| At first sight the title of my book may seem a little | | | | own example was to extend our daughters property |
| odd? Well you might think it's easy to move to Spain; | | | | by building a Garage Conversion. This provides us |
| just book a flight, and find somewhere to stay; the | | | | with a low cost, but comfortable home stay |
| rest will sort itself out. "We just need to get there" | | | | property with its own facilities, whilst adding value to |
| and start to enjoy the new life in the Sun Right? | | | | the property at the same time. |
| Wrong. Sorry but a lot of us that escape in search of | | | | If you can try to "think outside the box" you might |
| the "Dream", find it all goes wrong and they struggle | | | | surprise yourselves just how creative you can be. |
| like crazy to get everything in place, but in the end | | | | It's always better to have a home base if you have |
| they return back home, with lost dreams, big debts, | | | | any lingering doubts. |
| and having to start all over again. | | | | Even though in reality you may only use the "home |
| It doesn't have to be like that if you plan a ahead... | | | | base" quite infrequently, the simple fact that it is |
| Did you know that every year more than 191,000 | | | | there for you if you should need it, and will almost |
| Britons emigrated but in the same year 105,000 | | | | certainly solve any of those nagging emotional or |
| returned having failed to make their dream work? | | | | homesickness thoughts that you or your partner |
| That's 86,000 lost dreams, an awful lot of sadness | | | | might have. You can then feel ready to face the |
| indeed. Worse still it has caused each and every one | | | | new life in Spain with confidence, in the sound |
| of them, not only a great deal of heartache, but | | | | knowledge that there is a bolthole back home should |
| there are also the financial costs involved. | | | | the need arise at anytime. |
| Coming home involves getting a job, finding a home | | | | Where in Spain will you live? |
| and so on. Possibly you will have sold the car, and | | | | Countless times I am told that the Spanish dream |
| bought another in Spain. Inevitably you will have to | | | | property is something like this... In the Country, with |
| sell that and start all over again. | | | | lovely views, near the beach, large gardens, quiet |
| This book aims to give you a few straight facts; | | | | location away from it all. How practical is this? You |
| albeit in a light hearted writing style, so that you can | | | | are both planning to move to Spain for the rest of |
| make a few plans ahead of your move, and truly | | | | your lives, so pause for a moment and ask |
| make it a one way trip, and achieve the dream of a | | | | yourselves, How much would that dream cost? Given |
| new life in Spain forever! | | | | a quick internet search, I can tell you now that it |
| So, why do some people fail to survive abroad? | | | | would not be a cheap option. Lovely views do not |
| Often the reason is down to family level. It is a very | | | | come cheap, especially if you want that view near |
| simple decision if you live alone. If you have a partner | | | | the beach. |
| then it is absolutely essential that you talk through | | | | Let's take a look at each of these options in more |
| everything very thoroughly. | | | | detail... |
| In my many years of hosting Spanish Property | | | | Buying inland is normally cheaper than coastal, but |
| Exhibitions in The United Kingdom, I met numerous | | | | you still have to go grocery shopping. |
| couples that attended purely with the intention of | | | | How far is it to the nearest Supermarket? |
| "selling" the whole idea of the Spanish Dream to their | | | | What if you want an evening out? |
| respective partner. They hoped that by seeing the | | | | How far is it to the Restaurants and Bars? |
| beautiful photographs of the lovely Villas. Happy | | | | Remember in Spain, the drinking laws are quite strict, |
| couples sipping wine outside the traditional tapas bars, | | | | and now comply with EC directives. In effect this |
| or relaxing on the long sandy beach in Guardamar on | | | | means that even a small glass of Lager will place you |
| a lovely sunny December afternoon would do the | | | | over the limit, and liable to arrest, a fine and a |
| trick. Unfortunately life is not quite that simple. | | | | possible driving ban. If you like a small end of evening |
| Don't try selling the dream to your partner... | | | | tipple then it is best that you have a local bar, from |
| Hey, when you went on your last holiday to Spain, I'll | | | | which you can easily walk home. |
| bet it was perfect? What you are now contemplating | | | | What about a Finca? |
| is not going to be a holiday; it is truly going to be | | | | Some 10 years ago, that was our dream too. A |
| something you both have to live, everyday maybe | | | | lovely finca which really is a Spanish Farmhouse, or |
| for the rest of your lives. You can't persuade | | | | smallholding, tucked away in the countryside. |
| anybody, least of all your beloved partner to have | | | | In reality it often involves a long winding single track |
| the same dream as yourself. You may be lucky and | | | | road leading up to the Finca, so imagine getting |
| truly both have the same dream. It is essential right | | | | home, and as I am sure we have all done at times, |
| now that you completely and absolutely have the | | | | realise that we have forgotten to get some essential |
| same dream. If not of course there are alternatives | | | | items for dinner that night. Yes we have to trail right |
| to a complete move. Subject to your finances it may | | | | back along that winding single track road again. Pretty |
| well be possible to compromise, and split your time | | | | soon you will hate that road intensely. |
| between The UK and Spain. With the flight costs | | | | It's one thing getting away from the tourist hustle |
| being reasonable these days, this is a distinct | | | | and bustle, but think carefully before you buy |
| possibility for many of us. | | | | something in the middle of nowhere, with no local |
| If we step back say to the 1990's for a moment, at | | | | services. |
| that time many of us just wanted to sell our | | | | Another downside to consider when "getting away |
| property in the UK, and with the pot of cash from | | | | from it all" is of course it is going to take you that |
