Do People Still Want to Move to Spain?

Published on 4/4/2011 in Relocating to Spain

Most of the time we tend to focus on the property market and how much money we’re all losing as property owners here in Spain. But one person’s loss is another person’s gain meaning there are plenty of great value properties around for sale.

But there still aren’t enough buyers to satisfy all of the, often desperate, sellers out there. In times of need or simply to pay the mortgage in Spain, many owners end up turning to the rentals market. This is especially true with long-term rentals.

Many property owners are generally happy to rent out their (unused) properties on a long-term basis, with the hope that they’ll get some decent tenants that will actually pay the rent and not trash the property whilst they are living in it.

We know that buyers of Spanish property are like gold dust but that doesn’t mean that people are no longer interested in moving to Spain.

Moving to Spain A life in Spain is still the dream of many people and that’s not really changed. Yes, we hear all the horror stories of buying and owning properties here but we rarely hear form the thousands of expats who are leading a perfectly happy existence in Spain, whether they own or rent a property.

The Evidence

We certainly can’t rely on the number of properties being purchased at the moment as any sort of indicator of people wanting to move to and live in Spain.

We can however rely on the data from long-term rental enquiries instead as people are more likely now to rent before they buy.

Eye on Spain has for many years been number 1 on Google for “long term rentals Spain” which means that we generate a fair amount of enquiries for our long term rental properties listed on the site. We therefore normally have a fairly good idea of the demand and interest for people moving to Spain.

The table below shows the number of long-term rental enquiries generated through Eye on Spain from January – March from 2008 up to 2011:

Date Range	Enquiries generated
Jan - Mar 2008	1,958
Jan - Mar 2009	1,481
Jan - Mar 2010	1,706
Jan - Mar 2011	1,681

2008 was the first year we actually started collecting this data and that was still by far the strongest year. But after a dip in 2009 we can see a sharp increase from 2009 to 2010 with 2011 only 25 enquiries behind 2010.

So it seems the interest is definitely still there. Whether that many people ultimately move is another matter as not everyone follows through with their dreams, for one reason or another.

The Obstacles

So why might someone not move to Spain after doing some initial research?

I believe the three biggest factors at the moment are the serious lack of jobs, the awful exchange rate (for UK expats) and the high cost of living.

We’ve often talked about the fact that there really are no jobs unless you want to work in sales in which case there are plenty of opportunities, although getting paid may be an issue.

The currency case is different. You need a job to live but the benefit of a poor exchange rate, however, is that it really can’t get any worse (can it??). If someone can afford to move today, say with their UK pension, then they are moving at the worst possible time so in theory, things can only get better.

And many will argue this one but it is definitely much more expensive to live in Spain now than it ever has been. It’s not the cheap place it used to be. €1.35 for a litre of petrol…ouch.

Rental Prices

Every cloud has a silver lining (sorry, yet another cliché) so a glut of properties for sale also means that there is a glut of rental properties.

Property prices have fallen dramatically and so have rental prices. We sometimes have villas for rental on Eye on Spain from just €400 which seem absolutely ludicrous unless you are a potential tenant whereby it becomes absolutely wonderful.

A Good Time to Move?

No jobs, a poor exchange rate and a higher cost of living. Is it really good time to be moving to Spain?

If you are retired, you can afford to live on the current exchange rate and don’t mind renting….go for it!

If, however, you are reliant on getting a job and don’t have a huge amount of savings then I would say….definitely DON’T go for it.

But one final comment. Some of the best businesses around the world have been started in the toughest of times. Penguin books, moonpig.com, SpecSavers, HP and many other businesses were started during an economic crisis.

If you want to move to Spain and have plenty of money to start a business, then don’t let the current downturn put you off. All you need is to spot an opportunity and believe me, I have seen several.

There are always opportunities and I’m all for people following their dreams, just make sure you have plenty of resources behind you. And yes, I’m referring to money.

Are you planning on moving over? Have you recently moved over? Please leave a comment below and tell us how you are getting on.

If you want to find out more about featuring your property for long term rental on Eye on Spain then read this.

