Real estate in  Marbella

Marbella is a village for billionaires, capitalists, successful people, and those who work for them!

​

We have lived in Marbella for over 10 years and explored the obvious advantages of this beautiful city—or village (by "village," I mean something positive and a very good life, but call it whatever you like!).

​

The city of Marbella itself is small, situated between the mountains and the sea. Most of the houses were built quite a while ago. Some are elite, like Grand Marbella, while others belong to the opposite social class, and in my opinion, the simpler homes are much more numerous.

​

But just as a king is made by his entourage, Marbella is made famous by its surrounding districts, which are spread across an area many times larger than the city itself.

The most prestigious area with large, expensive villas, in my opinion, is Sierra Blanca, home to very wealthy people from all over the world. This district is located right at the foot of the biggest and most famous mountain, La Concha. Property prices here start at €10,000,000 and go well beyond €25,000,000.

​

Then there’s the ultra-exclusive area of La Zagaleta, which is situated high in the mountains. The houses there are even larger, but most importantly, the distance between them is huge, as each home sits on a vast plot of land. The area is completely private—I have never been there myself, only studied the properties online. Many people say that the Russian president once owned or still owns a house there.

The neighborhoods and residential communities in Marbella vary greatly in terms of architecture and the social status of their residents. By "status," I mean the financial income level of a family. Personally, I believe that all people are equal and have the same rights, but their opportunities depend on their income level.

​

There are very wealthy residential areas among golf courses, mountains, and the sea. These are usually located in scenic spots, have high security, and properties start at €10,000,000 and up. There are also many neighborhoods for people of more moderate means, but they are still very cozy and comfortable, with property prices starting from €1,000,000.

 

When I say "districts," I don’t just mean administrative areas but also residential complexes and gated communities.

​

Everywhere you go, you’ll find beautiful cafés and restaurants catering to all financial statuses: workers have their cafés, entrepreneurs have theirs, and capitalists have theirs.

​

But the most important thing is that everyone feels comfortable, cozy, and safe.

​

The city is calm and comfortable for everyone—except lawbreakers. Almost every day, I see the police at work: they set up three patrol cars, carefully block a road, stand there with automatic weapons, and check who is passing by. They stop suspicious individuals and conduct thorough checks. This happens regularly and in different places.

​

Overall, I’ve noticed that people respect the police, and the police respect the people. Many times, I’ve seen that the police act not out of self-interest but to help people. Marbella feels very safe and comfortable.

Another thing I’ve noticed is that every neighborhood or residential community is secured by a private security agency hired by the neighborhood administration. They patrol the area by car, respond quickly to any incidents, and immediately call the police if needed.

​

I have never seen a residential complex without pools and recreation areas—they are everywhere. I have also never seen a villa or house without a pool. After all, this is the south, a prime resort area with amazing weather and nature.

​

Rain only comes in the winter—sometimes for a whole week without stopping, about two or three times per winter. Winter temperatures range from 15 to 25°C. I love the winter weather here.

Spring, summer, and half of autumn stay between 25-30°C. Once every three years, it might exceed 35°C, but there’s no rain. Overall, Marbella and its surrounding areas have an extremely comfortable climate because of the mountains, which block the hot winds from the mainland, and the sea, which brings a fresh breeze. The distance between them is very small (I just measured it on Google Maps—2 km 140 meters), which creates a perfect balance: summers are warm but not scorching, and winters are fantastic.

​

For example, if you drive to Málaga, where the nearest major airport is—50 km away—it’s already much hotter and more humid in the summer. The mountains there are not as close to the sea, and you immediately notice the difference when stepping out of the car. I would compare it to stepping from the shade into the sun. I believe wealthy people choose to live here for a reason.

​

I have mixed feelings about Marbella's size (and the entire Costa del Sol). You can see it as a village—wealthy, comfortable in every way, and with the privileges of a big metropolis.​

​

What do I mean?

The city is small, life is peaceful, the sea and beach are relaxing, yet it has everything a metropolis offers:

• Expensive private schools—many of them world-class: three British, one Swedish, one German, American schools—and these are just the main ones. In what "village" do you find so many elite schools?

​

• Shopping: In Puerto Banús, you’ll find the El Corte Inglés shopping center, offering clothes from the most luxurious and famous brands, plus dozens of individual boutiques.

​

• Dozens of world-class golf courses surround the area.

​

• In what village have you seen two Ferrari dealerships? And these aren’t small showrooms—one, which I visited, is a massive two-story dealership where I counted over 60 red Ferraris, all in stock. The second one is just as big but single-story and offers a variety of colors.

​

• On top of that, there are Bentley, Mercedes, BMW, Audi, and Porsche dealerships—three of them, plus many more. The streets are filled with classic cars, supercars like McLaren, Lamborghini, Rolls-Royce, and Bugatti.

​

• Yachts—ranging from small ones to massive superyachts. You can buy, rent, and service them. There are also schools for training yacht captains—an incredibly well-developed infrastructure.

​

• Hotels—big, small, luxurious. So many amazing places.

​

• Cafés and restaurants featuring cuisines from all over the world, from simple eateries to Michelin-starred restaurants, plus nightclubs.

​

• Real estate of the highest level—both affordable and ultra-expensive. Villas start at €1,500,000 and go beyond €25,000,000. Apartments range from €300,000 to €8,000,000. Everyone can find their dream home in Marbella. With diverse architecture, beautiful nature, stunning mountain and sea views, and private pools, life here is truly wonderful.

​​

Sorry for keeping it so short! I write in much more detail in our blog.

With respect, dear guest,
I am Maksim Vlasenko!