| If we travel
further south, the weather becomes less severe, particularly on the
flat coastal plains, but particular mention must be made of the stunning
city of Seville, where temperatures in August often hit 100F, and of the
Sierra Nevada mountain range near the ancient city of Granada, now acknowledged
as one of the finest ski destinations in Europe. In fact, after a morning
on the slopes, you can be basking on the beaches of Andalucia province
within a 90 minutes drive, a true contrast to enjoy.
Lifestyle
The lifestyle
in Spain tends to be of a far slower pace than is typical in most European
countries. While this may frustrate those energetic workaholics among
us, once you adapt to the pace of life, it´s easy to appreciate its
benefits. The Spanish people in general tend to be very family-oriented
and place great importance on their time in the company of family and friends.
This is undoubtedly a reason why mealtimes are so important, and why the
Spanish siesta (a break in the middle of the day that can last anything
between 1 and 4 hours) is still so popular, particularly in the south of
the country where the summer temperatures can be stifling.
Evening
meals in Spain, again particularly in the South, tend to take place much
later than most Europeans or Americans are used to. Most local restaurants
don´t start to fill up until well past 10pm, particularly in the
summer months; and although the revellers may then go for a ´copa´
or a ´vino´ in a bar that may stay open until 5am, the
end of the night for most Spaniards tends to involve a coffee or an ice-cream
with their friends in a busy and noisy cafeteria.
One of the
most pleasant aspects of the Spanish people and their culture is their
utmost respect for and devotion to their children. This also means
that the children of tourists and complete strangers are often treated
as their own, hence why most Spanish seaside promenades in the summer season
are full of children playing and having fun, well into the early hours.
The most
sacred day for Spaniards is a Sunday, not just because 85% of the population
are Roman Catholics, but because it usually represents the one opportunity
of the week where all family members can gather and spend quality time
with each other. This is why the beaches in popular Spanish resorts
can be packed to bursting on Sundays, when entire families descend on the
sand with their tents, chairs, tables, barbecues and supplies of fish,
vegetables and fruit. Typical of the Spanish way, the families tend to
share their delicious fare with anyone within the immediate vicinity.
Another
great occasion is the Spanish celebration of New Year, when whole communities
gather in the village squares and celebrate each chime of midnight by swallowing
a grape and taking a sip of champagne. The Spanish custom at Christmas
is to spend time with the family on Christmas Eve, but to save their presentation
of gifts until January 6, the Day of the Kings, hence why most New Year
sales in the shops don´t commence until January 7.
Fiestas
& Festivals
Other famous
Spanish festivals include Semana Santa, the Holy week of Easter, celebrated
throughout Spain with incredibly moving processions through the streets
of major towns and cities. The volunteers can often end up marching
for hours on end, in barefeet, enacting the various stages of The Passion
of Christ.
The Spanish
people certainly know how to party, and carnivals take place in most towns
and cities throughout the year. For instance, Valencia's week-long
party in February is legendary, marked by all-night dancing, drinking,
fireworks and colourful processions. Seville's Feria de Abril is the perfect
antidote to the reverence and sombre nature of the preceeding Semana Santa.
La Tomatina is a very famous event that takes place in the Valencian town
of Buñol, during which the town's folk proceed to cover themselves
and each other with the surplus from the town's tomato harvest in a riotous
event. The Running of The Bulls in Pamplona is perhaps the most famous
festival in Spain, where brave (or foolish) volunteers volunteer
to run ahead of a herd of wild, charging bulls through the narrow, cobbled
streets of San Fermin.
Sports
In addition
to being great party-goers, the Spanish also love their sports. The
country can boast some of the finest soccer teams in the world, and the
famous clubs of Real Madrid and Barcelona have two of the sport's greatest
stadia as their homes, the impressive Estadio Santiago Bernabeu in Madrid
and the Nou Camp in Barcelona. The rivalry between the two teams is legendary,
and dates back to the fractious days of Franco. Each club even has its
very own daily newspaper dedicated to news of the club. Such is the loathing
between the teams that one of this generation's best players, Luis Figo
of Real Madrid (and once of Barcelona), during his first return
to the Nou Camp after his bitter transfer between the clubs, prepared to
take a corner kick, only to find a pig´s head, that had been thrown
from the crowd, at his feet.
