Spanish Property Magazine Issue 28

SPAIN

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2015 Third Edition

SPANISH PROPERTY MAGAZINE 2015 Third Edition Late Summer

SPANISH PROPERTY MAGAZINE (SPM)

WELCOME TO THE SPM

Created, Curated and Edited By Graham Hunt and Lisa Sadleir Editor’s Note Welcome to a late summer edition of the Spanish Property Magazine. Late summer because we have been so busy with clients, holidays and other assorted stuff that it has been delayed over and over again. Hopefully we will get it back to bimonthly soon but we may just do occasional specials too. What do you think?

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If you have any questions or suggestions or simply want to comment get in touch with us by mail at spanishpropertymagazine@gmail.com.

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Sales are going really well in 2015 so far and with many currencies up against an ailing Euro and mortgage purse strings being opened by the banks at the behest of the European Central Bank, the number of foreign buyers is increasing even more dramatically than it already was.

WHAT’S IN THE SPM THIS MONTH FEATURES WHAT YOU EXPECT AND WHAT YOU ACTUALLY GET IN SPAIN

BY MAYA MIDDLEMISS

BENEFICIAL CHANGES TO THE GOLDEN VISA RESIDENCY PROGRAMME

BY THE SPN

BUYING MODERNISED APARTMENTS IN SPAIN

BY THE SPN

100 TIPS FOR MOVING TO SPAIN

PART 27

BY THE SPN

OPTION CONTRACTS ON SPANISH PROPERTY

BY THE SPN

SHALL I COMPARE THEE TO A SUMMER IN SPAIN… OR IS THAT NOT FAIR REALLY?

BY THE SPN

Of Course You Know You Need A NIE Number Right?

If you are thinking of moving to Spain or are already living in Spain, we will save you time, money and headaches by helping you with Spanish paperwork issues .

We will keep you updated with changes in rules and regulations. You will avoid unnecessary fines and penalties that many people incur due to misinformation or ignorance.

This Introduction to NIE & Residency in Spain is designed to: 1.

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answer the most frequently asked questions on this matter. save you time and money! inform you whether you should apply for NIE or Residency. guide you through the NIE & Residency procedure. provide links to download the official paperwork. give step by step instructions to complete the application forms. it is 12 pages of information, enough to ensure you get it right first time!

IMPORTANT: These documents are pdf downloadable files that you can read online and you can print off the relevant pages. We will not be publishing printed booklets as the rules and regulations change on a regular basis. This way you can be confident that you are receiving the most accurate and up to date information from us.

This is the first of many documents we will be publishing about Spanish Paperwork and procedures.

SPECIAL LAUNCH OFFER: ONLY €4.99 for a limited time period!

CLICK THE BOOK COVER TO GET IT

What You Expect And What You Actually Get In Spain

What You Expect And What You Actually Get In Spain Reality Checks Rule OK A friend of mine who is well established living in Spain eight years after coming over, looked back on what she thought Spain and her life would be before coming over. If this is you too you may need to take a little reality check when coming to look at property for living in Spain or you may insist that this idealised life has to be on your list of must haves. So read what Maya has to say here. You can read more from Maya on her Costa Connected articles

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“Laughable ideas I had 7-8 years ago back in the dreaming phase, about what life would be like when we moved to Spain. You’ve got to have a plan, right? Otherwise nothing happens. But, the fun is in seeing what DOES unfold, and looking back at how far off the mark we were before…”

So This is All True Right?

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* I should be comfortably fluent in Spanish within a year or so tops

* Business would only require me to pop back to London 3 or 4 times per year and even if not, €30 flights are here to stay, right?

* My OH would work in our business for a few months till he learned Spanish (ha) and got a job (hahahaha) (in my defence this was 2007, such things as jobs definitely existed back then)

* An outdoor lifestyle would mean being slim and healthy and tanned

* After a year or so we will buy our own place – we are English and must have our Castle. We would probably end up living in a 200 year old finca in the campo with stone walls a metre thick, and maybe have goats or chickens or something

* We would sunbathe a lot on our roof terrace (Place In The Sun overdose…)

* We would never miss English foods and brands because Mediterranean foods are so natural and abundant and gorgeous. Sneaking off to Iceland for cottage cheese or somosas? The very idea!

* In fact we will never go to supermarkets, and instead buy all our produce in local markets, following fluent and productive haggling.

Hahahahahahahahaha

What You Expect And What You Actually Get In Spain

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You will not have a donkey OK!

This is the ideal of living in Spain of course, the type of Expat abroad lifestyle propagated by books about living abroad such as “A Year In Provence” about France or “Driving Over Lemons” about Spain. However how many people actually live this lifestyle and how many people would it actually suit if they did? Let’s face it, the idea of living up a track on the side of a mountain after giving up the rat race may inspire you but once the cold winters, the dampness and the twenty minute drive to even get a carton of milk actually become your daily reality then it is often the case that the dream quickly turns sour just like the milk may on the long journey home, try reading Jason Webster’s “Sacred Sierra” about that type of lifestyle in Castellón for example.

