Posted: Wed Apr 3, 2024 3:29pm
Hi Eileen 58
Congratulations on reaching the next chapter in your life. Please remember to work out what you can realistically and financially afford long term and short term (include currency exchange rates on your pension etc.), all the legal formalities, your health and all your living, taxes etc. It takes a few months for your blood to naturally become thinner and people drink lots of bottled water; warm weather does improve ones arthritis. If the weather is too hot it can cause persons to have strokes and heart problems; the further south the warmer it is and the more costly. Many people left Calpe because it is very expensive. It might be wise for you to visit and explore other Spanish areas (a bit inland) before making and taking any decisions. All properties (and cars) close to the coast suffer from metal and concrete corrosion caused by the salty sea water, and it is not easy to grow your own vegetables and plants.
Before you arrive I advise you to famiiarise yourself with the Spanish language (some words are similar to English and French words); YouTube has lots of free Spanish lessons you can follow (Spanish TV for kids)); Alicante (+ all of Spain) is becoming expensive. Llliria (in Valencia), City of Music, is attractive and affordable for many expats mixing with the locals; Spanish homes tend to be very small and do not have an attic, so opt for a larger building construction (storage of water bottles, pellets, suitcases, shed for the water pumps for the pool, storing chairs etc.). Many buildings have thin brick structures (difficulties putting a hook on the wall for hanging foto frames); Lliria has a newly built hospital with many doctors and nurses; dental care is a separate payment and Lliria has lots of dentists and veterinarians. Family cash (also Economy cash) is an economically priced food shop (about €35euros per person per week), you also have Lidl, Consume, Carrefour, Mercadona and many small grocery shops. DIY shops are Le Roy Merlin, Bauhaus, Brico Depot, a variety of Chinese shops, some other small DIY shops and some garden centres. Spanish post offices have problems so expect delays; (I pay €100euros a year for my local government post office box) 4 private courier services (DHL, FedEx, GLS etc.) have delivery problems. Lliria has some banks, some Chinese shops; fastfood McDonalds, Pizza, Burger King etc., some nature parks etc. Google search other locations in Spain. For the internet fiber optic cable is popular and affordable - I pay €29.98euros per month. My monthly GSM costs €5 per month. I do not feel a need to have a television; electricity is about €45euros per month (with solar panels), gas bottle €35; water €35 per 3 months (without pool water), food €35euros per week; yearly property tax depends on the size of your property; garbage tax €300 per year. Car tax insurance I paid €100 for the year (Skoda Octovia 18 years old) - my local garage sorted out all the paperwork. You have to shop around.
Mercadona have a home delivery food and water service. You order your goods over your mobile phone, make the payment and your goods arrive at your door. The delivery driver puts all the food and water bottles inside your home for you.
To handle and pay my Spanish taxes I pay a local person to process them. The Spaniards themselves find it complicated.
If you are bringing any pets they will need to have an EU pet passport with the rabies vaccination.
Spain has a relaxed business culture and loves paper work; poor trees. All legal documents (e.g. birth certificate, marriage certificate, UK government pension, bank statement etc. must be legalised with The hague Apostille).
Feel free to contact Chatterina (international gestor) who helps expats with all the paperwork.
EKATERINA LANGINEN
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EXTRANJERÍA +34 645 567 312
[email protected]
(03710) Calpe - Alicante
www.spainservice.info
The Spanish Consulate office processed my Spanish NIE - You will need this to buy a property, legal formalites, open a Spanish bank account, buying goods over a certain amount, opening a post office box, insurance policies, healthcare, taxes etc. It is valid for the rest of your life, so you could apply for this now (when you receive it make some photocopies).
I used Linguavox Agencia de traducción en Valencia LinguaVox | Empresa de traducción . Google search estate agencies in Lliria. I advise you to also purchase the book by Nick Snelling - Buying Properties in Spain. He also has an estate agency website. Casalasafor - Property for Sale in Spain You can also Google search ' estate agencies in Lliria' and browse through their websites.
I opened a Spanish bank account with Caixabank.
When you have chosen your area and your property and you finally arrive you are legally obligated to register at your local City hall in Spain.
As a precaution I did NOT use the estate agencies lawyer when buying my property. I used a separate one that speaks English.
Hope this helps!
Good luck on your challenging Spanish ventures. - Lots of patience is required.
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