Written by: Justin Aldridge (EOS)

About the author:

Justin has been running Eye on Spain for over 5 years and recently with his partner Susan launched their popular moving to Spain video guide, Spain Uncut.

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Comments:

BLOSS said:
Thursday, August 2, 2012 @ 3:44 AM

WHATS IT REALLY LIKE NOW? I USED TO LIVE IN MALAGA, AND FOUND IT VERY HARD, I WORKED ALL THE HOURS GOD SENT BUT STILL WASNT ENOUGH. THE WORST OF ALL WAS ENGLISH PEOPLE, SO JELOUS AND CATTY. WHEN WE ARE ALL TRYING TO BETTER OURSELVES THEY PUT YOU DOWN. I SAY FKN GOOD LUCK TO YOU ALL WHO MAKE A GO OF IT OVER THERE FOR WHATEVER REASON...I LOVE SPAIN AND CHERRISH EVERY SINGLE MOMENT I WAS THERE FOR, ALTHOUGH HARD AT TIMES, GOOD LUCK TO ANYONE WHO MAKES THE MOVE, OPPOTUNITIES ARE THERE IF YOUR NOT TO LAZY TO TAKE THEM, GOOD LUCK

BRENDA4 said:
Thursday, August 2, 2012 @ 3:31 AM

Travelling Tiff said:
Thursday, June 16, 2011 @ 2:58 PM

Sorry - last bits of advice:
< don't trust anyone!!! that includes fellow Brits
< learn as much Spanish as you can before reaching the land
< read extensively on the subject of contracts and your rights in general....prior to your arrival! be aware that if there are debts attached to any purchases you make here then you are liable for them, not the previous owner!!
< don't be fooled into thinking that a job offer now will guarantee future financial security - if the economy does collapse then there won't be any job security

Travelling Tiff said:
Thursday, June 16, 2011 @ 2:32 PM

My partner and I left England in June 2010 and went in search of a better quality of life. We took to the road and several months later we visited Ronda (Malaga). We fell in love.

Here we are several more months later taking advantage of a cheap apartment rental on the Costa del Sol, and only 15 mins walk from the beach. BUT, is it what we hoped for?

We fell in love with the beauty of the mountains. We fell in love with the idea of buying a small holding and maybe, eventually, starting a little business.

I intended to work to pay my contribution to our dream (my partner is self sufficient). I figured the smartest thing to do was rent initially, near an area with potential job opps. Everything moved along quickly and easily - we rented from a Brit so managed to sort out NIE, empad, bank account, car insurance etc after we had moved in. All accomplished without any assistance.

I speak basic Spanish (enough to get by in most situations) but wanted to make quick progress so started taking lessons locally. I spent my time outside the classroom studying and job hunting. Sadly I had to stop the lessons a couple of months in as I needed to generate an income to keep them up and the job search was turning into a mining expedition.

As far as work on the Costa del Sol goes - If you want to work in a bar and spend virtually no quality time with your partner, or if you want to work in a commission only role selling houses that nobody wants to buy, then this is the place to be. My skill set, however, is perfect for roles in a number of the well known English companies based in Gibraltar, which is merely 30 mins drive from us, yet I'm not getting a whiff of interest from them. The recruitment agents aren't interested either and the sum total of 2 jobs that I’ve seen further along the coast and am qualified for have amounted to nothing – not even an acknowledgement of my applications. This is something I'm not at all used to. Thinking I was missing a trick I contacted a friend of the family in Marbella and they confirmed how dire the job situation is at the moment. They also shared their experience of seeing all the good people leave over the last few years. I knew it wasn’t going to be easy but this is not what I expected.

So, things can only get better, right? Er, maybe not!

Ok, so we never really desired to be in an urbanisation surrounded by Brits and semi-built/derelict/unoccupied monstrosities, but we saw it as a means to an end. We wanted to be in the Malaga mountains immersing ourselves in the stunning surrounds and local culture. However, the whole experience amid the concrete blocks has been a godsend as it has opened our eyes to the pitfalls of permanently relocating to the region.