So for the majority of people here are some things that are 99% certain not to happen.

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1) You will not be fluent very quickly in Spanish (Unless you put some effort in of course. A good start is to download the Duolingo app on your smartphone)

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2) You will not have a donkey, some goats or a load of chickens (Unless you are like Victoria Tweed and her “Two Old Fools” books.

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3) You will not be surrounded by jolly, toothless but big hearted old duffers who constantly get you out of tricky situations through the use of a penknife and two mangy dogs.

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4) It will rain every now and again.

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5) You will still eat rubbish at times because we all do. (However in general your diet will be a lot better as the absolute variety of sugary crap available in other countries are just not the norm in Spain)

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6) You will not just walk into a job here (unless you come over for one of course) And you should be able to make sure you have enough income to see you through without having to panic (Two or three years money in the bank is the norm)

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7) You will make time to go to the markets but usually only when you have friends visiting and you want to show off.

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8) You will search for shade, not for sun. Try sitting out in 40 degree heat for long without any shade.

Your body will regret it.

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Is there anything else you could add to this one?

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Meanwhile, if you are looking to come over and you have any of these requirements, tell us what you are looking for and where and we will help you out.

Beneficial Changes To The Spanish Golden Visa Programme

Beneficial Changes To The Spanish Golden Visa Programme You may well know about the Golden Visa for Spanish Residency approved in late 2013 whereby non EU residents can get a residency visa for living in Spain simply by investing over 500,000 Euros in Spanish property (Or more in government bonds or investing in a company) If you don’t then go to our Spanish Residency project here to read more.

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In the past few weeks the government has amended the law making it even more beneficial to make the investment as now it includes the ability to have a work permit, it previously didn’t, and also to bring the family. The issue of not having a work permit to go along with the visa was a big downside in the original legislation in our opinion.

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The Door Is Now Well And Truly Open

The details are as follows.

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Firstly you now can have a work permit.

You can now bring over a partner even if you are not married.

Children over 18 years old now get the benefit of your residency too whereas previously it was just for young children.

Dependent family members can also be brought over now too giving rise to the possibility of extended families coming over as well.

The visa is now given to those who have started the process of buying even if they have not yet completed their purchase as long as they can prove the deposit has been paid through an official contract.

The application process can now be started within Spain rather than through the Spanish embassy in their home country so those who come over as tourists and find a place they want to buy can now start the process in Spain itself which despite its reputation for red tape will make it a lot quicker than applying through the country people are living in (Spanish embassies are slow).

The visa is granted initially for two years and as long as the investment is maintained then it is automatically renewed up to the tenth year at which point if required the applicant can become a Spanish Citizen.

Beneficial Changes To The Spanish Golden Visa Programme Remember though you do not have to buy just one property to get the Golden Visa. You can buy yourself a portfolio too. So one property for you to live in and a range of others for your portfolio that you can rent out giving you the income too. Now you can have a work permit this means you can register with the social security for healthcare too and the family would also be covered.

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After an initial slow uptake of the Golden Visa in the first six months after the law passed, approvals have shot up by around 400% over the last twelve months and those numbers look set to continue to rise with the latest changes. We are seeing lots of interest especially from countries with problems politically and socially (Egypt, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Venezuela and even the United States are common sources of enquiries about the Golden Visa.)

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If you want to know more contact us on the form below and we will not only give you more information about the Golden Visa programme but also put you in touch with a specialist lawyer so you can start the process of getting your Golden Visa. Also below the contact form feel free to sign up to our newsletter or simply contact us on info@spanish-property.net.

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CLICK ON THE TITLES TO GO TO THAT PAGE

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INTRODUCING THE SPANISH HOW EXCHANGE RATES AFFECT PROPERTY NETWORK YOUR SPANISH PROPERTY SPANISH PROPERTY MARKET PURCHASE Remember this OVERVIEW 2013 WHAT’S IT LIKE TO LIVE IN SPAIN At the start of the year LET’S TAKE A LOOK AT GANDIA

