Re: making the big move to spain, need advice please!!!!!
 

Best advice, as always, is rent first. Aside from getting to know the area, you can get to visit the local estate agents. Prices won't be going upwards any time soon.

It's normal around here for a villa advertised on a big website for €280,000 to be in a local agent's window for €180,000. The three bed finca we rented which could have been ours for €96,000 we've seen for €136,000 on the net with an extra bedroom, garden that didn't exist.

There doesn't seem to be a property mis-descriptions act type legislation here for agencies, and commission rates seem to run into the 30% for some resales. :blink: That makes buying "from England" a big risk... Whatever you get from the estate agents as a property description - just tear it up and make your own inspection because it's probably wrong and ISN'T legally binding like in the UK.

Whilst you may not think you £100k budget is massive (esp. with stirling as it is at the moment) - it's a pretty good start and there is a lot of property on the market at the moment. Be prepared to haggle hard, then walk away if it's not accepted - plenty more property out there. Remember - you're the one with all the cash :)

Find a good solicitor (seek recommendations, NOT from the agent / vendor). Don't forget that you'll need to add VAT (IVA) at 7% plus other costs when buying.

And welcome to the forum!

Re: making the big move to spain, need advice please!!!!!
 

I lived @ Dream Hills & my folks still do, too many ex pats move to Spain with an expectation of getting a job with little or no experience of what is available. My father is a chef so finds work pretty easy, my mother worked in a shop most of her life and is a waitress, everyone knows in winter your hours get cut in the tourist trade, you have to save your tips and things for the winter months and if need be take more jobs on to pay the bills. Then again once summer arrives you are working like a dog in extrem heat with no social life whatsoever.

Re: making the big move to spain, need advice please!!!!!
 

Yep I used to be a waitress when I first mooved out here so I know what you mean.

I was young then and it didn´t bother me we used to sleep on the beach all day wark the mad in the eavening then go on the beers all night till about 6 am that was 7 days a week it´s a great life when you are young care free and no responsabilities.

However that was 6 years ago I am now engaged with a big house bills and a 2 year old my life has changed somewhat since I first came here.

It suited me then but it doesn´t suit me now to much to responsability now to live here. It´s great if your retired or young and single, but doesn´t suit the middle aged.

Did I just say that oh my god I just admitted to being middle aged I have to go shoot myself now bye!

Re: making the big move to spain, need advice please!!!!!
 

Yeah I know what you mean, I lived there in my mid 20s and had nothing to worry about, the UK now though is a nightmare to keep your cash from the tax man, I am seeing things its best to struggle somewhere with better health & weather than somewhere so drepressing as the UK, but then again its the added pressure of finding work over long periods in Spain and even if you speak Spanish and are educated to degree standard there is so much racism and corruption its impossible.

Re: making the big move to spain, need advice please!!!!!
 

It´s even worse now that they have built so many new houses that they can´t sell the economy is going south, there has been loads of people laid off Parador sacked 1600 staff at the end of last year. I know UK is horrible place to be these days but here is not living it is existing if you work 18 hours a day you can pay your bills just but you have no life no savings nothing it´s not an easy life here not that it ever was but it is getting worse.

If you need to get out of the UK go else where like USA or Canada or Australia of something here is not the place to be and won´t be for at least 5 years. We are getting out of dodge like rats off a sinking ship at the moment even my OH boss is leaving it´s that bad.

Scary uncertain times

Re: making the big move to spain, need advice please!!!!!
 

I agree my folks are finding it hard at the moment with price increases in Spain, also I do not think this tourist season will be great because of the strengh of the Euro, I will be coming over in July but on little money as the prices are nearing the UK ones at this time, but as my old man says you can be on holiday in the morning with beautiful walks and go to work at night.

some of them bars on Via Park 3 are on their 4-5th owners in 4 years which is the reason going into that business is totally wrong unless you get a prime spot somewhere with great books.

Re: making the big move to spain, need advice please!!!!!
 

yeh and that is exteremly rare, most places here are being sold not because people don´t want to be here anymore it´s because they can´t aford to be here anymore. I don´t know anyone who would leave if they had a choice there has been a few kids I knew in the past who went back to go to Uni and things like that but none have left because they hate it here.

We all leave to follow the money, sad I know but true love can´t put a roof over your head.

Re: making the big move to spain, need advice please!!!!!
 

You are quiet right Donna I would not advise any one to come out unless they have money or retiring as there is no work but I didnt listen to advise on this website.

Re: making the big move to spain, need advice please!!!!!
 

Thanks, mate.
Our plan is to buy a ready business , possibly with expantion potencial.
Before we jump into it I suppose we need to research tax/lisence law esp deductibe stuff i.e. on loan interest; check the books&bookings etc before we buy and of course -learn some Spanish!

Re: making the big move to spain, need advice please!!!!!
 

The thing is, here, you don't have to have so much money to live a
more comfortable life. But, from our experience, it's better to live
in the country amongst the Spanish. Lovely outdoor life, lots of lovely
fresh food, you don't need so much stuff as in UK. Yes, a computer and phone
to keep in touch, but costs are generally a lot less than in UK. My Council
Tax is 38 euros per year !! that's for starters....

Re: making the big move to spain, need advice please!!!!!
 

Well, I've just read all these posts and I'm thoroughly depressed. Our house is up for sale in the UK with a planned move to the CDS. I work for myself and will continue to do so but you guys are starting to put me off Spain. I have always found that if you're determined enough you can make anything work. It's all a state of mind.
Anything has to be better than the UK.....perhaps Spain isn't the answer anymore though.....

Re: making the big move to spain, need advice please!!!!!
 

Spain is what you make of it Patrick, if you go out with a positive attitude and attack it with all your efforts, it becomes as good as you want it to be.

Re: making the big move to spain, need advice please!!!!!
 

I've been where you are now Patrick and have overcame it! Stay positive.

Re: making the big move to spain, need advice please!!!!!
 

Thanks guys. I do have a positive mind set and I love Spain. I am sure we will move there. I think some people on this forum get being realistic mixed up with plain old negativity....you have to take risks in life.. and accept the possible consequences.

Pat.

Re: making the big move to spain, need advice please!!!!!
 

You have to remember a lot of people live here in the real Spain and get different views closer up than people just thinking of moving here.
I have to agree with a lot of them as it is getting much harder to live here especially if you need to work.