Over the last few months our attitude towards Spain as a country has changed a great deal and we have quickly become privy to a whole plethora of turn offs in the Costa del Sol in particular. It's no longer about having the drive to make it work in the Costa del Sol, it's about having the money. The region is filled with corruption and if you live in an urbanisation you get to see it more than anyone. If you go to the nearest 'Spanish' area you will find some evidence of investment - decent paths, sports facilites for the Spanish etc. It is totally understandable that the Spanish wish to invest in their own people, but what is totally shocking is the lack of respect for the foreigners that have invested that hard earned cash. In and directly around the urbanisations either little or no money has been invested (there are some dreadful sights) and yet these are the areas where foreigners spent hundreds of thousands on properties (albeit foolishly as it was in a market that was totally overpriced). The quick decline in quality is staggering too which shows how shoddy the workmanship is. So where did the money go? It went on a whole number of officials’ vices. Every time we read a local paper there are references made to ‘another’ official up on corruption charges. Even the law are in on it so if you're an honest person it's difficult to turn a blind eye and ignore. Even if you do you never know when the law is going to be an ass and turn a finger on you. It doesn’t matter if you speak fluent Spanish - if you’re a foreigner you haven't a hope in hell of winning any sort of defence case (unless you can afford to buy an official's support of course, but when they leave office you can expect a knock on the door from their replacement, in which case you can expect to part with further cash).

The region is a joke really. It has plopped on foreigners from a great height and now that the country is on the brink of economic meltdown it holds its hand out to foreigners once again. Yet there cannot be any honest and meaningful guarantees. Why? Because it’s still run by the old school Spanish. So, if foreigners (such as us) don’t buy into the lies that are currently being circulated internationally by the region’s officials, then what hope does the region have? Well, without foreign investors it has the EU Commission to fall back on, sure. But, as my partner and I discovered (and were appalled by) in Portugal, whilst the EU Commission is capable of propping up communities with huge donations, what it doesn't do is oversee the expenditures and the towns in receipt of these huge sums don't tend to have either the skills, knowledge, or a leader with absolute devotion and vision, to prevent infrastructure investments from turning into nothing more than rubble a couple of years down the line. Good things once came to the Costa del Sol because it followed the guidance given by skilled expats. Now that many have left, who can the authorities take their direction from??? Many in power despise the foreigners, yet it's the foreigners that fed their extravagance. Pandora's box has been opened and they want to keep it open. The lesson has yet to be learnt.

In short, the Costa del Sol is a ‘has been’. Fortunately for us we can afford to ride out our rental (another few months left on it). Until then we shall enjoy walks in the mountains and rounds of golf. Thereafter, we're heading back to the land of fine wines (emphasis on the plural) and cheese. Yum yum!

There is a great book that sums up the ongoing struggles of Spain – ‘Ghosts of Spain’. Our experience is just another example of underlying problems that have existed for years. This book is worth a read.

If you’re thinking about moving to the Costa del Sol:
So, it’s not to our liking. But, if you’re an English speaker looking for little England in the sunshine and by the coast, or if you want a Dale Winton tan, or if you want to sit at a beachside bar with friends all afternoon/night night getting drunk (living or re-living your youth!), or if you want to work in a beachside bar all hours of the day/night, or if you are a ridiculously rich person wanting to live as a hermit in your own slice of heaven in the mountains, and you are either 1) willing or rich enough to turn a blind eye to all the illegal stuff going on around you or 2) not looking for an investment opp, then this is the place to be! By the way, it’s also a haven for ******* (fill in the blank) mafia managing the drug runs to /from Africa. Make of that what you will.

(Note: renting is very cheap (I'm comparing it with lets in S.E. England) but the cost of living has really shot up. On the west coast of Malaga the cost of cigarettes and alcohol in non English bars is still very favourable. But cars are more expensive to buy, electricity bills are high, and even our weekly food shop seems to be creeping up towards Waitrose prices and we don't even buy British produce. If you want really cheap food you can get it, but it’s generally of bad quality and a lot more unhealthy.)

If you're thinking about moving to Spain:
Make sure you have a backup plan! Even if you research an area thoroughly (as we did) before you relocate it might not work out hunky dorey. If you're flexible and need work, go where the work is!

