Single mum+ a toddler are planning to move to Spain
Sep 17th 2008, 4:03 pm
#46
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Joined: Sep 2008
Location: SPAIN
Posts: 1
Re: Single mum+ a toddler are planning to move to Spain
Hi I am a single mum from London. My daughter will be 3 years old in December 2008. I have a couple of properties in London, but property market being dead makes it really hard for me to plan the relocation.
Ideally I wanted to sell here and buy there, but after reading the forum for a few hours I realised that it might ne wiser to rent first and only then to buy in the area which is best for me and my child(schooling etc). I was advised by the spanish estate agent that its better if I apply for a mortgage whilst being employed in UK. Any tips on that one?
Another issue that is bothering me, is the Spanish School v International School. A lot was said about it in the other topics. But I think I might want eventually for my daughter to come back to UK to go to uni.
Question: is it possible to find a spanish school which will teach half subjects in english, half in spanish?
By the way, I am still undecisive about the area where we want to live. I must be crazy as I haven't even been to Spain yet....
I wasn't born in Britain and only moved to London in 1999.
We are flying to Valencia in October. I have a friend there who also moved very recently. So obviously, as me, she has more questions than answers herself. I am kind of thinking to either choose Valencia region or Marbella.
And of course the biggest issue is finding a job. I work for a property company in London at the moment. My knowledge of Spanish language is zero, however I am going to start taking lessons. I realise that unless I learn Spanish to the level where I can write and read, leave alone speaking fluently, I have a small chance getting a job which would pay reasonable wage to support myself and my daughter. Oh... I fear that I might need to start off from working in the bar...
As a single mum I am receiving some Child Tax Credit in UK, is there anything like that in Spain?
I will appreciate any serious advice given. Thank you for reading
Ideally I wanted to sell here and buy there, but after reading the forum for a few hours I realised that it might ne wiser to rent first and only then to buy in the area which is best for me and my child(schooling etc). I was advised by the spanish estate agent that its better if I apply for a mortgage whilst being employed in UK. Any tips on that one?
Another issue that is bothering me, is the Spanish School v International School. A lot was said about it in the other topics. But I think I might want eventually for my daughter to come back to UK to go to uni.
Question: is it possible to find a spanish school which will teach half subjects in english, half in spanish?
By the way, I am still undecisive about the area where we want to live. I must be crazy as I haven't even been to Spain yet....
I wasn't born in Britain and only moved to London in 1999.
We are flying to Valencia in October. I have a friend there who also moved very recently. So obviously, as me, she has more questions than answers herself. I am kind of thinking to either choose Valencia region or Marbella.
And of course the biggest issue is finding a job. I work for a property company in London at the moment. My knowledge of Spanish language is zero, however I am going to start taking lessons. I realise that unless I learn Spanish to the level where I can write and read, leave alone speaking fluently, I have a small chance getting a job which would pay reasonable wage to support myself and my daughter. Oh... I fear that I might need to start off from working in the bar...
As a single mum I am receiving some Child Tax Credit in UK, is there anything like that in Spain?
I will appreciate any serious advice given. Thank you for reading
Sep 17th 2008, 8:59 pm
#47
Forum Regular
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 275
Re: Single mum+ a toddler are planning to move to Spain
I think you would find it very difficult to make a living here whatever you do as you would only have one wage coming in, rent and bills to pay plus childcare all on one wage would be very difficult. If you really want to do it do you have a friend who also wants to move to spain? It would make it a bit easier for you to make ends meet if you were sure it was what you wanted to do as you would be able to share with someone and split the rent, bills and maybe they would even babysit for you while you worked 
Sep 18th 2008, 7:44 am
#48
Banned
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 3,081
Re: Single mum+ a toddler are planning to move to Spain
Oh thank you!! At least some positive news!!!!!
I think I more or less worked out the plan of action:
1.learn spanish as much as I can in UK
2.leave my child in UK and go to work in Spain for a few months just to practice the language,look around for a good place to buy.
