Christopher Hara, CEO and Owner of Fine & Country Costa Blanca North, leads a family-owned real estate firm headquartered in Denia, Spain, specializing in luxury property sales across the Costa Blanca North region. Established in 2019, the company has been recognized as Best Luxury Real Estate Agency in Costa Blanca, North, 2026 by Luxury Lifestyle Awards, marking its sixth consecutive year of recognition and reaffirming its established position within Spain’s high-end property market. With more than two decades of regional expertise and a structured, client-focused advisory approach, Christopher Hara joins Alexander Chetchikov, President of the World Luxury Chamber of Commerce, in conversation to discuss the significance of this sustained recognition and the company’s forward-looking strategic direction. 

Alexander Chetchikov: Christopher, Fine & Country Costa Blanca North has been recognized for the sixth consecutive year. How do you interpret this consistency in the context of your company’s growth? 

Christopher Hara: For me, consistency at that level is never accidental; it’s built over time through structure, discipline and a very clear way of working. When we opened our doors in 2019 on the Marina Denia, we started completely from scratch. There was no existing framework here for Fine & Country, so everything you see today has been carefully built and developed step by step. My background has played a significant role in that. I spent over four decades in the financial services sector, working with some of the world’s largest insurance groups, organizations leading in pensions, investments and life assurance. That environment teaches you to think long-term, to understand clients’ broader financial positions, and to operate with structure, accountability and consistency at every level. I’ve also experienced the industry from every angle, from self-employed agent through to senior management and director roles, recruiting, leading and managing large regions across the UK. So when we built the business here, it was done with that full perspective in mind. This recognition isn’t just about performance; it reflects how we operate day to day, with transparency, consistency and a very hands-on approach. I still work directly with clients because visibility builds trust, and in our market, that trust is absolutely key. 

AC: Your company focuses purely on sales rather than rentals. What’s the thinking behind that strategy? 

CH: It really comes down to the type of client we work with and the stage they’re at in their lives. The majority of our clients are international buyers who are making long-term decisions, whether that’s a second home, a future retirement plan, or a full relocation. They’re not looking at property from a short-term rental perspective; they’re thinking about how it fits into their wider lifestyle and financial structure. That includes everything from residency and tax exposure to pensions, investments and family considerations across different countries. So naturally, our role becomes more advisory than transactional. We’ve also found there’s been a shift in mindset. Many of our clients prefer to keep their properties for personal use rather than renting them out. They value flexibility, being able to come and go, spend time with family, friends and enjoy the lifestyle without restriction. So for us, focusing on sales allows us to dedicate our time properly to guiding clients through what is often a significant life decision, rather than managing short-term rental cycles. It’s about quality, not volume, and building relationships that last well beyond the purchase. 

AC: With a portfolio of over 470 properties, how do you maintain a personalized service? 

CH: It comes down to experience, structure, and staying close to the client at every stage. I’ve always believed that no two clients are the same, particularly in our market. We’re dealing with international buyers who are often making significant life decisions, so the service has to reflect that. For me personally, having lived in Spain for over 22 years, raising a family here and running businesses here, gives a very real understanding of what our clients are going through. It’s not theoretical, it’s lived experience. That allows us to guide people properly, not just through the property purchase, but through the wider lifestyle transition. At the same time, my background has always been structured and process-driven, so we’ve built systems within the business that ensure consistency, no matter how many properties we represent. But the key difference is that I remain hands-on. I still work directly with clients because that visibility matters. It reassures people, it builds confidence, and it ensures that the level of service remains exactly where it should be. That combination, personal involvement, real-life experience, and strong structure — is what allows us to scale without ever losing that individual approach. 

AC: You’ve handled over €30 million in high-value transactions. What’s key to managing complex luxury sales? 

CH: Experience and communication. I’ve seen every side of this industry, from self-employed agent through to corporate director level, and that gives you perspective. You understand not just the transaction, but the people involved and the pressures they’re under. In Spain, there are additional layers, legal, financial, tax, residency, and that’s where our role goes beyond the sale. We guide clients through the entire journey with trusted professionals, ensuring everything is handled correctly. Consistency and transparency are critical. Clients need to know exactly where they stand at all times. 

AC: Your services go well beyond buying and selling. How does that support your positioning? 

