A life in Spain Edition 19 - April 2018

buying & selling your next property in spain

SPAIN A Life in

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South Town

Molina de Segura

North Town

Wine Region

Valencia

Company Profile

Galicia

Blue Med Invest

issue 19 April 2018

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Cover picture provided by Blue Med Invest, see advert on page 33

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www.alifeinspain.com

PAGE 11

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#Edition19 • April 2018

Spanish recipe

What precautions to take if you are buying your home in Spain( Part 1)

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Andalucian Alfajors

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Wine Region:

Volvo Ocean Galicia Race 8&9 20 & 21 A life on the course...

Roda Golf

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ain‌ p S n I g n i y u B

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y To a W r u o Y e t Negotia l.

A Great Dea

26 & 27

Scuba Diving in Spain: Adventure divers Activity Center

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Welcome to the April edition of ALIS. For me this is the best time of the year.

The cold and damp is behind us, but the soaring tempertures have not yet arrived.

This month gives another packed edition and includes the concluding article on Spanish music.

The wine feature this month is the little known region of Galicia, in North West Spain. whilst the golf revew is on Roda Golf.

The north town focuses on Valencia and the south town is Molina de Segura.

Why not combine a weeks holiday visting Valencia and then going on to Galicia. Both areas are steeped in history and well worth a visit.

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Cycling in Sierra EspuĂąa

contact ALIS:

enquiries@alifeinspain.com peter.clarke@alifeinspain.com

Remember – all of our articles and over 8,000 properties for sale and rent are available online at:

www.alifeinspain.com

ALIS is not responsible for the accuracy or content of any articles published in the magazine or online and proffessional advice is reccomended. ALIS does not endorse any company advert or article herein. We try to make sure the content is accurate but cannot be held responsible for inaccuracy.

TEL: 660 170 355 deposito legal: MU 1390-2016

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Despite the collapse of the real estate in Spain, believe it or not, homes are still sold and not only that, but three of every ten sales of properties bought in Spain are done so with cash in hand, i.e. without the need for a mortgage. These buyers are, in general, small and medium investors over 55 years of age, able to pay the full price of a dwelling, without having to go to the local or UK bank for a mortgage. The buyers aim is to provide it as a donation to their children or get a return by letting it, preferring to invest in brick and mortar rather than leaving the money in a deposit account, as they believe that their savings are not well assured in the bank and the interest rates are not very jubilant either.

Savings of up to 50%.

Anyway, before acquiring a house or flat, it is recommendable to take into account certain precautions, as obvious as to find out if a tenant resides in orto check charges that can weigh on the property but let’s start from the beginning. We will list them on next week articles. If you take a calculator in hand or use an Excel sheet and start doing some arithmetic you will find out that acquiring a property without funding from a bank and paid in cash it can mean savings of up to 50% with respect to the purchase through a mortgage.

Buy without mortgage.

275,000 mortgages were signed during 2012 of the nearly 320,000 homes that were sold in Spain, according to data from the INE (National Statistics Institute). Despite the collapse of the real estate sector, the Spanish government is still fundraising VAT. With each ten sales of homes; three are carried out with cash, without the need for funding.

The abolition of tax incentives for house purchase from January 1, 2013 and the closing of the mortgage tap, especially for flats that are not owned by banks, has caused that access to a mortgage is more expensive and involves a larger number of demands.

What precautions to take if you are buying your home in Spain( Part 1) Thus, the increase in cash payments to buy flats is a trend that is spreading throughout Spain, except in the Basque country, where the majority of purchases still being done with mortgages.

Who are buying homes with cash on hand?

Since the beginning of the crisis, has emerged a new kind of real estate investor, usually a 55-year-old, who is able to pay the full price of a property in cash, without having to resort to the a mortgage from a bank. New home buyers perceive the mistrust in the financial system and considered that their savings are not sure all in banks. For this reason, they prefer to invest in bricks and mortar, instead of putting all the money in doubtful financial products, or in an account with a fixed interest, speciallywhen interests are decreasing year after year Prices are down by as much as 50 up to 70%.

