Spanish agents celebrate best ever a place in the sun live
The property exhibition, which took place from Friday 8th May to Sunday 10th May at London Olympia, saw a 26 per cent increase in visitors compared to the same event in 2014. 7,814 people packed out the exhibition, which showcased properties from around the world, as the strong pound and weak euro left British buyers eager to use their buying power overseas.
"Most stands were busy and the country seminar areas [for France, Portugal, Italy and Florida were] standing-room only," says A Place in the Sun Managing Director Andy Bridge.
France and Portugal both proved popular, with Leggett Immobilier reporting "serious buyers making appointments for viewings in the next couple of weeks" and Ideal Homes Portugal hailing the event as a "huge success", with "great quality of clients".
The Portuguese agency also coaxed Dragon’s Den star Duncan Bannatyne onto the stage to talk about his home in the Algarve, after show presenters Jasmine Harman and Laura Hamilton were unable to attend.
The focus, though, was firmly on the property, as the UK election dominated the weekend news, boosting confidence.
"In spite of a lot of late nights spent watching the election coverage, the show appeared to be busy on Friday morning, though it did quieten down later in the afternoon," says Dan Johnson, CEO of OPP Ventures and Lead Galaxy. "The French and Portuguese areas were particularly active, with some of the information sessions so well-attended there were no spare seats."
"The opposite end of the exhibition hall seemed quite a lot quieter, with less interest among the attendees in the USA and some of more geographically distant destinations."
Out of the European favourites, Spain was undoubtedly top of buyers' wish lists.
"Spain was as popular as ever, a real belief from visitors that the market has bottomed-out and with sterling riding high there appears to be serious intent to buy," comments Bridge.
Property Repossessions Spain found that they were rushed off their feet by demand, even selling homes to several visitors during the court of the show.
"We sold 3 properties, which is unheard of - for us anyway - in all the years we have been exhibiting at Exhibitions," Managing Director Peter Birkett tells TheMoveChannel.com.
"I am having to go out to Spain for the next month to help out our staff there, as we have so many confirmed viewings. We already have 34 client visits confirmed over the next 6 weeks with possibly several more as they get their flights booked."
"None of us had a minute for even a bite of lunch each of the 3 days of the show," he continues. "We just never stopped."
Crucially, he notes that everyone who visited their stand was a serious buyer:
"Everyone wants to buy now, not in a few months - not next year - but in the next few weeks. I’ve just this second received a call from a client who has booked to fly out on Thursday to view on Friday. He said he will bring his deposit and paperwork with him - to tie it up quickly - as he wants to have this year’s family holiday there! This is another first."
"The show was definitely our best ever," he concludes.