Living
The Dream - Real Estate In Costa del Sol
By Jan
Gill
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| It was a remarkable
journey, two years on I thought. We had made it without family and friends.
Who would have thought it after all the horror stories and warnings we
chose to ignore. The decision to relocate was the easy part, given the
fact that we had never even visited The Costa del Sol, it was really fate
how we ended up here.
It began with a simple surfing of
the net to places we dreamt we could live a better life. Guaranteed sunshine,
stress-free days, lower cost of living, and a pure and healthy diet for
ourselves and children, what more is there? Television constantly portrayed
the lives of others who sought the same existence, promoting affordable
housing at the same time. Gathering an abundance of information, we sold
up our home, said our goodbyes and left.
We were under no illusions and quickly
realised the language to be our hugest barrier. Although slightly prepared
with a Spanish phrasebook- it was not enough.
A lot of English people were only
too eager to assist, but some resented the fact that we were trying to
set up a life on our own and considered us fools. Maybe they were right,
but we got lucky, we thought. |
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We needed somewhere to live, a school
for our children, employment and most of all some trustworthy friends.
Unfortunately for us these things came with a hefty price being vulnerable-
we were taken in by crooks who swindled us out of most of our money. There
are some despicable people who will stop at nothing to get what they want.
That was partly the reason we set
up a business in Real Estate which offers much more than advise on purchasing
a home. We assist people all the way from the beginning and offer guidance
towards employment or setting up a business.
Let me tell you how it s really
done! Everyone who comes here and for whatever reason- we treat differently-
according to their needs. If it be a family, we help with accommodation
– listening and advising them all the way. We take them to the local schools
and fill in all the necessary forms needed. We introduce them to our Spanish
lawyer who is fluent in many languages, especially English taking care
of anything from buying a cat to buying a home, at the cost of a meal.
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The system is pretty simple and
the process begins with obtaining a rental contract for accommodation.
This can be accomplished in a day or two, all it takes is that a suitable
property be found, a price agreed and a contract between owner and tenant
provided. Once you have this you can then open a bank account- which
we can recommend. Beware of some banks- the rate is extremely high and
some will take your money, but provide no after-care assistance if you
have any problems. The next step is to gain an NIE number (a bit like a
national insurance number)-this is essential in order to be employed or
set up a business, our lawyer can obtain this, it takes about six weeks.
If you decide to buy a business there are many ways to do it, and our experience
and knowledge of the area and the law can help save time and money.
Spanish education is free, but you
can expect a child to lose a school year while they master the language.
International schools offer Curriculum close to that of British standards
attaining GCSE and A Level examinations, but require fees of about four
thousand pounds per child per year with discounts for more than one child
attending.
Most people want access to the media
in their own language- we can also help with installations of satellite
television for any language at a reasonable cost. The telephone companies
are very slow here simply because there is only one main company and they
cannot cope with demand. We are aware of people living inland that cannot
receive a signal and we have access to companies that can provide this.
Buying a car can be a nightmare
if you do not know the law. Hidden costs are not explained by many companies
and simple renewals of documents can lead to hefty fines if ignored. Many
bring their cars from England and the Spanish law requires you to re- register
your vehicle and the number plate within six months- some firms will do
this and convince that the costs are much higher- we know different! Taxing
a car costs about one hundred pounds for two years and is a simple process.
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What about purchasing a home? Is
this as simple as you think? It can be!
There are two ways to do it according
to the individual.
If you are a resident and need a
mortgage a good reputable bank will lend up to ninety per cent over thirty
years and you can even borrow at the age of seventy. If you are a non-
resident then realistically seventy per cent is what is offered at a low
rate of between three and four per cent.
First it is best to find a property
you like, whether for a permanent home, holiday home or investment- we
can assist with this!-remembering that you should consider the needs of
a tenant and not yourself, if it is a purchase for investment only.
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Fees vary from agent to agent, we
work on the minimum and even then it is not fixed. The big companies have
higher rates than smaller companies plus you can expect a service more
on a one-to-one basis too. The whole procedure will normally be explained
at each stage and before any monies change hand any queries will be addressed.
Only then when you are totally satisfied
will you be expected to agree to terms and conditions. The buying process
is more efficient in Spain, as the bank lender will provide a survey themselves
and there is no need for a separate lawyer as it is in their best interest
to have everything correct.
More properties are being sold inland
because of the affordability, but must be checked out thoroughly beforehand.
Some have multiple owners and do not always agree to sell, so this has
to be verified. Many properties have outstanding debts on them and a contract
needs to specify who is liable. Illegal building has occurred with some
properties, boundaries etc. It may seem that a property is advertised inexpensively,
but without necessary research, weighing up the real cost at the end can
prove disastrous.
Spain is a good choice for making
that new life for many reasons, but the people are in a class of their
own. In our experience, they are a very honest, caring and trusting race.
They look upon the Foreigner with respect and understand that without tourism
their standard of living would be less than standard. A good attitude to
arrive here with and remember is that we are merely visitors to their country
and strive to gain acceptance, by learning the language and participating
in the many wonderful ferrias cultures they have.
We have many friends of all nationalities
and although still mastering the Spanish language, we know our body language
plays a great part in saying what we feel. |
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The dream will go on forever, and
whilst it does, we endeavour to play our part in making the dream come
true, and the transition a painless one for many.
We have gained a reputation for
being a small business of honesty and accomplished respect from all who
deal with us. Whether they are Spanish, German, English or whatever- people
can judge for themselves.
We know we have to work very long
hours, but consider the benefits. Our children attend a great school, are
very happy and have many friends. We live in a very beautiful townhouse
where we awake to sea views and sunshine.
Smells of fresh fish being cooked
on the shore drift into my window, reminding me of why I craved to be here.
The sky is clear and comforting, as I am aware of its existence. There
is no place on earth offering a life like this, I am fortunate and each
day brings a new opportunity for me to share this with others.
Whatever expectations a person has
there are no limits to achieving them. It takes courage, hard work and
effort. For me – there´s no going back!
Feel free to call us or drop us
a line with any enquiry;
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