Football isn't
the only Spanish sporting obsession, with the sports of golf, cycling and
tennis also hugely popular.
Property
Most people
accept that Spain is a great place to live, and a superb choice for a holiday
destination. So what of its property market?
Property
prices in Spain have been on the rise for several years. In fact, certain
areas have recently experienced annual double-digit growth. As the Spanish
economy and the earning capacity of the Spanish people has increased, so
the interest in the country's property stock from distant shores has also
been on the increase.
While demand
amongst the local population has been growing, the Northern Europeans who
have traditionally been holidaying in the country, have chosen to invest
in property within Spain. This boom has been fuelled by relatively
cheap properties, the fantastic climate, the relaxed lifestyle and the
advent of the low-cost airlines. Coupled with these factors, the technology
age has allowed more people to ´hot-desk´ and to be
able to work from laptops set up in their holiday homes abroad.
In addition,
more people are now seeking a permanent move to sunnier climes. When
you consider the alarming statistic that over 50% of UK residents would
rather emigrate to another country, Spain is well-positioned only 2 hours
away, to capitalise on this potential exodus. In fact, this emigration
has already begun, with more and more Northern Europeans seeking a better
quality of life away from cold, dark winters, stressful jobs and rising
crime. Crucially in this case, the group of people most active in seeking
a move away are the 25-44 age group, taking with them the skills and enthusiasm
so crucial to any economic climate.
With the
formation of the European Union, there are no restrictions of movement
between member countries, and this has meant ´foreigners´
creating a plethora of new businesses and opportunities within the Spanish
economy, which in turn has fuelled the local, domestic economies and increased
employment opportunities for the local populations, particularly in the
service and tourism sectors.
There are
many options for the potential Spanish property investor, from seaside
penthouses to frontline golf villas, from hillside hideaways to inland
fincas, with prices varying according to region.
For instance, a 4 bed villa in a developing area of inland Spain would
probably be less expensive than a 1 bed beachside apartment in one of the
developed and hugely popular areas, such as the Costa del Sol.
There are
two types of property purchase. The first is a typical resale property,
ready for immediate use. The second is what's called an off-plan purchase,
where you buy direct from a developer's plans, with completion normally
anticipated within an 18 month – 2 year period. In this second type of
purchase, investors can spread the payments, and this can be particularly
beneficial in a rising market and if the intention is to re-sell relatively
quickly.
The rental
market in Spain is strong, as it is one of the most popular tourist destinations
in Europe. In some areas that can offer easy access to beaches and
also golf courses, the rental season can last 12 months, as the golfers
usually head to the multitude of courses in Southern Spain from September
to May, with the sun worshippers heading to the Costas in their droves
during the summer months.
Whichever way
you look at it, Spain is one of Europe's property investment hotspots,
with an existing infrastructure, a stable economy, a fabulous climate,
ease of access and a wide choice of properties.
.
Immigration
from the US
US citizens
may enter Spain for up to 90 days without a visa. If you wish to remain
longer, you will need to obtain an ´extension of stay´
from the immigration authorities. This extension will be for no more than
a further 90 days and must be requested from a police station at least
three weeks before the initial entry period expires. It is only granted
under exceptional circumstances. If you are considering a stay in Spain
of more than three months, you should consult the Spanish embassy closest
to your place of residence in the US prior to travelling.
Escape Artist
is very pleased to be working in partnership with Your
Key to Spain to provide up to date and complete information on all
aspects of living, working and relocating to Spain. We are seeking content
partners in all countries and invite you to contact us if you have indepth
and specialist knowledge about any other country. Click
here and complete the submission form, selecting the partnership option,
to register your interest in participating. |