The type of property which is mostly purchased in cash tends to be small and old, with prices down on its current value by as much as 50 up to 70%. Real bargains you might say. These small investors do not possess large fortunes, but have enough liquidity to acquire a property without a mortgage. The types of property which attract these buyers are usually small and old, with large reduction in their original prices. In addition, the statistics show that they do not buy to speculate or to reside in it, but rather to leave it in inheritance to their children or to achieve profitability that may round a 5% at present, through its rental. At the same time, both banks and property developers and individuals are making a great effort adjusting prices downward to attract those who are willing to still invest their savings in the real estate market.

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Wine Focus...

Galicia

Galicia is one of the 17 top-level administrative regions (known as comunidades autรณnomas) of Spain. It occupies the north-western corner of the Iberian Peninsula, and is exposed on two sides to the Atlantic Ocean. To the south lies Portugal, to the east Castilla y Leon.

BACKGROUND

Winemaking has long been a tradition in Galicia, brought to the region by the ancient Romans and continued by the monks throughout the Middle Ages.

Today, Galicia is best known for its Rias Baixas wines – crisp, aromatic whites made predominantly from Albarino. Galician wines bear striking similarities to those of Minho (particularly Vinho Verde), just across the border in Portugal.

Shaped by the waves and winds of the Atlantic, the Galician coastline is dramatic; steep cliffs alternate with coastal inlets known as rías. The region’s inland areas are characterized by lush green rolling hills, which climb gently eastwards towards the Cantabrian Mountains, reaching heights of 6,600ft (2000m). The region is often referred to as the “green corner” of Spain, and as “the country of two thousand rivers”; most of the region’s vineyards are located in the valleys of the River Miño (Minho in Portugal).

Even so, very few red-wine grapes are able to achieve full ripeness here, so Galicia produces mainly white wines, both varietals and blends. Apart from Albarino, the main white grape varieties are Loureiro, Torrontes, Godello, Treixadura and Caiño Blanco – a Galician obscurity often mistaken for Albarino. Red wines are produced only in warmer inland areas – typically light in style and made from Mencia.

Cool, moisture-bearing winds blowing in from the Atlantic make Galicia one of the wettest parts of Spain. Coastal areas receive more than 50 inches (1300mm) of rain a year. Happily, Galicia receives abundant sunshine (more than 2000 sunshine hours per year on average), without which the grapes would seriously struggle to ripen.

Galicia is home to five DO-rated wine zones.

Running west to east they are: Ribeiro, Ribeira Sacra, Monterrei, Valdeorras and the most celebrated, Rias Baixas. Each has its own specialties and traditions.

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. . . e s r u o c e h t n o A life

Roda Golf

There are more than 10,800m2 of greens to look after at this first class golf course

As well as this there are also more than putting green of 950 m2 and the bunkers’ surface area is in excess of15,200 m2 in total.

This course also has added dry buffer areas that have zero water consumption to the project.

All the greens have been constructed in accordance with the recommendations the USGA (United States Golf Association) for substratum and drainage systems.

A great course for all levels and abilities with some hard, little obstacles to negotiate.

Year Built 2005 Designer/s Dave Thomas Manager RamónCarrión President José Luis Pérez Ros Greenkeeper DavidFrancés Golf Professional ManuelGuirao Layout difficulty 2 (1 easy to 5 hard) Approx. tee interval 10 min.

Buggy recommended Not necessary Buggy allowed in fairway yes Maximum Handicaps Gents: 36 Ladies: 36 Green Fee, from 45€.

To book, Tel: 968 04 13 31

REPRESENTATIVE

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South Town...

Molina de Segura Molina de Segura

Molina de Segura lies about 10 km from the regional capital on the left bank of the river Segura. The main trunk road N-301 also runs through the town, making Molina an important transport hub, subsequently attracting important industries to set up in the area.

In terms of urban, economic, and population growth, Molina has expanded remarkably since 1960. Its population of 57.000 makes it the region’s fourth largest town the District of Molina itself presents a varied picture, the northern part being mainly rugged upland with the Sierras of Lugar, La Espada, and La Pila, while the southern part consists mainly of flatter countryside as one approaches the banks of the Segura, which, despite its rather modest girth, is still the regions main watercourse.

Surprisingly, though, there are a number of wetlands as well as the dry gullies that stand out for their wealth of flora and fauna, two examples of note being the protected areas of Humedal de Ajauque and Rambla Salada, both of which belong partly to the district.

