Barclays Buying Property Abroad Guide

I'm the female form of Terry (perhaps I should spell it with an "i" but old habits...) and nearly 50 years old.  Buying this property is something of a mid-life crisis that I hope will turn in to a mid-life delight.  My co-buyer, Janice, is a friend from teenage days that I have always kept in close contact with.

My home town is Gosport in Hampshire but I also now spend a lot of time in Caerphilly, South Wales. I moved to Gibraltar in 1983 then on to La Linea on the Costa Del Sol.  That's where I got the Spanish lifestyle bug.  I moved back in 1985 for the birth of my son (now 21 and hoping to also make frequent visits to Los Olivas) but have hankered after that healthy, sunny way of life ever since.

I was medically retired 10 years ago from my job as area manager of historic properties.  I have since done counselling and child protection work in the voluntary sector. I have a spinal disability that makes walking difficult and I do often need to use a wheelchair or scooter.  Our apartment will be as disability freindly as possible.

I adore being in water so you will doubtless often find me floating about in the pool.  I dabble a bit on eBay and really enjoy getting and giving a good bargain.  One mans trash is another mans treasure! 

I'm involved with motorbike clubs in the UK (those big hairy looking bikers are pussycats really) and love going to rallies for the music and the fun.  I hope to get my own wheels one day so if you see a mad blond woman pull up at Los Olivas on a shiney black trike.......it will probably be me!

Terry 19b

Rob & I are moving to Spain for a new life & we hope make new friends & adopt the spainish life style.

We have 2 grown up children. A daughter Natasha & a son Matthew. We also have a 6 year old grandson Ethen. They will be staying in the UK.

I am at present still working full time managing a team of assessors in a college in Peterborough. We deliver & train staff in childcare, health & social care & oral health care. Rob has taken early retirement from being a bank manager in business banking. Rob is 50 & I am 48.

As some of you know we still want to do some work in the form of looking after apartments on Los Olivos, as we will be living there.

We will be bringing with us our 2 siamese cats, Mia & Ralphie. We had been hoping to bring Tommy our little dog, but sadly we lost him 3 weeks ago.

Linda & Rob 31a

What a lovely idea! I am the Linda part of Brian and Linda, and we are buying in Los Olivos as a holiday home. I work for the Open University, and I have just started Spanish with them. Brian manages property here in the UK and previously in France and Florida. We have two sons, both at University, one of whom came with us to view Los Olivos in the first place, and loved it immediately. He has been following Spanish football for many years and likes the idea of a get a way in Spain. We live just outside Durham City (views of the Cathedral), and have three dogs (two Cavaliers and a PomChi) and a cat called Figo. We are expecting to be able to use the apartment pretty frequently, and hoping that we will get a couple of weeks at Easter. I also love the water, and am really looking forward to the pool. We are sort of thinking that if we like the Spanish life, perhapswe will build a villa for more permanent use. I have a brother who lives on the Algarve who took this approach many many years ago. Also looking forward to the next lot of photos, as some people are going out this month. We have 3 b by the way. Linda

Hi Everyone

Chris and I (Neil) are moving to Spain in the hope of a better lifestyle and to make new friends.We are currently both working full time, myself as a test technician testing diagnostic equipment and chris as an assembly operator, although she has been in the past a landscape gardener and seamstress.We too are hoping tostill do some work in the form of Keyholding ,cleaning,gardening,soft furnishings and ia am also a handyman and can turn myself to most thing's ,in fact we are already talking about alteration's to the inside.

I am 54 and chris is younger we may be bringing our cat (Baby) with us we are not sure as she like's it so much where we are living at the moment in Bogner Regis prior to that we lived for 6 years in Waterlooville just outside Portsmouth.

Linda & Rob sorry to hear about your dog Tommy

Neil& Chis 35B

Hi everyone

What a fabulous idea. We are John & Pam and live in Huddersfield in West Yorkshire. We work in both Leeds and Wakefield as an accountant and auditor. Amy who is 10 (11 in Dec) makes up our family. We had no intention of purchasing a property but went on the Parador Inspection Trip as a bit of a laugh recommended by John's receptionist at work and believe it or not came back with number 11b. Something of a mid life crisis I supposed if you get them at 40 !!. We thought that for the money and the fact that all the furniture was included it was an opportunity too good to miss.

