Yes I agree with your first comment. On the whole (and I know I'll get shot for this) if one was considering buying in Spain the best time to do it would be in the next few months. Still a lot of property for sale and if people are that desperate then there should be bargains to be had, with a higher exchange rate

I dont think I could have afforded the rent for a villa to the standard we were looking for when we moved. I notice my old villa is renting now for £1000 a week, although I dont know if they are filling it at that rate. Back in in 2005 we were charging £600 a week in peak period.

Wow, I didnt realise that on Spanish Owners.

Overall Spain is still cheap for people from abroad, but it really depends on the area. Most of the true bargains are actually gone and it just seems cheap, because people are comparing to boom prices. Banks are trying to sell off properties nobody wanted and unfortunately many foreign buyers are already pushing prices up again in certain areas, so you are probably right in a way. In our area, prices are probably at the level they should be.

That will be for short term holiday lets not long term lets which are way way cheaper

A 3 bed villa with a pool on the Costa Blanca would be no more than 750-1,200 euros per month depending on quality/position etc

Yes, I realise that

It depends what you want really. Ours would have been probably at the top end of that and if I had rented that would have cost me €93,600 over the 6.5 years we were there.

Instead I got what I paid for it, plus a year and a half revenue from rentals :-)

I agree with Mitz - i wouldn't choose to rent at all i'd much rather buy - i'd be much to worried about them selling from under you tbh xxxxx

Or the landlord not paying the mortgage and your home being repossessed.

Oh god - yes that too xxxxx

I certainly have no regrets and yes my properties have lost money but I am not planning to sell.
At some point either I will get some money back or the kids will even if it is a lot less than what we paid - IMO renting gets nothing back for you or your kids inheritance something is better than nothing

As for integrating with the culture etc. this really is a overstated cliche and a silly statement - our culture is based on our family and our friends irrespective of nationality or where we live doing what we all enjoy either together or individually being supportive, nice and respectful to each other

I really don't care what others do with their culture. Of course respect it as long as it is within the law etc. but if I don't like it I won't join in (integrate) or take part.

There are many aspects of so called British "culture" that I don't like and many aspects of British life that I would never integrate with same goes here in Spain

Yes learning the language where you live helps but please don't confuse this with this claptrap of integrating and culture etc

[QUOTE=cricketman;11863227]That will be for short term holiday lets not long term lets which are way way cheaper


I can honestly say the villa Mitzy lived in was stunning - the views were to die for - such a gorgeous place
Over in Ayamonte we can pay up to 600 euros a week during the summer - and we usually go 3 times a year so soon mounts up - hence we have been looking to buy - we are hoping to move over there permanently when we retire too xxxxx