Selling up in the UK and moving to Spain ?
#1
Selling up in the UK and moving to Spain ?
Hi all,
Been lurking on the forums for a while now and decided to join as I've found the info given is very helpful.
We are nearing retirement and researching as much as we can on the pros/cons on selling our house and buying a property in Spain......good or bad idea at the moment ? what with the recession and everything else going on at the moment......This and millions of other things to think about....aargh our heads hurt !!!!!
Any thoughts comment's would be appreciated
Been lurking on the forums for a while now and decided to join as I've found the info given is very helpful.
We are nearing retirement and researching as much as we can on the pros/cons on selling our house and buying a property in Spain......good or bad idea at the moment ? what with the recession and everything else going on at the moment......This and millions of other things to think about....aargh our heads hurt !!!!!
Any thoughts comment's would be appreciated
#2
Re: Selling up in the UK and moving to Spain ?
Hi all,
Been lurking on the forums for a while now and decided to join as I've found the info given is very helpful.
We are nearing retirement and researching as much as we can on the pros/cons on selling our house and buying a property in Spain......good or bad idea at the moment ? what with the recession and everything else going on at the moment......This and millions of other things to think about....aargh our heads hurt !!!!!
Any thoughts comment's would be appreciated
Been lurking on the forums for a while now and decided to join as I've found the info given is very helpful.
We are nearing retirement and researching as much as we can on the pros/cons on selling our house and buying a property in Spain......good or bad idea at the moment ? what with the recession and everything else going on at the moment......This and millions of other things to think about....aargh our heads hurt !!!!!
Any thoughts comment's would be appreciated
Take care with your pension. I still think the pound will fall further.
#3
Re: Selling up in the UK and moving to Spain ?
Yes rent first for sure, then you can buy at leisure in a buyers market
Come over on holiday and decide which areas you like first
Come over on holiday and decide which areas you like first
#4
Re: Selling up in the UK and moving to Spain ?
It is really difficult re pensions at the mo.Good idea to rent first. Was wondering where the warmest area is in the winter....never did like UK winters.....to long and to cold BRRRR.
#5
Forum Regular
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 50
Re: Selling up in the UK and moving to Spain ?
Hi all,
Been lurking on the forums for a while now and decided to join as I've found the info given is very helpful.
We are nearing retirement and researching as much as we can on the pros/cons on selling our house and buying a property in Spain......good or bad idea at the moment ? what with the recession and everything else going on at the moment......This and millions of other things to think about....aargh our heads hurt !!!!!
Any thoughts comment's would be appreciated
Been lurking on the forums for a while now and decided to join as I've found the info given is very helpful.
We are nearing retirement and researching as much as we can on the pros/cons on selling our house and buying a property in Spain......good or bad idea at the moment ? what with the recession and everything else going on at the moment......This and millions of other things to think about....aargh our heads hurt !!!!!
Any thoughts comment's would be appreciated
There is a place near me in the UK called Rosebank, sounds lovely doesnt it ? looks ok too, nice house standards etc. An out sider who isnt familiar with the area would jump at the very reasonable prices of the very nice houses....
Only to find at a later date after they have commited and moved in that less than 1 mile away is the typical council sink estate that breeds burlglers like it is a profession to be proud of and Rosebank is there chosen place of "work"
My point is that you should live in an area for at least a year before buying unless you have very very good local knowledge.
people say "location, location, location"
i say "caution, caution,caution"
#6
Forum Regular
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 153
Re: Selling up in the UK and moving to Spain ?
Hi all,
Been lurking on the forums for a while now and decided to join as I've found the info given is very helpful.
We are nearing retirement and researching as much as we can on the pros/cons on selling our house and buying a property in Spain......good or bad idea at the moment ? what with the recession and everything else going on at the moment......This and millions of other things to think about....aargh our heads hurt !!!!!
Any thoughts comment's would be appreciated
Been lurking on the forums for a while now and decided to join as I've found the info given is very helpful.
We are nearing retirement and researching as much as we can on the pros/cons on selling our house and buying a property in Spain......good or bad idea at the moment ? what with the recession and everything else going on at the moment......This and millions of other things to think about....aargh our heads hurt !!!!!
Any thoughts comment's would be appreciated
Be open to the possibilities of learning the language and living in a Spanish environment.
Alicante has a better micro climate than the rest of the Costa Blanca, but I would imagine the winters in the Costa del Sol are warmer.
#8
Re: Selling up in the UK and moving to Spain ?
If you can buy outright and fully fund your expected lifestyle then come on down. Definitely rent first. Consider what happens on that urb when neither of you can drive, how many times a year you need to visit family in the UK (and the cost).
Be open to the possibilities of learning the language and living in a Spanish environment.
