Looking to relocate to Costa Blanca possibly Villena or Pilar Horadada

Posted: Mon Mar 25, 2019 2:17am

4 replies127 views5 members subscribed

Sarah23

Posts: 8

3 helpful points

Location: Pilar de la Horadada

Joined: 25 Mar 2019

Hi I’ve posted this on the Pilar Horadada forum also.

I want to buy a property slightly inland. I will need an income so was thinking a propert with separate guest accommodation and possibly land with fruit or nuts on it.

Is Villena a good place to live as an expat? Is it friendly? This is quite important as I will be on my own so don’t want to be totally isolated.

I currently don’t speak Spanish but would like to learn.

Are many tourists attracted to the area?

If so what types cyclists, walkers, artists?

Are there any other areas you might recommend? I like the country side but don’t want to be too far from the coast. It is important that I will be going to an area that is not too isolating and has a good expat community

Thank you

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Posted: Mon Mar 25, 2019 8:29am

Cheryl

Legendary helpful member

Posts: 2973

3538 helpful points

Location: Albatera

Joined: 8 Jun 2017

Posted: Mon Mar 25, 2019 8:29am

Hello, I have found this for setting up a B&B; https://www.spanishsolicitors.com/how-to-set-up-bb-camping-hotel-in-rustic-land-areas/

And this for letting out rooms as tourist lets; https://drive.google.com/file/d/1NyaF_5EzDIaN-zMZnuXGBefMItgw9xEz/view

The authorities are clamping down hard on unlicensed holiday accommodation. I would imagine in Villena, you would be more likely to get one night stays as people tour around whereas in Pilar, there is more likelihood of longer stays for beach holidays. All in all, buying an established B&B with a current licence would be much easier.

With fruit trees, we have only been able to sell our olives at the local press although tbf, we haven´t looked too far into this because on 3000 m2, we do not have enough land to make it commercially viable. Friends who do have more land have arrangements with local farmers who care for the trees and harvest them, leaving little in the way of profit. There is also fertilizing, weeding, irrigation and pesticide spraying to consider.
Few people speak English away from the ex-pat communities so Pilar again would probably be better for you.

Posted: Mon Mar 25, 2019 8:39am

Villas

Legendary helpful member

Posts: 4327

3514 helpful points

Location: Sax

Joined: 29 May 2017

Posted: Mon Mar 25, 2019 8:39am

Hi, I live in Sax, 14k from Villena. 35 mins inland from airport, beaches etc.Typical Spanish town with a growing ex-pat community. If you require further info, feel free to PM me& can converse on email.

Villas

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Posted: Mon Mar 25, 2019 5:35pm

Mike1963

Posts: 24

1 helpful points

Location: Villena

Joined: 13 Nov 2018

Posted: Mon Mar 25, 2019 5:35pm

Hi

We have recently purchased a property just 8Km from Villena and will be moving there full time in the next few months. We love the area and there is so much going on. It is very Spanish with not much english being spoken generally - BUT the people are really helpful and if you try, they will help you along. Our spanish is poco at the moment but we will be improving it by going to the conversational classes in the town and also using Babbel too. The best way is to just chuck yourself in at the deep end. Villena town has everything you would need, local stores, butchers, bakers, fruit and veg plus 3 supermarkets - and the towns close by are great too - we enjoy Sax. You are about 40 mins from Alicante airport - and 45 mins from Santa Pola - a really nice traditional seaside area, complete with a beach for dogs!

Enjoy x

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Posted: Tue Mar 26, 2019 9:27am

Davebev1

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Posts: 1573

2227 helpful points

Location: Playa Flamenca

Joined: 7 Nov 2017

Posted: Tue Mar 26, 2019 9:27am

Hi Sarah

If you are looking to buy a place with a rental then make sure you understand the regulations before you start looking. There are many properties that used to be able to let out annexes or underbuild conversions to holiday makers that are now unable to do so as they do not qualify for a tourist license. Do not rely on an estate agent knowing the tourist license regulations - ceiling heights and bathroom sizes are the commonest failings.

You do not need a license for a long-term let as the rules are different but it would be worth talking over your rights/tenant's rights with a solicitor first as they are not the same as in the UK.

I have no experience of fruit growing but my information from those with various types of groves is they do not make an income from them. Some people have arrangements where a local farmer will look after the trees and harvest and give the owners a very small rental (sometimes in produce not money) just so that the land is properly tended and the harvest not wasted. Unless you run it on a commercial basis, so would need an understanding/experience of that particular crop, it isn't usually viewed as able to provide a real income.

If you run a BnB you will need a business license for the property.

it would be a good idea to clarify in your own minds what you want to do - can you commit to running a BnB full-time (I do not know you ages) or would it be 'too much' within a couple of years for you? You are making a long-term move and buying and selling in Spain is an expensive thing to do, so you need to get it right. Before you commit to buying any property make sure it is a viable option to get the permissions required to run the business that you intend to run.

Regarding tourist licenses - happy to answer your questions or send you extra info. There is a 6 part post in our name on the forum with links about that. But it was written last spring and some rules do change!

Good luck.

Bev