WHY SPAIN:

Spain is the third most popular tourist country in the world, and it’s not hard to see why. Every region of Spain has it's own unique flavour and attraction. Flanked by the Mediterranean and Atlantic Ocean, the Spanish coastal regions are renowned throughout the world, and are a haven for sun and adventure. The diversity here is huge, from tiny fishing villages in forgotten coves, to sprawling coastal metropolises. All of them moulded by a unique culture, produced over years of history that we have come to love about Spain.

COSTA BLANCA:

The Costa Blanca occupies the heart of the Spanish Mediterranean coastline, a land of light and colour bathed by the sea. Extending from Denia to Murcia, it covers almost 140 kilometres of some of the most beautiful costal scenery to be found anywhere along the Mediterranean shores. Characterised not only by its scenic beauty, also the rich diversity of landscapes and settings, the Costa Blanca is made up of a series of clearly defined regions. From the shallow lagoons and extensive sand dunes of the south to the deeply indented rocky coves and bays of the north, this privileged corner of Spain offers everything that has made this area so highly favoured with visitors and residents alike

The region boasts at least 300 sunny days each year with temperatures ranging from 16 degrees C in winter to 32 degrees C in summer ensure that you enjoy life to the full. It is a highly fertile area and so it is not surprising that you will find an abundance of exotic plants and greenery. The sea and mountain air is highly recommended, giving completely healthy conditions and the regions are shielded from the cold winter winds of the interior by a screen of mountains. The picturesque area around the famous lakes of Costa Blanca are regarded as one of the “finest” place in the world to live for People who suffer from Arthritis, Rheumatism, Asthma and heart related Problems.

It is only a short flight of 2-2.5 hour’s duration before you arrive on ‘The White Coast’ Spain’s eastern shoreline to the Mediterranean Sea. It is an ideal place for the dream home in the sun with the area being primarily residential.

The area offers international airports, marinas, golf clubs, hospitals, universities with excellent roads and infrastructure. Costa Blanca beaches are one of the most famous tourist areas right on the Mediterranean Sea. The white coast is also famous for its well looked after sandy beaches and numerous possibilities to relax and unwind. Many beaches on the Costa Blanca carry the Blue Flag for its clean water and beaches. There are numerous bars and restaurants to suit the most discerning of tastes. For those who need regular retail therapy, there are thousands of shops of every kind.

COSTA CALIDA

Costa Calida has over 170 km of coastline. Coves and small beaches alternate with rocky shores and sheer, craggy cliffs. As a geographical accident of nature we find La Managa, a costal strip of land, which completely closes off the Mar Menor lagoon from the Mediterranean. The Murcian littoral offer on the one hand unprotected shores with wild seas and on the other small coves with calm, placid waters.

COSTA ALMERIA

The beauty of this comparatively un-spoilt area is surpassed only by the feeling of peace and tranquility, with many quiet coves to be discovered and spectacular distant mountains. Yet there are also many fun beaches with all the water sports. The Marina Golf Club at Mojacar offers not only a top class 18 hole golf course but also pitch and put for the non-golfers and younger family members, a practice pitch and a clubhouse with a restaurant, cafeteria and bar, plus numerous other golf courses close by.

The beaches of Mojacar are particularly attractive, and the town offers much in the way of shopping and every necessary amenity, including restaurants with choice regional dishes. The ancient Moorish village of Mojacar, a quiet corner where time stood still for many centuries, lies on a hillside behind the town, and it is interesting to wander through its narrow streets and see the quaint old buildings. You may take a 4-hour tour by land to visit Mojacar and the surrounding valleys and mountains.

The CUEVAS DE SORBAS offers adventure trips to spectacular underground caves, with easy routes for beginners and children, to difficult routes for the more adventurous. You could experience this wondrous underground world for a different type of outing.

GARRUCHA is an old and well-established town with many interesting pursuits. There are boat trips from the marina with dinners on board on summer evenings, or morning trips with picnics. Like all Spanish towns there are many fiestas with colourful parades through the town at various times of year. There are several attractive beaches and small coves to explore. Micro-flights are available, when you may enjoy from the air the beautiful scenery of MOJACAR, GARRUCHA and neighboring VERA. There are many small towns and villages along this coastline, PUERTO REY, and MARINA DE LA TORRE being among the many places of interest.

The town of VERA is 6kms from the coast and is a substantial town with much to offer. There are several superb golf courses in the area surrounding the town. At PLAYAS DE VERA there are beautiful beaches, water sports and also an aqua park with wild water, whirling rides and water slides. Fun for all the family. There are plenty of activities in the town and this area claims to be a gastronomic paradise, and rightly so with its rich variety of regional dishes and traditional cuisine, all just waiting to tempt your palate.

Here along this stretch of the COSTA ALMERIA we are able to offer you a wonderful choice of properties. Low rise apartments, townhouses, semi detached and detached villas. Some front line to the beach, some just a few minutes walk to the beach, others a little inland, many with superb sea views. Of particular interest are the prices, still at a low level due to the fact that this area is still in an early stage of development. What we are offering is prime locations, spacious quality homes and attractive prices. We hope to have the pleasure of showing you this area for yourself soon.