The smaller villages of Fenazar, Los Valientes, La Hurona, La Albarda, Cómala, La Espada, Rellano, La Hortichuela, La Hornera and El Romeral lie in drier lands where the predominant vegetation is esparto grass, thyme and rosemary. These areas are where the ranges of La Espada, Lugar and the Sierra de la Pila National Park are situated, and which contain an extraordinary richness in wild flowers, including numerous native species found only here in the whole south-east of the Iberian peninsula.

The huerta of Molina has its origins in the Islamic Period and comprises three main districts, namely, La Ribera de Molina, Torrealta and El Llano de Molina, important producers of peaches, apricots and root vegetables, as well as

tomatoes, onions and peppers. Situated in one of the area’s urban developments, Altorreal, is Altorreal Golf Club, with first class facilities and with good connections from Murcia, the provincial capital.

A tour through the historical centre of Molina gives you the opportunity to discover 8 centuries of culture in less than two hours and a half. As you walk, you will be able to imagine how citizens lived during the Middle Ages. El Cid Campeador, Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar, passed by this part of the city, where the King Alphonse VI exiled him for the second time. The citadel on the top of the hill and the remains of the wall that protected the population will take you back to Molina de Segura’s most epic past.

If you want to go deeper into the cuisine of Molina de Segura, you have to follow two steps. Firstly, look for the establishments marked with La Dama -a logotype that represents all the top-quality restaurants supporting local products.And secondly, choose among our traditional dishes: “migasruleras” (fried bread crumbs with cold meat), “arroz a la huertana” (rice with vegetables), “olla de cerdo” (pork with beans) or “mondongo viudo” (rice, potato, onion, chickpeas and garlic); or try our avant-garde cuisine and enjoy its most sophisticated tastes and mixes offered by the most innovative restaurants... and always with a Mediterranean touch!

www.alifeinspain.com - JAN 2018

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17

Cycling in Sierra Espuña

The The Sierra Espuna regional park is by far the area in Murcia of the most outstanding natural beauty and is the first protected natural area in the Murcia region. We travel here three to four times per year to cycle the great roads and tracks that it has to offer.

The Sierra Espuna has been part of the Tour of Valencia and the Tour of Spain on a number of occasions and is a fantastic hill climb. We normally travel by vehicle with bikes loaded on the back and park outside a lovely little Spanish Tapas bar called Restaurant Ora on the outskirts of Alhama de Murcia.

Here we have our customary Coffee and Tostada before unloading the bikes and setting off up this great monster of a climb. We start off at a leisurely pace with everyone talking for approx. 1km however we soon start climbing gradually at first but it soon gets steeper and steeper and the speaking fritters out.

On the way up we pass many parking / barbq area and many trails suitable for walking and cycling and there is family’s everywhere cycling, running, walking, barbequing and basically just enjoying this vast national park. We carry on regardless and after approx.

45 mins we pass the central point with the restaurant and large parking area where we usually stop and regroup on the way back down. Just past here we are still climbing and reach the start of the 26 switch backs which are fantastic you can look down and see how far ahead you are from the rest of the group or you can look up to see how far everyone is in front of you the average gradient here is 8% - 10%.

Up and up we go until eventually it levels off to about 4% and we eventually arrive at the view point. At the view point there are usually loads of people stopping taking pictures including us, the views are incredible and you can see for miles. After a quick 5min stop we are off again still climbing, this time the grades reach 15%-18% for another 5kms up to the Military observation station which is a controlled zone and is fenced off, we cycle right up to the gate and take more pics this time you really feel on top of the world and sometimes we are even higher than the clouds.

On the way back down we travel at a considerable pace usually passing the cars as they try and negotiate the tight switchbacks, everyone normally works at their own pace and it usually only takes about 30mins to get right back down to the Restaurant Ora and the cars where we get a large table in the sun and order beer and Tapas before heading back home.

This is a brilliant but tough ride which you can add on many more miles if you want to by coming down a different route or some of the guys come down and cycle the back roads home all the way to Quesada passing through Mula, Pliego, Archena, Fortuna, La Murada, Orihuela and Hurchillo before hitting the home straight.

If you haven’t done it before then what are you waiting for give it a bash.

