spanish property magazine issue 22

SPANISH PROPERTY MAGAZINE ISSUE 22

PS AIN*SPANISH PROPERTY MAGAZINE (SPM) Issue 22

10 MAD REASONS FOR NOT BUYING A SPANISH

PROPERTY

HOW EXCHANGE RATES AFFECT YOUR SPANISH PROPERTY PURCHASE

VALENCIA’S BEACH AREAS: THE CABAÑAL, MALVARROSA

AND PATACONA

SPANISH PROPERTY BUYERS MOVING INTO THE CITIES

what is it like to live in spain? those who are here have their say

Welcome To The Magazine

Editor’s Note The latest Summer edition SPM is here and in this light version due to ridiculously busy schedules and a whole heap of summer we bring you some more great articles about Spain and a good selection of properties to look at. Take a look through what we offer this month and contact us with any questions about Spain, Spanish Property and lifestyle !This month we have a lot of great content from the Spanish Property Network website, “10 Mad Reasons For NOT Buying a Spanish Property”, properties that are just such good value that we want to buy them ourselves but they give YOU choices choices and more choices and more great articles to help you make your choice !If you have any questions or suggestions or simply want to comment get in touch with us by mail at [email protected]. Hugely busy 2014 so far so long may it continue.

Created, Curated and Edited By Graham Hunt

Features

Written by Graham Hunt

Magazine Featured Content

Main StorySpain

VALENCIA’S BEACH AREAS: CABANYAL, MALVARROSA AND PATACONA!BY THE SPN!

HOW EXCHANGE RATES AFFECT YOUR SPANISH PROPERTY PURCHASE!BY THE SPN

TOP TEN FAMILY TRAVEL GAMES!BY LISA SADLEIR

10 MAD REASONS FOR NOT BUYING A

SPANISH PROPERTY!

+ A WHOLE LOT MORE INCLUDING A LOT OF GREAT PROPERTIES IN ALL AREAS OF SPAIN, SPANISH PROPERTY BUYERS MOVING INTO THE CITY,, MOVING TO SPAIN WITH CHILDREN AND

SOME EXCELLENT BACKGROUND INFORMATION ABOUT SPAIN

100 TIPS FOR

MOVING TO SPAIN

PART 21

10 MAD REASONS FOR NOT BUYING A SPANISH

PROPERTY

10 MAD REASONS FOR NOT BUYING A SPANISH PROPERTY

Over the years we have had a load of excuses for not buying a Spanish Property. Some of them are fair enough, some of them are rather strange and some of them are on the cusp of a deranged mind working overtime. I really don’t mind if somebody doesn’t want to buy a property, as long as they are honest. After all I try to be honest in the descriptions, my opinions and the properties we offer. But please don’t BS me. So here in no particular order are the top ten mad reasons for not going through with a purchase of a Spanish Property. We have heard all of them and no doubt we will hear more of them in time. !Number 1: There is a pylon within view which could give me leukaemia. An American client once actually said this to me so I took out my telescope and peered into the distance and sure enough a couple of kilometres away behind a small hillock a pylon was peering out guiltily, carrying electricity to some poor unfortunate folks who are now undoubtedly struggling with their leukaemia ridden bodies.


Number 2: The feng shui is all wrong. Yes the Feng shui, that eastern philosophy that roughly translated means “Ripping off westerners with jokes about chi flowing around the property and prosperity being reflected out of the front door by a badly placed mirror whilst charging you a few thousand Euros for the privilege of telling you this crap”. That Feng Shui.

Number 3: I am not sure I will make money on it when I come to sell in 20 years time. Honestly I am not quite sure what I am going to be doing next week, I am totally unsure about my movements next month and the dim and distant future of next year is a total puzzle worthy of the Mystery Machine and the Scooby Doo gang. I used to think that houses were for living in. This excuse, and yes, they DID say 20 years, finally convinced me that the World is mad and people do not see a house as a place for living in but merely as a rather large piggy bank which luckily, generally doesn’t resemble a porker. !Number 4: The chimney is the wrong colour. Well paint it dear Henry, dear Henry, dear Henry! The property had a feature chimney. You may have heard of a feature wall before, another total load of claptrap espoused on property programmes the world over. A feature chimney took this concept to a totally new level. But guess what, there is something called paint and it can cover up all sorts of previous sins. And it doesn’t cost much either.


