Our History
The LPA is the result of almost two years of deliberation, study, trial marketing and co-operation by six top independent real estate agencies: Diana Morales Properties, Holmes Property Sales, Marbella Residences, Panorama, Fincas R. Germaux and Villa Marketing.
During this time, we considered what impact other Multiple Listing Systems (MLS) would have on the coast and whether a suitable organization for all agencies to belong to. If not, should an alternative be found? With this came the deliberation and thought about the practice of multiple listing, how it works in the USA and how it could really work here on the Costa del Sol.
The overriding factor was the enormous growth in the number of “Real Estate Agencies” opening along the coast. Many appeared to have some capital, but little or no knowledge of the legalities and practices needed to be able to do the job well and correctly. This gave rise to our anxiety that our industry needs to be regulated and controlled. The lack of a body which could do this became apparent as the most important issue facing us.
Multiple listing, or sharing of listings, has always happened among agents who know each other, so it is clear that an association will naturally enhance that activity. This in turn could eventually evolve into a true, workable multiple listing.
The ever increasing size of our area, added to the ever changing laws governing planning, taxation and so on, involves considerable time and investment in keeping abreast with the facts. As we are often the first and main contact in Spain for many non-residential purchasers, our moral obligation to impart accurate knowledge and information, or to advise where to go for that knowledge and information, becomes a greater burden every day. So our thoughts moved on to the advantages of sharing not only our properties but our knowledge as well. We realized that a forum whereby we ourselves could organize training, an thus share new information with each other and our staff would be of great value.
Our considerations also turned to cutting costs and the advantages to be gained by “economy of scale” bulk-buying concepts that could be introduced through the existence of an association. The ability to control the IT costs for our members, creating a strong buying power for advertising space, achieving greater discounts on stationery, photography, printing and other similar services are an attractive bonus to the other facilities the LPA can provide.