Gary and Lynn are available at Cyclogical in Quesada from 9.30am till 5.30pm Monday to Friday and from 10am till 2pm on a Saturday to help and assist you with all your cycling requirements.

Call 637487377 or www.cyclogicalcostablanca.com. Or see us on Facebook.

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New Zealand IN-PORT RACE New Zealand in port race Dongfeng Race Team showed great concentration and resilience in winning the New Zealand Herald In Port Race in Auckland, New Zealand on Saturday Conditions were extremely light, shifty and patchy on the Waitematā Harbour, making for plenty of lead changes over the course of the one hour race.

Team AkzoNobel finished in second place, while early leaders MAPFRE completed the podium to retain the overall lead in the In Port Race Series.

The race started in spectacular fashion, considering how light the wind was. MAPFRE positioned well to leeward of the fleet, was first across the line, with David Witt’s Scallywag barging through with speed ahead of a big group clustered near the pin end.

The results mean MAPFRE retains the overall lead in the series, with Dongfeng reducing the gap to second place and team AkzoNobel leapfrogging Brunel to take third.

Current Volvo Ocean Race In-Port Race Series Leaderboard 1. MAPFRE – 37 points 2. Dongfeng Race Team – 34 points 3. team AkzoNobel – 27 points 4. Team Brunel – 26 points 5. Vestas 11th Hour Racing – 16 points 6. Sun Hung Kai / Scallywag – 15 points 7. Turn the Tide on Plastic – 11 points

LEG 7: New Zealand to Brazil It was a spectacular start to Leg 7 of the Volvo Ocean Race on Sunday afternoon, as the fleet left Auckland in perfect conditions.

The sun was out, the wind was near 20 knots, and as they have for 10 stopovers, the Auckland fans took to the water by the thousands to farewell the fleet. It wasn’t a surprise – over the course of the Auckland stopover, over 500,000 fans came through the Race Village at the Viaduct Basin.

It was MAPFRE, the overall race leader, who made the best start to lead the fleet around a loop of the Waitematā Harbour and out into the Hauraki Gulf, with Dongfeng, Team Brunel and Turn the Tide on Plastic in close and giving chase.

In a return to the heritage of the event, Leg 7 of the Volvo Ocean Race will take the teams on a 7,600 nautical mile journey into the Southern Ocean, and around the iconic Cape Horn, before returning to the Atlantic Ocean towards the finish in Itajaí, Brazil.

An intense start saw the seven-boat fleet – back up to full complement with the return of Vestas 11th Hour Racing – sail straight into a 30-knot easterly just hours after the leg start on Sunday.

Monday brought little let-up with winds hovering around 25 knots producing similar boat speeds as the teams charge deeper into the Southern Ocean on the 7,600-mile leg.

Initial ETA for the finish in Brazil is between the 4th and 6th April.

An update on Team Scallywag crew member John Fisher, from the President of the Volvo Ocean Race: This morning I am extremely sad to inform you that one of our sailors, John Fisher, from Team Sun Hung Kai/Scallywag, is now presumed to have been lost at sea.

This is heart-breaking for all of us. As sailors and race organisers losing a crew member at sea is a tragedy we don’t ever want to contemplate. We are devastated and our thoughts are with John’s family, friends and teammates.

Yesterday, 26th March, just after 1300 UTC, Race Control for the Volvo Ocean Race were informed of a man overboard situation by Team Sun Hung Kai/Scallywag. We immediately coordinated with the team as well as the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre, who have located a ship and diverted it towards the scene. But at current speeds it remains over a day away.

With the rest of the Volvo Ocean Race fleet approximately 200 miles downwind, sending them back upwind to assist, against gale to storm force winds, was not a viable option. The Sun Hung Kai/Scallywag team conducted an exhaustive search for several hours in extremely challenging weather conditions, but they were unable to recover their teammate. Given the cold water temperature and the extreme sea state, along with the time that has now passed since he went overboard, we must now presume that John has been lost at sea.

All of us here at the Volvo Ocean Race organisation send our heartfelt condolences out to John’s family, his friends and his teammates and we will do everything in our power to support them in this very difficult time.

