UK retirees wanting to move to Javea (Gold Visa)

HappyBloke wrote on Sat Jan 20, 2024 12:49pm:

Hello all, Happy by nature but can't tell jokes!

We are recently retired, grandparents and based upon having had many wonderful trips to Spain (Cantabria, Barcelona, Murcia) We have settled on Javea for a permanent home for me and my wife.(we need warmth in the winter!) We have experience of living for several months inland near Almeria, but no...

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...w wish to put down roots in Javea near the sea. We like walking along coastal paths, having BBQs, playing golf and swimming and are keen to become involved in the local ex-pat community. We plan to come out to Javea (as opposed to Denia - Too busy tourist places!) to choose a nice area where we could get a villa with a pool and not too far from the beaches. We have researched for properties in La Corona, Balcon al Mar and the southern Montgo urbanisations, but we see old details on websites with the same properties being listed multiple times and what seems over several years!!! 

Can anyone help point us in the right direction? This is a serious request. I have my NIE numbers and other admin for my Gold Visa, so all I need now is to purchase somewhere affordable without being obliged to use a car to get provisions. I can ride a bike but get scared of very steep hills! There seem to be so few places in our price range of 500-600K euros. If we do have to live in other urbanisations where would you suggest based upon the info given above? We plan to make a move late summer 2024.

I have tried to be helpful so thanks for reading this to the end, and who knows when we get to Javea, we can enjoy a Sangria or Cafe con leche with you hahahaha! 

BruceK wrote on Sat Jan 20, 2024 1:10pm:

Hi, as we have preferred to live in an area with a sea view, the walking for groceries etc wasn't an option. We also had thought Denia but after saying for a few weeks decided it wasnt the city for us but my real feedback is to checkout the golden visa path in great detail first. Spain is cutting...

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... back on approving these, also pressured by the EU, and the lawyer i used indicated he has had NONE approved. I don't know more than that but i would get something of a confirmation of success from a reputable lawyer before investing so much time on a house hunt if the visa path doesn't end up working. the NLV seems like it would also work for you, but there are many others on here more qualified to speak on that.

HappyBloke wrote on Sat Jan 20, 2024 2:43pm:

Thank you for your valid concerns. I am aware of those issues and we have a reputable lawyer in Spain, the time pressure is on as you say as it seems the Gold Visa may be changed by the Government, but our lawyer says that Andalusia as a region is fairly autonomous and will refuse the pressure to...

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... reduce overseas legal immigration via this mechanism. Andalusia apparently refused to impose some additional wealth and traveller taxes recently. The Eurozone can ill afford to turn away investors whilst being pressurised by illegal means of entry. Which area do you reside in? as a sea view would be nice. We have seen some areas towards the Granadella (Costa Nova and El Tosalet) which are more affordable than the Balcon àl Mar. We prefer sea views to mountains, but when all is said and done, most higher urbanisations have much smaller plots than we can get inland. There appear to be larger plots and older properties in the Montgo area which is too far from the coast for our liking.

BruceK wrote on Sat Jan 20, 2024 3:02pm:

The unfortunate world of politics always clouds common sense as the EU has pressured Greece, Portugal etc with withholding transfer funds based on aligning on the 'block' policy. The Spain pressure is around many of the Golden Visa were Russian oriented (applications)  and of course as thing...

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...s have changed they don't want Russians having EU residence, at least for the time being. And who knows, maybe from 'friendly' countries these are still approved with higher success. We ended up in Altea Hills, it has good and bad points but the views are amazing, it has gated security with a high tech camera tracking system for all the streets, grocery store 3 minutes away, bars and restaurants 5 minutes away at the marina with a good beach in Mascarat, Calp is close again for food and drinks, big box stores 15 minutes away in Finestrat. Biggest draw back is the lack of full time residents, many are either seasonal or wealthy (re previous Russian comment) where some very large houses sit empty. But from April to Dec. it's great and people are friendly. I didnt like the choices of going further inland as i wanted the sea view and never tire of just looking out with a glass of wine etc and its generally cooler during the heat of the summer. I think all along the are you are looking Xabia, down through Altea/L'albir is great. Many don't rank the need of seeing the sea high and the further inland you go obviously the better pricing and larger lots you will have, but always a drive if you head back to the sea if you go regularly. All in all people up and down the coast have been great, leaving even just a bit of Spanish is greatly appreciated and almost instantly takes you out of the 'tourist' category. 

BruceK wrote on Sat Jan 20, 2024 3:02pm:

The unfortunate world of politics always clouds common sense as the EU has pressured Greece, Portugal etc with withholding transfer funds based on aligning on the 'block' policy. The Spain pressure is around many of the Golden Visa were Russian oriented (applications)  and of course as thing...

Read more...