3.get a proper job
4.sell the house in UK and buy a property in Spain. or rent the house in Uk and rent in Spain.
5.arrange a school for my daughter and bring her over.
I think I more or less worked out the plan of action:
1.learn spanish as much as I can in UK
2.leave my child in UK and go to work in Spain for a few months just to practice the language,look around for a good place to buy.
3.get a proper job
4.sell the house in UK and buy a property in Spain. or rent the house in Uk and rent in Spain.
5.arrange a school for my daughter and bring her over.
I know of cases where the mother has had no option but to leave their child or children. That was the hardest to cope with.
These people were on the breadline, (which is not your case as you own 2 LONDON PROPERTIES)
My parents were immigrants, they left Spain and came to England with a small child, they had nothing, but they did not sacrifice being with their son.
Those years can never be recovered or lived again.
Dont be in such a hurry, you child will not be young forever......
Sep 18th 2008, 12:13 pm
#49
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Joined: Jul 2006
Location: up the mountain near Guadalest
Posts: 1,389
Re: Single mum+ a toddler are planning to move to Spain
I would not think about leaving a small child for a few months, you will miss the most beautiful part of a childs life.
I know of cases where the mother has had no option but to leave their child or children. That was the hardest to cope with.
These people were on the breadline, (which is not your case as you own 2 LONDON PROPERTIES)
My parents were immigrants, they left Spain and came to England with a small child, they had nothing, but they did not sacrifice being with their son.
Those years can never be recovered or lived again.
Dont be in such a hurry, you child will not be young forever......
I know of cases where the mother has had no option but to leave their child or children. That was the hardest to cope with.
These people were on the breadline, (which is not your case as you own 2 LONDON PROPERTIES)
My parents were immigrants, they left Spain and came to England with a small child, they had nothing, but they did not sacrifice being with their son.
Those years can never be recovered or lived again.
Dont be in such a hurry, you child will not be young forever......
Sep 19th 2008, 10:58 am
#50
Forum Regular
Thread Starter
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 47
Re: Single mum+ a toddler are planning to move to Spain
I know how it feels when your child is away unfortunately. When I bought my second London property I coudn't afford to keep paying 2 mortgages while I was refurbishing the new house. So I had to move in to the property I just bought with no running water, heating or electricity. And I lived like that for a while, but meantime my other flat was rented out,so at least one mortgage was covered. In those circumstances I could not have my child(she was 1,5 years old at that time) with me so I had to let her go to stay in my home country for a year!!!!!!!!!!!!
It was the most awful time in my life. I had to do the refurbishment in stages as I didn't have enough money to finish it off in 3-4 months time. It was hard as once you let builders go its difficult to get them back and I tried bringing new people once, it didn't work out as they only messed up what previous ones did.
Life is all about sacrifices. if you want something(excluding health) in life you can always get it when you pay the right price. Not only money I am taking about. It could be anything from taking years to educate yourself to being separated with your loved ones.
That only my opinion, by the way. This is how I live.
Now we have a nice home, my child is with me and we are happy.
Sep 19th 2008, 11:13 am
#51
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Thread Starter
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 47
Re: Single mum+ a toddler are planning to move to Spain
I had a chat with my boss yesterday. We have a majority of our business concentrated in another european country (which is not spain unfortunately!) and I was told that I could make a move there.... FANTASTIC NEWS! But I am not taking the offer yet. I still want to see how my "Spanish Dream" goes. 
UK will see even worse times in the next few month(up to 1 year) in my boss's opinion. As my own example, my house cost me £260,000 in 2006, now the value is about £200,000 and according to my boss it will worth about £100,000(if that) in 12 months time. Sad news. I am not even talking about my flat, which has a large loan secured on it as the second charge... But I have made my money on it. I can now let it go for repossession(what a horrible word..) As I will be better off getting rid of that huge loan too. The value of the flat dropped below what it was in 2005.
