Take The Risk - Pension Plan or Preparation
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Submitted by cwiffen on Sun, 24/08/2008 - 12:22.
Your Name:
Colin Wiffen
Where are you from?:
Norfolk, England
Where do you live now?:
Norfolk,England
When did you move here?:
04/2006
Who did you come here with?:
Partner / Husband / Wife
Why did you decide to come here?:
We decided to start looking to buy abroad because we love sunshine and didn't feel that we liked the direction in which Britain is moving! Spain is a great country with (mostly) very friendly people, a relaxed atmosphere and a strong sense of family.
What did you leave behind?:
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Nothing yet, we are still in the UK building towards our future plans. In the mean time as I said above, we rent our apartment, many potential purchasers have rented it out and found it a nice base and a useful location www.costablancaholiday.info. This doesn't pay the mortgage in full but every bit is a help. This may be the way foirward for you if you do not want to move just yet.
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What work do you do?:
Software Development in the UK, also we invented a card game called Grab a Pig which is great for travelling adults and children.
What made you choose this location? Did you know much about it before you moved here?:
We went to Guardamar del Segura to check it out as friends have an apartment there. The first day I arrived I hated it, the next I loved it, truly it happened that quick. We came back 6 months later to start looking to buy and when we drove into Guardamar it felt like you were driving home.
Tell us about the place you live? What's it like (a house, apartment, flat, etc)? What are your neighbours like?:
We have an apartment in a resedential complex. 33 dwellings of which the majority (except about 5) of our neighbours are Spanish. The Spanish can be quite noisy and can do a lot of Furniture rearranging (scraping on the floor) but we are lucky, and our neighbours seem very nice. We always speak in Spanish where possible as most do not speak English (our Spanish is not perfect but always appreciated).
What's the best thing about where you live?:
Everything, the location (views to the sea), the cuisine (a diversity of different restaurants), The locals (most are very friendly), The town (Still predominently Spanish so unspoiled by an over abundance of British bars and fish and chip shops)
What have you learned about your area that you think other people should know?:
Respect it for what it is, the Spanish are very Patriotic about their towns and country. Embrace the culture and always try to speak in Spanish, even a few words are appreciated. Do not buy a property thinking it will make you rich, there are still a large number of empty properties, see it as a long term investment and you won't lose out.
Is there anything you're not so happy about?:
Some Spanish officials (such as those who manage our community) can be very poor with communicating with the British, just remember that some may have the same opinion of foreigners (us) that some people have in the UK.
How important do you think it is to be able to speak Spanish?:
As expressed earlier, it is essential. Think to how you feel when foreigners in the UK don't speak English! It is always appreciated and it anables you to mix with locals, buy from local shops, use local tradesmen, and enriches your life. Don't be embarrassed about using it, my philosophy is that if the person you are speaking to cannot speak English, even your poor Spanish is one step better towards communication, just remember, you are the foreigner!
Do you miss anything from your home country?:
As explained We still live in the UK, so at the moment I cannot give you a definitive answer.
Do you have any regrets?:
No, admittedly we have not moved yet, but we have no regrets with our decisions, don't get in to the position where you can regret it - <b>DO YOUR RESEARCH :-)</b>
What's your best bit of advice for people thinking of doing the same as you?:
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Do your research, don't buy a house or apartment in any country without exercising the same logic and common sense that you would in the UK. We found our own Lawyer, never (in my opinion) use the lawyer of the company selling you the house, it just doesn't make any sense! We got caught on our first purchase attempt and had to take the developer to court, we won because we had good legal rerpresentation and were in the right.
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The developer's lawyer asked me who advised me to use a lawyer - odd question I thought!
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The bottom line, don't trust anybody however nice they seem when they stand to gain from telling you what you want to hear. Buying a property is a big decision to take, a wise step to make, but just go in with your eyes open, and get your legal representative to do all necessary searches etc, it is worth the extra cost.
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What plans do you have for your future in Spain?:
Currently my plan is to retire out to Spain, I have no desire to be working full time for somebody else by the time I am 55 and life is for living. A risk is always worth taking if it is a calculated one, there is no advancement without risk in my opinion.
In your experience, what is the biggest mistake other people make when moving to Spain?:
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Burning their bridges! If you can afford it, never sell your house in the UK (or your home country) I have known too many people who sell up, a year or two later they don't like it and then they cannot get back on the property ladder back home.
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It is better to go for a year and pay rent, this should be long enough to see if you like it or not. If you do then sell (if you want to). We decided to buy whilst we are working and then we will rent our UK house out when we move which by then will mean we have paid the mortgage on our Spanish property.
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Also learn the language and get out and mix, with locals as well as Ex-Pats, take up some hobbies or interests otherwise the idylic lifestyle may not seem so idylic when the boredom sets in!
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If you want to take a look at the area in which we plan to live we can rent you our fully equipped apartment just visit <a href="http://www.costablancaholiday.info/">www.costablancaholiday.info</a> for more details
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