Moving to Spain

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Mar 31st 2024 | 7:38 am

#16

Fred James

Joined: Jun 2006

Posts: 11,231

From: Granada Costa

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Re: Moving to Spain

I also have friends who have sucessfully renovated properties, but as you say, you need good lawyers and architects to do it legally. It is not for people with limited budgets!

I built a house on a rustic plot. It was expensive and the paperwork was huge! However it is 100% legal (a very rare example!)

Mar 31st 2024 | 4:55 pm

#17

Mickety Mackety

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Re: Moving to Spain

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1sexsmith

If UK national you can only spend two visits a year of max 90 days per visit - unless you apply for a visa to be a resident but that won't apply to you. Spain is full of run down houses in the country but they are in ruins because they are worthless in terms of expensive renovations. Secondly you will find them in predominantly Spain villages where you will need Spanish. As for prices- again it depends on location and size and what you need. For your average foreigner you probably want electricity and water so I would say you should budget for around 80.000 E for everything as you then have a good chance of getting a place that is legal and is not abandoned. You need to be aware that there is alot of funny legislation etc that can make properties appear fine and cheap but the reality is that you can't legalise them.Plenty of places to look though so if you know where you want to live just start looking in Idealistsa as a start point.

No it doesnt have to be Spain. Portugal would be just as good. May I ask what is the name of the village you are in . I dont necessarily need much electricity ..., thinking of a more Amish inspired way of life. Is Portugal easier legally than Spain ?

Mar 31st 2024 | 11:08 pm

#18

Lou71

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Re: Moving to Spain

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mickety Mackety

No problem, the municipality is Castro Marim and your best bet would be to get over here, stay in Vila Real de Santo Antonio (VRS) and trawl the estate agents in both VRS and Castro Marim town. There are no agents in the inland villages like Odeleite. Inland Tavira is another good place to look but it's more expensive.

Ayamonte in Spain is just a few kilometres over the bridge (no border checks) so plenty of variety in this area.

I hope that helps and I will repeat post on your Portugal thread.

PS Portugal has a lower income requirement and free health care for residents so it's easier to become a resident and planning laws are easier in my experience.

Last edited by Lou71; Mar 31st 2024 at 11:11 pm.

Apr 1st 2024 | 3:49 am

#19

macliam

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Joined: Aug 2013

Posts: 19,447

From: Suffolk,UK; Alentejo, Portugal

Re: Moving to Spain

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lou71

I had to come here as your duplicate post on the Portugal forum was deleted.

I don't think that a property in Castro Marim is likely to be what the poster wants..... or at a price they might want to pay. However, I do agree that what's necessary is to pick on a location and actually go there, rather than just "shotgun" the Iberian peninsula, looking for something cheap. I also don't know about the planning rules in Spain, but I'd suggest that those in Portugal are a deal more restrictive that they might want - and require a fair degree of up-front planning and payment. The amount of work that an individual can do for themselves is greatly restricted by legal requirements and insurance - most camaras assume that a professional builder will be used when releasing planning permission....

Apr 10th 2024 | 12:24 am

#20

Mickety Mackety

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Re: Moving to Spain

Perhaps I should clarify. I want to buy very cheap derelict property with some land. I dont have any intention of actually spending much money on it. Just enough to make it habitable and live a very basic life. I dont need an electricity connection, a small genny will do. And minimum water supply is essential. However it was never my intention to develop the place too much. Just looking for somewhere to chill out for 6 month of the year , cheap !
I will be living a semi hermitic lifestyle.

Apr 10th 2024 | 1:21 am

#21

macliam

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Joined: Aug 2013

Posts: 19,447

From: Suffolk,UK; Alentejo, Portugal

Re: Moving to Spain

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mickety Mackety

Are you an EU citizen? If not, you will only be able to visit for 90 days in any 180..... so you may not be able to "chill out for 6 month of the year".

Also, I don't know about Spain, but I don't think you'll find Portugal too welcoming to your idea. Any property must meet certain legal requirements to have a habitation licence - and without it, it is not a legal abode - so, you would effectively be a homeless squatter. Equally, ownership of anything, even a plot of land, will incur responsibilities and taxes..... and you will need a legal address to pay for them.

Apr 10th 2024 | 11:41 pm

#22

Lou71

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Joined: Mar 2019

Posts: 1,012

Re: Moving to Spain

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mickety Mackety

OK, I think you are looking for a casa de aperos or similar. Basically it's a tool shed but Spanish people around here often use them as a house or "casa de campo". Most are under 60m2, pretty basic and not legal dwelling places so they are cheaper to buy. Spanish people don't care about the legality but a lawyer would advise foreign buyers against buying an agricultural building to live in.

Then there is this kind of property:

https://www.idealista.com/en/inmueble/101992253/

I've no idea if this is a legal dwelling but it sounds like it could be what you are looking for.

If you don't spend too much money, you have nothing much to lose!

Apr 11th 2024 | 12:14 am

#23

macliam

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Joined: Aug 2013

Posts: 19,447

From: Suffolk,UK; Alentejo, Portugal

Re: Moving to Spain

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lou71

I think the key point here is that "Spanish people around here often use them", therefore people who have a legal habitation elsewhere in the country, who have residential status and who speak Spanish. For a foreigner, none of those points may be true..... and, in Portugal at least, there will be local taxes and other requirements (in my part of the Alentejo, a firebreak around the perimeter of a rural property must be ploughed each year). Both Portugal and Spain are keen to attract residents who support the local economy..... but why would they want to encourage someone who has no intention of improving a property, is not a legal resident and who will potentially use shared local services, but not contribute towards them?