Number 5: It is too cheap there must be something wrong with it. ! !Yep! Me too! !Number 6: “The walls are not right“. “Pardon me” “The walls are not right” “In what way exactly?” “They are just not right!” “What in a Poltergeist type way, a Jamiroquai way or what? “Pardon me?” !Number 7: I don’t think my cats will like it. Yes, someone actually said this to me. Cats apparently have opinions on interior design, room sizes and undoubtedly the incredibly complicated issues of Feng Shui.


Number 8: It’s got a bidet and I don’t think I need one of those. So get rid of it then or at least use it in the same way everybody else does, to put their umbrellas in. The fact that a house has a bidet, a beige coloured couch or some really iffy Feng Shui is really neither here nor there. Lose it. !Number 9: I won’t have anywhere to put my fridge. I am not going to suggest that to anyone that they get rid of their pride and joy and dump their fridge of course…. oh wait, yes I am. Just because your fridge is one of those American type ones with a drinks dispenser, ice maker and double doors that looks like something from a NASA mission or gives you access to a new world as in “The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe” doesn’t mean you should be keeping it. In Spain you should be buying fresh produce daily and keeping your fridge more empty. It reduces food waste you know. !Number 10: I’m okay without a lift but I don’t want to walk up any stairs. I have heard that levitation is all the rage these days. It’s a mind over matter thing. You just stand there and you will eventually get to your destination if you really want it hard enough. Next time I will just take those clients to a place with a ramp up and a slide down. Much more practical. !So there you go the 10 maddest reasons that have been given to me over the years for not buying a property. None of this, it’s too small, in the wrong area, don’t like the view, it’s horrible, don’t make me laugh, you are kidding right, why are you showing me this? A totally different order of madness.

INTRODUCING THE SPANISH PROPERTY

NETWORKGRAHAM HUNT

DAVID LEIGH

SIMON HARRIS

NICK SNELLING

LISA SADLEIR


Spain is in the Eurozone of course and for many clients of the Spanish Property Network the exchange rate has no effect on their Spanish Property purchase because their country uses the Euro and so do we. However this is not the case for a large percentage of our customers who come from outside the Eurozone; the UK, The USA, Canada, The Middle East, The Far East and more. !Obviously in order to purchase a property in Spain a client needs to make a transfer of funds into the country, usually into a bank account they have previously opened, and then draw a bank draft for payment on the day that they sign to buy their property.


The good news for many of our clients, and we are going to use the UK as an example, is that the Euro has weakened in the last few weeks to levels not seen since 2008 and the financial crash. Against the Pound the Euro hit 1.25 this month. In theory this is good news for buyers but what does it mean in practice? Well in practice it is even better news. !A client of ours is currently buying a property at 325000 Euros in Valencia. If they had made their transfer last week at the 1.22 rate it would have cost them just over 266000 Pounds Sterling. By making the transfer today it will now cost them 260000 pounds a saving of 6000 pounds or put another way 7500 Euros extra has appeared in their account this week to use as they wish.

However, do not think that it is your bank that will pass you on the greatest savings. That is far from the truth. We work with various Currency Transfer companies and they are very keen to save our clients a lot of money and do a much more efficient job than the banks of course. Typically our clients save up to 5% on transfers compared to the banks. One of the companies we work with is Currencies Direct. We are very happy that they now have representatives in most of the areas we cover and even more excited to learn that they can now work with our American clients, something previously not possible, when transferring Dollars to Euros for Spanish Property Purchases.


