What better way to start our Christmas Newsletter by wishing you a beautiful Christmas holiday and a prosperous New Year. In just about 2 weeks the streets will fill with phrases like “I can’t believe we’re already in 2026!“, or “My, my! Time flies”.
Have you ever wondered why this is? Why does it feel like time goes by quicker than before? And more importantly, is there anything we can do to stop, or pause? Rest assured. The answer is yes! Just keep reading to find out what the secret to life is.
An Unsustainable Life
How many times have you been somewhere, or with someone, where you felt so incredibly at peace that you would give absolutely anything to stop time? We all know the feeling. It is an instant where our mind goes quiet, almost as if in a haze. We surrender to an overwhelming feeling of warmth within, and we simply know that we are where we are meant to be.
It is a bittersweet feeling. Because just as we “snap” out of the haze, we come back to reality. We get swept right back into our habits and daily routines. We hear our telephones buzzing and emails coming in. Suddenly we remember our obligations and the compromises we have made. We start rushing to places, rather than enjoying the journey….And just like that, that warm feeling starts to fade as we hop right back on to the “Train of Routine”.
What has happened to us? Why did we start a battle against time, when the inevitable passing of time is the only thing that is certain in our life?
Stop & Breathe
The last so many years have all been about a fast paced life. This life was “sold” to us as trendy. The fast paced life could guarantee economic security, and therefore also housing security. It gave us the promise of countless trips to exotic destinations. But we all know deep down in our hearts that this “life” represents only 1 side of the coin.
This Christmas, we want to encourage everyone to take a large step back, and simply breathe. Open your eyes and head in a different direction. Guide yourself onto the path that will lead you back to that warm feeling. And I promise, the closer you get to your new destination, you will feel like time slows down again.
The alternative to a fast paced life is quality of life. Isn’t that really what we all search for? It is our Christmas wish to all of you that in 2026 you hop off your Train of Routine, and start walking towards a lifestyle that is more aligned with who you are. Find the moments that make you smile. Allow yourself to sit in silence and simply observe the beauty of the World we live in. Notice how children play, how groups of friends and families laugh together. Make it part of your new habit to take a moment for yourself to actively seek what thrills you. Is it a delicious Andalusian breakfast in the morning sun? Is it an afternoon winter-walk on the beach? Whatever it may be, stop & breathe.
Time & Villas & Fincas
What effect has the inevitable passing of time had on Villas & Fincas? Naturally, like everyone else, we also hop onto our routine train. However, we feel lucky we work in the Luxury Country Property Market. Being able to escape into the countryside and walk through private forests during our viewings gives us life! We feel completely alive when we get to hop in a car and tour around the estates we sell. Time stops for us once we arrive at our country properties, because this is the kind of lifestyle we believe in.
Our motto at Villas & Fincas is: “We don’t sell properties; we sell a lifestyle”. Why? We know the many benefits of living in Andalucía. Being able to connect with the essence of the culture, the gastronomy and the countryside, allows us to transmit the love we feel for Andalusia, our home, with our clients. And this is no joke! Once we start to list all the things we love about living in the countryside in Andalucía, there is no end to our speech! Whether it be the classics: the tapas, the beaches, the flamenco, the people… Or the hidden secrets: the unexpected beauty in historic towns “in the middle of nowhere”. Or enjoying “ancient” dishes at road ventas that modern day families don’t make anymore.
No matter what we do, we try to make time stop, simply by looking around us. For example, even though we have driven the same road from Casares to Gaucín and Ronda hundreds of times, our instinct still tells us to stop and enjoy the mesmerising view when we see the sparkling Mediterranean from above. To us, this is not a job, but an honour.
A New Generation
Even though we try to make time stop, the actual ticking clock doesn’t. If we look back to where everything started, we have to go all the way back to 2001, when the founders of Villas & Fincas, Oscar and Anita, moved to Spain with 3 young girls to start a new life. Next year in 2026, we will be proudly celebrating the 25th anniversary of our family company! Well, that isn’t something you get to say in every Christmas newsletter. So much has happened and changed in almost 25 years… We have grown from a very small agency into a widely recognised agency in the Luxury Country Property market in Andalusia. This is something to be proud of!
What is the next step? Oscar and Anita are still completely involved in their business but want to make space for the next generation. Their daughters Nienke Ernstsen and Danielle Ernstsen have been working with the company for many years already, both in the creative team and in the sales team. This year, Danielle has taken the lead and has decided to fully follow her family’s footsteps. The team has a new colleague since the summer, namely David! Danielle and the Villas & Fincas family will continue making Andalusian Dreams come true!
Warmth in Andalusia
All in all, time passing by isn’t so bad, is it? At the end of the day, it is the way of life. We can look back and feel proud of our achievements. It helps us to look into the future and aim for higher goals. What we have seen in our almost 25 years in Spain and in our field of work, is that the “fast pace” and continuous innovation isn’t enough to stay on top of your game. Especially here in Andalusia, we have seen that what matters most in order to really create a connection is soul. Authenticity is what makes you stop in the middle of a busy street, to admire what you are witnessing. Whether it be the kind people, the generations getting along, the incredibly history that makes our land so unique, or of course the food and wine! It is the combination of everything together, that creates a warm feeling that everyone ends up chasing.
So… what can I say? In the Christmas Spirit, we wish you a sunny life in Andalucía, in your dream home, where you will always have that warm feeling within! You won’t have to chase it anymore, you will have it in the palm of your hands. And then, time will start to slow down again. Your heartbeat will become stable every time the sun kisses your cheeks. You will notice yourself breathing in the fresh air when you are walking in the mountains or at the beach. You will savour every bite of those fresh sardines! Life will be so incredibly good that you have finally found the power within to stop time.
From all of us at Villas & Fincas, we wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy 2026! May your new year be full of accomplished dreams and the warm Andalusian sun.
Oscar, Anita, Danielle, Nienke & David
Christmas Video
To end the 2025 season, we want to share this Christmas video, highlighting the beautiful lifestyle we get to live in Andalusia!
Danielle Ernstsen | 16th December 2025
