to this decision.

“We will be contacting ticket holders by email to explain the process of switching their tickets or requesting a refund.” 

In the six weeks since then, concert goers have flooded local Facebook groups and the promoter’s social media, demanding their money.