Remember though that all of your transfers into Spain can be done in this way, your mortgage payments, if you have a mortgage, will be at a much better rate for your monthly recurring payments, that car you have your eye on will also be cheaper if you use a currency company, your bank will not get a high percentage of your pension payments if you are drawing your pension in another currency and transfers back to your home country are also at a better rate. !It makes sense, it is usually quicker and because of arrangements in Spain the money coming into your account will not be charged a receiving fee by the receiving bank as it does sometimes when coming from your bank abroad. Click on the link to be taken to Currencies Direct Homepage and sign up to get a quote for your transfer. They guarantee to match or beat all quotes you have on transfers into Spain. !One last thing you should also know. Don’t be afraid to ask questions. You can fix your rate against the Euro if you fear that it may drop between when you make an offer on the property and completion, often a period of up to 60 days (Ask about Forward Ordering). This makes your planning a lot easier for paying at the Notary on the day of the signing. And guess what? If the rate goes in your favour in the intervening time you can take the higher rate but you have made sure you have hedged against the rate falling. A win-win situation which most banks will not offer even at their significantly lower rates. !My only question is, why would anyone ever use a bank to make a currency transfer? You lose money, it is slower and there are always extra charges. It makes no sense.

DIANA BERRYMAN (ARCHIDONA) !

Living in Archidona feels like coming home, we have lived in four other towns in Spain but this one

feels like we have settled at last. It is great for families and now my kids can't get away with

anything as they have extra "parents" and "grandparents" keeping an eye on them!

WHAT’S IT LIKE TO LIVE IN SPAIN? (BY THOSE THAT DO)

MARIANNE ELIZABETH (COMPETA) !

Cómpeta has long been known as the Pearl of the Axarquía - and for good reason. This breath-taking “pueblo blanco”,

with the stunning backdrop of La Maroma and the Sierra Almijara mountains, yet with views down to the

Mediterranean Sea, is a great place to live. Cómpeta, a cosmopolitan village, situated inland and to the east of

Málaga, is now home to many nationalities whilst retaining its Spanish roots and traditions.

ALICIA SHELLEY (ANTEQUERA) !

Living in Antequera is the most 'real' experience I have had of living in Spain. I have lived on the coast, I have lived in Madrid, I have lived in the 'campo' (if three months count), and I have

lived in a small town (neither quite coastal nor inland). Yet Antequera, whilst elegant and full of historic sights still to be discovered by the majority of tourists to the Costa del Sol, is filled with 'normality'. Outgoing and vibrant, yet classic and

reserved enough to meet my English nature, I feel it is a pretty good balance of all types of normal.

GAILE GRIFFIN PEERS !

A small part of the view from my bedroom window - why Javea? - it is has an amazing number of different nationalities living in harmony together, I can

walk from the house up into the Montgo Park - it is barely two miles to the centre of town - the town has allowed me to become an integral, albeit tiny, part of it - and has paid back my pleasure in it tenfold. They all put up with my appalling Spanish because they know I really am trying and, despite the

assumption that this is expatshire, there is a vibrant, articulate and entrepreneurial Spanish core population here who welcome me with grace

and warmth

CAROL BYRNE (LAS ALPUJARRAS) !

Living in the lower rural Alpujarras can be a challenge! Cold and often harsh winters, summers so hot and bright

the whitewashed houses hurt your eyes. Add a large distance to be covered for even the most simple wants.

But some of the freshest air in Europe, views that simply have to be seen to be believed, and our really friendly, traditional village of Murtas make up for any shortfalls. The best part of winding precariously down mountain to

get back to 'reality' is ALWAYS coming home again. Come see for yourself!

CRAIG BRIGGS (CANABAL - GALICIA) !

Living in the village of Canabal is quiet, peaceful, and tranquil. The village sits comfortably within an area known as the Ribeira Sacra in Galicia. To say that this is the most beautiful place in Spain would be doing the area a major disservice. It is undoubtably one of the most

beautiful places on the planet. Every year we experience all four seasons and although winter can be a little chilly, even for me, I can

only assume that's why God made the Costa del Sol.

