The tourist season may be winding down on the sunny coast of Spain, but buyers seeking a swank summer pad at a discount would do well to act during the off season. Property prices have dropped a staggering 30% nationwide since 2007, and while the prices of sprawling mansions has fared a bit better, sellers are still feeling the pain. Well, at least when they're not enjoying the sun-kissed vacation mansions they're trying to sell. This first one, in Puerto de Andratx on the western end of Mallorca, was built to resemble a seagull taking flight. The arched roof encloses expansive, open-plan living space and a wall of glass opens to partially covered swimming pool, both with unobstructed, panoramic views of the Mediterranean. Listed for $12.72M, the 5,800-square-foot getaway has four bedrooms and five bedrooms.
? Not far from Puerto de Andratx, in Mallorca's largest city, Palma, this cliffside mansion is nearing completion. On the rocks directly above the waves, this $10.54M mansion remains a blank slate on the interior, beyond the seven total bedrooms and 7.5 baths. Outside there's a lap pool stretching toward the sea, while the roof has a tiled patio perfect for private sunning, but please be sure to have someone install railings before someone plunges to their death. Perhaps in a bid to attract an American buyer, the house is listed with the NY-based firm Nest Seekers.
? Nearby, on the notorious party isle of Ibiza, modern mansions are fetching ever-so-slightly lower prices and probably selling to really rich folks who don't feel too old for electronic music. This $5.2M number is an exercise in sleek, white-on-white minimalism and, with eight bedrooms, is fit for the entire entourage. Set on a gated and walled lot with broad island views, the 8,000-square-foot party pad ">boasts a huge swimming pool and some advanced technology, including a "laser security system, perimeter alarm, touchpad control system, and fibre optic lighting."
? Back on the mainland, on the Maresme coast south of Barcelona, lies one of the most awesomely bizarre designs currently for sale on the Iberian. With a list price that's, well, unlisted, this swooping combination of curved walls, water features, huge wood deck, and infinity pool, is quite the statement piece of real estate. The 17,000-square-foot villa has six bedrooms, five bathrooms, a separate office building, a four-car garage, and a art studio. Best of all, most of these presumably pricey homes are, according to the broker babble, primary residences, rather than vacation homes. That should make the area more stable than most if the market here takes a further dive. to the brokerbabble, primary residences rather than vacation homes. That should make the area more stable than most if the market here takes a further dive.
? Much further to the south—with typically warmer winter weather—the vacation hot spot of Marbella has been drawing deep-pocketed buyers for years, particularly from Northern Europe (too cold) and the Middle East (too hot). This vaguely midcentury mansion has the luxe features to please all, complemented by minimalist architecture. Listed for an unknown, but undoubtedly high, sum, the mansion enjoy direct access to the beach, a rarity in these parts. Completed just last year, the 9,050-square-foot sprawler wows with six bedrooms, six bathrooms, and more than spacious entertaining rooms, but security-minded buyers may be turned off by the beachfront location.
· Spanish Property Market Struggles [Nu Wire Investors]
· Stunning villa in seagull design with amazing views [Christie's Real Estate]
· Impressive luxury villa with sensational sea views [Nest Seekers]
· Contemporary design with Sea Views near San Jose [Christie's]
· Modern luxury villa for sale in Super Meresme [Sotheby's International Realty]
· Contemporary Beachfront Jewel [Christie's Real Estate]