BY THOSE WHO ALREADY DO we released the THE OLD AND NEW SPANISH VISA TOP TEN FAMILY TRAVEL GAMES definitive 2014 PROCESS EXPLAINED MOVING TO SPAIN WITH CHILDREN compilation of the 10 GREAT THINGS ABOUT LIVING VALENCIA’S BEACH AREA - THE SPM. Go to Newsstand IN SPAIN CABANYAL, MALVARROSA AND to download it now HOW DO YOU FIND THE BEST PATACONA PROPERTY IN SPAIN SPANISH PROPERTY BUYERS SPAIN - GET USED TO IT MOVING INTO THE CITY FOREIGN BUYERS OF SPANISH THE TOP TEN MOST EXPENSIVE PROPERTY PLACES TO LIVE IN SPAIN THE NEW PODCAST ON CONVEYANCING AND MORE IN SOUNDCLOUD SPAIN, WHAT TO LOOK OUT FOR BARCELONA - SANT MARTI WHEN BUYING 10 THINGS YOU SHOULD BE DOING WHAT IS SPANISH FAST FOOD? EVERY DAY IN SPAIN WHERE DO YOU GO ON HOLIDAY IN GOING IT ALONE, ESTATE AGENTS SPAIN WHEN YOU LIVE HERE? OR USING A PROPERTY FINDER THE ENDURING ATTRACTION OF RENTAL WITH AN OPTION TO BUY SPANISH BEACHES ARE THE GOOD OLD DAYS BACK THE TOP TEN BEST CITIES TO LIVE FOR SPANISH PROPERTY BUYERS? IN SPAIN WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE WHICH NATIONALITIES ARE SPANISH PROPERTY BARGAINS BUYING SPANISH PROPERTY? DRY UP? HOW IS THE SPANISH PROPERTY 10 WAYS TO SAVE MONEY WHEN MARKET DOING? BUYING YOUR SPANISH PROPERTY WHAT SOUNDS REMIND YOU THAT THE 17 WORST THINGS ABOUT YOU ARE IN SPAIN? LIVING IN SPAIN HOW TO FIND YOUR IDEAL SPANISH WORKING WITH THE TV PROPERTY - THE RESOURCES YOU COMPANIES - MOVING TO MALAGA NEED FOREWARNED IS FOREARMED WHY WOULD YOU BUY A PROPERTY NEW PROPERTY TAXES IN SPAIN? CAN I BUY THAT WRECK? AN THE LATEST SPANISH PROPERTY UNCOMMON GUIDE TO TAX NEWS AND REPORTS PROPERTIES NEEDING WORK A CLOSER LOOK AT MIJAS IN WHAT CAN A BARCELONA MALAGA PROPERTY FINDER DO FOR YOU? WORK LIFE BALANCE IN SPAIN 10 MAD REASONS FOR NOT DEVELOPING PROPERTY IN SPAIN BUYING A PROPERTY IN SPAIN A SHORT GUIDE

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Buying Modernised Apartments In Spain

Buying Modernised Apartments In Spain When you are buying a property in Spain there are many types to choose from. Today we are going to concentrate on apartments in Spain and more specifically the difference between an apartment “para reformar” and a fully modernised apartment. The price difference is often radical between the two so you may be tempted to buy a property to modernise yourself. However, the price difference may not be enough to make a difference in how much you pay at the end. When you are modernising a property costs can add up. However a modernised or an older property is almost always cheaper than a new build property as the land generally cost a lot more on the new builds and that is reflected in their costs.

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Let’s look at what has usually been done in a modernised apartment compared to an older one and at the end look at the average cost of a modernisation.

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Licences

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Usually you can get away with a licence for an “Obra menor” when modernising a property. This is not the case when there are issues of extension, on historical properties or knocking a couple of properties into one or vice versa. Licences usually take a week or so to get for Obra Menor.

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Redistribution

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We have said before many times that walls are not load bearing in Spain in general. Many older apartments in Spain were built when Spanish families were larger and so they tended to try and fit in as many rooms as possible. Therefore knocking together rooms, adding bathrooms and extending living areas has often been necessary in a modernised property. Doing this requires not only the simple act of knocking down a wall with a sledgehammer but also changing any coving around the ceiling and oftentimes a new floor is needed. Modernised apartments in Spain therefore tend to flow better.

Buying Modernised Apartments In Spain

Kitchen

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The new kitchen is often the cornerstone of any modernised apartment in Spain. Older flats usually have dingy, dark and small kitchens with a wall that often backs onto the living area and a small terrace gallery for washing up. Incorporating the terrace and extending into the living room actually gives a feeling of space and light to both areas.

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Bathrooms

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There is a lot you can do to change a small bathroom and to give it more of a feeling of space and Spanish bathrooms tended to be very small in older buildings meaning they often feel cramped and unwelcoming. From making the tiling more modern to adding in smaller sinks and larger showers instead of old half size style baths, many changes are usually done in bathrooms in Spanish apartments when they are renovated.

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Floors

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Often you will find that the old floors are dark so as to not show the dirt and dust and as a result they absorb the little light that gets in (See windows later). Changing the floors for modern light coloured tiles or laminate floors is essential in many modernisations to make the most of the light, cover the areas where the knocked down walls used to stand and to give a better overall flow to the apartment.

Buying Modernised Apartments In Spain

Windows

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Apartments in Spain are often built to keep the heat out and they were built in the days before air conditioning and centrally controlled heating systems were available. Oftentimes, this means the windows are small or covered with roll down blinds which effectively cut out around half the light from coming in. These days the more light inside a flat the better so changing the windows and blind system is usually a major step. Also all new windows are at least double glazed for better heat retention whereas older windows are almost always single glazed and usually with badly fitting wooden frames leaving problems of draughts and dampness.

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Electrics

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Needless to say older apartments in Spain have older electrical installations normally. This means that the electrical potential is usually low and as soon as you connect up a couple of appliances then the trip switch cuts everything off. Changing the electrics in a flat is usually essential. Also Spanish apartments invariably lack sockets. One of our clients bought a place that only had four sockets in the whole property, a four bedroom apartment, and one of those was above the door in the bathroom!