SANDRA PINNOCK - (ALGORFA) !

Living in Algorfa means living among the orange groves in the shelter of the Sierra de Callosa. I'd never even heard of the place until we came on our inspection visit, but I fell in love with it - and our garden apartment - the moment I saw it. The build quality leaves a lot to be desired, but the community spirit in Algorfa is priceless, and something I want to

hold on to forever. How many people have this view from the car park?

LISA SADLEIR (MIJAS)

!Mijas pueblo is a perfect place

for our children to grow up. There is always something

happening. The ferias are small enough that we do not worry

about losing them (unlike when we venture down to the larger ferias on the coast). Anytime we wander around the village their friends call out to them … it is a lovely, safe, family

environment. Imagine going to school in a village where you

can get stuck behind horse and carriages and donkey taxis …

it´s almost a fairy tale for a child!

TOP 10 FAMILY TRAVEL GAMES In Spain you get around. Make sure the

little ones aren’t arguing all the time with these excellent travel games

TOP 10 FAMILY TRAVEL GAMESAs our children get older, we are travelling more frequently and more further afield. As I’m sure any parent will agree, keeping the children entertained whilst travelling makes it a much smoother ride. For this reason, we have decided to share out Top 10 Best Family Travel Games with you. !Whether it is a flight back to the UK to visit family or a road trip down to our beloved Cadiz, or any other place we choose to visit, most of the items on out Top 10 Best Family Travel Games list are usually with us. Remember, we are not known for travelling light, although these games are probably the most compact we have. !We’ve included links to Amazon.co.uk and .com where you can browse and purchase any of the Family Travel Games you like the look of… !

The Creativity Hub Rory’s Story Cubes (For all ages) !9 cubes, 54 images, over 10 million possible combos, unlimited stories! Recipient of Dr. Toy’s “10 Best Games” Award, the “Major Fun Award” and “People’s Choice Award”. How it works…Simply roll all 9 dice, examine each of the face-up images and let them guide your imagination through a story that begins with “Once upon a time…”. The secret is not to think too deeply. Simply ‘gulp’ in the images and start talking. And remember, there is no wrong answer! The nine dice, each with a unique image on all six sides, hold a total of 54 images. This means that with every roll, there are over 10 million combination’s for you to use as the inspiration for your story. The uses for Rory’s Story Cubes are boundless. Play them while traveling, waiting in a restaurant, in the classroom, as an icebreaker, for idea generation, or to make learning a new language more fun.

TOP 10 FAMILY TRAVEL GAMESTravel Guess Who (For all ages)

!The classic guessing game comes in a compact size for plenty of fun on the run. Quick set-up and a self-contained storage tray make it a great game to play anytime, anywhere. Which face has your opponent picked? Someone with brown hair? Someone wearing a hat? Someone with both? Just one good question could eliminate several faces at once-be the first to figure out your opponent’s mystery face and you win the round. !

Sort it Out Game Travel Tin (For all the family) !Sort it Out!™ is the new award-winning party game from Australia that’s sweeping across the world. A great ice breaker for groups of new friends and a battle of wits for old friends and family. Can you sort these animals by their top speed–a bat, a zebra, a crocodile, a salmon and a golden eagle? How about sorting these house-hold inventions by when they were created—flushing toilet, electric vacuum cleaner, disposable razor, bath and facial tissues? In Sort It Out!™, finding out the correct order is just as much fun as getting it right. !How to Play: The winner is the first player to reach 20 points by knowing the biggest, fastest, loudest, earliest, smallest and longest of everything, or just being a lucky guesser. Place a topic card in the middle of the table and all players answer the question at the same time by placing their five coloured tiles in the correct order on their tile holder (see example question image). When it’s time to see the answer you don’t just get the correct order, we back it up with some facts too (did you know James Murray Spangler invented the electric Hoover in 1908?). For each answer you get in the correct place on your tile holder, you get 1 point towards your target of 20 points. A great, fun after-dinner game and ideally packaged to take on your travels. For 2 to 4 players.

