Hi, we are coming over to Spain in the next couple of months and intend renting a property for arround 6 months. This will happen as soon as we rent our UK home to a suitable tenant. We then will spend the 6 months looking for a suitable property to meet our budget & needs.
We do not, as of yet, intend selling our UK property and therefore have only £61,000 to spend on a Spanish home. We are looking at Spanish townhouses in such places as Sax & Orihuela.
We did come on an inspection visit and were abit taken aback because of the level of crime in the Torrevieja area.
The 2 of us should have arround £900 per month to live on but this will initially include rent.
My partner does not drive and would like some sort of small English community where lets say, yoga classes and book clubs are organised. She would also like a good level of transport to a gym and other facilities.
Can anyone comment on what we intend to do? ie the feasability, the level crime in these areas and our budget.
Any comments would be much appreciated.
Also would a move to some where inland from Malaga be appropriate or would it be too remote and expensive.
Many Thanks
Colin

Hi Colin

I don't know Alicante area to comment, although I didn't like that area anyway when I went there.

Why are you coming to Spain if you want to be in an English Community, you might as well stay in the UK. In two months time you are coming to Spain in peak season, both international and Spanish tourists. August is the worse month to think about coming as prices will be high for rent and often can be harder to find. However further inland they can be often cheaper, but you will be going into Spanish terrority and will need to speak spanish. Anywhere that is predominatly English or Expat, often is more expensive and has problems attached to it. Further inland often is much cheaper for rent and to buy. Transport again depends on where you want to live. Be aware of Agents as they will often charge you a finders fees, so you can end up paying 4 months rent in some case, 1 being commission. New face on the bloke, and an expat will become your best friend and will often feed you bullshit. So anyone who says hey I've got a mate who's got a flat for rent, becareful. Sometimes keys are taken of appartments by neighbours etc and rented without the owners permission as it is often the owners holiday home. Any reputable rep won't charge you commission.

You should only in many cases have to pay 2 months rent and one month deposit which should get back at the end of the contract. I had two women agents try and rip me off. They didn't do it for very long as I told them that they didn't know who I know......I was thinking from the legal side they were thinking criminal - the advantage of having so many nasty criminals around......LOL. They both gave me my money back, in fact one turned up with a bodyguard, I nearly fell out the car laughing after she left. Amazing when you play on people imagination what you can achieve. The other agent also played on the fact she went to church and was a good person.....so don't be taken in even by the perceived charming.

What are you planning on doing for work?

Thanks for the reply mercedes

We want somekind of english support as we dont speak Spanish. The reasons for coming at this time of year are 2 fold. We want to experience both the hot busy time of the year as well as the cooler months.

As for work. I was hoping that we could live on the £900 per month we have coming in from investments after we buy a house.

Colin

I didn't speak a word of spanish when I came, I learnt pigeon fast. If you rely on expats for support you will find you will get ripped off, because unfortunately many will take advantage. I think I must have had a beacon for vampires when I first came here, they smelt fresh blood and if you don't know how things are done here prepared to be ripped off. Its why I choose to live in a Spanish area. I find them much more genuine. I thought I could write my own Frost/Inspector Morse when I first arrived, met some very interesting characters.....but made life interesting. Trust no one until you sort the chaff from the wheat and you hopefully won't be disappointed. Start learning spanish - like now, because you will find the spanish more helpful especially if they speak English, but won't necessarily speak it until they see you are trying, regardless how bad you are. There are too many people who expect the spanish to speak Engish and not bother and then they wonder why some spanish aren't helpful to them. And as for buying a house, be careful.....lots of dodgy lawyers and real estaters around.....Maybe think everyone is dodgy and then you will be pleasantly surprised when they're not.

Run as fast as you can from Torrevieja. Sax isn't much better.

Mercedes gives some fantastic advice but I know from my parents experience over there that it's harder to fit into a totally Spanish environment when you're older and it's not as easy to pick up the language. Bear in mind that with some of the rural areas north of Alicante, you'll not only have to learn Spanish but a fair bit of Valenciano too. It can be a very isolating experience.
The idea of renting out there before you commit to it, is a great one.

Thanks for reply Sibsie

Can you recommend any towns/villages that are safe yet inviting?

Many Thanks
Colin

I can't really think of anywhere N of Alicante that is still reasonably priced. The resale market is sluggish though so you might be able to pick up a bargain. Bear in mind that the climate in winter can be cold enough to warrant good central heating and it does rain a lot.

Maybe Merc can help you out with areas near where she is. I can't hand on heart think of anywhere I'd recommend.

Thanks sibsie
Anywhere in Spain would suit
Colin

I really liked Costa De La Luz. It is a little bit cut off in terms of airport etc., but it's stunningly beautiful. Being on the Atlantic it can be chilly in winter but last time I was there (2 years ago) there was some great value for money. A lot changes in two years in Spain so it could well be a right old dump now!

*Remember that with any dealings in Spain you need a good Spanish lawyer who isn't associated with your builder or real estate agent*.

Actually thinking about it, all my neighbours are old, LOL. I might have been lucky as they are very good to me, and often invite me around for a meal or coffee and good watch dogs as well. They seem to know what visitors I have had etc. Really threw them when my brother visited, think they thought I was fooling around on my man.

I probably get the best of all worlds I'm in a Spanish community but fly out every couple of weeks, or once a month so I get to mix with other people. Think they all think I'm strange that I live on my todd and boyfriend comes over, does my garden for a few days and shoots off.

Interesting that they seem to accept me being a foreigner, but one of my new neighbours is from Barcelona and they are having major problems with the others as they don't like them. So even some other Spanish can also not be accepted, so not just a "Foreign" problem.

What about Ronda, its not too far away from the coast. Becoming a popular area. Wish in some ways I had gone there, though it is an hour an half from the airport which was a bit of a bummer.

Thanks Merc

Ive looked at info. off internet on Rhonda.
Anyone live in Rhonda?

Many Thanks
Colin

Ive just read the post that mentions the article in the Daily Mail.
Its just a bit scary.
mmmmmmm not to sure now.

Colin

Dont be a wimp

Well, Rhonda you caught my eye
And I'll give you lots of reasons why
You got to help me Rhonda
Help me get her out of my heart

Beach Boys circa 1965