Moving to Costa Blanca: is there stamp duty? Is it easy to get medical prescriptions?

Can't help with prescriptions but you can expect to pay in the region of 10-15% added extras on the purchase of a house.

Thanks for the reply.  Information like this is so important in making our decisions.

Hi Tim,

We bought a property in Playa Flamenca last November and moved here permanently. The Spanish tax is 10% on re-sales and 12% on new builds. (In the province of Murcia it is 2% cheaper for both). The other fees are agents, solicitors etc., so 14-15% is about right. The buying process is very simple, but do employ a Spanish lawyer (abogados), and don't use one suggested by estate agents. We have retired here and are now Spanish residents. We are waiting for our state health cards, but they should arrive very soon now. The medical centre for everyone is in Cabo Roig. Prescriptions are free for pensioners who have a limited income, or cost 10% for others. Before you get a health card you have to pay in full. Some drugs are very cheap, and some expensive. For example Ezitrol cost 56euros a packet! So, just ask in a pharmacia. You don't need a prescription in Spain to be able to buy your pills etc.

There's lots to learn but don't let it put you off, life is much more relaxed here! If you want details of the lawyer we used, I'll be happy to give them to you. Good luck!

Sheila

Thanks Sheila

We are aiming to sell our house in UK in spring next year. We should then be in a position to look at buying in Spain. It would be great if you could let us know of a good lawyer when the time comes.

We are hoping to live there permanently the year after when I will be 55 years old. Do you need to be a certain age in Spain to be considered a pensioner and get a health card?

Also would you recommend Playa Flamenca as a good place to live. We know the area quite well but not Playa Flamenca itself although we have traveled through on the 332 many times and have visited La Zenia boulevard a couple of times.

Many thanks

tim

Hi Tim

We just completed our purchase last month.  We found it very useful to go to A Place in the Sun Exhibition at the NEC Birmingham (they also hold this in Manchester and maybe other venues around UK?). The tickets were free and we got all the info we needed to help us buy safely - Estate agents, Lawyers, Bankers, Currency experts all there under one roof to advise you.  You could download The Overseas Buying Guide (Spain) and this is a good start to finding out about all the costs and taxes involved in the process of buying/living in Spain.  Good luck.

Bernice

I have recently bought a property in Playa Flamenca and there are a number of expenses  in addition to the purchase price.  Here is a site that explains most of them.  You have to pay around 10-13% for fees, taxes etc on top of the purchase price.  I am visiting in March for 2 months and so looking forward to seeing some sun again and refurbishing my new property. Happy house hunting. If you have any other questions about purchasing I will be happy to help.

http://www.spanishpropertyinsight.com/buying-property-in-spain/costs/

Brilliant,

Thank you all so much for your help

tim

Hi Tim all good advice above.  One thing to consider doing is to open a bank account and get an NIE number before  you start the process of buying. Without either you won't get far! It will reduce the stress a little when you do come to buy.   I have no reason to recommend Banco Sabadell other than my great experience with them. Their staff speak English and the online banking service is excellent. 

Steve

Hello again Tim,

I went to A Place in the Sun exhibition at Wembley, and it was very helpful. However, I am glad that I did not choose to use the lawyers on hand. It is far better to use one who is in the area in which you buy. Mine took us to Torrevieja police station to obtain our NIE numbers, which you have to have before purchasing a property. She also took us to the bank to open an account, and the notary for us to give power of attorney to act on our behalf, so that we didn't have to fly over for the purchase day. We kept in touch by email, and it only took 2 months. The estate agents we used were Home Espana.

Healthcare is presently reciprocal between EU countries, so you can have it in Spain or even go back to UK if you wanted for an op etc. If we leave the EU, that would not be the case, so God help us all. Free prescriptions are for those in receipt of a UK pension, so at 55 you would have to pay for your drugs.

Take a good look around Playa Flamenca and see if it would suit you living here. Everyone has different needs, and whilst we are very happy, you have to find if your lifestyle fits in. When you look for houses, if you have any questions just ask. You really can't read or question too much. It's a big decision.