UK will see even worse times in the next few month(up to 1 year) in my boss's opinion. As my own example, my house cost me £260,000 in 2006, now the value is about £200,000 and according to my boss it will worth about £100,000(if that) in 12 months time. Sad news. I am not even talking about my flat, which has a large loan secured on it as the second charge... But I have made my money on it. I can now let it go for repossession(what a horrible word..) As I will be better off getting rid of that huge loan too. The value of the flat dropped below what it was in 2005.
Sep 19th 2008, 11:19 pm
#52
Banned
Joined: Mar 2007
Location: inaskip
Posts: 1,380
Re: Single mum+ a toddler are planning to move to Spain
I had a chat with my boss yesterday. We have a majority of our business concentrated in another european country (which is not spain unfortunately!) and I was told that I could make a move there.... FANTASTIC NEWS! But I am not taking the offer yet. I still want to see how my "Spanish Dream" goes.
UK will see even worse times in the next few month(up to 1 year) in my boss's opinion. As my own example, my house cost me £260,000 in 2006, now the value is about £200,000 and according to my boss it will worth about £100,000(if that) in 12 months time. Sad news. I am not even talking about my flat, which has a large loan secured on it as the second charge... But I have made my money on it. I can now let it go for repossession(what a horrible word..) As I will be better off getting rid of that huge loan too. The value of the flat dropped below what it was in 2005.
UK will see even worse times in the next few month(up to 1 year) in my boss's opinion. As my own example, my house cost me £260,000 in 2006, now the value is about £200,000 and according to my boss it will worth about £100,000(if that) in 12 months time. Sad news. I am not even talking about my flat, which has a large loan secured on it as the second charge... But I have made my money on it. I can now let it go for repossession(what a horrible word..) As I will be better off getting rid of that huge loan too. The value of the flat dropped below what it was in 2005.
Sep 20th 2008, 8:29 am
#53
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 614
Re: Single mum+ a toddler are planning to move to Spain
area are worthless. If you want to see what house prices in your area are
actually doing, go to the zoopla website and put in your postcode. You'll see
things are nowhere near that bad.
Please don't believe what your boss is telling you without checking it yourself.
And really, really don't make any life-changing decisions based solely on what
he/she is telling you.
Sep 20th 2008, 10:19 am
#54
Rob in Madrid
Joined: Feb 2006
Location: Madrid
Posts: 267
Re: Single mum+ a toddler are planning to move to Spain
if you do make the move keep your options open to move back. Rent for a while and see how you like it. It is easier to move when your younger than when you older and set in your ways.
Unfortunatly things are bad everywhere and are likely to get worse in the short term.
But if you make the move and it works out you'll be happy.
Unfortunatly things are bad everywhere and are likely to get worse in the short term.
But if you make the move and it works out you'll be happy.
Sep 20th 2008, 10:23 am
#55
Rob in Madrid
Joined: Feb 2006
Location: Madrid
Posts: 267
Re: Single mum+ a toddler are planning to move to Spain
btw here's why you don't want to buy a place in Spain
from another thread
Same old story I’m afraid, but thought I’d ask advice anyway on behalf of some friends.
They bought a house around two years ago in good faith and now they are being taken to court because it is classed as as an illegal dwelling in the Parque Natural.
Apparently the story goes, it was built as a Nave (agricultural building) by the previous owners. They then proceeded to add two bedrooms and a bathroom and used it as a dwelling. They were fined for this but the property remained as it was (still illegal to be used as a dwelling).
They then decided to sell it. Enter our friends, They were not told the house was classed as a Nave and assumed it was a legal dwelling as no-one told them any different. It was being lived in when they viewed it. They paid for an interpreter to translate the documents for them. This person also didn’t tell them the property could not be lived in, and actually translated the documents so that it sounded as though they could (our friends found out, too late, that this person was hand-in-glove with the Estate Agent).
Any wonder the bottom has fallen out of the housing market.
from another thread
Same old story I’m afraid, but thought I’d ask advice anyway on behalf of some friends.
