A Place That Welcomes Everyone
For those of you considering making Marbella your home, let me tell you: English is widely spoken here. You don’t need to know Spanish from day one to settle in comfortably. Most locals and residents speak English fluently, which means you can feel at ease in those early stages while you get settled. Later on, if you choose to learn Spanish, that’s a fantastic way to connect even more deeply with the local culture, but it’s not a barrier at all in the beginning.

Why Marbella Is a Smart Investment
Marbella’s real estate market has something for everyone, and it’s still one of the most affordable luxury destinations compared to other top spots in Europe or the U.S. The cost of living here is also more reasonable than most big cities, especially considering the quality of life and amenities you get. Investing in property here isn’t just about buying a home; it’s about investing in a lifestyle that many people can only dream of. And with the market’s steady growth, Marbella properties tend to increase in value, making it a great choice for both personal and financial reasons.

Marbella’s Ideal Location for Adventure
Besides being a fantastic place to live, Marbella is a perfect base for exploring southern Spain and if you work abroad, you have excellent flight connections. Málaga Airport is a short drive away (40 minutes) with flights connecting you to major cities all over Europe, now direct flights to parts of US as well. And if you’re in the mood for a road trip, some incredible destinations are right at your fingertips. Take a short drive to Tarifa (45 minute drive), known as Spain’s surfing haven, and you’ll find everything from kitesurfing to windsurfing. Or head to the Sierra Nevada (2 hours drive) for winter skiing, close enough for a spontaneous weekend on the slopes. And don’t forget Portugal (7 hour drive), only a few hours away by car. I don’t want to bore you, but we are spoilt for choice here, there are many places to visit only a drive away, which means you could head off for the day and back that night. 

My Personal Highlights
If you’re coming to visit or just moved to town, here are a few of my favourite places to visit:

• The Golf Courses: Marbella is golf heaven! With courses that are as challenging as they are scenic, there’s something here for every golfer.
• Puente Romano Resort: It’s a Marbella landmark known for its stunning beach, luxurious wellness facilities, and world-class dining.
• Old Town Marbella: The heart of the city with cobblestone streets, charming squares, and some of the best tapas you’ll ever try.
• Puerto Banús: The famous marina with high-end shopping, beautiful yachts, and nightlife that’s buzzing year-round.
• Tarifa: A quick drive for some of Spain’s best water sports and beach life.
• Cadiz: Paradise on earth- my favourite beaches in the south of Spain.
• Sierra Nevada: Skiing in winter, mountain fun in summer.

All are a drive away and there are many more special places I haven’t mentioned.

Final Thoughts
For me, Marbella has it all: beautiful landscapes, an incredible climate, and a lifestyle that’s both vibrant and relaxed. Whether you’re looking to move here solo or with your family, invest, or just experience this amazing city, Marbella is ready to welcome you and yours.
And if you’re interested in learning more about finding the perfect property for you, you know where to find me!

Warm regards,
Carolina Salem
Director-owner @ Solobanus Marbella Properties

I am proud and happy to announce the launch of our new Solobanus logo as part of the ongoing evolution of our company’s brand.

Our professional profile has grown and evolved since we first launched Solobanus in 2005, and now it is time to refresh it. We have altered our logo to reflect who we are today and to represent our dynamic future.

With a lot of design sessions, we have chosen a new logo that is modern and remains true to our longstanding reputation as Real Estate Agents in Marbella.

A Fresh New Look, It is a new look for Solobanus that better matches the changes we’ve made as a company. At Solobanus, we are fully committed to continue delivering an excellent service to each client, collaborators and network. You’ll see this new logo on our website (which also has a new design), LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram.

This logo is more us today, its modern and fresher, we’ve put much thought and effort into it. We have added “Marbella Properties” in order to overcome the confusion as to the areas we cover, which we understand that Solobanus on its own may have generated in the past, and at the same time we try to promote Marbella itself with each chance we get. We have included “by Carolina Salem” to give it a more personal touch and for those who know our trajectory will be reminded we’ve been in business ourselves since 1999 even before Solobanus and furthermore our family history in the Marbella Real Estate which goes further back since the late 70s.

Our business cards include our mission statement “We are here to help you!” and our slogan “Life is Beautiful in Marbella”, once again we are huge promoters of our beautiful Marbella and the Quality of Life it offers us.