...s have changed they don't want Russians having EU residence, at least for the time being. And who knows, maybe from 'friendly' countries these are still approved with higher success. We ended up in Altea Hills, it has good and bad points but the views are amazing, it has gated security with a high tech camera tracking system for all the streets, grocery store 3 minutes away, bars and restaurants 5 minutes away at the marina with a good beach in Mascarat, Calp is close again for food and drinks, big box stores 15 minutes away in Finestrat. Biggest draw back is the lack of full time residents, many are either seasonal or wealthy (re previous Russian comment) where some very large houses sit empty. But from April to Dec. it's great and people are friendly. I didnt like the choices of going further inland as i wanted the sea view and never tire of just looking out with a glass of wine etc and its generally cooler during the heat of the summer. I think all along the are you are looking Xabia, down through Altea/L'albir is great. Many don't rank the need of seeing the sea high and the further inland you go obviously the better pricing and larger lots you will have, but always a drive if you head back to the sea if you go regularly. All in all people up and down the coast have been great, leaving even just a bit of Spanish is greatly appreciated and almost instantly takes you out of the 'tourist' category. 

HappyBloke wrote on Sat Jan 20, 2024 12:49pm:

Hello all, Happy by nature but can't tell jokes!

We are recently retired, grandparents and based upon having had many wonderful trips to Spain (Cantabria, Barcelona, Murcia) We have settled on Javea for a permanent home for me and my wife.(we need warmth in the winter!) We have experience of living for several months inland near Almeria, but no...

Read more...

...w wish to put down roots in Javea near the sea. We like walking along coastal paths, having BBQs, playing golf and swimming and are keen to become involved in the local ex-pat community. We plan to come out to Javea (as opposed to Denia - Too busy tourist places!) to choose a nice area where we could get a villa with a pool and not too far from the beaches. We have researched for properties in La Corona, Balcon al Mar and the southern Montgo urbanisations, but we see old details on websites with the same properties being listed multiple times and what seems over several years!!! 

Can anyone help point us in the right direction? This is a serious request. I have my NIE numbers and other admin for my Gold Visa, so all I need now is to purchase somewhere affordable without being obliged to use a car to get provisions. I can ride a bike but get scared of very steep hills! There seem to be so few places in our price range of 500-600K euros. If we do have to live in other urbanisations where would you suggest based upon the info given above? We plan to make a move late summer 2024.

I have tried to be helpful so thanks for reading this to the end, and who knows when we get to Javea, we can enjoy a Sangria or Cafe con leche with you hahahaha! 

Mike207 wrote on Sun Jan 21, 2024 11:05am:

To share a little of our experience, we bought a holiday home in Moraira 4 years ago. We retired at our mid 50's , with children grown up & grandchildren joining the family we decided to split our time 50/50 between Spain & UK. Having been on holiday in Denia, Javea & Moraira many tim...

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...es , we knew the area well. We came for a couple of viewing trips ( 3/4 week periods) and spent ages trawling through the internet identifying suitable properties. 

In the end after viewing 30-40 properties we felt a sea view was our priority and we just had to sign up with multiple estate agents and see all the properties that met our budget/shortlist. We "kerb viewed" most properties before scheduled visits with the agent which often resulted in rejecting the property before the official viewing. 

So our experience was to know the market well through both internet searches and registering interest with local agents, physically visit the properties and be clear on the main criteria you are hoping to achieve ( views/amenities/outside space etc ) which fall within your budget.The process took 9 months from commencing the search seriously to buying the house..  

It was one of the best decisions we have made. We average 22 - 24 weeks each year over here in Spain, still appreciate the sea view every day and the life style every trip.

I don't think there is a short cut easy answer to identifying a suitable home but by using local agents and your own internet searching, together with your own common sense and determination not to be side tracked by agents you will locate & secure the right property eventually. 

The forum is largely helpful so I'm sure you will gain useful guidance & assistance on here, and I would be happy to help if you wanted any further information.

Good luck with your project.

Mike

Anna4321 wrote on Sun Jan 21, 2024 11:20am:

Hello, how exciting for you! We bought a house near Benitachell a year ago and are not retirees so I can’t advise on visas etc. When I rang about one property early on I stumbled upon Natalie Olds of Frederick Charles and liked her immediately. She basically went on to act like a buyer’s agen...

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...t for us as in Spain it seems that any agent can show you any property (unlike the UK). We had long conversations about what we were looking for, she would send me suggestions and I’d comment on them and say whether we wanted to see them. I would send her some and she might warn that the property wasn’t suitable as it was near a road etc (invaluable local knowledge as properties are never pinpointed for exact location). Then we gathered a shortlist of 4/5 and went out to view them with her. Went back for another visit to see a few more and to do second viewings and fell for the house we bought. We decided to get more house for our money and so we have a lovely view of the valley of Benitachell and up to the village but no seaview. A big plus for us is also fantastic walking right out our door which the urbanisations with sea views didn’t seem to offer. Natalie helped with placing the offer and with lawyers etc. Brilliant service and the seller pays. I’m not on commission 🤪 and if she doesn’t have capacity I’d imagine there are other agents providing a similar service and would recommend this approach. Wishing you the best of luck!