They bought a house around two years ago in good faith and now they are being taken to court because it is classed as as an illegal dwelling in the Parque Natural.
Apparently the story goes, it was built as a Nave (agricultural building) by the previous owners. They then proceeded to add two bedrooms and a bathroom and used it as a dwelling. They were fined for this but the property remained as it was (still illegal to be used as a dwelling).
They then decided to sell it. Enter our friends, They were not told the house was classed as a Nave and assumed it was a legal dwelling as no-one told them any different. It was being lived in when they viewed it. They paid for an interpreter to translate the documents for them. This person also didn’t tell them the property could not be lived in, and actually translated the documents so that it sounded as though they could (our friends found out, too late, that this person was hand-in-glove with the Estate Agent).
Any wonder the bottom has fallen out of the housing market.
Sep 20th 2008, 2:21 pm
#56
MODERATOR
Joined: Mar 2007
Location: Costa Valencia
Posts: 14,806
Re: Single mum+ a toddler are planning to move to Spain
btw here's why you don't want to buy a place in Spain
from another thread
Same old story I’m afraid, but thought I’d ask advice anyway on behalf of some friends.
They bought a house around two years ago in good faith and now they are being taken to court because it is classed as as an illegal dwelling in the Parque Natural.
Apparently the story goes, it was built as a Nave (agricultural building) by the previous owners. They then proceeded to add two bedrooms and a bathroom and used it as a dwelling. They were fined for this but the property remained as it was (still illegal to be used as a dwelling).
They then decided to sell it. Enter our friends, They were not told the house was classed as a Nave and assumed it was a legal dwelling as no-one told them any different. It was being lived in when they viewed it. They paid for an interpreter to translate the documents for them. This person also didn’t tell them the property could not be lived in, and actually translated the documents so that it sounded as though they could (our friends found out, too late, that this person was hand-in-glove with the Estate Agent).
Any wonder the bottom has fallen out of the housing market.
from another thread
Same old story I’m afraid, but thought I’d ask advice anyway on behalf of some friends.
They bought a house around two years ago in good faith and now they are being taken to court because it is classed as as an illegal dwelling in the Parque Natural.
Apparently the story goes, it was built as a Nave (agricultural building) by the previous owners. They then proceeded to add two bedrooms and a bathroom and used it as a dwelling. They were fined for this but the property remained as it was (still illegal to be used as a dwelling).
They then decided to sell it. Enter our friends, They were not told the house was classed as a Nave and assumed it was a legal dwelling as no-one told them any different. It was being lived in when they viewed it. They paid for an interpreter to translate the documents for them. This person also didn’t tell them the property could not be lived in, and actually translated the documents so that it sounded as though they could (our friends found out, too late, that this person was hand-in-glove with the Estate Agent).
Any wonder the bottom has fallen out of the housing market.
Rosemary
Sep 20th 2008, 3:17 pm
#57
¿Dónde estoy?
Joined: Jun 2004
Location: my paradise - Jávea
Posts: 13,330
Sep 20th 2008, 4:06 pm
#58
Forum Regular
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 160
Re: Single mum+ a toddler are planning to move to Spain
Whatever you decide singlemum, I wish you the best of luck, you have already shown how determination has paid off in a new country
We have friends who moved to Spain 3 years ago, couldn't speak Spanish, had no jobs to go to, didn't take capital with them but are still there, working and happy, sometimes it does work out
We have friends who moved to Spain 3 years ago, couldn't speak Spanish, had no jobs to go to, didn't take capital with them but are still there, working and happy, sometimes it does work out
Oct 1st 2008, 6:57 pm
#60
Just Joined
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 2
Re: Single mum+ a toddler are planning to move to Spain
Don't just take a chance and go for it hoping it will work out. I have lived in Javea on the costa Blanca for four years and do just make ends meet. I am a strong believer that if you don't try somthing you will never know. But I think the odds are stacked against you being a single parent with the present economy.