Solobanus’ s new logo comes in two colours; black and gold. These colours convey elegance, class and prestige which is how we see our Marbella; these colours also symbolise wealth and success, which we hope will serve clients, collaborators and ourselves as a good omen.

Our Website, Along with announcing our new brand logo, we have revamped our website too; https://www.solobanus.com . The new site comes in a more modern, clean, and an organized layout to provide clients searching for properties and information a friendlier, easier way to find these and get in touch.

We have also included a section for International Properties on our website, as we have in fact been busy selling properties abroad in the last few years too, yet we did not have these displayed on our website.

The new logo and website reflect the growth-minded spirit of our company and is designed to inspire and further elevate us as we continue to provide excellent real estate advice and service to our current and upcoming clients.

The logo change will not involve any modifications to the nature or operations of the company, nor will it in any way affect our existing relations with our clients, collaborators and network.

Please follow us on our Facebook, Insta and LinkedIn pages if you don’t already, invite your friends to follow too, we are excited to get ourselves further out there and appreciate your valuable support.

We hope you like our new look!

Make your home look more expensive - 5 simple tips.

Now that we are all quarantined at home during this world-wide pandemic (COVID-19), we definitely can find time to give some love & attention to our homes.

Instead of looking at the situation with horror and chaos, we could try to see the bright side, see this as a once in a lifetime opportunity to take care of all the things we’ve been neglecting or haven´t had time to do; like spend quality time with our families, take care of ourselves and take care of our homes too. Clean, tidy, paint and even prepare our house for future selling plans or just make it more;  charming, fresh, comfortable and glamourous for ourselves.

I have researched, explained and summarized the latest techniques in the industry that will bring style and luxury to your home.

Keep reading to discover the SECRETS behind  sensational interiors.

1. Set a colour scheme (essential for coordinated & tasteful rooms)

Colour-schemes build  character and uniqueness to rooms. Depending on the colour palette, you can choose and construct the appearance you want the room to highlight. Tip: If the room is small and dim-lighted, opt for light tones (e.g. white, grey, taupe). If the room is spacious, play with creativity and vibrant combinations.

Examples;

White, beige, greys and browns (neutrals) are timeless and always bring a feel of elegance and tranquility to a room. More vivid colours such as salmons, champagne pink and blues bring airiness and makes rooms feel fresh, light and tasteful. Masculine tones (khaki greens, greys and navy blues) emphasises sophistication and innovation- these tones can be used both for males or females and are this season's favorites! Lastly, to bring personality, dramatism and boldness to some interiors, be brave and use rich, memorable colours. Some great combinations are: violets, magenta and lighter baby blues to not darken a room too much. (NB. When trying to sell your house, these colours are not recommended- in such case go for plains; white/greys)

2. Vary lighting

One of the best kept secrets in the interior design industry is the importance of  lighting. Some higher-end modern houses use this  to accentuate opulence and luxury. 

There are 3 excellent ways to modernise the interior with lights:

1. Behind shelves/ drawers in living rooms & under cabinets in kitchens; what this will do is create an optical illusion- by being set on borders, it creates dimension and symmetry which instantly makes a home look x1000 more expensive.
2. Ceiling borders; instead of using one big ceiling light in the centre of the room, use various lights on the borders. This gives the impression that the  room is bigger by having a spacious ceiling and a highlighted rim.
3. Learn to combine: there are different shades of lights to choose from (warm yellowish tones or whiter ones). If you know where to place each colour, you can use them to create different atmospheres around the house. For example, in living rooms, you may choose a warmer tone as you might prefer a cozier ambience yet in bathrooms, you could opt for a whiter lighting which will give you more clarity.

Only the upscale villas have really been taking advantage of lights but with this in mind, we all now know how to make our homes feel as luxurious as the dream houses seen in magazines.

3. Mirrors

Mirrors always make rooms feel bigger, so why not take advantage of this? You can use big wall mirrors, a pair of small twin mirrors, even a mosaic of mirrors- they can work like fabulous pieces of art. The secret is that mirrors add dimension and light by its reflecting function and can be perfect accessories to any room, so start using them to your benefit.

