Yet another want to relocate to spain thread!

[Hybr!d]

Hi, I'm Dave!

I'm sure you get bored of these threads so I've read a ton of stuff here (great forum) and still have a few questions if that's ok.

My friend and I are thinking of relocating to Spain, initially for a couple of years for some adventure and to experience something different. We have both travelled extensively in the past and like Spain for its people, climate and proximity to 'old home'.

He owns his own home in the uk which he will rent, he also owns a barber shop so has some kind of income and he also has some savings to survive for 6-12 months. He is a trained electrical engineer too and eventually will want work in this field, either employed or self employed. Though we know this wont be possible at the start.

I have an Internet company which i can run from Spain, I also have 12 months savings and I may try to get a 2nd job to meet people and network, it is not essential. We both intend on learning the language as fast as possible and have had some basic lessons already.

So i guess my question is really does this all sound like we are in a good position to do this? Or are we being a little nieve? Would you say my friend will struggle to get any work be it handyman or waiter until he knows the language well?

If he is looking for year round work are there better places to live than others? I would like to be on the east coast, around Alicante, although I can live being outside the city would he need to be near to better work prospects? A long commute is not ideal.

Sorry for all the questions, i guess the best thing to do is go and do more research, which we plan on doing. I just though you guys might say yeah the English mostly live in X and then get work in Y and hang out in Z.

Thanks, Dave.

[Hepa]

Sounds to me that you are in a very good position, no dependants an income, just go for it, but leave a door open in the U.K. in case Spain is not the place you thought it would be.

Hepa

[jojo]

Originally Posted by Hepa

Sounds to me that you are in a very good position, no dependants an income, just go for it, but leave a door open in the U.K. in case Spain is not the place you thought it would be.

Hepa

Yes, I agree with Hepa, you've thought it through, planned for all eventualities, have an income source and no dependants - Go for it!!!

jo xxx

[Hybr!d]

Thanks for the vote of confidence!

Any advice regarding my friend getting work in say 3 months from landing, doing something along the lines of his trade?

Is the language essential for this and is it smart to be near a big city?

Thanks.

[jojo]

Originally Posted by Hybr!d

Thanks for the vote of confidence!

Any advice regarding my friend getting work in say 3 months from landing, doing something along the lines of his trade?

Is the language essential for this and is it smart to be near a big city?

Thanks.

Electrical engineering isnt gonna be easy. I'm not even sure his qualifications would be valid in Spain - if they are they would need to be homologoused. He would need to be fairly fluent in written and spoken Spanish - My husband is a qualified electrical engineer and he did do a bit of simple wiring work for a British chap he knew, but it had to be signed of by a "Professional" - mind blowing actually when you see the state of most electrics in Spain!!! He may get bits and pieces tho for expats???????

jo xxx

[Hepa]

Not living on the Iberian peninsular I cannot advise, However if you were here in the Canary isles, apart from the enclaves of ex pats language skills would be essential , plus the British Electrical qualification would have to be accepted by the Spanish authorities.

[xabiachica]

Originally Posted by Hybr!d

Thanks for the vote of confidence!

Any advice regarding my friend getting work in say 3 months from landing, doing something along the lines of his trade?

Is the language essential for this and is it smart to be near a big city?

Thanks.

that could be the only catch - work

that will be very hard to come by, especially as an electrical engineer

even if he spoke fluent Spanish, his qualifications would have to be 'homologado'

work as a handyman won't be that easy to come by either


if you & he can look upon it as a long holiday which you are prepared to return from after a year if there isn't any work, then as the others have said - go for it!!

if he is going to be needing to work, or relying upon the rental from the UK property which might not come in - then that's a whole different ballgame, sadly

[kevr]

Dave,

So it's been several months since this post, wondering if you've moved to Spain?

My partner and I are mulling over the option of moving to Spain too. Both are professionals (52/56) but not really interested in working full-time. He might do some teaching at a local University, I would be content with working some sort of service job. We are fininacially comfortable so work isn't a neccessity.

He is originally from Spain so would be an easier transition for us than for some. We would be moving from Ft. Lauderdale, Florida...so we like to warm weather of the CDS.

Any thoughts on being gay in the smaller communities? Any thoughts on buying vs renting? We need to make another trip to the south of Spain to do some intense exploring.

Kevin

[bob_bob]

If you want year round warmth then the Canary Islands are a much better choice. Gran Canaria is wonderful weather all year round while the CDS can have cold wet winters.

From what I've seen there seems to be a large gay community in and around Playa Del Ingles

Work though is another matter, all of Spain is hit with mass unemployment so don't even think of going if you need to work.

Also look at the threads here on American's getting Visa's and working in Spain...permission to live there is doable but work visas are very hard to obtain from the little I've read on here.

[Hepa]

Rent at first, your chosen location may not live up to your expectations. Also visit in winter Spain is a lot colder than Florida, this may influence your decision. There is also a bunch of islands on the same latitude as Florida, Las Islas Canarias....