Jasmine Cannon said:
Thursday, May 19, 2011 @ 4:34 PM

I've just read all these letters with great interest.
We are a couple (80 and 75) wanting to spend the winters only on the Costa del Sol. We don't want to buy, as there are inheritance problems for us (children of previous marriages). I am also shocked by the costs of buying - I work out over 15% of the cost price is not unusual.
I would resent being charged an "imputed income tax" on a property that would not be let out, too. That is unfair!
Renting is the obvious answer, but we want unfurnished, which seems to be hard to find, and of course, long-term. Also a problem, it seems.
We would not consider becoming residents.
Any comments or advice?
Thanks!
Jas

amep75 said:
Tuesday, May 3, 2011 @ 9:49 AM

THE EXCHANGE RATE HAS BEEN TE SAME FOR ABOUT 10 YEARS NOW. SPAIN IS CHEAPER THAN THE UK THEPEOPLE NICER THE WEATHER GREAT I WOULD NEVER GO BACK TO DUMPSVILLE UK

Gerald Deavers said:
Sunday, May 1, 2011 @ 7:16 AM

@Ron Garza I feel your pain friend. Been working on the paperwork since Oct, fingerprints,translated copies, NIE's,legalized copies etc etc, 2 trips to the consulate in NYC our solicitor always needing one more paper, 'oh that paper they wanted notarized?" they want it "legalized' now(another trip to the consulate) But from what I hear its another month or so and we are done. We are moving to the coast and as Non EU yanks we have to get military clearance and thats what is taking the longest- hope it all works out for you- regards from Albany

ONLY ME said:
Sunday, April 24, 2011 @ 12:25 PM

COST OF FOOD CLOTHES ETC IN SPAIN HALF UK COSTS AT LEAST ON THE COSTA DEL SOL AND ITS WARRRRRRRRRRRRM

ElviriaDreamer said:
Sunday, April 17, 2011 @ 4:39 PM

Yes, I think people are still moving to Spain and will continue to do so. As the markets and economy change, so do the arrivals. Many used to be families seeking "better" standards of living or pensioners retiring to "live the dream". Now the tides have turned a little and rental properties are at a premium, I think you will see an influx of singles or middle aged childless adults over the next year or so. Maybe not in the numbers Spain is used to BUT opportunity is still there if you are prepared to take the plunge and not afraid of hard work for less money or no work. If you need to work it is essential to pick your location carefully, you can never research enough......while a finca in the middle of nowhere is bliss to live in the reality of finding work is NIL! It's all about creating the right balance, being realistic and accepting what is possible without giving up on your dream. You will succeed or fail. Simple as. No point in having dreams if you are not going to chase them. So, in short YES I am still coming to Spain and will be prepared for the good, bad and ugly. Hopefully the latter two will not apply.

brian said:
Thursday, April 14, 2011 @ 6:20 PM

I have been reading the various posts re moving to Spain.I am in the fortunate position of having a home in the UK and on the coast in Spain which we visit regularly and stay for up to 3 months at a time (retired!).When totting up the reasons for moving to Spain do not assume this is the land of eternal sunshine, it is not.From Dec. to March it can and often is cold and wet albeit interspersed with lovely sunny but short days.Now the weather in he UK can be much worse but it is expected and everybody is geared up for it.Spanish properties are notoriously cold in the Winter due to poor insulation and lots of hard surfaces, marble flooring, etc.After 3 monsoon Xmas' in a row we now stay May-July and Sept.-Oct.plus the odd week or two in between.

Louise Fenton said:
Tuesday, April 12, 2011 @ 10:21 PM

Interesting reading! We are hoping to move to spain in a couple of years pretty much as retirees but we are not looking at moving to an expat area as we want to intergrate into the small town we want to move to and we already visit often and are making friends. Like a lot of you have said - don't compare. Its different, almost certainly not perfect but you do at least get the nice weather and nice way of life. Life is what you make it where ever you live. I wouldn't consider buying for investment as there are so many places to rent you can't rely on the income, but maybe if you want to buy and rent out before you move then thats not so bad so long as you're not reliant on the money. Consider this.... if you moved to a completely different part of the UK would it be any easier? Probably not. Make an effort to learn the language and intergrate.