4. Pay attention to detail

Detail is key! Details are what give a home its charm and what can transform a room from mediocre to a delicate and exquisite interior. By detail, what I specifically mean is the pieces of furniture/ornaments that subtly complete the room, adding personality, texture and personal touches, nevertheless, they aren’t the main focus of the room- they all need to work together to actually have an impact. Tips to consider:

1. Select specific centre-pieces; this is very important. We all have more than we need but it is essential to only keep out what will enhance the room!
2. Make sure there aren’t many objects that could be overpowering;  we all love colour, but we don’t want a rainbow theme so… use colour (bright, deep, dramatic) but when you have a flamboyant item, try and maintain others as neutral as possible. This could be vases, magazines or even artworks- some should be colourful yet others more mellow.
3. Decorate but be practical; decorating  your home to reach a state of luxury is excellent; it can actually help declutter your mind however, you can’t just organise your home to make it look impeccable, you need PRACTICALITY! (E.g. Don’t suddenly opt for a minimalistic approach if you won’t be able to maintain it).

5. Polish floors

This may be the most underestimated tip but it sure makes all the difference. Floors, like it or not, are always there and unless they are fully covered by a carpet, they have a huge impact on the room. To make them a real WOW factor in the house, polishing them is the absolute best thing to do. Marble floors look spectacular when polished and so do wooden floors- they bring a fresh and clean ambience to the whole interior and can even make the room feel bigger by reflecting the natural light of the day. 

Related articles you might find interesting https://solobanus.com/time-property-home-potential-buyers-house/

Follow us on Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/solobanus/ and Instagram https://www.instagram.com/solobanus/?hl=es

If you would like to get intouch with us https://solobanus.com/contact-solobanus/

Article and Design by Luna Salem (Aloha College, Nueva Andalucia, Marbella, South of Spain)

When you’re looking to sell your home, you want to present it at its best for the potential buyers. Home staging is a key aspect, especially if you want to sell your property at the best possible price and within the shortest period of time. In this aticle we will give you some valuable tips for staging your home to sell, tips that will attract and influence potential buyers.

Home staging comes down to decorating your property as unpersonal as possible, highlighting your home’s best features which will help buyers imagine themselves living there, it comes down to smart decision making and investment of time. If staging is done right the property sells faster, it’s a fact. Therefore, it’s only a gain situation for owners to put some time and effort into looking closely at their home and staging accordingly, and when better than now that everybody has extra time, as we have all been asked to STAY HOME.

Staging doesn’t have to mean spending money, it’s the time most owners wouldn’t usually have that is the main investment. Take the opportunity now to give your property a fresh look so potential buyers can imagine themselves living there, as well as revamp a property that has gone stagnant. And if anyone is thinking “what for? We are not going to get visits in ages” well, these are unprecedented times, however times where everyone is at home and potential buyers have time to look on websites and consider possible investments, they didn’t have time to before. 

At Solobanus we are getting enquiries for both sales and long-term rentals from clients, times are changing, and we will all have to change with these times sooner or later so why not use this time and be prepared- it is a new beginning for the Property Market as we know it. Once your home is all ready to present you can video it with your mobile and send it to us at info@solobanus.com we are offering virtual tours to potential buyers and tenants.

1. Where to start Staging

Not all the rooms of the house influence equally a buyer’s decision to buy. Let’s start with those which will have the biggest impact on a buyers decisions, like the living room, then the master bedroom and the kitchen these are considered the most important influencing rooms, other rooms like guest rooms, children rooms and other bathrooms have less influence, however if you still have time you can get to these later.

2. Get rid of Personal touches and things that show the property already has an owner.

Buyers need to be able to see themselves living in the house, therefore personals are a definite NO, get rid of any personal things at sight, like family pictures, magnets on fridge, religious ornaments, knitted bed covers, put clothes away in cupboards and unclutter your bathroom tops, find a way of keeping your toiletries out of site in the bathroom cupboards or other. While it’s true that de-personalizing your home makes it a little strange to live in, it is vital if the buyer is to get a connexion with your property and start imagining himself living in it, it will all be worth it.

3. Clutter makes your home look smaller

Make your home look bigger and brighter by taking away the extras that are not a need, keep it to basic and only what you need for daily use. Extra things will only steal optical size from your property and you want to bring out the best in your property, extra space is considered luxury and helps property sell, so don’t cramp it when you can unclutter it and add square metres. Put your things in storage if need be, where they will not be seen, give away things you no longer have use for, it is a liberating feeling I promise you.