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SPANISH LIVING:

If you are concerned that your move to Spain isn’t going to be a real ‘home from home, you have no need to worry. Should you desire so, you can virtually recreate your life here in the sunshine, your favourite television programme and magazines are available. The need for medical treatment is always unfortunate, however should the need arise the main towns have modern hospitals. These are supported by local medical units on the many residential developments. All the necessities of modern life are here waiting for you!

High Standard - Low Costs

The cost of living is substantially lower than in the UK. A general rule of thumb for many people, when calculating the cost of living in Spain is that, if it is going to cost you 150 Euros a week to live in the UK, it will cost you around 100 Euros a week to live in Spain. This rule obviously has its exceptions but if you use this rule across all your expenses you will find that it will not be far out.

The food is cheap all year round. Most towns have regular markets and people come from miles around to buy fresh fruit and vegetables making the healthy Mediterranean diet a way of life. Restaurant and tapas bars are very reasonable and dining out doesn’t have to be a special occasion, it is affordable anytime, below are some typical prices for everyday items:

Typical Costs:
12 eggs 53p
sliced loaf 38p
Flora 250 grams 55p
1 litre olive oil £1.23
1 litre semi-skimmed milk 28p
pack of 4 yoghurts 28p
1 litre water 15p
1 litre orange juice 31p
1 can of coca cola 21p
1 can of San Miguel Beer 23p
1 bottle of Valencia red wine 50p
1 bottle of Rioja Comportillo ’97 £1.47
1 bottle of vodka (1 litre) £2.20
1 bottle of gin £2.40
1 bottle of scotch (40%) £2.83
ground coffee (250g) 60p
bacon (200g) 86p

Cars

Annual Car Tax (depending on cc) £10 - £36
1 litre unleaded petrol 52p
1 litre diesel 45p

HEALTH CARE:

The Spanish are amongst the world’s healthiest people and have an average life expectancy of 80 for women and 74 for men, the highest in the EU. A diet of lots of garlic, olive oil and red wine contributes to the fact that heart disease in Spain is the lowest in the world.

Health care in Spain is efficient and, depending on individual circumstances, can be freely available because of the reciprocal arrangements offered within the EU.

Pets:

If you are bringing pets to Spain you will need to have an International Vaccination Health Certificate or Pet Passport showing they can be imported into Spain without quarantine. This will show they are inoculated and free from the diseases listed by Spanish Authorities. The health certificate must be issued no more than 15 days prior to bringing your pet into the country.

The Siesta:

What would Spain be without the siesta? Many attitudes have changed over the years, but the siesta is still popular. Most shops, offices and service establishments close for a few hours in the afternoon.

Furniture Pack:

From £3,000 for a two bed property – one double plus two single beds with mattress, headboard and bedding, bedside cabinets, sofa bed, coffee table, dining table plus 4 chairs, bookshelf, fridge/freezer, oven and hob, washing machine and curtains.

Permits and taxes in Spain:

You are liable for income taxes when you reside 183 days per calendar year in Spain, or if you have your main business interest in Spain. In some cases paying for Permits and Taxes in Spain may be advantageous since there are deductions that may not apply in other countries.

Capital Gains Tax:

Capital gains are due when you sell Real Estate, antiques, art, stocks, a business etc. Capital losses can be deducted from capital gains. If the losses exceed the profits, these losses can carry forward. It is very similar to capital gain taxes in the United States. It concerns the sale price minus your costs including the costs of the sale. A nice feature is that residents over 65 years of age are exempt from capital gains on their residence. If you are under 65 and re-invest in Spanish real estate within 3 years, you won't need to pay capital gains, as long as the investment is equal to, or larger than the sales
amount. Again, it is important to determine if you are a resident or non-resident, capital gains for a resident will be treated as income in the year the gain was made.

Working in Spain:

There are many jobs in Spain for foreigners, nevertheless, throughout the costal areas most jobs area seasonal. Working in Spain depends to a large extent on what you can and are able to do. Most of the qualifications obtained in the United Kingdom and Europe are recognized in Spain.

Inheritance and Gift Tax:

Spain levies inheritance tax on assets and moneys received as an inheritance or gift. It is important to understand that estates of residents and non-residents are liable for inheritance tax. The tax is payable by the heirs or beneficiaries and not by the estate. Taxes must be paid within 6 months, although you may file for another 6-month extension. However, if the estate is transferred to the spouse, parent or child, a 95 % deduction may apply. The condition is that the spouse, child or parent has lived with the deceased for at least 2 years prior to his or her death. You should ask for legal advice about the tax liability and the maximum amount for this exemption. The amount of taxes due depends on the relationship with the deceased. We strongly recommend that you seek independent legal advice from a qualified Spanish lawyer.