Too young to retire just yet, but intend to use our appartment to its full potential by spending long weekends & school holidays out there. We have just found out that Jet2 start flying into Almeria next May from our local airport (Leeds/Bradford) which makes the decision to buy even better.

We are going out at half term (23 Oct) so are going to have a look at what progress has been made to date and hopefully take some pictures. Already arranged to meet  up with some other Los Olivions who are there at the same same, open invitation for anyone else.

John, Pam & Amy

11b

 

 

 

Hi all,

Michael and I (Anita) originally brought Los Olivos with a View to moving out, however so many things have changed we have now decided to stay put and buy a bigger house here (which should be completing next week). We are now looking to probably rent the apt out and see where we go from there. I am 34 and michael is 39 and we have a little boy Aaron who is almost 9.  I have mostly worked in finance but am currently in Sales and Michael is a Long Distance Driver.

The updates are brill and hopefully wont be too long before we all get the chance to meet up in person.

Anita

P.S  It would be great if anyone has any further ideas on our own Website for rentals/community purposes. Look forward to future posts

It may be of interest to you that we are currently in the process of putting together a community website package that individual communities can have and run for free.  We host them on our servers.

These sites will have sales and rentals facilities as well as owners forums and a facility where each of the members can grow the site through a content management system. They will also benefit from our extensive search engine ranking knowledge to drive traffic to these sites. These are very advanced sites which we are developing with some communities at the moment. 

They will be available to everyone by the end of November at the latest.

Just thought it might be of interest...

Regards

Justin

Hi to all.Judy & I have a home in Marple near Stockport Cheshire,which our son Martin wife Louise & grandchilden Georgia,16 Laura 13 & Sam 11 live in.We spend most of our time in a wooden chalet half-way up a mountain in N. Wales with  our 2 dogs Douglas-Westie & Harry [ naughty night at the kennels ] cross Shitzu??? & Yorkie.We are in our 60, s.I had a wholesale food co.in Manchester supplying hotels ,restaurants, &hospitals.For 5 years [ 1984 -89 ] Judy & I had a restaurant  with a few  bedrooms directly on the other side of the M 62 from John & Pam at Rishworth-The Turnpike.Sold out too much like Fawlty Towers ,continued with other business.Sold out 4 years ago ,now a fancy title -part-time -consultant.We are driving across with the dogs to arrive Jan 7 ,having booked for 2months an appt at Valle Del Este,hope its o.k..To avoid too much stress [dont know on the dogs or us ]we have booked a 4 berth overnight [had to dogs are classed as people ]train from Paris to South of France then continue by road. hope it is as simple as planned.

We plan to stay for Winters ,then as and when.If we enjoy it as much as we hope then we would sell the " Shed " &move out permanently.Judy has some arthritic problems so we are hoping the change of climate will do her some good.

It,s lovely to read about our soon to be new neighbours particularly with their pets.Allthe best

Haydn & Judy----14 A.

Hiya all, just discovered this very informative website and would like to introduce myself (ourselves).  My wife, inlaws and I are buying 6a for our own and family use.  My name is Lewis (44), wife Karen (43) (two sons 7 and 3) and inlaws Derek and Eunice.  We are keeping a careful eye on developments using friends who already live out there and the good news is nothing contradicts anything on this site.

We live in the West Midlands (sunny Dudley) and buying the property through Medsea who, so far, we cannot fault.

We look forward to meeting you all and will contribute any pics we receive on the site.  Best wishes, Lewis

Welcome Lewis & Karen & Boys & Derek & Eunice!  How lovely to have new blood on this site, especially when you confirm that things on Los Olivas are progressing as we all thought.  It's great to be able to add more names to our street plan, even if we can't tell you who your neighbours might be yet.  You will be close to Linda & Brian though. 

