With more and more people leaving Spain to return to the UK it strikes me that shows such as Place in the Sun have played quite a big part in all this.

Spain over the last seven years or so - roughly the same lifespan as that show - has seen massive, unprecedented numbers of Brits quitting UK for dream life in Spain. What was once the reserve of retirees and wealthier people, these types of shows let ordinairy folk on normal incomes that they could live the Spanish dream. After all, prices were low and exchange rates highly favourable.

What they forget to say is that unless u have a very healthy bank balance, u will need to work. And if u want a decent steady job intergrating into Spanish life is essential.

When faced with this dilemma, many Brits resort to the 'easy' but extremely flawed route of setting up a business for other expats such as property management or estate agency, odd job man for fellow Brits etc... This depends on the continuing flow of expats into the area. Take that away, and the easy route dries up, leaving them back to the need to integrate. In more than 11 years in Spain I cannot think of a single person I've met who started life here working alongside Spaniards then bought their property and settled who have felt the necessity to leave because of not making ends meet. I have a list as long as your arm of Those who bought first then realised they needed an income who have now left because they couldn't hack it.

Place in the Sun-style shows have raised people's hopes unrealistically. The hard truth is that too many people came here that really never should have as they really didn't know what they were getting themselves into.

A final point to ponder - how many couples have you seen split since their arrival here?

What annoys me intensely about that programme (yes i do watch it ) is the total bull the presenters come out with,ie Oh yes you can rent it out for 5 million quid a week all year round,planning permission is simple,easy and quick,you can put new bathrooms in for a fiver etc etc etc.
People believe these programmes!!!!!!!
Rant over

Rant away!!!

I agree they come up with nonsense and too many people are willing to believe it

There seems to be more Brits leaving than arriving just now. Would think the chances of earning a living out of other ex-pats is diminishing.

Some of those programmes date from 2002! the Presenters always say things like 'I have been talking to the local Mayor and he says.....' (Probably been arrested since then). Saw one a few weeks ago and they wanted to set up a child minding business, they were showing them properties completely isolated. Like you are going to drive miles out into the country to drop off your kids and then miles back to get to work!

I suppose on the other hand,there are alot of people who ignore the negatives,as it interferes with their concept of living the dream
Oh and as for the couples thing,I have seen many problems arising in marriages,where they have suddenly found themselves thrown together 24/7,after probably passing like ships in the night back home.....again,no thought or preparation.

And what is the very first thing these people purchase on arrivall?

I think a lot have had rocky marriges in the uk and think a place in the sun wil rekindle things,but a lot of times it makes thigs worse.or the slight flaws in the marrages become the big cracks over here as you said.

vodka and coke and a bbq

I saw one a few months ago about a house in Chicalana and the presenter told the couple, even though the house wasnt legal, that urbanization was just a formality, and the house would increase in price when urbanization took place mmmmmmm. She even said that the area had 3 airports Jerez Seville and Cadiz, having lived her for more than two years I have never seen the airport

I could not count the number of people i have known who have split up. I met my wife here (although she is english) so i am in a totally different boat. Happy family man.

Exactly,problems at home...problems abroad,same shit, different country

she must have spotted a water plane and thought the atlantic was the air strip.

Nah! The first thing they buy is Sky Digital. They can't live without Corrie or Eastenders.

I only got Sky last year as a gift from a cliient after 10 years without it and my (Spanish) missus watches it more than me!!!

Must admit that my husband and I did see buying a house in Spain through "rose tinted glasses". I think that we watched one too many programmes about a better life in the sun! We didn't go "whole hog" - sell up here and go out there to live. Instead we decided to do a "toe in water job" and research areas in which to live. We have a nice holiday house out there now - but it could have very nearly been a disaster - and we could have lost everything! After all the careful research pre-purchase we made every mistake in the book with the purchase! Used the same lawyer as the estate agents; used the same lawyers as the sellers; carried on with the sale even though, when we were waiting at the bank to complete some woman came in screaming that our lawyer was a crook; and didn't get a survey done on the property! Would we have done all this in England - I don't think so!!

I agree with others about the programme making the rental situation sound so easy, even down to suggesting that they can offset a mortgage through rental. I wonder just how many people are in dire straights now through this. The mortgage rate has gone up and there are less tenants around.

Since old "Place in the Sun" programmes are still being shown, I think that, besides showing the date of the programme (which they do) ,I think that they should also carry a note of caution about the ways in which things have changed since that time.