Hello, coming to view a property

I don't live in the Catral area, but not far from it.

If you're looking at detached houses, be aware that there are many illegal builds (~1300), subject of long drawn-out discussions about legalising them, and the multi-thousands of euros cost of doing so.

Make sure to check that any property you think of buying is legal, by asking to see the certificado de habitacion.

Good luck. 

Thank you Jim, we have been doing our homework and knew that was the case in Catral and quite a few other areas in Spain, but it's good of you to mention it as someone else may not know this.

One of the ideas that we have is to maybe find a long term rental property whilst we look for a permanent home and see what areas we prefer. There doesn't seem to be many rental properties on the internet, we would prefer a villa with a pool and has to accept our dog too,  we are open to areas. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks 

Hi Deb, it's nice to know you've done your homework - it's disappointing how many people don't.

I think you're doing the correct thing - you need to spend some time out here to find out where you really like. I know that renting is dead money, but it's well spent if it lets you find just the right property.

I suggest you do a post in the sub-forum for property rental requests, and see if that leads to anything.

If you find two dog friendly properties, let me know - my wife's daughter wants to do the same as you!

I live in the countryside between Catral and Dolores in one of the illegal houses, do be very careful and do not belive what any estate agents tell you. If there is no habitation certificate then it is illegal.

I know the local Adult School do Spanish lessons, you can get info from the Town Hall. 

There are lots of things locally it depends what you like to do, there is no local golf course though. 

There are several English owned bars and an English shop, we use the local Supermarkets and you can find lots of brands, Nestle, Heinz, Dove, L'Oreal, Colgate etc if you have a look. 

It can be very cold in the winter so be prepared, the housed are built to keep cool in summer so are like fridges in winter. 

I would say rent first as you may like another area better than Catral. 

Hi, thank you for the info...I didn't think it got very cold there in the winter, it's one of the reasons we wanted to move over there, on the internet it said minimum temperatures around 16 degrees, how cold would you say it gets? Roughly...

Last year was extreme, we had a lot of rain and very cold winds, even a flurry of snow. I own a long waxed coat (which friends in the UK laughed when I brought it) I got a lot of wear out of it last year for the wind as well as the wet.

It may say 16 degrees but we get cold winds, not every day is sunny. The garage do put anti freeze in the car and I have woken up to frosts. A little one not crispy cold, but chilly.

Also you do get used to the weather. I am wearing jeans now on a morning. Warm afternoons but chilly and damp these last few mornings first thing. Also it can be warm in the sun, turn a corner in to the shade and wind it can be totally different.

http://www.costablancaweather.com/monthlyrecord.htm - Have a look on here and you can see month by month the weather. 

We have a log burner and we use it every day from the end of Nov to mid March at least. 

The houses are cold, the tiles are cold, you will need slippers and warm 'jamas. You will look at winter clothes being sold and wonder who buys it, trust me, you will. We do put rugs down but it not the same as English house, you would not want the carpets etc when summer is hitting 40ish in the shade. Easier to wrap up warm than try to cool off. 

I am not doom and gloom but I do not think people realise how cold it can be. I was shocked my first winter, Mum has been here 18 years and I have been here 3, this will be my 4th winter.

Any question of help I can be do ask. 

Have you ever experienced living in the UK in a house with no central heating - that's how cold it can get here at night in the winter. Whilst the nights are freezing cold, the days are still mainly pleasant.  It did snow a tiny bit last winter (didn't settle) but this was the first time it had snowed in approx 80yrs!!  

Verity and Nikki are quite correct that it gets cold in winter, but don't be put off. Obviously we do have wet and windy days, which I call 'Yorkshire with oranges'. However, on the majority of days the sun is out.

Daytime temperatures range between roughly 10 and 20 degrees, although the nights are a lot cooler. Having said that, it's very rare to experience a frost, and that disappears as soon as the sun comes up. In the mornings to take the chill off we use the aircon, and then at about 4.00 pm I light the log fire.

I'm a naturist, and the only concession I need to make to winter is to wear a dressing gown, albeit undone, even when I'm doing things in my workshop. I've even been to the naturist beach on Christmas day. I never wear pyjamas or socks, and in bed just I crawl under the duvet.

The Spanish don't build houses our way - no cavity walls, let alone cavity wall insulation, and no double glazing. Similarly, many rooms extend up to the roof, which is just plain concrete with no insulation, so more heating required to offset the heat loss. We're fortunate that most of our house has a suspended ceiling with insulation on top of the tiles.

If you do find a house with cavity wall insulation and double glazing, then that would be a point in its favour. On a similar theme, a house with solid concrete walls loses heat quicker than one build of terracotta blocks, which have plenty of air gaps in them, and which slow the heat loss somewhat.

To finish, I'll just say that I'd hate to go back to a climate which required central heating to run all day, and where on most days the sky is just wall to wall grey cloud.

Totally agree, I am from Yorkshire and I love your phrase of Yorkshire with oranges.

We don't use the aircon at all as it can make me feel funny (I have a pacemaker) but we were lighting the log burner about 4 and keep it in over night.