Just about to put down a deposit on a villa in Aspe - Page 2

Obviously it will depend on what you want it for. 180 days in a year is still a good length of time to spend in a holiday home as you could do 3 months, 3 months break, 3 months, 3 months break or split it into more visits for less time. Even if you did 1 month here and 1 month away you would only use up your 90 days in the first 6 months and still have the same for the second 6 months. 

When we first bought a holiday apartment, long before the 90 day rule came in, that is still a lot longer than we were spending here. It's only if you retire and don't move here that it would seem restrictive.

As for not selling it, I can't see why not.  The local papers are stating a huge amount of houses sold in this area last year and up to pre-pandemic levels. Over half the houses sold are actually to those from the UK but, of course, you wouldn't be restricted to selling to UK citizens.

As an example, in my road we have 6 blocks of 8 houses. Last year, 4 of them were put up for sale. 1 Norwegian, 1 Dutch and 2 Brits. They have all been sold very quickly and all of them were sold to Brits so we now have 2 extra Brits in the road.

Other areas are being bought and sold quite regularly. 

We had no intention of retiring here and simply bought an apartment in an area we liked. We then spent more and more time here and realised this was the place to be. We then bought a house (and lost loads on the apartment with the taxes to pay) but love it and have now lived here permanently for over 12 years (18 counting the non resident years). If I suggested to my wife we move back to UK I don't think she'd speak to me for a very long time (that might be a plus) and we get visitors all the time so don't miss the family at all (well, maybe sometimes with the grandkids). Anyway, my grandkids are now old enough to come over by themselves now and do so to have a break from their parents. 

You have to make up your own mind on what you want. I'm afraid I don't know Aspe so couldn't comment on that but we have lived in 3 areas here and all have their pluses and minuses. Thankfully the pluses outweigh the minuses.

These are all full of excellent advice. Top notch. 

Tony, I’m presuming you are a single man otherwise your wife would be very much involved.  Do you cycle? Mountainous areas are very popular with cyclists so Aspe May suit you perfectly. 

Have you physically visited this property you’re about to buy?  I’m hoping the answer is yes but if not, for goodness sake pull yourself together before you consider investing your money into a property that may not actually be to your liking upon inspection.  Is the house facing south?  If facing East, you’ll never see afternoon or evening sun plus people say their properties are more difficult to heat. 

ok. You read all the advice and I’m assuming you still want to buy. Spending time or living in Spain is so lovely. I call it the simple life! When we’re at home, the garden needs to be tended but then it rains and it can’t be done. Sometimes a pain.  Here in Spain if you have a good decent space outside, you can grow colourful flowers all years around. Pots full of shrubs and I’ve now put planters onto brackets on the wall which look stunning. 

Be careful what type of accommodation you buy. Winter nights are bitterly cold. Some living rooms are open to the rest of the house and simply cannot be heated. Make sure Aircon is fitted in bedrooms and living rooms as can be used to heat the place when cold.  The vast majority of time, life here is easy but when it decides to rain, it can cause flooding and many people have their cars and homes ruined periodically. Not to mention, you can be stuck inside for days on end as the roads can’t cope with rain and become mini rivers 

Now, you’ve read all the doom and gloom but you still want to buy. Good man. You’ll love it. We bought 20 years ago and absolutely love spending time over here. Life is a gamble at the best of times. Please book a flight and come over, hire a car and go in search of your dream. I hope you’ll find it and live to enjoy what all of us are enjoying now. 

All the very best,

Grannyrose.

p.s 

If you can trace any Irish great grandp ,you may be lucky enough to get an Irish EU passport  which will alter things time wise!