Pass the Pigs (For all ages) !The original party animals. Try your luck using pigs for dice. Will you roll a sider or start makin’ bacon? This game, in its elegant silver-coloured case, remains an- all time classic game to be played anywhere, by anyone. Using the two little pigs as dice, your objective is to score 100 points before your friends do. How those little porkers land determines the points you score. Roll a Double Snouter and score 40 points. Roll a trotter get another 5 points and you’re well on the way to 100. But, do you bank those points or risk rolling again? Roll a Pig Out and you lose all your points for that turn. A roll of a makin’ bacon and you lose all your accumulated points. You’ll need hog-sized helpings of luck and nerve if you’re going to get your snout in the trough… These pigs are truly addictive–a classic game for generations. !

!!!!!!

Smart Ass Game Travel Tin (For older kids and adults) !Smart Ass is the ultimate trivia game where even a dumb “ass” can win! This quick-moving, fun party game involves everybody on every turn and as soon as you think you know the answer to a question, just shout it out! There are four main question categories: Who am I?, What am I?, Where am I? and Hard Ass. Each question is made up of a series of ten clues which get progressively easier (see example question image). The first person to shout out the correct answer wins the round and keeps that card. If anyone blurts out the wrong answer then they’re out until the next question. The first player to answer four questions correctly wins the game and is crowned the ultimate Smart Ass! This tin version of Smart Ass makes a great after-dinner game and has all the fun of the Smart Ass board game – just without the board! Its portable size means it can be taken on your travels and brighten up any journey. If you already own the Smart Ass board game, it will make a great booster pack of fresh new questions to extend the fun. For 2 or more players and ages 12 to adult.

TOP 10 FAMILY TRAVEL GAMES

Bananagrams Game (For all the family) !Bananagrams is a fast and fun word game that requires no pencil, paper or board. All you need is a table. One hand can be played in as little as five minutes. It is great for family fun as well as being educational. Bananagrams’ portability makes it perfect for travel. Just grab the pouch and go. (Imagine a game of Scrabble without the need for a board!) !

!!!!!!

LeapFrog LeapPad Ultra (Great first tablet for the younger ones!)

!Everything mums want; everything kids will love !Built for children, inside and out, the LeapPad Ultra is a kid-friendly tablet with a 7 inch high-resolution screen and safe WiFi that works with hundreds of fun educator-approved games and apps. The tablet is designed for children aged 4 to 9 years, and works with all LeapFrog Explorer cartridges and downloadable apps (sold separately). !Looks like yours; plays like theirs !LeapPad Ultra is built from the ground up to be ultra-tough for kids, and has all the features they want. Play, draw, and write on a 7 inch high-resolution screen, designed with feather-light responsiveness for a kid’s touch or for stylus-based play. Capture the world in two ways with front and back cameras and video recorders. !Kids can add cool filters and effects to photos with Photo Fun Ultra, and create crisp, colourful masterpieces with the enhanced Art Studio Ultra app. They can also rock out to included learning songs, or jam to their own music with the built-in MP3 player.

TOP 10 FAMILY TRAVEL GAMES

TOP 10 FAMILY TRAVEL GAMESNintendo Handheld Console 3DS

(These keep our two occupied for hours!) !Nintendo 3DS is a groundbreaking hardware release that brings 3D gaming to the handheld market for the first time. The fourth major release in the DS product line, the Nintendo 3DS utilises 3D Slider functionality and an improved top LCD display to present a glasses-free 3D effect on compatible games, while giving players the option to moderate the effect as they see fit. Taken together with additional features including full analogue control in 3D game environments, motion and gyro sensors that transfer the movements of the handheld into the game, 3D camera functionality, an adjustable stylus and full backwards compatibility and you have not only a must-have system, but a revolution in handheld gaming. !

All-New Kindle Paperwhite (Mainly for mum but dad and kids get to read it too.