Team Sun Hung Kai/Scallywag has now resumed heading in a north-easterly direction. In fact, the team is currently in a challenging position – the weather is deteriorating and is forecast to be quite severe over the course of today. The crew is, of course, emotionally and physically drained after what they have just experienced.

Our sole focus now is to provide all the support and assistance that we can to the team. We are sure that there will be many questions about how one of our sailors was lost overboard yesterday.

We can address those after the team has been fully debriefed.

Today, our thoughts and prayers go out to John’s family and the entire Scallywag team.

Spanish recipe

Andalucian Alfajors

. . . s t n e i d e r g In

Ingredients for 4 people: ½ l of milk 125g of sugar 75g of flour 1 stick of cinnamon the peel of 1 lemon

. . . t i k o o c o t How Form a circle with the flour and add the other ingredients in the centre.

Mix until you get a fine dough.

Cut out some circles half a centimetre thick and six across.

Put on to a baking tray and paint with the beaten egg.

Cook in a hot oven for 18 or 20 minutes.

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Buying In Spain….

By Heidi Wardman

eal.

eat D r G A o T y our Wa Y e t a i t o g e

N

We all love a bargain; and when you are talking in terms of thousands of Euros as is the case within the property market it is certainly worth pursuing. So it is useful to have a few tips up your sleeve which will help you to negotiate the best deal possible on your purchase.

Scope for Negotiation

APIS is keen to assist you in getting the best value for money out of your Spanish property, and there are a few points that you should bear in mind before you sign on the dotted line. Firstly, it is important to recognize the differences between the UK and Spanish property markets; and what the margin for negotiation might be so that both parties are satisfied that they have struck a good deal. In the UK, vendors are typically allowed the freedom to drop the price by around 95 per cent of the asking price, as even in a good market they rarely expect to sell at this.

If you manage to haggle them down to 90 per cent you have done extremely well, and it is unlikely that they will be willing to discuss reductions beyond this mark. However, the strategy in Spain is very different, with developers deliberately pegging their prices at a much higher rate than they expect to receive, enabling the buyer to knock them down by several thousand Euros, as much as 35 per cent in some cases, and walk away feeling that they have been granted a really exclusive deal. Others will be more open about their pricing structure, advertising the property with a given discount from the outset. Meanwhile, those in a prime locations such as first line golf course, beachfront or penthouse homes, which developers know will sell quickly, might be advertised at the asking price from which there will be no scope for negotiation. There is also less flexibility on the price of new off plan properties, but this often depends on how sales are looking at the time. The best advice is never simply assume the one size fits all UK style strategy of negotiating at around 5 to10 per cent, and if you are uncertain of the lengths that the vendor will go to in order to secure a deal then don’t be afraid to test the water. After all, the worst that they can say is no, in which case they might offer an alternative solution which will still swing in your favour!

Do Your Homework

Another useful negotiating tool is to find out how long a property has been on the market for, and how long has it been stagnant at the current price. A property that has been for sale for sometime could be overpriced, giving you licence to try to encourage the vendor to reduce it to something more realistic, and more importantly, within your budget. Alternatively, if it has recently been reduced it is likely to be snapped up more quickly so you better act fast if you are really interested. If you are buying through an Agent or Property Advisor, they should be well placed to offer guidance on how flexible a vendor is likely to be, which will enable you to compile a sensible viewing list of properties that are within reach. This will help to save time and prevent disappointment if something you have your heart set turns out to be beyond your budget.

Sell Yourself

If you wish to get a positive response from the developer or vendor, then it is important that you also promote yourself as a serious buyer. Both are quite accustomed to receiving a trail of viewers through the doors, all in search of their dream home in the sun. However, the reality is that only a fraction of these “potential buyers” is actually in a position to negotiate a sale, whilst the remainder are just window shopping and will continue to dream for the time being. Others will attempt to negotiate a purchase, putting in an offer long before they have looked into finance and without a penny to invest, based on the assumption that they will not have any trouble so can deal with the boring stuff later.

This attitude is extremely frustrating for vendors, who have learned from experience that it is not worth wasting too much time or patience in accommodating their demands until they are in a better position to complete. Therefore, whilst they will not be impolite or upset the viewer on the off chance that they might return in the future, they will not go over the top to gratify them either! To avoid being labeled as a “time waster” it is important to present yourself as someone who has all of their finances in place, even if this is only an agreement in principal from the bank, or as a cash buyer who is in a position to invest a soon as a desirable offer is on the table. If the vendor knows that you are serious and would like to complete as soon as possible, you are more or less guaranteed their undivided attention and in a favorable position to get exactly what you want!

