Moving to Villamartin from UK - Page 2

Depends are your age for health requirements. If you receive state pensions  or some other qualifying benefits you can transfer your healthcare from the UK to Spain  via the S1 form. Otherwise you would need private health insurance. 

There is no such thing as free dental care in Spain.

By all means listen to the advice given at A Place in the Sun exhibition, but they really don’t give you the warts and all scenario. The solicitors at the exhibition are usually from large chains, you will find there are lots of cheaper solicitors on every corner here in Spain.

Property tax is 10% of the purchase price in the Valencia region, so with all the other charges involved in house purchase you’ll need to budget an additional 3-4% for those fees. 

When you eventually start looking at a property ensure you know how much the community fees will be as well as the IBI (council tax) . These prices can vary enormously.

Thank you guys, so helpful this forum. I will be at state pension age but my wife will be a few years behind so I take it there will be a cost for her?. Does the 10/14% of the purchase cost cover all our legal ret?

Your wife will be able piggyback off your S1 as your dependent. When the time comes to ask for your S1 just ask for her to be added.

When she reaches state pension age, she qualifies for her own S1 so she just needs to make a phone call to be removed from yours and then issued with the S1 in her own right which will just need to be registered with INSS (social security) here. 

The additional 4% is the approximate budget for all things related to the property purchase. So  things like solicitors fees, notary fees, land registry charges etc .

One of the biggest surprises you’ll find is how much actual cash changes hands at this stage. The Spanish legal system have not yet discovered that  bank transfers nor debit/credit cards exist!  But then that’s probably due to the ridiculously high bank charges. 

Lynn

Hi

When we moved to Spain 12 years ago we decided to rent first - thinking that if we got it wrong we could easily move on. We spent the first 6 months in a lovely apartment within a stones throw from Villamartin Plaza. Guess what - we quickly realised we'd got it wrong! As well as the reasons already mentioned in previous replies, we found it difficult to make any friends - but of course that may have been our own fault, everybody's different. However when we moved to Punta Prima we made lots of friends in just a couple of weeks and have never looked back!

Cheers

Steve

The "A Place in the Sun exhibition" is there solely to sell properties (which reminds me of the disastrous "Time Share" companies) They certainly will not include the "Warts and all" costs and charges........

As suggested earlier it's best to find your own solicitors other than using in house solicitors that will certainly be recommended by A place in the sun.

Steve 

Appreciate that Steve. We have only looked at Villamartin from PITS so these comments are very useful. There are lots of other areas within the Costa blanca that appeal...in fact..too much choice but, we'll get there. We just want somewhere we can enjoy a good community and the wife could find employment. Thanks

Employment  in   Spain  involves  long hours  and low pay,  and of course  some knowledge  of Spanish language is a plus ➕ 

Something  else  for you to  think about 

Again, helpful advice. We are in contact with several property agents who, as you can imagine, send us lots of links for their property sales and enquire when we are coming g to view etc. We do get a fair amount of emails and they call often. Is there a way to decide who is best and, reliable etc

A  lot of  Estate agents  advertised  the same  Property  as Commission  is divided,  If viewing  a Property  don't  be surprised  to see  2 or 3 different  estate agents  there, or  wrong keys to  Property,  Do not  stick with1 agents  or come over on  Inspection  trip as  you will be estate agents  day and night  bring out for.meals, Yes it good business  but you want your .own  space, A lot of  good  Properties  are not on market  long this  year, as  demand  is high,  I  see in my own complex  with Properties  for sale, a .lot of viewings  with  different  agents,  When you do  come over, hire a cheap runaround,  plenty  of them  about,  view Property  with agents  but  return  in  evening  and get  talking  with  Permanent Residents  and Community  President, Local knowledge  is  best,

Also be aware that if you are obtaining a Non Lucrative VISA, neither you nor your wife will be able legally take up any form of employment or self employment.