Great for reading by the pool or on the beach!) !Unlike reflective tablet and smartphone screens, the latest Kindle Paperwhite reads like paper – no annoying glare, even in bright sunlight. (And that includes by the pool and on the beach!) !Paperwhite guides light towards the surface of the display with its next generation front light – unlike back-lit tablets that shine in your eyes – so you can read comfortably without straining your eyes. Adjust your screen’s brightness for great reading in any light. !Kindle Paperwhite is a great choice if you already have a high-speed internet connection and wireless router set up in your home. If you do not have Wi-Fi set up at home, Kindle Paperwhite 3G may be a better option – 3G connectivity lets you download books anytime, anywhere. !So there you have our Top 10 Best Family Travel Games from Amazon. Would you add any others? !We have lots of silly, fun, family games that we have made up too. We’ll share them with you another time. Happy Family Travels everyone!

MOVING TO SPAIN WITH CHILDRENBY LISA SADLEIR !We are very excited to announce that our book about Moving to Spain with Children is due to be published in September 2014. !As well as being available in kindle format, a print edition of Moving to Spain with Children will be published, thanks to UP Publications Ltd. This means that not only will you be able to buy the book online but also in certain bookshops (little shrieks of joy by mum here). !We will also be planning a promotional campaign to visit book fairs and other exhibitions over the following months. More details soon. !If you search online you will find a multitude of books about Spain; books set in spain; books about: moving to Spain; books about living in Spain and people’s stories about moving to Spain from UK. However, there is very little information available about Spain for children and almost nothing about Moving to Spain with Children. !Until now, that is. !To give you a taste of what to expect, we have included part of out Introductory chapter and also some feedback from individuals who have read the draft copy of Moving to Spain with Children. !We look forward to your feedback too.

Moving to Spain with Children by Lisa Sadleir

!Essential reading for parents

!Spain is a wonderful place to live. It is the place I have chosen to bring up my children. Having lived here for over 23 years now, I cannot envisage living anywhere else (although I will never say never!). !Living in Spain allows us, as a family, to appreciate that: we have more time with our children; we spend more time outdoors in the fresh open air; family comes first; material possessions are not important; people are generally very friendly and open; we are living an invaluable experience. !Every year, many people consider moving to Spain. Every year people make the move and sometimes it doesn’t work out and they return home (you know, the stories often published in the tabloids and UK sensationalist TV programs) . From experience, I am inclined to say that many failed relocations are due to inadequate research and incorrect advice (Health issues aside!). !……. !So, if you are moving to Spain, without a secure income and looking for work, please rethink. If you are planning to move to Spain in search of a better family life, please read on …

Moving to Spain with Children by Lisa Sadleir

!Welcome to Moving to Spain with Children, the aim of the book is to: !Give you food for thought Provide factual info & sources of information Share real life experiences Warning: If you are looking to be sold the dream, put this book down now and buy one of the many other books on the market. !

This book is not here to sell you a dream. This book will show you the reality.

This book will show you what life in Spain is really like. This book will tell you what you need to think about before deciding to make

the move. This book will give you a much better start to your life in Spain.

This book will become your invaluable source of thinking material and insight, in preparation for your move and during your first months in Spain. !In Summary… !Don’t even think of Moving to Spain with Children without reading this essential self-help manual. Compiled by a successful British working Mum who has experienced the relocation roller-coaster for you – the highs, lows and occasional shrieks of panic – it could save you months of hassle and heartache. Chapters cover: !Timing your Move; Choosing the Best Location; Schooling; Paperwork; Learning Spanish; Healthcare; Property purchase; Starting a business and other considerations crucial to ensuring a smooth transition to your new lifestyle.

So there you have a taste of what is to come. To add your name to the waiting list and be advised as soon as Moving to Spain with Children is available, simply click the button here and add your email details.