Terry Davis said:
Tuesday, April 12, 2011 @ 12:13 PM

Read all with amusement can only say that my experiencec in almeria has been a disaster the British estate agents of parador and the Spanish builders lied lied lied once we signed on the dotted line they lied and lied again in the communidad where we bought the houses have never been completed properly trying to get anything done has not worked and to cut a long story short I have cut my losses and come home to the safety of England.I could say so much more but this would only be my start and my house in Spain is pretty much worthless.

Angela said:
Wednesday, April 6, 2011 @ 4:15 PM

Interesting comments and my story is rather unusual as I have lived and worked in Spain for 8 years, moving back to England last year for economic reasons mainly. The truth is I hated England, it is sooo expensive and am in the proceeds of moving back to Spain! However this time I would say that I am wiser ie no the pitfalls etc, I have a good grasp of the language and I do have a home. Also a large part of my time previously was as a single woman and though Iam loath to admit it, it was a struggle financially. This time I am moving back with my partner who is a builder and though we are aware of the job difficulties I believe we can make a good go of it this time around. I found England so dreary with no quality of life, it was all work and bills. I cant wait to get back to the sunshine, sangria and a simpler but better quality of life.

M said:
Tuesday, April 5, 2011 @ 8:47 PM

I have lived as an expat in about 10 different countries and although I was born British it is useless to make comparisons. You either feel comfortable in a place or you don't and if the latter... move on. I get pissed off with people complaining that 'things don't happen like this at 'home!'. Of course they don't! That's why you've moved away. Spain has it's problems but I believe it is generally less expensive than the UK, the people are more pleasant, the sun shines and the wine is cheap! Viva Espagna.

Tony B said:
Tuesday, April 5, 2011 @ 4:45 PM

Like most second home owners, I'm wary of letting my two properties out long-term, as might end up with a head ache. I can't complain, though, as my April to September rentals cover all my mortgate payments and I get the extra bonus of medium-term winter lets.

Nina said:
Tuesday, April 5, 2011 @ 3:55 PM

Just entering our fifth year here in Spain since taking early retirement and still loving it. True, prices have gone up and sterling has gone down, but I'd rather be stony broke here relaxing in the sunshine than well-off and spending all day in an office.

Michael Halligan said:
Tuesday, April 5, 2011 @ 3:38 PM

Interesting article. I am an estate agent but I do recommend that if you are buying a residential property and not a holiday home that you come over and rent if you can. And do it off season as well.It the best research you can do.
That said I know people who have been renting on and off for years and are now getting their own property for a low price.
My clients are lifestyle clients, not people coming here in search of work, if you expect to etch a living here without the language and financial backing then you should go back to the drawing board.

Rachel Vauls said:
Tuesday, April 5, 2011 @ 2:36 PM

We've just bought an apartment in Spain as a holiday home & eventually a retirement home. This is a great time to buy as property prices have dropped so dramatically and believe it or not the cost of living in Spain is still cheaper than in the UK. For instance for council tax we will pay in one year what we pay every month in the UK. I wouldn't consider moving out yet & trying to find work but as a long term plan I think this is the best time to go for it, despite the fact that the exchange rate crashed just before we completed!

Expat Financial Advice Spain.com said:
Tuesday, April 5, 2011 @ 1:25 PM

Five years in Spain has flown by and I am enjoying living and working in Spain.

The best way to retain one´s sanity is to not make a comparison between Spain and your home country as one is good and the other is bad. You just have to say that things here are "different".

Carol Lopez-Le Sueur said:
Tuesday, April 5, 2011 @ 1:05 PM

I am planning to return to Spain within the next 5 years when my circumstances change. I love the Canary Islands & Mallorca as I've lived there in the 70s & 80s but think mainland Spain would be better value.
I will be considering long term rental & find the comments made here have been very helpful.
Can't wait to get there, love the Spanish culture, hate the litter everywhere and love the climate.