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Plumbing

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Many places in Spain have water with very high concentrates of limescale which furs up pipes over the years and reduces the water pressure. Often the pipes are lead or another metal and they burst often.

Changing the plumbing is essential on older flats and also when changing the bathroom the redistribution of the toilet, shower and sink means this has to be done anyway.

Buying Modernised Apartments In Spain

Decoration

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The use of light is key but of course white is a very important part of most Spanish apartment modernisations. The light is reflected and therefore the place seems more airy, ornaments and mirrors stand out better and it gives a feeling of space even in smaller rooms. Check out a small selection of Spanish apartments on any portal and you will find a plethora of sins, usually involving dark walls and floors and bad lighting.

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Lighting

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The single 40 watt lightbulb in the centre of a room surrounded by a chandelier with brown smoked glass giving a “CIA interrogation centre� feeling to many older Spanish apartments is popular. The bare single lightbulb hanging from a threadbare electrical string look is also popular. Populating the room with different lights gives a greater feeling of space and warmth. You can almost guarantee that in the majority of cases the lighting will have been changed when you buy a modernised Spanish apartment.

Buying Modernised Apartments In Spain Furnishing

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IKEA is king in modernised properties usually. It compares really well with the old, dark furniture often found in places that are described as furnished on the property portals and of course it is really cost effective as long as you don’t mind flat pack furniture and trekking round a huge shopping centre while half of the population of your city does the same.

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Modern, clean lines and unfussy finishing makes a huge difference to the finished article and those little decorative touches that IKEA is so fond of also help in the presentation. Add in a few cushions, fabrics and homely touches and you have something infinitely more attractive than the usual properties for sale.

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Cost

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In the end the presentation of a property for sale in a modern and clean way like this will increase the price the seller receives for the sale compared with what is on offer on the rest of the market.

However if you were to try to manage a project like this yourself then it could be that costs and time periods would likely get out of control and therefore it is often worth paying that premium especially if your property is an investment for renting out, effectively it is ready to rent. How much a project costs is a major consideration therefore if you are considering doing it and also it gives you an idea of how much the full cost would be if you bought an older property to modernise.

Buying Modernised Apartments In Spain A simple modernisation of a 70m2 apartment can be done for around 15,000 Euros plus VAT at the lower end of the costing scale. Prices can be higher if using higher end materials although the costing we give here is for medium quality. If some redistribution is needed, larger windows are to be used, lots of doors are required or any other work of that type the cost can go up to 30,000 Euros plus VAT. However the average price is going to be around 20-25,000 Euros.

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If you are not around then it is advisable to use an on site project manager to oversee the work and report back to you on a regular basis of how the work is going. Of course this is a service we offer at the Spanish Property Network. We manage projects for clients from the initial identification of the property, through the modernisation process all the way to the decorative touches and interior design.

This is especially useful if you are looking to buy one of these apartments as part of a portfolio to get your Spanish residency If you are interested in either that service or buying one of our Bespoke Properties either for yourself or investment contact us below and let’s chat.

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And if you liked this article share it about through social networks and you may also like this about Spanish Residency changes

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this about how to prepare for your Spanish Property buying visit

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and this about Spanish Property in 2015

Option Contracts on Spanish Property Purchases

Option Contracts on Spanish Property Purchases When looking to buy a Spanish property there are many ways to structure the deal. You need to take into account price of course, but also the time period for final purchase, the amount of the deposit to be left and whether the property is sold with or without furniture is also important.

However sometimes for whatever reason the property is bought with a deposit left and completion to be sometime in the future and during that time period a rental is paid on the property. So today we look at what you need to consider in a Spanish rent to buy property contract.

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The Price

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Firstly we must look at the agreed price and how it is to be paid. Let’s take an example of 200,000 Euros agreed price. On a normal contract a deposit of between 6 and 10k would be left and maybe a 60 day period for completion. On a rent to buy option contract the deposit is often a lot higher and is taken from the final price in its entirety. Therefore the option would maybe with 30k down. That money is generally lost if the sale doesn’t go through so obviously it shows commitment from the buyer. However just like in a normal contract if the seller pulls out then they have to return double the deposit.

The Monthly Rental

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The monthly rental is usually higher than a straight rental because it is in the interests of both buyer and seller. The buyer reduces the final amount to be paid and the seller gets more money upfront before the final purchase. However there is one thing to work out that is important, does the whole amount of the rental amount come off the final price or just a percentage? We have had cases in the past where a part of the rental reduced the price and others where the whole amount came off it. The reason for only a part coming off is usually because there is a mortgage involved and the mortgage interest payments are covered but not the capital amount.

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The Time Period

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One of the most difficult things to gauge is the time period that both parties will be happy with before completion. Obviously the seller looks for a shorter time period and oftentimes this also suits the buyer. Nevertheless the seller usually wants more time to find the finance, whether saving or through a bank, for the final purchase.