Alicante has a better micro climate than the rest of the Costa Blanca, but I would imagine the winters in the Costa del Sol are warmer.
Be open to the possibilities of learning the language and living in a Spanish environment.
Alicante has a better micro climate than the rest of the Costa Blanca, but I would imagine the winters in the Costa del Sol are warmer.
19c on the balcony now and feels cold. ;-))
#10
Re: Selling up in the UK and moving to Spain ?
We did loads of research and then bought, we did not rent first as far I think that is throwing money away if you are on a pension or living on proceeds as we were from the sale of our house.
Having said that as I have already stated we did a lot of homework etc. we are on Costa Tropical which has a micro climate and never ever do we get anywhere near frost, like JDR though I have found this year to be cooler and wetter, though still upper teens for temperature most of the time. Just when the sun dips over the mounbtain opposite we feel cooler.
Come over andvisit, do lots of research, decide if you want an urb or be like us and not. do you want to be near expats etc etc. do you want flat or hilly. Spain is a lot more mountainous then a lot of people realise
Good luck in your search
pwwm
Having said that as I have already stated we did a lot of homework etc. we are on Costa Tropical which has a micro climate and never ever do we get anywhere near frost, like JDR though I have found this year to be cooler and wetter, though still upper teens for temperature most of the time. Just when the sun dips over the mounbtain opposite we feel cooler.
Come over andvisit, do lots of research, decide if you want an urb or be like us and not. do you want to be near expats etc etc. do you want flat or hilly. Spain is a lot more mountainous then a lot of people realise
Good luck in your search
pwwm
#11
Re: Selling up in the UK and moving to Spain ?
We did loads of research and then bought, we did not rent first as far I think that is throwing money away if you are on a pension or living on proceeds as we were from the sale of our house.
Having said that as I have already stated we did a lot of homework etc. we are on Costa Tropical which has a micro climate and never ever do we get anywhere near frost, like JDR though I have found this year to be cooler and wetter, though still upper teens for temperature most of the time. Just when the sun dips over the mounbtain opposite we feel cooler.
Come over andvisit, do lots of research, decide if you want an urb or be like us and not. do you want to be near expats etc etc. do you want flat or hilly. Spain is a lot more mountainous then a lot of people realise
Good luck in your search
pwwm
Having said that as I have already stated we did a lot of homework etc. we are on Costa Tropical which has a micro climate and never ever do we get anywhere near frost, like JDR though I have found this year to be cooler and wetter, though still upper teens for temperature most of the time. Just when the sun dips over the mounbtain opposite we feel cooler.
Come over andvisit, do lots of research, decide if you want an urb or be like us and not. do you want to be near expats etc etc. do you want flat or hilly. Spain is a lot more mountainous then a lot of people realise
Good luck in your search
pwwm
Costa Tropical area sounds nice re climate,can only find apartments for sale after a quick search which would not be any good,have to search a bit harder.
We have two small dogs (Jack Russells)so need a bit of private garden,Villa/Bungalow/house is on the menu for us.
#13
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 307
Re: Selling up in the UK and moving to Spain ?
once youre there, you get a much better feel for a place, find out more, meet people, etc etc.
i dont believe you 'throw money away' by renting for 6 months, or even a year, i believe thats the cost of real research. and believe me, i also thought it was a waste to spend money on rent when we were looking to come to spain, but if i ever do it again (move in a foreign country) i will rent first.
#14
Forum Regular
Joined: Oct 2007
Location: Nueva andalucia
Posts: 191
Re: Selling up in the UK and moving to Spain ?
Costa del Sol is the warmest. Lovely day here today in Marbella
#15
Re: Selling up in the UK and moving to Spain ?
Obviously depends on the area, but remember you can still lock in 4 -4.5 per cent on savings. Which will pay some or all of your rental if you just park the purchase money somewhere.
Perhaps hedge at least some of your purchase money, snikpoh may be right, sterling could fall further in the short term. If you can afford the property at the current rate, then if sterling drops far enough to make your future non viable in Spain at any rate you will have a profit to console you. (I certainly wish I had done this). If on the other hand the Euro weakens then you may then have paid more for your house than you need, but your living expenses will be lower than expected to similarly console you.
(In the longer term, though the pound should return to 130ish vs the Euro, and 1.60ish against the dollar).
Perhaps hedge at least some of your purchase money, snikpoh may be right, sterling could fall further in the short term. If you can afford the property at the current rate, then if sterling drops far enough to make your future non viable in Spain at any rate you will have a profit to console you. (I certainly wish I had done this). If on the other hand the Euro weakens then you may then have paid more for your house than you need, but your living expenses will be lower than expected to similarly console you.
(In the longer term, though the pound should return to 130ish vs the Euro, and 1.60ish against the dollar).