4. Clean like you’re getting rid of the Virus

You want every corner of your property to shine, even those hidden. Invision stage cleaning like the kind of intense cleaning you’d want to do if you were moving into a new house. Clean also inside of the fridge, closets and other places you may not do on a daily basis or as often, this kind of cleaning suggests the property is well maintained and will get rid of any lingering old smells from the core. Clean the windows too.

5. Small DIY we can all do

Home staging is a good time to take care of those small things around the house that have been neglected, scratches, dirt on walls and doors, holes that need covering, broken things that you can either fix or throw out, it’s time to do something about these. Repair, hide cables, fix chipped paint or even give the place a fresh coat of paint, be meticulous you want your property to look nice and well maintained and it makes a big difference when you look at the whole picture later.

6. Neutral is always best

This part of staging may need some time spent and some investment but you will see the difference when it comes to your sale price too and time your property takes to sell. Avoid having rooms painted in bold or different colours as this can be a major put-off for buyers, go for neutrals light, plain colours, like white or grey, these colours are easy to match with most furniture and allow buyers to see the options they have without distracting them from being able to picture a future in this property.

7. First impressions

The front entrance is the first thing a buyer is going to see when they walk into your house, so you want to make a positive, welcoming and strong first impression. Keep it simple with very few touches, a doormat and perhaps a plant. Smell is important- so a subtle incense stick that gives a good fresh smell and if it’s in a nice packaging it can serve as a decorative feature too. Simple but welcoming to start buyers off on the right foot.

8. Focus on fresh

Less is more, too many items in a home can devalue a property, a few well maintained, well-placed plants and flowers can add life and freshness into the space. But space them out so as not to clutter any one particular area, perhaps a vase full of bright flowers as a centre piece of your dining table, a nice plant in the living room corner, no need for too much. If you don’t have the time to maintain fresh plants,a fake plant will set the same atmosphere, but be selective and don’t overdo it, it’s about quality details not quantity, as quantity usually has the complete opposite effect.

9. Let there be light

Light is happiness, dark is sad. With this in mind, try to bring out all the light possible into your house. Open curtains and blinds, which will not only brighten the room up but will make it seem larger.

10. Reconsider and Re-arrange your furniture

You want there to be as much open, walkable space as possible. This will allow buyers to cruise the space comfortably and also help them visualize their own furniture in each room or how they might like to set each room for their own purposes. Put away any strange looking furniture in storage, get rid of oversized or broken furniture pieces and those that don’t match the room. Once you know what’s staying (make this decision smart one NOT an emotional-attached one), rearrange the furniture to make the rooms look and feel as ample, fresh, bright and aired as possible. 

You don’t need to spend a lot of money to stage and prepare your home to sell, its all about taking the time and making clever decisions that will be rewarded at the end. Ask Solobanus for further tips on how to improve and add value to your home, all this will influence the buyers who come for viewings. Once you know you’ve done everything you can to show your home in the best light possible, take a video of your whole house with your phone and send it over to us at Solobanus info@solobanus.com or fill in your details on our page https://solobanus.com/es/propietarios/, then you can sit back and wait for us to find the right buyer.

Design of article by Luna Salem (Aloha College, Nueva Andalucia, Marbella, Spain)

Luxury Lifestyle Marbella. My favourire healthy food places in and around Marbella, Nueva Andalucia, Puerto Banus, San Pedro de Alcantara andThe Golden Mile.

 Marbella is not only known for it´s luxury lifestyle and million-dollar houses https://solobanus.com/the-glamour-puerto-banus/, it has become a place of health and wellness were people look after themselves, both inside and out. Many residents have opted for healthy choices over the course of years such as becoming plant-based, vegetarian or just adopting a healthier and clean diet, not to say regular excersising. For this reason, Marbella is filled with great choices of healthy restaurants and giving clients the possibility to maintain a nutritious, beneficial and balanced way of life. Down below, I list my favorite healthy-eating places for delicious breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Organic Cold Pressed Juicery

This is one of my personal favorites. It is the best if you are looking for a fresh and organic breakfast to start the day off right! My choice is always the açai bowl- it´s the best i’ve ever tried, but they also have a variety of seasonal cold pressed juices, wellness shots, smoothies and smoothie bowls (excellent for after a workout), and great take-away snaks. For example: overnight oats, protein bowls, celery and carrot sticks and a juice cleanse pack. (Location: Nueva Andalucia) https://www.instagram.com/organiccoldpressedjuicery/