CH: Because in reality, our clients don’t just need help buying or selling a property, they need guidance through an entire process, often in a country that isn’t their own. What we do sits far beyond the transaction. Yes, we specialize in the marketing and acquisition of luxury and lifestyle homes, but around that we’ve built a fully integrated, concierge-style service. That includes relocation and lifestyle advisory, introductions to trusted legal, tax and financial specialists, currency and residency guidance, as well as architectural and renovation support and a VIP after-sales service. That level of support is essential in Spain. Clients are navigating different legal systems, tax structures, healthcare, education, all the practical realities of life here. Having lived and built a life here myself, I understand those complexities first-hand, and that’s where we add real value. From a positioning point of view, it means we’re not seen as just another estate agent. We’re a long-term partner. And that’s ultimately what builds the business. Relationships don’t start and end with a transaction, they continue well beyond it. A large proportion of our clients come through referrals, and that only happens when you consistently deliver a level of service that goes beyond what’s expected. 

AC: How does being a family-owned business shape your leadership and culture? 

CH: It keeps us grounded and accountable in a very real way. Whilst we’re proud to represent Fine & Country as brand ambassadors, ultimately, we are a family-owned and run SL Spanish company. That balance is important; we combine the strength and recognition of an international brand with the personal responsibility and flexibility of a family business. When you own the business, there’s a different level of commitment. It’s not just about results, it’s about reputation, consistency and doing things properly over the long term. Having lived here in Spain for over 22 years, raising a family and running two businesses here, we understand the realities our clients are stepping into. We’re not just advising them, we’ve lived it ourselves, and that brings a level of authenticity and trust that clients genuinely value. It’s also important that the business evolves. My son Cristian is now part of the company, born and raised here in Spain he studied Business and Economy at Valencia University before deciding to join the family business after receiving a degree equivalent by studying for the “Certificado Agente Professional Inmobiliario”, (Professional Real Estate Certificate). He brings a strong local perspective combined with a modern approach, which is important for the future. At the same time, we operate to very clear professional standards. We are a fully licensed and registered real estate agency under the Comunidad Valenciana regulations, and members of APIAL in Alicante, which reflects our commitment to ongoing training, experience and a strict code of ethics. 

AC: What are your strategic priorities over the next few years? 

CH: For me, the priorities are quite simple, and they haven’t really changed over the years. The tools around us will continue to evolve, whether that’s digital marketing, international exposure or how we present property. Being part of Fine & Country gives us access to first-class marketing and brand positioning, and with Jacqueline as our Marketing Director, we ensure that side of the business is always operating at a very high level. But fundamentally, the core of what we do remains the same. It’s about trust, relationships, listening to clients properly, understanding their needs, prospecting, and guiding them through the process, including handling the challenges that naturally come with any transaction. In a world that’s becoming more automated, that human element becomes even more important. We’re dealing with lifestyle decisions, aspirations, and often significant life changes, and that requires experience and personal involvement. Looking ahead, having Cristian in the business also brings a strong sense of continuity. He represents the next generation, with a different perspective and understanding of how the market is evolving, while still maintaining the values we’ve built the business on. So growth will come, but it will be measured. For us, it’s about maintaining standards, working with the right clients, and continuing to build a business based on relationships rather than transactions. 

AC: How do you see the Costa Blanca North market evolving? 

CH: It’s still an emerging luxury market, and that’s exactly its strength. Having lived here for over 22 years, I’ve seen the area evolve steadily, but it has never lost what makes it special. Costa Blanca North offers what many buyers are now actively looking for, authenticity, natural beauty, and a sense of understated luxury, rather than overdevelopment. That’s becoming increasingly rare. Costa Blanca North remains one of Spain’s most internationally driven markets, and Alicante province continues to rank among the leading areas for foreign demand. For example, nearly 97,500 properties were purchased by international buyers in Spain in 2025, accounting for around 13.8% of all national sales, with the highest concentration in Alicante province, approximately 43–45%. What we’re seeing now is a more informed, lifestyle-driven buyer. People aren’t just looking for a holiday home anymore, they’re looking for a place where they can spend extended time, work remotely, or fully integrate into the local lifestyle. At the same time, there is a growing recognition of the value in this area, particularly when compared to other more established coastal markets in Spain. Prime properties in the right locations remain limited, which continues to support demand at the upper end of the market. Our role within that is to interpret the market for our clients, whether they’re buying or selling, positioning properties correctly, advising with clarity, and guiding people through what is often a significant life decision with confidence. 

In this conversation, Christopher Hara outlines a leadership approach grounded in structure, consistency, and regional expertise. The sixth consecutive recognition by Luxury Lifestyle Awards reinforces the company’s sustained positioning within Costa Blanca North’s luxury property market, while its forward strategy reflects a measured and client-focused trajectory aligned with evolving industry expectations. 

Discover more about Fine & Country Costa Blanca North: https://www.fineandcountry.es/en/costa-blanca-north-estate-agents