Gifts

In spite of the continuing poor state of the Spanish economy and extremely shaky property market, some builders are still reluctant to publically reduce their house prices, perhaps because this gives the impression that they are struggling to attract interested parties. However, they might be more willing to reward potential buyers with the offer of “gifts” included in the price, such as a furniture pack, air conditioning, a private swimming pool or even a car. The sum of these can easily substitute a sizeable discount, but the developer is more satisfied with the result as they have still received the asking price.

Be Realistic

Before you enter into negotiations of any nature it is important that you decide on a maximum budget that you are prepared or able to stretch to, and do not be tempted to spread your finances too thinly. It is best to have this figure clear in your mind before you undertake any viewings, to avoid setting your heart on something that you simply cannot afford. It is also vital that you keep this price limit to yourself during the early stages in your property search, which will give you greater bargaining power later on. Once you have reached your limit, make it clear that you cannot pay any more than the offer on the table, and it is then up to the vendor to accept or decline. Adopting this open strategy will save you time in the event of your offer not being accepted, allowing you to move on other properties which are more suitable rather than dwell on something that will never happen. Finally, APIS recommends that you remain optimistic and realistic throughout your search, as ridiculously low offers may be taken as an insult and will not bode well for further negotiations should you wish to reconsider! Do not expect the seller to simply accept your first offer as this might not square up to their expectations; and if it is a property which you really want, do not feel too proud to increase your bid if it is still within your budget, even if you have already made what you hoped was your “final offer”. Primarily, the aim of the venture is to secure your dream home, and even if that means eating humble pie you will be grateful you did when you have the keys firmly in your grasp!

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North Town...

Valencia

Valencia Valencia, a large city on Spain’s eastern coast is well known amongst holidaymakers and expats as an under rated place. For decades, UK visitors to Spain’s Costas only ever holidayed in the typical “bucket and spade” resorts up and down this wonderful region, however an increasing number of people are starting to discover Spain’s cities and what they can offer too.

Spain is a big place, far bigger than old Blighty, and it’s sometimes easy to forget that there is so much to see and do in this vast and diverse country and one reason why us Brits can’t get enough of the place. Valencia is but one area and is in some ways, just like any other metropolitan area in Europe, with wide (and traffic clogged roads) and the people themselves, the characters that make up the place, scurrying about on their daily business in the shadow of huge high rise blocks of apartments.

Valencia has a mix of old and new buildings, giving it a real special feel of it’s own. From medieval castles and towers, to modernist and art deco architecture, and of course a glut of massive shopping centres and plenty of places to eat and drink too of course!

Visiting a city in Spain, as opposed to a resort, allows a glimpse into the real working day of the people and of real life, away from the the normal sights and sounds of a resort vacation in Spain.

A lot of people don’t realise just how big the city is and what is on offer here. For example, did you know it has a tube train system like a smaller version of the London Underground?

Or do you realise that the holy grail, the cup that Jesus was supposed to have drank from at the last supper, is kept in the cathedral in central Valencia?

The city is jam packed full of culture and history, stuff you really want to stick around for, and explore the old lanes and streets as well as the wide tree-lined shopping areas of this truly awesome city!

One of the Plazas worth seeing is the Plaza del Reina, or “Queen’s place” in English, located in the old town area and a magnet for more or less each and every tourist that comes here.

It’s a great place to hang out, with plenty of places to eat too, however be warned that you will pay top tourist prices here. Eat where the Spanish eat, that’s best, but armed with a good and detailed map so you can find these obscure places, although in this area you have to be really “in the know” to find a good paella.

One of the cities more controversial claims to fame is that it has what is supposed to be the Holy Grail, the actual cup that Jesus drank from at the last supper, although that claim is also upheld by several other places around the world too.

The cathedral is a lovely old place and well worth visiting, however the grail is one of the must-see attractions for those of a religious following. The authors David Rhead and Jose Marin looked in great detail at the story of the cup and suggested that the cup had travelled from Rome centuries ago, however when the Muslim rulers took over Spain, it was put into hiding for centuries and only returned to the city in 1427 by the gloriously named King Alfonso the magnanimous!

