Hunting for my home in the sun

think very carefully now that the rules for residence have changed and make sure that you would satisfy the criteria to retire here in the future.  Then consider if the 90 days in 180 would affect the time you can use the holiday home.   if all of that is ok then decide what to look for to satisfy your wishes, do you want a flat with communal pool or a private villa.  consider that if you are not here then you need someone to look after your pool,garden when not here if you have a villa..  even if you live in a Brit community it is as well to speak some Spanish so worth doing some on line like Duo Lingo which is fun.  consider your health costs for the future and make sure that you have good travel insurance when you holiday.

Look at all the property you can on line and remember you will need a car every time you come if you live away from the coast there isn't the public transport here like other Spanish areas.

What ever you decide, in my opinion it is imperative that you rent before you buy. Everything looks great especially for first time buyers, but if 12 months down the line you are not happy, you might be stuck with an expensive purchase in a place you don’t like. As I say, just my opinion. 

. . . . . . without meaning any offence, my initial thought here is another lamb to the slaughter. Jamie has much information to be sought. But, the one thing he did right so far is come to this forum. As much as we fight each other and hardly agree on much there is a wealth of knowledge to be gained here. My advice for the moment:-

1. Rent in whatever area you think you like for no less than 5 weeks in the off season. Use this period to confirm (a) the area is for you and (b) if Spain is for you.

2. You are going to buy Spanish property anyway. Get a solicitor to act solely for you. Don't scrimp using the Vendor/Real Estate Agent solicitor. You have been warned.

3. Even buying the cheapest of holiday homes is expensive. Can you afford it? Do you wish to rent out your holiday home when you are not using it? Most say no, but are you buying as an investment? Part Investment = Investment.

4. Must you sell your home in the UK?

5. Discuss the whole matter with each member of your family too. They have ideas that might influence your decision. 

6. Draw up a SWOT analysis of your intentions. [Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats]. Update this every week. 

7. I suggest you start learning Spanish and some of the history of the country. 1930 would be a good year on which to start. Even most Spaniards are not too aware of their history before that. It'll help if you don't like Franco.

Thanks for the help so far I appreciate it. 

I have read about only using an independent solicitor and can understand  why as the agent we met  last year was pretty insistent on using theirs.

 I have been researching for the past few years to avoid encountering any pit falls or end up in the wrong  location. As has been pointed out I am planning on renting to be sure we're in the right place but need to know which locations would suit us. 

A little more background about us if it will help ...  

  My wife and I are in our early 40s I'm a builder so I'm not put off by a renovation project providing its not going to be too time consuming as the laid back lifestyle of Spain is the whole point of the move. My wife is a health care assistant so I imagine work won't be too hard to find other than the obvious language barrier. 

  We both drive but have never driven abroad before so find the idea a bit daunting  hence being close to the coast and amenities plus if we do invite family to stay and they want to head to the beach we're not too far away . 

  I have been using Duolingo on and off for the past 3 years but im very limited so my logic is being around Spanish every day will push me more and most likely help me absorb the language more.

 We are aiming on using savings to buy our home in Spain and are aware of  the costs in addition to the sale price so are trying to be realistic with our budget  .We own our family home and are thinking we maybe rent it out or down size to free up spends whilst still having a safety net in the UK.  

 We don't plan on moving out full time for now maybe spend the winter months in Spain in the milder climate in order to adjust as well as the fact the building game is tough throughout the winter in the North of England so having a bolt hole in the sun is appealing. 

We would like a house with outside space but understand with our budget we would probably have to compromise the outside space  and opt an apartment if we're closer to the coast .

 I have considered renting a place for the few months we plan on spending in Spain  but think its false economy so would sooner own a property with a view to allowing family and friends use it for holidays if we're back to the grind in the UK. but don't want the headache of renting it out in our absence as we don't know the laws or conditions for Spain.   

Obviously the looming  changes from Brexit will complicate things further so this alone will lead to more research as  the whole deal unravels over the next few months. 

First thing driving,if you have drove up or down the A1 you will be fine.Having the steering wheel on the left makes driving exactly the same as driving in England.You will need to travel around the area to get the feel,Lots of places to explore in and around Mojacar.

straight away you are very young and assume that you will be able to work here which may be difficult post Brexit.  you must factor in the cost of private health cover.  you will only be able to come for 90 days in the winter months and then must leave and not return for a further 90 days not even for a weekend.  if you rent out your UK property you would want it back to live in presumably which means short term rental not easy to find if you retain your property you must by law declare it as an asset if you are a resident in Spain and may pay tax at some point in the future.  even if you don't rent out your holiday home here you still have to pay non resident tax as they assume you make money on it even if you don't.  lots of things to think about not something that was as easy as it was anymore unfortunately the result of Brexit.   

Jamie won't be the first person from the UK to buy property in Spain and he won't be the last. He and his wife/partner are young enough to be around when I believe the UK will re-enter the EU. [For the record, please note I'm not trying to fuel another case for or against Brexit]. 

Jamie is a builder and can buy relatively cheaply and do all the necessary work to upgrade any kind of property. In a sentence, I think he's onto a long term investment which will pay good dividends nearing retirement if he wants to sell or upgrade then. 

We all have to pay Spanish taxes. We all have to pay maintenance fees. Don't let those get in your way. The dream is there to be lived. Like I said in another thread some of my good friends in Spain are from the UK and many of them bought (and cut ties from the UK completely)  in their 70's. I'm fast coming to the conclusion that 70 is the new 40. If Jamie takes the advice from this forum he's onto a winner.

What leapt out at me immediately was your assumption of work.

You now cannot work in Spain unless you get a work permit.  Unless your jobs are on the schedule of required trades, you will not get a work permit.  If you ARE on the schedule, you then have to find an employer in Spain who cannot find your trade elsewhere in the EU and is prepared to offer you a contract and effectively sponsor your work permit application.  Work permit applications take up to 9 months once they have been submitted .... I’d cautiously say you’ll be very very unlikely for either of you to get a work permit.

So it’ll be a non-lucrative visa, which means that if you are accepted, for the first 5 years you will not be permitted to work.  A non-lucrative visa will require you to prove 26.000€ per annum for first applicant and 6.500€ per annum for each dependent.  You will need to prove this amount at every visa renewal for the first five years.

So when you come, please do so with the knowledge that remunerated work for either of you will not be permitted, so you’ll need good financial backing to support yourselves.

This is of course assuming you want to spend more than the allowed 90 days in 180 you are now restricted to - if you are ok with three months here then minimum three months outside the Schengen before you return, then all the concern about visas falls away - you still will not be able to seek remunerated employment though - that’s a big no no and breaching that stipulation will possibly get you barred from returning to the Schengen for a period 

I agree with driving on the other side as Peter said.  The only thing I found a problem with is using a manual gear box.  I couldn't get used to changing gear for some reason.  

When we come to Spain now, I just hire a car with an auto box, and no pronlmebs with that

John