29 Aug 2015 11:01 AM:
It is sad that many people on this forum are not happy with their lot in Spain ,maybe its a case of under research or just falling out of love with the country. I personally havent moved here yet but have owned a home for 8 years .Being 61 years old and still working in the UK let me tell the ones who are thinking of coming back that you are in for a mighty shock ,yes ,you may keep up to date via the news etc but its not like being here. Council tax is extortionate and services are being cut all the time ,we are being inundated with migrants wanting to come here who mistakenly feel that the UK is El Dorado and the ones who are here are taking priority in lots of cases above indigenous people (and before I get a kicking on line I include black and asian in that) and take a walk down any High St on a friday or Saturday night and you could be back in Spain ,with the drunks, the litter, the swearing women and menwhen El Dorado turns into the Alamo.I enjoy my frequent visits to Spain and I know it has lots of shortcomings ( red tape ,the manana effect etc) but in my personal opinion I am much happier when there than in the UK .Ok ,some may say," see you how you feel when you live here full time " and you may be right but I feel that I have made the right decision to move there on my retirement. I may miss my grandchildren but I am only a 2 hour flight away( and so are they and I can offer them so much more when they come to Spain to visit than I could in the UK (just a visit to Thorpe park /alton Towers would wipe out my pension .The cost of living is another factor to include .Spain is not as cheap to live as it was a few years ago but it is still better than UK by around 30% the last time I tested it out ..Then of course is the weather and as I sit in my house typing this the skys are darkening ( well it is Bank holiday) and rain is forecast for this afternoon ( August in uk ,I love it NOT!!! ) summer is my favourite day of the year over here . Maybe we are moving away from what this forum was supposedly asking and if I was asked I would say .
1.Do your research thoroughly.
2 Do not go with a lawyer that your building company suggests .(ask people already there for an independent lawyer recommendation)
3 Take your time ,it took me 3 years to make my decision.
4 Rent first if possible .
5 Think very carefully about moving on to an Urbanisation ,although some are fine I hear many horror stories of little England and presidents whe fall just short of dictators.
6 dont try and fiddle the system . It will eventually bite you on the A---e. (not registering car ,not declaring tax tec)
Be happy.
Thread:
What would you do differently?
--------------------------------------