Whilst the prospect of wandering around a food market is not everyone’s first choice of what to do whilst on holiday, the historic market in central valencia is a bit different and is actually well worth visiting.

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WE HELP PEOPLE THROUGHOUT SPAIN EVERY DAY

The Avalon team explain how diǀerent the complex funeral system is here in Spain to both non-residents and those that live here all year round.

This aǀects everybody so we are committed to helping all UK, Irish and European citizens make informed choices.

• We also check all types of insurance to ensure each person is covered for everything they need to be.

• We oǀer a tailor made funeral plan to suit every client which is fixed at today’s cost.

Avalon Team Avalon has onjces throughout Spain

671 935 072

All our members are covered in Spain and the UK. You will automatically be covered immediately regardless of health issues or age.

www.alifeinspain.com - JAN2017 2018 31 www.alifeinspain.com - AUG 31

Scuba diving in Spain:

Adventure divers Activity Center Are you looking for some fun and adventure in or on the water?

Adventure Divers and Activity center will be kicking off their season as of the 1st of April!

This is a one stop shop for your activities. We are on the doorstep of the mar menor and the Mediterranean Sea, which is one of the best places in Europe for all watersport activities.

The dive center...

Activity booking center.

This PADI and BSAC diving resort center has been operating for over 15 years in the prestigious resort of La Manga Club and have vast experience of teaching scuba diving courses and guiding experienced divers around the many diving areas we have in the region.

If you do not fancy diving then they have a range of watersports to choose from!

- Courses can start as young as 8 years old and up to 70 years old. It’s never too late to learn to dive!

- They provide the best customer service in the region and have 100% 5 star reviews on “trip advisor” - Dives can be enjoyed in guided shore dives around the beautiful rocky bays of Cabo de Palos or for the more experienced you can venture into one of Europe’s top diving areas the “Islas hormigas marine reserve” - Also there are many WW1 and other shipwrecks around the coast which are world class and really interesting - They also have boat dives departing from La Manga or Cartagena which means they dive the most sites out of any dive center around - Groups are small, the instructors and staff are highly experienced, professional, fun and above all safe !

- “Snorkeling Safaris” which are guided trips around cabo de palos bays usually 3 hours duration. Good fun for children and a great activity for the whole family to enjoy together!

- Jet ski rental or if your feeling more adventurous try a guided excursion in the Mar Menor and out into the Mediterranean Sea - Why not hire a kayak, SUP board or kite surfing or even take a lesson or a guided excursion!

- Catamaran trips for your group or family. This is a great way to see the mar menor and be out on the water for a few hours of fun.

- They also have scooters for rent and some electric bikes if you want to discover the area of la manga

For contact details see below

Company Blue Med Invest was established in 2009 & has grown to become one of the Costa Calida´s leading Real Estate Agencies in the Region.

We are a main agent for the Major Spanish Banks in Spain, as well as New Build Developers giving us an unrivalled property portfolio within the region.

We are also one of the very few agencies who can offer our own in-house financial advisor with direct links to the Spanish Banking system that can arrange mortgages up to 70% that suits our client’s specific needs.

In addition, we partner with some of the most reputable legal and financial firms to ensure all our customer legal and financial requirements are dealt with professionally.

With a multilingual speaking team who speak: English German Dutch French Swedish Danish and of course Spanish, we are able to provide our services in your language of preference.

All of our team are trained on a regular basis and are fully up to date with the latest new developments, Bank listings and all financial and legal aspects pertaining to the purchasing of a property in Spain.

We also offer 360 degree Property Photo Tours & Extensive Marketing & Social Network Campaigns In the past year we helped over 200 international customers succeed in finding their ideal property.

The Costa Calida is Now undoubtedly one of the most attractive places to invest in property especially with the prices we are able to obtain through our association with the Spanish Banks & Developers.

We also offer inspection trips tailored to our client’s specific property requirements with Airport collection and return with 3 days hotel accommodation included.

