34 SUR IN ENGLISH OCTOBER 16TH TO 22ND 2009

SUR IN ENGLISH

Mark Lawson (FRICS) is fromCheshire in the UK, and cameto Spain in 1965 when his par-ents built a hotel. Educated inSpain and in the UK, he decidedon property development as acareer and now has more than25 years of property develop-ment experience in both coun-tries. He worked for SunleyHoldings PLC, then as ProjectDirector of Resort Design andConstruction in Europe for Mar-riott Vacation Club Interna-tional, before establishing MDCIProject Managers in 1999. Hiscompany specialises in hotels,resorts and luxury villas andhas delivered over 2,300 residen-tial units on 40 different pro-jects. Mark also lectures at busi-ness schools in Malaga andSeville as part of their ProjectManagement faculties. He livesin Marbella with his wife

Driekje and three young sons,and is a season ticket holder atManchester United with his elderson Matthew.

1.Why did you decide to setup a business in Spain?

At the time I was working atMarriott on the development ofthree of their European Resorts,and due to the success of theseI was being approached by vari-ous other companies whowanted to receive the same serv-ice. I thought: “I can still workfor Marriott and set up my ownorganisation,” and also be moreinvolved in differing projects atdifferent stages. So I spoke toMarriott and agreed to service

them and others from my smallcompany. It was also an ambi-tion. I needed to develop my ownpathway, and this was my mo-ment, so I leapt at the chance.

2.What important changeshave you noticed both in the

market and in the country in ge-neral in the years you have beenhere?Because I have been here longerthan most I have seen transfor-mational changes in the coun-try. As a lad I remember thedeath of Franco and the estab-lishment of the Constitution.Spain has advanced so dramati-cally in all areas in the last 30years that it is almost unrecog-

nisable from the quiet, parochialand “relaxed” country it was.Leaving aside the evident im-provement in quality of life, edu-cation, industrial efficiency andcommunications, the “can do”attitude of most of the youth oftoday is one of the most admira-ble qualities. There has alwaysbeen a market for property heredue to the already known, triedand tested benefits - and the evergrowing numbers of people ofnorthern Europe wanting tospend time here. This was so 30years ago, it is now, and it willcontinue to be so in the yearsahead, in spite of downturns thatare caused by a number of fac-tors often unrelated to the life-

style people are wanting.

3.What kind of clientele do youhave?

As I run a project managementcompany, the people who ap-proach me for help are normallythose who wish to get a projectconstructed and delivered to cer-tain guarantees from the outset.This would mean that a personwith a limited budget for a villa,or investors who wish to assuretheir stakeholders of the poten-tial for profit from the outset.Similarly, developers who havebeen disappointed economically,quality- wise or with late deliv-ery in the past, and even banksthat need to know how much itwould cost to complete a projectthey have had to take back froma bankrupt developer.

4.Is it still worthwhile inves-ting in southern Spain?

All the statistics point to the ob-vious fact that this is the besttime to invest in the last 10 years,particularly if you want to buildyour own home, as prices are lowon land and materials and thereis availability of good builders.

5.When do you think we willstart to see a recovery in this

region?This region has long dependedon the investment from peoplefrom northern European coun-tries, so the answer would bewhen those countries are back atfull speed so we will be hereagain.

6.How can confidence in themarket be regained?

Confidence depends on a numberof combining factors such as theimprovement in the economiesof our purchasers and investors,the increase in the value of ster-ling, the increase in the value ofassets, banks starting to lendagain, and not forgetting, the de-finitive approval of the MarbellaPGOU (Urban Plan). All of thesewould serve to raise confidencelevels.

7.What steps do you recom-mend first time buyers take?

In all cases seek specialist ad-vice from registered profes-sional experts in their field - andeven then do not necessarilytake the first advice you aregiven - take a balanced view.

8.What are your top three in-vestment do’s and don’ts?

Do buy as close to the sea as youcan afford, do buy in a consoli-dated urbanization and do havean independent survey done bya Chartered Surveyor. In con-trast, don’t buy a bargain in anunfinished project unless youare a developer, don’t buy offplan and don’t neglect the pa-perwork, permits and bulletins!

Mark Lawson Founder of MDCI Project Managers

“This is the best time toinvest in the last 10 years”

EXPERIENCE. MARK HAS WORKED IN PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT BOTH IN THE UK AND IN SPAIN FOR THE LAST TWENTY-FIVE YEARS.

N MORE INFORMATION l MDCI Projects

Managers. T 952 90 69 90.

www.mdcispain.com

“Buy as close to thesea as you canafford, and havean independentsurvey done”

“Growing numbers ofpeople from northernEurope want tospend time here insouthern Spain”

“Before making aninvestment, seekspecialist advicefrom registeredprofessionals”

Ten Minutes with...