The final amount to be paid is less on longer time periods because the monthly rental payments have reduced the outstanding amount especially when the whole monthly rental is taken from the total

Option Contracts on Spanish Property Purchases Costs of Upkeep

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The costs of upkeep of the property such as electric bills, water rates and even council tax are normally passed onto the buyer because they are using the property from the first moment. Sometimes it is negotiated that the seller keeps paying the council tax until the sale goes through as they do not want any outstanding debts if the option contract fell through.

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Furnishings

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If the property is rented and sold with furniture then it is prudent to write into the contract a clause about wear and tear on the furnishings. For the seller it is useful to state that if damage occurs to the furniture then it is the responsibility of the tenant as they will eventually have full possession.

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When shouldn’t you do an option contract?

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As a buyer you shouldn’t really do an option contract if the owner has a high mortgage unless it is written into the contract that the money paid goes directly to the bank each month to cover the mortgage repayments and you can be sure before signing the contract to make sure that there are no arrears on the mortgage repayments that the bank already have on their books. This is because all the money paid out could be lost if the bank takes action to repossess the property. Try getting the deposit back from someone with already existing debts and whose property has been repossessed. It is likely to be nigh on impossible.

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It is useful to check the property for any other debts too to make sure that nobody else will take the owner to court and foreclose on the property.

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You also shouldn’t do an option contract on a property when you are not sure of your ability to pay at the end of the stipulated time period. The owner may well seem the nicest person in the world but if they are asked to extend the time period for purchase, change any conditions or to just add a few months on they may well turn into a problematic devil in disguise.

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What are the upsides for the seller of an option contract?

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The seller has various upsides when doing an option contract. The first is that they receive a lump sum upfront and yet they still have the property in their name. They also receive income over the period of time of the rental payments which in many cases can replace a lost salary through having lost a job.

From a tax point of view an option contract can also be advantageous because it spreads the income over a longer period of time.

Option Contracts on Spanish Property Purchases Also the property is maintained, payments are met by the buyer/tenant and even if the sale falls through the property is usually in a much better condition than when the option contract starts.

Even if the tenant trashes the place (Totally unknown to me but I suppose it could happen) then the large upfront lump sum and any insurance policy would cover the damages.

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What are the upsides for the buyer?

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As previously stated the buyer gets a longer time period to find finance and pay. They have no worries about losing the property like they would have if they did a straight rental as the contract is watertight as regards their rights to stay in the property to the end of the lease period and then they have the right to complete. In a rising market they get a property for under the theoretical market price at the end of the time period and in a falling market or if their situation changes then they are not obliged to complete and can walk

away having only paid the deposit and rental payments. They also have a greater feeling that the house is theirs even though they are renting.

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Should you look for a house with the possibility of doing an option contract?

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Obviously it depends on your personal circumstances and also your choice is restricted because most owners have no interest in doing option contracts. Those who do have an interest in doing option contracts are usually banks and other financial institutions and developers struggling to sell their stock of properties.

However many of these deals are not the best you could find on the market. Sometimes it is better if a rent to buy option is your preferred choice to test out a private seller with the offer. They may be susceptible to doing one even if they have never heard about the process before.

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Contact us by mail for more information and to tell us more

Shall I Compare Thee To A Summer In Spain?

Shall I Compare Thee To A Summer In Spain?

I would like to thank the Guardian newspaper for the inspiration for this post. After seeing their inspired post and gallery and underwhelming pictures from a UK summer holiday (You can see them here and believe me they are worth it, make sure to check out the great description of the Morecambe Bay photo) I thought we needed to compare it to a Summer in Spain.

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There are bad things about Spain, of course there are, there are very few paradises on Earth. However, as always, we prefer to concentrate on the positive and to accentuate it and if that means denigrating another place and taking the Mickey a bit then we will do it just to make a point. So, how is your Summer going? A bit damp? Let’s compare shall we. What can you look forward to in a British (or Northern European) summer and what do we get here in Spain instead?

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1) Rain, heavy, incessant rain that doesn’t seem to stop for about three months. Showers, heavy showers, long spells of rain, thunderstorms, three days of drizzle…. How do we compare in Spain? Well, if we have two days of rain we actually enjoy it (I said “if”) but it’s more normal to have huge thunderstorms occasionally and as everyone knows sheet lightning and a deluge are much more fun.

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2) Operation Stack. If you don’t know what Operation Stack is you have never tried to get to the continent to get away from the heavy, incessant and depressing rain. How does that compare with Spain? Well 1 August is usually full of traffic, that’s called “operación salida”, and 31st August is usually full of traffic when everyone returns home after their month off.

Apart from that it’s fine outside of the Madrid rush hours.

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3) The human version of Operation Stack usually performed at airports is the French Air traffic controllers making your lives a misery. How does that compare with Spain? Well, we don’t need to get away from Spain so when the French go on strike we don’t really notice it apart from our visitors being inconvenienced by having to stay in Spain for a few days more.

Shall I Compare Thee To A Summer In Spain?