It sounds as though you might not be planning to live out there but to be regular visitors.  That's what Janice and I plan as well, but we will be doing some holiday rentals in the high season.

This is a good site for keeping up to date with developments. 

Look forward to meeting you in Los Olivas before too long.

Cheers....Terry 19b

Hi Lewis, Karen & family & welcome to the site.

As you may have read, we plan to live in Spain & look forward to meeting you soon. We are in 31a.

Cats been to the vets today for their rabies jab & blood tests booked in so we can soon get their pet passports in Feb.

Fingers crossed, it will not be long now.

Linda & Rob

Hi Lewis ,Karen & Family   Welcome. We will have 14a. In midst of final preparations to depart Jan 2 to drive there via channel tunnel ,with our 2 small dogs,to arrive Jan 5 .Booked an appt at Valle del Este with "Homes & Beyond "in Garrucha for 2 months.

Spoke to B.M.S.to confirm new completion date. Michelle is on holiday, but Spanish lady said they hope to have all paperwork in place by end of Jan or beginning of Feb.

Best wishes Haydn & Judy--it would be wonderful to put faces to names,sooner than later.

hi all fellow los olivons     we are pete and sylvie and will be living at 34a los olivos

we have been over here since middle of november renting, we cant wait to move in and

get settled and meet the rest of you over a few glasses of vino.  would be interested to know

who will be living here permantly.

big thank you to chris and alan at 5a jacarandas for making us feel so welcome and helping us

through the early stages when we arrived

Hola, to all at Los Olivos,  Dave and I (Loraine - with one R {two Rs is my EVIL twin)  have bought No. 5a.  We hail from Woodley Stockport, near Haydn & Judy at Marple - a beautiful part of Cheshire.  Dave (54) and myself (52) have 3 children - Russell (29), Sian (26) and Rhianne (23) - 3 beautiful grand children, 1 chocolate labrador, 2 horses & 2 cats - plus a wacky sense of humour and love of life!!  We can't wait to meet everyone - we have already met Jackie & Malc who have bought No 5B underneath us (fabulous & genuine people).  Anyway, good luck, good fortune and welcome to everyone - I cook a mean paella and can brew a fabulous Sangria (courtesy of Rhianne who worked in Minorca for 2 years) Hasta luega mi amigos!! Loraine & Dave x

Welcome to Loraine and Dave - so paella and sangria by the pool??? Can't wait to meet you and everyone else.

Hasta Luego

Linda

Hi everyone

We are Sandra & kevin and have purchased no 24b, we have just found out about the web site so thought we would add our names as well.  We are both in our 40's and at present plan to use the apartment as a holiday home.  Will look forward to the party round the pool you sound like our type of people.  Look forward to meeting you all, bye for now.  Sandra & Kevin

Hi Sandra & Kevin......welcome to the site. 

I remember feeling very relieved when I first stumbled across this site and 'met' other Los Olivions.  I think it is a shame that the various agents didn't tell us all about EOS at the beginning.  Anyway, we've discussed most things that might be of general interest here so it is well worth taking a look back at old posts cos we might have the answers to your questions or you might have the answers to ours!

Do you have a completion date yet?  When will you be over there?

Terry 19b

My guess is that agents don't want us comparing, gossiping or querying!!!!   But in all fairness to them, this site (or at least this part of the site) did not get underway until Feb 2006 - most of the properties had been sold by then.  It really has been a fantastic site, and I think one of the reasons why people waiting for their properties have not got angry and stressed.  It is only as good as the people contributing, and the info and discussion has been invaluable.  Thanks to everyone, and I hope we all continue to use the site once we are owners!!!!!  And a real thanks to the Eye on Spain team for making the forum possible!!!

Very best wishes,

Linda     

Hi we are Malc and Jackie .5B. we came out at the weekend to snag with Dave and Lorainne 5A

Bit more work still to be done than we thought !!!!!!!!!!

Ane why do the workmen have to use and abuse our loos !!!!!!!!!!!!

keeping everything crossed when we come back the apt will be ready to re-snag and Ambersun get their act together.