Ed said:
Tuesday, April 5, 2011 @ 12:40 PM

I love Spain, I tried to rent ,but, I had to pay 1 month up front, no probs, €400 Bond, no probs. I wanted to try the property and location before committing to 12 months tenancy. All started well, but things went awry. Not due to me. Landlord went awol. I left, having repaired defects myself at my expense. I'm still waiting for my deposit refund.
2nd attempt rental wanted 12 mnth agreement signed, with 12 mnth written notice to end agreement. i.e. tied to 24 mnths. No trial period. 3mnths rent Bond up front.
Rental can be big probs, Stay in hotel research the area. Get service bills in your name, read the meters. Pay returnable bond to a solicitor, not landlord.
I am single, retired tradesman, great at DIY and willing to do maintenance if reqd. Owner buys the bits. I do the job, free. I am honest and trustworthy with references from landlords. I gave up on Spain Rental. Now looking to buy.
Ed

Brian J Deller said:
Tuesday, April 5, 2011 @ 11:45 AM

One very good reason for many Brit expats wanting to move to Spain apart from the weather is that Britain has been allowed to deteriorate in many ways with the over taxing under Labour and the failure of the Brit government to stop the banks making so mnay high loan amounts to those who could under their own rules even not afford tp pay them back, with usurious interest rates that would have had the bankers in the stocks a couple of hundred years ago. Sadly many of the Brit expats have brought their bad habits with them with children echoing their parents bad language even openly in public, and the open corruption by local officials and the legal profession as far as the land problems are concerned is another big minus that must be corrected with full compensation paid to the cheated ones before they die.

But our Spanish friends are great, polite and a pleasure to be with, anxious for us to integrate as we all should if staying here.

harry said:
Tuesday, April 5, 2011 @ 11:44 AM

After selling my business in western australia i plan to go to spain in the next couple of months permanently with my wife and kids x2. I plan to rent and start a few low cost businesses. I see spain as having plenty of opportunities and things will definetly change for the better.

norman said:
Tuesday, April 5, 2011 @ 11:11 AM

When moving to any country the golden rule is dont trust anyone but your self.Always ask lawyers to show you their colegio number and make sure its up to date.
Never enter into any contract of anykind unless you understand it.If you follow the last rule you will never be dependent on anyone else and believe me you will have no problems what so ever.All things simple are made complicated and hidden in a secret language that only lawyers and the like are privy to.Its the biggest industry in the world.Be aware very aware.Dont comply,write out and make your own private contracts.

Chris K said:
Tuesday, April 5, 2011 @ 10:50 AM

I have a friend living near Albox who about 6 months ago sold a house he had bought 7 years ago as an investment (oh dear). The retired buyers have moved to Spain full time from the UK, so in this instance at least people are still moving to Spain.
The house is a finca and they are hard at work renovating it, plenty of local labour all too willing to be employed.

Boyd said:
Tuesday, April 5, 2011 @ 10:49 AM

A sensible, more well balanced and truthful article than many out there.
I have some advice to anyone daft enough to be considering coming to live in Spain.
Get out a map of the world and go anywhere but here.
Put your money on a horse. Pour it down a black hole.
You'll get less hassle that way.
And if anyone, especially an estate agent, tells you that the property market is alive and well, that Spain is a cheap country in which to live and - the classic - that your life will be less stressful here... run as fast in the opposite direction as your legs will carry you.
Spain is on its knees, and so will you be if you move here.
The grass is never greener on the other side - especially in countries where there is no grass!

Piltonian said:
Tuesday, April 5, 2011 @ 10:42 AM

A timely article, as the removal van from England has just arrived at my newly rented house here in Madrid.

My perspective may be slightly different from many on these boards, but corporates here have a continuing need for expat talent and tend to find it difficult to persuade people to move over here. Having worked for a Madrid based firm for over a year now (though only finally now properly made the move across) I have seen several hires fall through when the individual (or their family) decided not to relocate here, and other roles remain unfilled after over a year of searching for candidates.