Celicioso

Celicioso is a restaurant located in one of the nicest areas of Marbella, called “Puente Romano”. Their menu has everything: breakfast, luch and
great desserts. The best part is… all their food is GLUTEN-FREE! They have sensational food for celiacs which people even without the diet enjoy it extremely. I go there often, specially for the amazing cupcakes they bake. Some of their menu offers: juices, salad bowls, toasts, hamburgers, pastas, pancakes...(Location: Puente Romano).  http://www.celicioso.com/StoreClosed.htm

Hustle n’ Flow Eatery

This next one is perfect for whoever is hungry at lunch but still wants to choose a healthy option (they also do breakfast). Their food is definitely “delicious and visually appealing” as mentioned in their website, and they use the greatest ingredients and combinations for each plate. They have a number of choices for different people: customisable salad or wraps, different style of eggs on toast, sweet and salty waffles (1 is gluten-free), a keto special… some of their dishes also contain activated-charcoal as a main ingredient (the ice-cream is really delicious!)  (Location:San Pedro). https://hustlenflow.com/

Fresh Food Cafe

Another great option for breakfast and luch. It has wholesome foods made with healthy ingredients and is located near a supermarket and
yoga-centre. You will always leave full and satisfied with it’s great fresh recipes. Some of the examples are: numerous salads, lunch bowls, quesadillas, wraps, burgers, sandwiches and bruch toasts. (My all-time favorites are the smashed avocado with poached eggs, pesto, bacon and tomato and the salmon bowl- amazing. Although all options are seriously delicious.  (Location:Nueva Andalucia)  http://www.freshfoodcafe.es/

Kohala Poke

Many of you may know the upcoming hawaiian food: Poke. It combines a base such as salads, rice, noodles, quinoa… then includes a protein of
choice like salmon, tuna, tofu… and is topped off by a selection of ingredients; fruit, salad, vegetables… or all of them! Kohala Poke is one of my favorite places when it comes to eating pokes. They have great ingredients to make customised and healthy poke bowls. They even have bambú (personal favorite) and wasabi crisps. In my opinion, poke bowls are a great, every-day choice you can have. You will never get bored as it can be extremely different depending on the choices you make. Moreover, the bowls have great sizes and prices can be very reasonable! (I always get; red rice, tuna marinated in tiger lime, 4 ingredients, usually; avocado, pineapple, bambú and cherry tomatoes, 2 toppings e.g. nuts and corriander and the terriyaki-mayo sauce) ( Location: Marbella centre)                  https://kohalapoke.es/

Manuka

Manuka considers itself to be “flexiterian” and offers “clean, healthy and wholesome foods”. It uses no refined sugars, additives or chemicals and has a wide range of plates: vegeterian, plant-based, gluten-free, dairy-free or just healthy and organic. I am a usual customer and have tried most of their dishes. It combines healthy and tasty food. Some of it’s plates include: zuchini layered lasagna, superfood bowls, sweet potato burger, tuna tacos... My all-time favorite is the salmon bowl (it has one of the best vietnamese dressings ever). What I love the most is that they have a small glossary informing customers the benefits of thier specific products (e.g. açai, goji berries, bee pollen…) Manuka is simply a great option for nutritious and delicious food.
(Location: Paseo Maritimo; Marbella and La Cañada shopping centre).                                                                                                        https://www.manukamarbella.com/

Sakura

Finally, sushi. Who does’nt love sushi? I definitely do! Sushi can end up being the best thing you’ve ever tried or just be a great disaster- There are many sushi restaurants in Marbella but by far, Sakura is the best one. It is located in Puerto Banus and is owned by a lovely, hardworking family. I know as a fact that all their sushi is freshly made and this is obvious in the flavour of the food. It is my families favorite japanese restaurant because of the quality of the food. All their dishes are spectacular but some of my recomendations are: the prawn tempura, gyozas (best I’ve ever tried), the osaka roll (kingprawn and cucumber wrapped in avocado) and the salmon tartar. Ultimately, all plates are delicious and flavoursome.
(Location: Puerto Banus) https://www.sakurabanus.com/

By: Luna Salem (Aloha College, Nueva Andalucia, Marbella, Spain)