Latin Kings from New York to Madrid

Shouting "Latin Kings out!" and "We're going to get them, we're going to kill them", some 600 young people from Alcorcón met up on Avenida Alcalde José Aranda in response to the brawl between Spaniards and Latinos that left 7 hurt, three seriously injured, and another seven arrested [the latter from] the Dominican Republic, Colombia, Ecuador and Bolivia.Constantino Mendez, Madrid's security chief, says he plans to assign more police in the city to...

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Enrique and Leopoldo Faura managing directors of constructors Grupo Mirador

Sewage rising up into the shower, sinking swimming pools and houses without electricity or gas, these are only a few of the problems plaguing buyers of their so-called 'dream' homes in Mollina.Patios unpaved, gardens strewn with bricks and rubble, and cracks and mould that keep appearing in the walls, to say the owners are unhappy would be an understatement.But this is just what a series of neighbours claim they are left with two years after they...

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300 residents of Mijas affected by urban planning fines

300 residents of Mijas affected by urban planning fines and demolition orders on houses built on land not zoned for building met last week in front of the municipal auditorium to establish a pressure group aimed at defending their interests. They elected a representative for each area of the municipality affected, which are Puerto de Los Gatos, La Alquería, Entrerríos, Macorra, La Majadilla, Alberquilla, Candelaria, Fuente Algarrobo, Atalaya, Valtocado and Osunilla, and decided to place the matter in the hands of lawyers, whose task it will be...

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Costa de Cabanas development

Fugitive solicitor Michael Lynn is at the centre of a new fraud probe after Hungarian police received complaints about his property dealings there.The lawyer who fled Ireland owing €83m in multiple-mortgage debts was in Budapest as recently as Tuesday in a desperate bid to keep his property empire float.Police have launched the fraud investigation following the collapse of a 156-apartment development owned by the fugitive solicitor into which Irish SSIA investors have ploughed their savings.An Irish Independent investigation has found:l Lynn began...

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Viva Estates agency hit by recession

Viva Estates agency that claims to be the Costa del Sol’s largest has laid off 120 of its 160 staff.has shut 95 per cent of its offices in a bid to fight the current recession.The company has seen sales figures drop by over two thirds since 2003.In 2007 the agency achieved just 550 completions, in comparison to 1,500 in 2003.In a desperate bid to save the business, it has shut 13 out of its 14 offices, including flagship branches in Puerto Banus, Fuengirola and Alhaurin, and cut back on its huge UK advertising bill.Blaming the collapse on the internet...

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The foreign property owner in Spain a species in danger of extinction

In Spain, a whopping 96% of mortgages are on floating rates, rather than fixes - so every rise hurts almost every mortgage holder. It looks like the Spanish may be the first group of Europeans to experience a painful ending to the global property boom.Last week, the Ibex index in Madrid was battered as shares in Valencia-based builder Astroc dived after its accounts revealed that some of last year's profits came from the sale of assets to its chairman, leading to fears that the company was trying to prop up its share price. Its fellow building...

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Small constructors and developers have closed down

Prices are falling in some areas, but because many properties are second or holiday homes, owners are reluctant to drop asking prices, unless they are anxious to sell. It was reported that many small constructors and developers have closed down in the past few months in the Valencia region, about 20% of the 13, 000 plus. Many of these small enterprises are in fact, front companies for the larger ones- they hire the illegal workers, enter into the shady deals, etc. and when things go wrong they simply fold their tents, declare bankruptcy and disappear....

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The price of second homes in the Mediterranean could fall

The price of second homes in the Mediterranean could fall as a result of the credit crisis, a leading property expert has warned.Michael Ball, a professor of property at Reading ¬University, England, and an adviser to the UK government, said holiday homes in many parts of Europe were exposed to a correction.Not only had prices risen fast amid speculative interest and the easy availability of credit, but the supply of new flats had been increasing...

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18,000 dwellings were built illegally during the administration of Jesus Gil

18,000 dwellings were built illegally during the administration of Jesus Gil and his local party, GIL. The Junta de Andalucia (socialist) and the new town council of the town (PP) are discussing how to resolve the situation. The Junta presented a General Plan in which it foresees “a revision and regularisation” of the illegal construction, plus construction of 50,000 new dwellings over 10 years and a declaration of 3.8 million m2 as green zones. However, part of the new green zones is declared as “urbanizable” in the previous general plan (meaning...

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The Andalucian Ombudsman, Jose Chamizo has supported the demolition of 334 homes in a total of seven developments in Marbella.

Antonio Banderas luxury home La Gaviota built practically on the beach.will be bulldozed.The Andalucian Ombudsman, Jose Chamizo has supported the demolition of 334 homes in a total of seven developments in Marbella.Marbella and in El Palmar, Cadiz, hundreds of houses are expected to get bulldozed this year.In Malaga, the Prasa hotel on Estepona’s beachfront is expected to be knocked down imminently, with the coastal authorities having agreed to stump...

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Seven people who were being held hostage in Lepe

A group of seven people who were being held hostage in Lepe and Cartaya, Huelva province, were freed this weekend, in a Civil Guard operation which took the seven kidnappers into custody. EFE says two of the kidnappers lived in Cartaya, itself, three others from elsewhere in Huelva province, another in Madrid and the seventh in Holland. Two of them have Moroccan nationality.Four of the hostages were found under guard in two vehicles parked near the Marina Ocio shopping centre in Lepe following a report to Lepe local police from the son of one of...

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Marcos J.R.C Kidnapper

A temporary construction worker has been arrested in Telde in connection with the attempted kidnap of the ten year old child, Sandra Domínguez, in the La Garita area of the town on January 4.The 37 year old suspect who has been named only as Marcos J.R.C., is said to have a police record and was seen in a white van in the area. The victim has recognised him in a photo.Marcos now goes before the Instruction judge 2 in Telde, Óscar Rey, accused of attempted kidnapping. Police say they are now searching for a possible accomplice in the ca...

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Dean Fitzpatrick brother of Amy Fitzpatrick interviewed

Dean Fitzpatrick, the brother of 15 year old Amy who has been missing from her home in Mijas since the evening of New Year’s Day, was called to the local Civil Guard barracks on Monday, where he was interviewed for around an hour for any information which could help detectives locate his sister. It’s now been two weeks since she was last se...

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Local Police demonstrate to reinstate Francisco Javier Martín

Local Police demonstrate to reinstate Inspector Francisco Javier Martín, who is accused of hiding and then removing three statement complaints from the police station on the same day that the premises were searched, March 30 2006, as part of the Malaya case. Since the time of the alleged offence, the policeman has been promoted to control traffic, plain-clothed officers and the police training scho...

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Amy Fitzpatrick:a stranger driving a white van had been spotted targeting children in the area

Amy Fitzpatrick, 15, has not been seen since the evening of New Year’s Day, when she left the friend’s home on the Riviera del Sol complex. It is understood that the missing teenager does not have her mobile phone or passport with her.Officers from the Spanish Civil Guard searched waste ground yesterday in the tourist resort of Riviera del Sol, near Fuengirola, as part of their hunt for the Irish teenager. The land is close to the route that Amy...

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