4) “This is the seaside town that they forgot to close down” in the immortal words of Morrissey. How does that compare with Spain? Well, the seaside towns here are usually thriving in the summer and maybe a bit quiet in the winter but they are still warm and you have the beach all to yourself.

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5) If you do make it to the seaside one day in the summer be prepared for cold, and I mean cold, water and not so many blue flags to put it in a nice way or, to put it another way, plenty of crap floating past you in the sea. How does that compare with Spain? Well maybe the bit around the Mediterranean as the bit on the North Coast and the Windsurfing Paradise around Tarifa have cold water from the Atlantic, it’s quite warm at this time of year, in fact, some would call it rather like a bath. And if you avoid Benidorm there’s plenty of space on those golden beaches (I would always suggest avoiding Benidorm of course)

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6) Blackpool pleasure beach with its cheesy, downtrodden charm as the rain drips off the rusty attractions or Port Aventura, Warner Brothers Park or Terra Mitica. Water parks where you get to cool down in the water because you want to or traditional UK theme parks where the constant drips of rain cool you down like it or not and they rip you off for ten quid to sell you a plastic sheet to cover yourself because you forgot your raincoat.

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7) Going out for a night out and not spending 100 pounds minimum. Still possible in Spain. In fact it’s Saturday night as I am writing this and I have just been out for a great meal with the family for 60 euros, just over 40 quid. About the same as a clotted cream tea for two eaten quickly while shivering in a sopping wet Cornish beer garden.

Shall I Compare Thee To A Summer In Spain?

8) Sitting on the balcony at night with a drink and having to take a few hundred blankets and a large umbrella. We all know that Northern Europe aspires to the a Mediterranean lifestyle but we also know you will almost freeze to death when you do it. We abuse our balconies and terraces as the outdoor lifestyle in the evening is irresistible.

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9) Equally, going to the beach at night and having a great picnic with friends and family and finding hundreds of others doing the same rather than having to worry about groups of drunks, the odd druggy and pan handlers bothering you if you dare to venture out after dark is quite refreshing.

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10) Did I mention the rain? Three days of sunshine followed by a thunderstorm does not a summer make.

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What do you most look forward to in the Spanish summer or even if you are going to defend the great British/German/Swedish summer?

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And if you want to join us here your first contact should be to tell us more

OUR LATEST PROPERTIES

VALENCIA MODERNISATION. 80,000 EUROS Ask For More Photos On info@spanish-property.net

Another stunning modernisation from our Bespoke Valencia Property collection. This 80m2 two bedroom, two bathroom, fully furnished property is a second floor flat without lift but easy stairs just a five minute walk from the beautiful Malvarrosa beach in Valencia.

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All amenities to hand nearby this newly modernised property sits across the road from a school and benefits from a common courtyard too for outside space and a feeling of community.

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The 30m2 living room with open plan kitchen is large sunny and inviting and the two bedrooms are large too, both doubles and one being en suite. Get in quick for this one

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Ask for more information on info@spanishproperty.net

See More About This Property Here

VALENCIA: HUGE APARTMENT. ! ! !

700,000 EUROS

One of the major attractions of the city of Valencia is the amount of green space it has.

Most of that green space is to be found in the ld riverbed the Parque del Turia. This property is a large and inviting apartment with stunning views over those gardens of the river Turia towards the city of arts and sciences. Five bedrooms, two living areas, one of which is huge, large kitchen, dining room and terrace to enjoy the views.

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The property would probably require modernisation to suit your personal tastes but it is currently lived in and everything works fine. It has a new heating system and is on the seventh floor with lift. The communal costs are quite high at 100 Euros per month but everything is balanced out by those beautiful views and its superb location.

See More About This Property Here

BETERA: 390,000 EUROS HUGE PROPERTY WITH ENORMOUSLY DISCOUNTED PRICE

Sometimes an amazing property comes up which needs to be seen to be believed at the price it is advertised.

This is one such property. Originally priced at 1 million euros apparently, this property has ben reduced to just 390,000 Euros and we know the owner is gong t accept 360k for a quick sale as they need to sell (We believe due to inheritance taxes that are due)

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The house has a total of 611m2 spread over four floors on a plot of 3600m2. There are two main floors, a semi basement room with garage and a room in the attic with its own large terraces. The ground floor has four bedrooms, a huge living area, large kitchen and two bathrooms. There is a large shady terrace overlooking the pool and gardens and even the fishpond in the corner. Upstairs there are three more bedrooms along with large terraces and another couple of bathrooms. There is underfloor heating throughout and it is served by oil based central heating.

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There is also an annexe house outside with two bedrooms, bathroom and kitchen as well as a living room for guests to stay in and yet be apart from the main building.

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The property is situated on an exclusive estate on the edge of the town of Betera and lies just fifteen kilometres from Valencia and close to the airport. Just one downside here that you cannot change it into a hotel or guest house due to the regulations on the estate.

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Ask for more information on info@spanish-property.net

See More About This Modernised Property Here

BENAGUASIL VALUE VILLA 85,000 EUROS

An excellently priced property in the countryside between Pedralba and Benaguasil. Great value at this price and just needing some TLC inside and some serious garden work.