Regarding rent vs buy, the analysis I've seen suggests an further 20% drop in Spanish residential property values (bearing in mind that is an average, it does not mean every house will drop by that much). So rental is more attractive right now, especially when a 4 bed house with private garden and shared swimming pool fifteen minutes from my office is only EUR1200 a month - certainly beats London prices

David H said:
Tuesday, April 5, 2011 @ 10:42 AM

We have been living as retired people in our own apartment on the Costa del Sol for 8 months. The main surprises have been the strong Euro (which should by now be weak) and the high cost of living (which really should be low in a weak economy). These things are so wrong that I can only see the trends reversing. However, if I hadn't already bought a property I would definitely rent until I could see a perceptible change for the better. Life is good here but I wouldn't invest in Spain any more than I could afford to lose.

bill said:
Tuesday, April 5, 2011 @ 10:24 AM

Apparently there's still plenty of work for English teachers here in Madrid. Don't expect to earn much - certainly not enough to support a family - but for some it might be a good option.

Kevin said:
Tuesday, April 5, 2011 @ 10:13 AM

We bought a 3 bedroom appartment in january in javea. We are initially looking to rent out as holiday home. Being 100metres from the beach gave it an ideal location. We are fortunate that July & August rentals have already covered our mortgage. To hedge against the exchange rate, I paid for the property half Spannish mortgage and half UK. The hard part is now learning Spanish

susan said:
Tuesday, April 5, 2011 @ 9:42 AM

We arrived in Spain 2 months ago to find that the house we were going to buy we couldn't. If i could have done i would have packed up and went straight back to England. There are myself, my Husband, 3 children and my Mother, not forgetting, 2 cats and a hamster. So going back wasn't an option. We have found another property that was fortunately empty, so we have been able to rent before we buy. This is the best thing that could have happened, we have been so lucky and we are all very happy living in Spain. The children love school. We have rental properties in England, so we don't need to look for work here. But the poor exchange rate will effect us. Having said that we will not be going back.

Norma Munro said:
Tuesday, April 5, 2011 @ 9:27 AM

My husband and I have been renting on the same small urbanisation (20 properties)for the past two years. One year, English landlords and the second year Spanish landlords. This is a mixed community of residential and holiday owners. We have Germans, Russians, Argentians, English and of course Spanish and I must say all are very, very friendly, helpful and delightful to love amongst. To us the benefits of renting are predominately no taxes and the freedom to return to the UK where our house is also rented. However, I must say that we have no intention of returning to the UK and love the retired life here on the Costa Blanca despite the weak euro.

Robin Corner said:
Tuesday, April 5, 2011 @ 8:34 AM

Rent or buy it is best to avoid large urbanisations colonised by "Brits". When the residents stop paying the "community charges" the lifts stop working and the pool is never cleaned. Also beware of Spanish neighbours who will be delightful people but do not always show much consideraton for others - litter eveywhere and noise into the early hours almost every night.
Otherwise after 15 years in this wonderful and work-shy country have no complaints - just wish we had made the move fifty years ago!

midasgold said:
Tuesday, April 5, 2011 @ 8:32 AM

Been here 7 years now, still a great place to be and what a fantastic opportunity to buy at now low,low prices.No I am NOT an estate agent !

Paul Whitelock said:
Tuesday, April 5, 2011 @ 6:27 AM

"If you are retired, you can afford to live on the current exchange rate and don’t mind renting….go for it!"
Not so sure about the renting, but definitely go for it! I finally moved out full-time more than 2 years ago. Best thing I ever did. Sterling-Euro exchange rate? Yeah, not good, but, as Justin says, it can only get better (can't it?) Cost of living? Of course prices are rising in Spain, but that's the same everywhere, so isn't a factor. As for renting, it's probably a good idea for lots of people, but for me owning my own home here is important.

Tony said:
Tuesday, April 5, 2011 @ 4:35 AM

Considering moving to Mallorca from NYC.
I know they have plenty of tourist but so does New York,
Plan to spend the winter in the Caribbean.
Any advice?

Ron Garza said:
Tuesday, April 5, 2011 @ 2:39 AM

I've been working on getting a Spanish visado for a retired person (me) since mid-November. I spent 3 months gathering my American data (fingerprints, health exam, Report of No Prior Criminal Records, etc.) and now I'm waiting another 3 to 4 months to have it granted by the Spanish Consulate in Houston, TX, USA. I'm not complaining (yeah I am, kinda) but that's 6 months (12,000 euros) that Spain has lost out on. Not a great amount of money but I'm sure some Spaniard could have used that -- directly or indirectly.

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