newbie moving to Spain

[Lavenderfox]

Originally Posted by jojo

At least if you rent and it all goes wrong in Spain, all you'd have to worry about would be decorating. It would be total madness to sell up and buy in Spain when you have no idea what it will be like. Properties in Spain are not selling well and buying in Spain is nothing like buying in the UK. If you really dont want to rent your place out, then leave it empty, but rent in Spain. The way things are going, you wont lose any money cos house prices are dropping, so after renting for a few months, the same properties will still be available and cheaper.

Rent first!

Jo xxx

Thanks, I will take that on board, maybe go for a month and rent

[mrypg9]

Originally Posted by Lavenderfox

Thanks, I will take that on board, maybe go for a month and rent

Wise words from Jo, reinforcing what I and Snikpoh have suggested.

Whilst I very much doubt that you will be anything less than delighted with your life in Spain - what's not to like, as they say - you do need to be 100% sure that you are in the right country and the right place.

But moving itself is easy. People are very willing to help, especially if you know a few words of Spanish...so if you don't, get that 'Teach Yourself Spanish' book from Smiths!

[Solwriter]

Hi Lavenderfox and .

Contrary to my usual persona (hopefully, lol!), I am going to be the negative one on this thread.

I will say this...

Unless you already have friends (or perhaps family) living near you in Spain, you are going to be lonely.
If it is just you without a partner, doubly so.
If you have family and friends in the UK you are going to miss them, unless you and they travel to see each other on a regular basis.

As you have yet to learn Spanish, if you want to communicate with others on a daily basis (I certainly need to), then you will find life here difficult. It is not simply the case of finding somewhere to live among people who speak English, it is that every legal thing you have to do (becoming a resident, signing up for health care, etc) will either require some knowledge of the Spanish language, or money spent each time on a translator or gestor.

Sorry if that sounds negative, but as someone who enjoys living in Spain, but who also misses her family and UK friends on a daily basis, and who, even now, sometimes struggles to catch the gist of a conversation with Spanish friends, that's my take on this situation.

I would wait until next year, when your son can finance his holiday home here.
I would also not rely on this becoming a reality until he actually purchases the property.

Not doubting your sons ability to do so, just thinking that things change a great deal within a year and you may not like to be stuck here on your own.

With that in mind, a few small (but longish) trips and definitely not selling your property in the UK is the only way I would recommend this move.

Good luck whatever you decide. to do.

[Lavenderfox]

Thanks for all the comment
I did learn Spanish 20 odd years ago, been wanting to move for a long time, although forgotten much now
I won't be lonely, plenty folk will want to come for a holiday!

[jojo]

Originally Posted by Lavenderfox

I won't be lonely, plenty folk will want to come for a holiday!

oooohh, now thats a whole different thread - VISITORS aaaaaaaaggggggggggghh!!!

Jo xxx

[mrypg9]

Originally Posted by Lavenderfox

Thanks for all the comment
I did learn Spanish 20 odd years ago, been wanting to move for a long time, although forgotten much now
I won't be lonely, plenty folk will want to come for a holiday!

Yes, they will. In our three years in Prague we had guests every month. We decided to stop that when we came here ad have only very few good frioends on our guest list.
It's also easy to make friends here. I got involved with a dog rescue charity and joined a political party and made loads of Spanish friends and friends of many nationalities.
I also see much more of my family as they come over almost every month to their house very near where we live - a ten minute drive away, if that.
We see more of them than when we lived eighty miles away in the UK!

[bob_bob]

Don't sell in the UK, don't buy in Spain. Property is down 35% and is forecast to drop another 35% next year, you if you buy are in a loosing situation. Think of it like buying a new car for £15,000, hand over the cash and before you leave the showroom its worth £12,000.

Rent for a year or more at the minimum because if you do still go against logic and buy, you won't be able to sell it without taking a hit.

Its easier to redecorate your UK home than stand in line for emergency accommodation at the local DHSS office.

Think long and hard.

[Stravinsky]

Originally Posted by bob_bob

Don't sell in the UK, don't buy in Spain. Property is down 35% and is forecast to drop another 35% next year,

Who is forecasting that bob bob?

[Pesky Wesky]

Originally Posted by bob_bob

Don't sell in the UK, don't buy in Spain. Property is down 35% and is forecast to drop another 35% next year, you if you buy are in a loosing situation. Think of it like buying a new car for £15,000, hand over the cash and before you leave the showroom its worth £12,000.

Rent for a year or more at the minimum because if you do still go against logic and buy, you won't be able to sell it without taking a hit.

Its easier to redecorate your UK home than stand in line for emergency accommodation at the local DHSS office.

Think long and hard.

They'll be giving houses away free with a bag of carrots a supermarkets soon if they go down much more.

[bob_bob]

Originally Posted by Stravinsky

Who is forecasting that bob bob?

A link on this forum or the other Spanish forum if you have a search. I don't care either way what people do but to be honest I'd not invest a penny in Spain now.