Ex-pat get-togethers and meetings in local bars/restaurants - Page 2

I've never come across any UK Charity shops in Denia itself although I'm not saying there isn't one. There's an English pub beside the railway station that used to have a free bookshelf, not sure if it still does but worth a look.

Enjoy your time in Denia.

Steve

Sorry, perhaps Im mistaken or misrem

Thanks so much! I’ll check it out!

There probably is one Stephanie, just saying I haven't come across one on my wanders! 

There's one in La Xara, and at least one in Ondara though.

Hi, there is a used furniture shop on Paseo de Saladar quite near to the sea, only a few blocks up, and I have found books in English there. They are all piled together right after the till area.

Hi Yvonne and John 
1) use a separate qualified registered lawyer (NOT the one the estate agent recommends/pressurising you to use (for a good financial discount)).  Later when one person passes and the other person inherits it is only then that they discover that legal property documents were NOT correctly processed (local, regional or government level) by the estate agents recommended lawyer.This happened to my English parents and has been passed on to all their children.  Problematic legal chaos errupted with our Spanish inheritance.  

Legal property documents took about 4 months to complete; also get a conveyancing report.    

Keep in regular contact with your lawyer, even afterwards.  There might be changes to the Spanish laws.

Advisable to have Spanish Wills; you can select your choice of law and your country of law you want to use should any disputes arise.

Highly recommend  English speaking Spanish lawyer: Salvador Ferrer Millet.  URL:https://ferrermlletabogados.wordpress.com 
Nick Snellings books:  URL https://www.nicholassnelling.com 

2) make sure you have sufficient finances - including extra costs.  Prices have increased (on top of the advertised property purchase price include an extra 15% for all the other costs (legal fees, registration with the notary, taxes etc.).

3) with permanent living make sure you visit your property in person (visualise all your requirements (furniture, your hobby equipment, gardening, man's cave, pool, extra room for your family and friends to visit etc.).

Perhaps you might later have mobility problems, so perhaps look for a chalet/bungalow that is mainly on one level.

Beware!  Many hidden quirks!  Most properties are small with paper thin flower pot walls (cannot bang a small nail in the wall, are built with single bricks, no insulation, electricity needs to be completely renewed (ours was dangerous (turned on the light switch - sparked, electricity died, connection box to the mains went on fire, is the building structure strong enough to support solar panels?). We ended up installing brand new electricity and rewiring.  Cost extra €10K. Check with your estate agent and neighbours that your area has fiber optic cables (movistar has a deal €30 a month for the first 9 months).

If you have a property with urban on the title deeds it is easier to apply for planning permission (may take 2 years) to build extra rooms or a garage or garden shed; first make sure that the licences and permissions are in place.

Many folks keep dogs that constantly bark.  Some areas Spanish people love making smoking fires, which is not healthy for man or beast.

Inland you get more for your buck, and more spacious (no parking problems).  Lliria is still affordable, has brand new massive double size football pitches for Lidl, Alid, Mercadona food shops etc. (taxi home with shopping €4).  Ask the estate agent and owner to see if you can first test drive your turnkey selected property before you place a deposit (may need to pay a small rental fee to the owner).

4) What weather is good for your health?  Do you need to be near a hospital.  Lliria hospital is excellent and less than 8 minutes drive from our door.  There are some doctors and dentists.

You will need your sickness insurance to provide you with two original paper copies of your S1 health insurance forms (not digital).

5) There is a mixture of happy nationalities and Spaniards in Lliria.  

6) Select a local English speaking gestor/accountant to handle your Spanish residency, and file all your yearly taxes for you etc.  Costs about €35 per person to file yearly taxes. 

Lliria is north east of Valencia and is the city of music.  There are many orange trees.

Lliria is about 22 minutes drive to Valencia airport.  Public transport is excellent and not expensive.

7) Post takes months to arrive.  Before leaving your home country advisable to get two legalised original marriage certificates with The Hague Apostille.

8) Have a complete printed paper copy of your property title deeds for your gestor.

9) Keep paper copies of your Spanish NIE.  Spain loves paper work!  They only accept legalised documents which include originals with The Hague Apostille stamped seal.

10)  Become familiar with using WhatsApp.  Many people use it in Spain.

11)  Deliveries and post take months.

12)  In Spain persons have 3 addresses for the same property.  One address on your legal property title deeds, second address at your local post office (renting a postal box in Lliria costs €84euros for the year) and the third address is in your street.  Lots of confusion with deliveries, even DHL, FEDEX, GLS, TNT, etc.

13)  Learn the Spanish language before coming - babbel, Duolingo etc.  Many Spaniards do not want or wish to learn another language.

14) Do you want to live close to shops and public amenities or far away?