JUST JOINED AND SEEKING SOME GENERAL TIPS - Page 8

I dont think anyone is 100% sure but sometimes you just have to bite the bullet and go for it we did ansand haven't regretted it at all. So yes horses for courses and your a long time dead. 

I dont have a crystal ball or magic powers to show me the future, so if I said I'm totally sure that my wife and I will live happily ever after, that would make me a bit of a plonka.

What I am totally certain of is we are on the verge of buying a house we could only dream of in England, we are coming to Spain with a decent lump of cash left over after we've paid cash for the house and bought ourselves a very decent car.  Between us we also have a decent regular income from our pensions. We will want for nothing, within reason.

However, the most precious item we are coming with is the fact that this move has been nearly a year in the making in terms of really studying what we might expect living in Spain.

We're no strangers to the country as we have been visiting for over 40 years. I can hear people shouting at me right now, telling me that holidaying and residing are not the same. I dont totally agree with that. Spain is still Spain whether your here for a break, or to live. Yes, on holiday, you're not afraid to bung a few things on your credit card if you run short of cash. You shouldn't be doing that if you're a resident. There lies the path to misery. However, I would counter that by saying that fhe substitute for your "credit card" is to budget to be living well within your means so that surprise call for a plumber or an electrician isnt a burden. In short, much like we do right now in England.

We also have a very good idea indeed about real living here. For many, many years now, we have avoided hotels like the plague and have rented apartments or houses for our holidays. I know my way around Mercadona very well indeed.

Last, and by no means least, I'm not too shabby on the DIY front. So pool maintenance, decorating and simple repairs are well within my abilities. I'm also not fearful about delving under the hood of the car, even owning my own OBD reader. That's the tool that gives you the fault codes so you know what needs fixing.

For me, it's business as usual, but without having to go to work. Cant wait. Roll on January. 👍

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Hi Lee. Congratulations on your decision to move to Albox. It is a great Spanish working town, great market every Tuesday. We have been here 2 years live in Los Higuerales about 20 mins away from Albox up in the mountains, scenery to die for. We were told never use a solicitor in the area you are buying so we used Maria at the Bourganvillers roundabout in Garrucha as we were renting there for 3 months.Spend time looking for a property there are some pretty poor ones around. We had 65 properties in various areasto look at and choose property no 63 which we fell in love when we walked through the door. It took just short of 6 weeks to complete. Other thing make sure it is legal some estate agents will tell you anything to get a sale.I wish you all the best with your move and hope you will be as happy as my Husband and I are here in Spain. Jan ☺

Thanks for the good wishes.

House buying is pretty scary if you stop to think about it. I have honestly spent more time choosing a shirt than I did when we chose our house near Arboleas. 

We parked in the driveway, at the end of which is a car port, and beyond that a garage big enough to park a proper car in. I liked that straight away. Through the gate to a larger than average pool with great terracing around it. Getting better by the second.

Once we walked through the front door, looked left to the lounge and right into an enormous kitchen, we were totally hooked. Less than 5 minutes to buy one of the most expensive items you'll ever buy! Are we ever so slightly bonkers?

On a very serious note, we contacted our brief immediately to check everything was legal. Only when we got the nod did we negotiate to buy.

The thing I simply cant get my head around is the difference in house prices between Spain and England. If you built our new house where we are living in Essex, you might just get a bit of change out of a million quid.

So, lots to look forward to. I'm retiring in seven weeks, which will probably be the longest 49 days of my life. That leaves a month to get everything packed up, and by that I mean, dump all the junk we've hoarded for years. And then, the BIG move in the new year.

Best wishes to you all and hope to see some of you soon. Lee

Sorry €200,000 don't forget when you sell 3%plus value tax on any gain, and 5% plus value on the increased value of the land, it is a % per year set by the local Town Hall.

If you are a full time resident it 15% tax on the plus value of the property so non resident is taxed less.

Those % s are levied on the actual selling price on your escritura , less of course 4% /5% paid to the estate agents.

That's why rent first and gather some real facts.

By the way, we love it here in Spain

Dee

Shortage of Bars in Spain lol , 15 hrs a day on a chance of being cheaper than the bar 50 mtrs away, personality and hard work can make them work, 70% failure record though.

I know of a beutifull villa, private grounds, huge  sqmtrs of living space, olive groves all laid out and it's noe been taken off the market but was €100,000 under priced because it's set in 3acres and needs someone with vision, 8 minutes from the beaches.

Dee

We did a similar thing saw the villa just before we flew home about 1 hour looking round the villa. We have known the area since 2001 and Sean how its change over the year's for the better we think not full time yet but hopefully later. Enjoy your relaxing new life.