See Blue Med Invest on A Life in Spain, Rightmove, Kyero, Place in the Sun, and of course www.bluemedinvest.com. Representing the Very Best of New Builds, Resale & Bank Reposses-

Blue Med Invest Tel: +34 968 595 684 Email: info@bluemedinvest.com www.bluemedinvest.com

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Music in Spain As well as Valencia in our final article, we will also take a brief look at, Navarre, La Rioja and Aragon.

Jota is very popular across Spain but it’s roots may have been in southern Aragon. Instruments include castanets, guitar tambourines and occasionally, the flute. The percussion influences are attributed to North African Berbers. Stick dances are also common and they also have their own form of bagpipe (gaita de boto).

Navarre and La Rioja are small North west regions with diverse cultural elements. Northern Navarre is Basque in language while the south is more Aragonese. The Jota is known in both regions which have rich dance traditions.

Txistu (tabor pipe) and dulzaina ensembles are very popular in the public celebrations of Navarre.

Traditional music in Valencia is characteristically Mediterranean inorigin. Valencia also has it’s own local version of Jota. Moreover, Valencia has a high reputation for musical innovation, and performing brass

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bands called “bandes” are common, with one appearing in almost every town. Some traditional dances are also shared with other Iberian areas, like for instance, the “ball de bastons” (stick dances). The group “Al Tall” is very well known, experimenting with the Berber band “Muluk El Hwa”, and revitalising traditional Valencian music, to some extent following the Italian Riproposta movement. We will let you look that one up yourselves.

Well, that wraps up our monthly look at traditional music throughout Spain. It is only a very narrow guide to what is around you and looking at the music available as you travel around Spain is a must. The variety is astounding and enjoyment is guaranteed. In addition to all of this wonderful stuff are the modern musicians and singers. The Iglasias, La Oreja de Van Gogh, Fito y Fitipaldis and David Bisbal, to name but a few. Then there are their classical music and opera singers such as Placido Domingo, José Carreras and Montserrat Caballe and dozens of others. Enjoy exploring. You won’t be disappointed.

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Home won’t sell?

If you’re selling a home, there’s nothing worse than seeing every other house in your neighbourhood with a sold sign, and yet yours is still sitting pretty on the market, waiting for that elusive buyer to come along. No viewings, no offers and you’re just playing the waiting game.

The longer you’re waiting, the more you worry.

Is something really wrong with your home? Is it all in your head, or is there something that is not inviting the right buyers in?

· Is your price too high? Everything sells, no matter how adorable or ugly it is. But if you’ve rectified everything else and it still hasn’t sold, then reality is, it’s down to the price factor. No matter what you as homeowners think, or even us as Real Estate Agents think, it is the market that decides what sells and what doesn’t. Priced too high – you’ll be left hung out to dry!

· Are you making viewing appointments difficult?

If your Real Estate Agent doesn’t have a key to It could well be that you’re panicking over nothyour home, you need to make sure you or your ing. Your home will sell. It just may take a little key holder are available at short notice. If you’re longer than normal. On average a home may sell making it awkward for your buyer to see inside within 90 days, but some may take 180 days or your property, don’t expect them to come back. even a little longer. Take a look around you, at Don’t forget, there are plenty more homes on the your local property market. If you’ve been on the market for them to see. market for 80 days and the average in your area is 160, you may not have to worry at all. But to So if your property has been sitting on the market be sure, check on these points:for a while now, look through to make sure you’re · Are your photos good enough? Do they make a great first impression? This is what your buyer is going to see first, so make them count! · Is your home presentable? Is the garden tidy?

Are there weeds growing between the tiles? All this, make up for a bad first impression. If your buyers have seen your great photos, but when they turn up for their viewing appointment, all they see are weeds and cracked walls, they won’t want to get out of their car. Don’t let your side down, by not matching your photos to the reality!

keeping on top of your check list: Photos good?

Is it presentable?

Is it too you?

Priced too high?

Are you available for viewings?

As time goes by, don’t give up. Maybe it’s just time to take a little more action!

· Your home is too personal to you. This offends a lot of homeowners trying to sell their home, but it is reality. Just because you love having everything you own on display, doesn’t mean your buyer needs to see it all in one go! Less is more – especially when your home is on the market for sale. Pack most of your personal items away before your first viewing appointment. I know it sounds harsh, but if you really want to get your property sold, the less buyers see of you, the better.

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