catsndogs

Hi Is there anyone who regrets moving to Spain

boyharv

hello....im thinking about making the move so i will follow this topic with great interest..

mikelincs

Thousands of people who bought property pre 2008, and were then hit by the price crash leaving many of them still with a property worth thousand of Euros less than they paid and they can't afford to sell,

boyharv

Is renting the better option then ?

mikelincs

Most definitely, then if you don't like the area you can easily move, buying ties you down to an area, and you should rent for at least a year to ensure you like the area and like living in Spain.

marcbernard

Well I bought in 1985 and have no regrets. Prices will return (they are already well above 1985 value! Depends on length of stay envisaged.

Tammydog

But we spent ten years back and forth holidaying. Lost a house here, 4 years in the Spanish courts. And still wanted to be here. And then decided after trying different areas. That this coastal area was for us. May cost a bit more in living costas, but now are buying here.

Fredbargate

I first purchased in 1984 although I had been in and out since 1970 on occasions staying for up to a year.
I sold the final property in 2011.

I enjoyed the life and will never regret the experience.

BigD Nerja

I don't regret it but I suspect you are after some experiences for whatever reason so based on what I've seen;
1. Property; I've seen some get their fingers burnt and others be disappointed when ploughing life savings into a 'dream' property. Rent first for at least a year.
2. Integration; I know people who just can't, kids who can't learn the language, adults who think it's the UK in the sun. It's not, think how the English perceive foreigners who don't learn our language... Spread yourself thin, socialise with Spaniards, British expats, Scandinavians in fact anyone. Sit at home alone and you'll get disillusioned.
3. Work; I've seen businesses go under losing thousands and professionals with no chance. Some make it but most don't, have a back up.
4. Homesick; it's only a couple of hours so don't burn bridges but don't give up at the first pang for rain and cold weather.
5. It is a fantastic country but I have retained property in England so maintain UK residency and fly back and forth when I want thus avoiding the tortuous Spanish administration. I'm lucky.

scot47

Many problems stem from the weird Anglo-saxon obsession with property-ownership. Be like the rest of the civilised world and rent !

rachelk

Absolutely no regrets about going to Spain.

I arrived with a job, didn't buy property and spent 8 happy years living and working there. I had a bit of spanish already when I arrived and kept going to classes reguarly for the first few years I was there - knowing the language makes a big difference.

I sometimes regret that I'm not still there but visit when I can and am sure I'll be back for good one day.

tebo53

I fully agree.

My OH and I love it here. We've made it our home. We enjoy this lifestyle which we could never have had in the UK.

It's a pleasure to mix with people from different cultures.

Steve

Mitzyboy

Really?

If you rent in the Uk at a reasonable cost, say £800 a month, in an average life time you will have a roof over your head but you will pay around £400,000 to someone for the privilige of doing so and you need to ensure you have the ability to pay that right up to the day of your death.

If you buy a house with a mortgage then correctly financed you will pay it off by or even before retirement.

The only difference between those two is maintenence. That obviously depends on your choice of house, and if maintaned well when you reach retirement you can down size if you want and have a handy lump sum to enjoy that retirement.

I would never rent. I moved house around every 7 to 8 years, and I retired at the age of 52 with no mortgage. It enabled me to move to Spain where I bought in 2004. When we left we didn't lose money and sold very quickly. It was because we bought the right sort of villa in the right sort of area.

It's not an obsession that we have as a country. It makes financial sense.

tebo53

I bought in the UK, paid it off early, made a nice profit and retired two years early. I used the profits to finance a nice lifestyle here in Spain. I would never buy in Spain but I'm quite happy renting now, paying just rent and electricity and not having anything else to think about.

That is full retirement to me

Rosemary

I agree with Mitzyboy.

Our house was bought as a home to live in which we were free to alter in any way that we wished to make it work for us, if we had rented we would not have had the freedom. We took out the mortgage with a Spanish bank 12 years ago but could not insure the payments due to our age at the time so I have had to continue to pay this since Graham died. However, my mortgage ends this month so not only will I have the property that we invested in but also not have to pay to live in it.

Rosemary