| that, it may well have been enough to purchase a | | | | extra journey when you decide to hop back home |
| satisfactory Spanish Villa, and still retain enough of | | | | for a week. Having done this now for the past seven |
| that "pot" to invest in the Bank, and "live happily ever | | | | years, I can assure you it is quite important to have |
| after off the interest and pensions received. | | | | easy access to Motorways and subsequently The |
| Property Prices are no longer at 1990 prices of | | | | Nearest Airport. |
| course, and this scenario is not often possible any | | | | Expectation and the Reality |
| longer. Spanish Property Prices have leapt ahead | | | | Watching one of the numerous "Place in the Sun" |
| faster than any other EC Country if you look back | | | | television shows, might give the impression that |
| 20 Years, so by the time you make your property | | | | everything is just so perfect. In reality you will still |
| purchase in Spain, the "pot" may well be looking a | | | | have to stand in queues to Pay Bills, visit banks, |
| little shaky. | | | | builders, even the tax office perhaps? You cannot |
| Splitting your time between UK & Spain? | | | | escape from the reality of life completely. Yes of |
| Both you and your partner must be completely | | | | course you can put behind you your past mistakes, |
| honest with each other right now before you spend | | | | but you have to make that extra effort not to |
| a single Euro. If you have even a 10% doubt about | | | | make those same mistakes again in your new |
| making it in Spain at this time, then that doubt will | | | | Country. |
| surely fester once you make the move, and things | | | | Finding the perfect home in Spain. |
| might just slide from there on. | | | | The fact is that you might not find the ideal home |
| What's the way around this? | | | | first time for two reasons. Firstly it is quite different |
| Clearly if you have doubts, then you can still go | | | | to finding the ideal home in your home town in the |
| ahead and enjoy the dream, but with little "Home | | | | UK, as you will already know the good areas that |
| Breaks" built in. Maybe it will be that one of you will | | | | you would like to move to. This is of course not |
| want to hop back to visit the Grandchildren? So build | | | | obvious on a short visit to Spain. It is good advice to |
| this into your plan now. After all it is pretty cheap to | | | | rent short term, but you should remember that |
| go back, you are not moving to Australia are you! | | | | every penny spent on renting is working to reduce |
| This simple escape clause in your "agreement" can | | | | your final capital available to you when you buy in |
| well make the difference between success and | | | | Spain. |
| failure. Talk it through at great length. | | | | If you find a property that "ticks most of the boxes" |
| This is possibly the most frequent cause of people | | | | for you, and you buy it at the lowest possible price, |
| "going back home", so don't skip over these issues. If | | | | then you will be in a good position to sell on and |
| you are still in doubt, take another holiday in Spain, | | | | move up the property ladder just as most of us are |
| but this time make certain you stay in a property | | | | doing now (realise it or not) in The UK. Thus retaining |
| that will be similar in cost to the type of property | | | | your capital, and quite likely even making a profit in |
| that you will be able to afford if you decide to move. | | | | the process. |
| That way it is almost like a dress rehearsal. You can | | | | Property Prices in Spain |
| taste "living in the real Spain" not insulated from | | | | Over the past 20 years, property prices have in |
| reality in a five star hotel, with waiters offering you | | | | Spain increased faster than all other European |
| your every whim! | | | | Countries. Rumours are awash that the bubble in |
| When you move you will have to go shopping for | | | | Spain has finally burst. My research, backed up with |
| Groceries; decorate the spare room with real paint | | | | facts, does show that in some areas, particularly that |
| and get hot and dirty too! | | | | of Valencia they have indeed fallen some 10%. In all |
| We once did just that in the middle of August in | | | | other areas of Spain including The Costa Blanca and |
| temperatures exceeding 36c inside. Being too hot to | | | | The Costa Del Sol they are still rising at 8% per |
| wear "overalls" or pretty much anything at all, (well | | | | annum. What has changed is the supply and demand |
| apart from the essential coverings of course) we | | | | situation, and understandably this has caused builders |
| ended up with more emulsion paint on ourselves than | | | | and Estate Agents big financial headaches in terms of |
| the walls, and vowed to leave all future decorating | | | | Cash Flow. That said the stronger Companies, are |
| jobs until the winter! | | | | riding through this, and already there are signs that |
| Splitting Countries | | | | demand is returning. This lack of demand is thought |
| If costs are a little strained, you might well be able to | | | | to have been started by the upsurge of Eastern |
| "trade down" your UK property, and use the profits | | | | European Countries like Bulgaria & Turkey |
| form the sale to purchase your Spanish Property. | | | | offering competition. Gradually though the old |
| Another popular way to afford a home in both | | | | favourite Spain is winning through once again. |
| countries is to Rent out part of your UK property, | | | | And Finally... |
| but keep an "apartment" (or create one) for your | | | | If you have thought things through carefully, it may |
| home visits. Often the rental achieved can mean that | | | | well be time to "make it all happen for you" and start |
| your home "apartment" comes "free", that is to say, | | | | the ball rolling. Moving to Spain full time, or on a split |
| the tenanted part of your property covers all of the | | | | time basis, is not the one way decision it used to be. |
| property costs including your portion. | | | | So many flights everyday, mean that you can always |
| Another option if you have family in the UK is to | | | | afford to "hop" and get the best of both worlds, so |
| consider extending their property in some way. Our | | | | why wait any longer. |