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Three bedrooms, two modernised bathrooms, decent sized kitchen, large living room leading out to a covered terrace that overlooks the pool and an open terrace at the top overlooking the Turia valley and the garden which has the potential to be lovely with its four large palm trees. There is a garage, storeroom and the property is on mains electric and has water supplied by the local company.

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Ask for more information on info@spanish-property.net

See More About This Good Value Villa Here

OLOCAU FRENCH STYLE COTTAGE 180,000 EUROS

Un petit chateau francais... ok I don't do French and that is about my limit. However this lovely house surrounded by verdant gardens on the Pedralvilla estate in Olocau just reeks of French influence. It is in the style of a French barn conversion and with a little love and care to the house itself this could be a secluded beautiful home for somebody.

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The gardens as mentioned are in full bloom with all sorts of beautiful flowering plants all through the year.

They contain plenty of shady areas to hide away from the sun and dappled areas of sunshine and shade to contemplate life, the universe and everything while enjoying a little Chateau Neuf Especial or even the local Val de Lliria cheapo vino.

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The house itself is divided into two separate parts. The downstairs, low ceilinged part of around 120m2 has either three bedrooms and a living area or it is a storage area with bathroom and garage. Upstairs the sweeping staircase takes us up to a fantastic open terrace overlooking the gardens and from there we go into a large open plan living and dining area. There is a good sized kitchen that could easily be added into the living room, three bedrooms and a bathroom.

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Situated on an established estate with plenty of people living there throughout the year and just five minutes away from both Olocau and Betera near to the Sierra Calderona mountain range this is a great purchase for anyone who loves gardening or paying a gardener to maintain this oasis.

See More About This Character Property Here

ESTEPONA: MANSION 1,050,000 EUROS

Villa for sale in El Paraiso Medio, Estepona, with 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, 2 en suite bathrooms and has a swimming pool (Private), a garage (Private) and a garden (Private).

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Regarding property dimensions, it has 291 m² built, 1107 m² plot, 261 m² interior, 30 m² terrace. This property, with orientation W, has the following facilities: Fully fitted kitchen, Close to shops, Close to town, Close to schools, Guest apartment, Utility room, Fireplace, Marble floors, Sauna, Guest room, Storage room, Alarm, Solarium, Security entrance, Double glazing, Dining room, Barbeque, Security service 24h, Guest toilet, Private terrace, Kitchen equipped, Living room, Amenities near, Mountain view, Golf view, Heated pool, Automatic irrigation system, Laundry room, Internet - Wifi, Covered terrace, Electric blinds, Fitted wardrobes, Air conditioning, Garden view, Pool view, Panoramic view, Central heating, Steam room, Close to Sea/Beach, Close to Golf, Uncovered terrace, Glass Doors, Separate dining room, Optional furniture and Excellent condition.

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Ask for more information on info@spanish-property.net

See More About This Lovely Mansion Here

ALHAURIN EL GRANDE. 3 BED APARTMENT. 159,000 EUROS A fantastic air-conditioned golf apartment comprising of a large living-dining area with access to a large terrace, a modern fully-fitted kitchen, 3 bedrooms with large fitted wardrobes, 2 bathrooms, a video entry phone system for added security, and a private parking space in the underground communal garage. Outside there is a large communal pool and fantastic award winning communal gardens. Now that the main road has been widened & resurfaced, this now means that the access to the coast and airport is much quicker.

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Apartment, Golf Course, Fitted Kitchen, Parking: Garage, Pool: Communal Pool, Garden: Community, Facing: Southeast Views: Countryside, Golf, Mountains.

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Ask for more information on info@spanish-property.net

See More About This Well Presented Apartment Here

BENALMADENA: EXCELLENT VILLA 900,000 EUROS

Opportunity! Three Dwellings on the same plot with picturesque garden, next to all amenities and with great potential to turn with Bed & Breakfast!

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The Main Dwelling is spread over 2 floors and the two additional guest houses on one level with separate access, ideal for renting or for self-contained guests.

Ground floor: Living room with fireplace and dining area, equipped kitchen with access to the porch, 3 double bedrooms and 2 bathrooms (1 on suite).

Upstairs: Bedroom # 4 on suite with separate entrance.

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Guest house #1 is very bright and spacious with open kitchen, bathroom and roof terrace.

Guest house #2: large & bright room with bathroom and access to a large terrace.

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Exterior: Elegant driveway with 2 garages and a third under the 2nd guest house. Impressive and unique fully fenced garden with automatic irrigation system, pool and barbecue area.

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Property with air conditioning, double glazed windows, fitted wardrobes, alarm system. !

Plot 2.950m2. Built size 300m2.

Built in 1989.

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Ask for more information on info@spanish-property.net

See More About This Multi Build Property Here

MIJAS: FIVE BEDROOM FINCA FOR 700,000 EUROS

RECENT reduction from 850.000€ TO 700.000€ for a fast sale!

