If you haven’t yet heard about the Costa del Sol’s ‘Golden Triangle’, let us fill you in… the name refers to a trinity of neighbouring municipalities; Marbella, Estepona and Benahavís. They are located at the heart of Málaga’s Mediterranean coast and have the most coveted postcodes in the region, if not in the country.
There are a number of ‘Golden Triangles’ throughout the world; the UK has the famous trio of universities: Cambridge, London and Oxford, and Asia has it’s infamous mountain region of Thailand, Myanmar and Laos. However, it is the Costa del Sol’s Golden Triangle with its reputation for modern luxury mansions, that captures the imagination of the great and good, the rich and famous.
Although, linked through buoyant property markets and their appeal to buyers looking for luxury property on the Costa del Sol, in reality these coastal resorts each have very different personalities.
Why everyone wants to own Marbella property
Let’s start with Marbella, arguably one of the most famous destinations in the world. It is common knowledge that the city was once a fishing village until it was turned into a celebrity playground with the arrival of Marbella Club Hotel in the 1950s.
Hot on the heels of the Marbella Club Hotel, the upmarket neighbourhood of Nueva Andalucía, featuring beautiful wide avenues lined with luxury villas was developed in the 1960s. The properties in Nueva Andalucía were designed to provide a retreat for wealthy visitors and residents. Property for sale in Nueva Andalucia is highly sought-after, perfect for families, surrounded by golf courses and it even has its own bullring. In 1970, the marina at Puerto Banús (which is part of the wider municipality of Marbella) was launched, sealing Marbella’s place as a favourite jet set destination.
Property portal Idealista, identified the Costa del Sol as being the location with the largest number of luxury property sales. However, the exclusive residential enclave of Sierra Blanca on Marbella’s Golden Mile was specifically singled out, as this is the area where Spain’s most expensive property was sold, reaching an impressive sale price of 32€ million in 2021.
Benahavís real estaste
Located just a few kilometres inland from the charming beachside town of San Pedro de Alcantara, Benahavís is one of the Costa del Sol’s hidden gems. There is a beautiful traditional white village with narrow cobbled streets and terraced houses festooned with colourful flowers. In fact, there is such a high concentration of restaurants in this relatively tiny village, it is often referred to as the dining room of Andalucia. Those who hanker after a more modern luxury villa in Benhavís, there are newer residential developments on the outskirts of the village, offering a choice of more contemporary style Benahavís property for sale.
Also, in Benahavís you will find La Zagaleta, a private residential resort and country club. La Zagaleta real estate comprises luxury mansions and private estates set within extensive private grounds, surrounded by forests. Covering over 900 hectares, with a maximum of only 420 homes, the grounds were formerly owned by Saudi Arabian arms dealer Adnan Khashoggi. Today, this ultra-secretive resort is home to the world’s wealthiest and most influential people, who not only desire luxury, but also complete privacy and security.
Why investors are looking at Estepona property for sale?
Located just a 30 minutes’ drive to the west of Marbella, Estepona is a busy, vibrant, traditional coastal town, more laid-back and less glitzy than its more famous neighbour. With a glorious stretch of fine golden sandy beaches, a port and bustling marina, it has always been a popular hotspot amongst Spanish tourists, yet over the years its profile has been rising and it is now firmly on the radar of a wider audience.
Extensive investment by the Spanish government, has seen Estepona become Málaga’s first low emission zone, and it recently opened the 1.5km beachfront promenade, currently the longest in Spain. If anyone was in any doubt that Estepona’s star is rising, you need look no further than the colossal investment in luxury hotel chains, including 17€ million in the Ikos Andalucia and 40€ million by the Unicorn Royal Emirates to buy the Santa Maria hotel, with the final investment expected to be in the ballpark of 150€ million upon completion.
If you need any more convincing that Estepona real estate is the way forward for savvy investors, there is also the imminent development of the City of Music and the Audiovisual City. This project will attract 286€ million of investment for the construction of TV and film studios, recording studios, storage, warehouses, auditoriums, restaurants, lakes and much more. The world-famous Starlight festival is mooted to be moving to Estepona once the project has been completed.