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Excellent Quality Finca Occupying a Unique Position, Distributed over one spacious floor with additional en-suite guest accommodation in a separate building. The dwelling is conveniently located atop a small hill within the luxurious boundaries of a golf course, benefitting from spectacular 360 degree views, 100% privacy and yet only eight kilometers to the beaches of Fuengirola and La Cala de Mijas.

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It is distributed over one expansive level as follows: Entrance hall, guest WC and Cloakroom, spacious and luminous living room with feature fireplace and direct access to the covered portico terrace, beautifully finished and fully equipped kitchen with dining table, pantry, laundry/utility room and further access to the covered terrace. Three generous bedrooms and three bathrooms (two en suite). The master bedroom enjoys a dressing room, well appointed en suite bathroom and direct access to the covered terrace. There is a two car garage with automatic doors and a machine/ pump room also an extensive workshop in the basement.

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The separate guest accommodation has two bedrooms en suite and both bedrooms have double door access to the garden and pool area.

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The property is in excellent condition with triple glazed windows, underfloor heating throughout, central and individual air conditioning and heating and an alarm system.

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Beautiful formal gardens surround the dwelling with automatic irrigation and designer swimming pool boasting large terraces for sunbathing.

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Fenced plot of 10,000m2 with town water and own well. Total built size 397,45m2. Living area 278,22m2, plus porch 71,53m2 and garage 47,70m2. Pool 45,16m2.

IBI 2.415€ per year. Rubbish 140€ per year.

Build year 2003.

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Ask for more information on info@spanish-property.net

See More About This Stunning Finca Here

MIJAS: 2 BEDROOM PENTHOUSE 215,000 EUROS Wonderful penthouse in Mijas Costa with sunny terrace, views and privacy, situated only 5 minutes drive from the beach and amenities.

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It is distributed as follows: Entrance hall, large fully fitted kitchen, bright living room with access to the large terrace partilly glazed, 2 bedrooms with fitted wardrobes and access to the terrace, and 2 bathrooms (1 on suite).

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Property in excellent condition with double glazed windows, air conditioning / heating and marble floors.

Underground garage and storage room included in the price.

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Well maintained community with gardens and swimming pool. !

Total built size 159,96m2. Living area 80,96m2. Terraza 79m2.

Storeroom 9m2. Garage 16m2 IBI 684,61€ per year. Rubbish 81,66€ per year. Community 113,27€ per month.

Year built: 2008.

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Ask for more information on info@spanish-property.net

See More About This Good Looking Property Here

ALHAURIN DE LA TORRE: HUGE REDUCTION IN PRICE TO 595,000 EUROS BARGAIIN!! 595 000â‚Ź ...Excellent Villa Pinos de AlhaurĂ­n. located in a quiet area with stunning views over the Guadalhorce valley, with a plot of 2,500 m2. Tropical garden with fountain, palm trees, flowers and fruit trees. This villa is ready to move in, ideal for family and for anyone who likes nature.

The property consists of:

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Ground floor: lounge conservatory (40m2), large kitchen, storage room, laundry room, living room with fireplace, bathroom.

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1st Floor: 3 bedrooms (main with bath in suite with Jacuzzi, shower and toilet), 2 bathrooms, dressing, toilet, terrace.

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2nd Floor: 1 bedroom, large terrace. Basement: 100 m2 apartment with terrace and separate entrance, Garage 2 cars.

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A / C, water tank of 3600 ml, mosquito nets, pool, automatic irrigation

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Ask for more information on info@spanish-property.net

See More About This Wonderful Property Here

ASTURIAS: COUNTRY HOTEL FOR SALE 450,000 EUROS (Readvertised as it is still available)

Beautifully renovated with a stylish eye for detail, this fully operational country house hotel has a total of 8 en-suite bedrooms spread over 3 floors and a build size of 500m2. Nestled in grounds of 3,800m2 the property has stunning views to the Picos de Europa mountains.

The accommodation comprises: Ground floor: a spacious kitchen, separate dining room, bathroom, cloakroom and study.

First floor: 3 en-suite bedrooms and a large salon with picture windows.

Second Floor: 3 en-suite bedrooms and a suite.

There is ample storage with cleaning cupboards to each floor. Centrally heated. Fully soundproofed rooms.

Climalit windows.

Ask for more information on info@spanish-property.net

See More About This Delightful Property Here

GALICIA: LARGE DUPLEX APARTMENT 120,000 EUROS

A large three bedroomed duplex apartment near areas beach in Sanxenxo in Galicia. We don’t often have properties in Galicia but this is an excellent property, well appointed with a shared garden area with swimming pool in the north west of Spain. The area overlooks the Ria de Pontevedra, one of the Fjords coming in from the Atlantic known for it’s beauty and the gorgeous views.

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The property is a terraced one with one bedroom, living room, kitchen and bathroom on the ground floor and two bedrooms and a bathroom above. It has it’s own small garden area and a community garden area with the aforementioned pool. Situated on the edge of town and close to the beach this is very different to the usual properties we offer.

Ask for more information on info@spanish-property.net

See More About This Property Here

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