We look forward to receiving your questions and hearing your stories about Moving to Spain with Children very soon. (We may include you in our next

book!) The following video is a recent TV interview where we introduce our projects: Our Book about Moving to Spain with Children and also our

language learning activity books, Cooking with Languages …

VIDEO

VALENCIA’S BEACH AREA: THE CABANYAL, THE MALVARROSA AND THE

PATACONA

VALENCIA’S BEACH AREA: THE CABANYAL, THE MALVARROSA

AND THE PATACONAValencia’s beach to the North of the Port is divided into three areas; the Cabanyal, the Malvarrosa and the Patacona (For purposes of this article we divide it into four). However it really is just one long and very sandy beach with an excellent promenade that you will find people skating, cycling and jogging up and down every day all year round. The beach area is not overdeveloped as great measures have been taken to make sure that there was no massive property development that could spoil the feel of the area. However this has meant that for many years it was ignored. Now things are changing and even the Valencians are starting to appreciate what an underused and excellent asset the city has. To find out why we need to look back at the history of the city. !Valencia grew up during the growth of Spain hundreds of years ago and at that time the river was navigable up to the entrance to the city, the Torres Serranos. Marco Polo used to bring silks from the far East and trade them in the Lonja de la Seda (Now a World Heritage Site opposite the central Market in the city). Nevertheless over the years the river began to silt up and the boats could not get to the traditional city gates (Valencia at the time was a walled city so it was the only entrance from the river) !Little by little the boats got further away from the city until they were forced to dock at the edge of the Mediterranean rather than coming up the river. The City meanwhile had developed and its cultural, population and heritage centre was not going to change. Effectively the enclosed and walled city had turned its back on the sea.


AND THE PATACONAThe people who had traditionally lived by the sea meanwhile were fishermen and their families, boatmakers, sailmakers and more who had little to do with the city of Valencia over 4km away inland. They developed their own identities, had a different attitude and a totally different outlook on life from their city brethren. !This differentiation continued well into the 20th century and as Valencia the city grew it came to join up with the area by the coast until to the outsider it became a part of the city as a whole. However the people of the beach area still considered themselves apart. Their attitudes remained different, their allegiances were different (They support Levante football club not Valencia) they had different traditions (Easter parades are reminiscent of Granada and Sevilla rather than the more reserved Valencia) and the feeling in the barrios was still different to the city folk.

In the late eighties Blasco Ibañez Avenue was expanded and there was a plan to extend it through the Cabañal area from the Viveros park effectively dividing it into two. The locals were not happy and fought it bitterly. Over twenty years later there is still no solution to this impasse. Most of the people living in the beach area want rehabilitation and modernisation of the area whereas the local government continues to try and force through demolitions of historic property and the community and they have effectively blighted the area for over 20 years allowing decay, squatters and drugs to thrive in the area to be affected by the demolitions… if they ever happen. !This does not affect the vast majority of the beach area though and here is your little guide to what is what and where you can find it.


AND THE PATACONAValencia’s Port Area.

!Extensively modernised for the 32nd America’s Cup of 2007 and then used again for the 33rd edition, the beach goes north from the port area and the Port itself is now the hub of a new plan for a technological park attracting new businesses into the area. Home to Formula One for a few years the area now has great potential, excellent communications with the metro lines coming in from the centre of the city and a brand spanking new superyacht marina. On the beachfront you get the best selection of Paella restaurants in the world and a huge and imposing five star hotel, Las Arenas, backing onto a squat and social housing ;-). !Property in this area known locally as the Canyamelar part of the Cabañal is excellently priced and with great potential for both rental and long term capital growth. Foreign buyers of property in Valencia seem to love the area for its gritty realism, its excellent restaurants and the vibe that is given off.


AND THE PATACONAThe Cabañal

!The central part of the Cabañal is dominated by the market and limited by the underground railway station which links the area up with the city centre in one stop. In this area you find a mix of older two story fishermen’s houses and 1950ʹ′s and 60ʹ′s four and five floor buildings mostly without lifts. All of the Cabañal area is just a few minutes walk from the Las Arenas beach and the population here tends to be a mixture of older residents mixing happily with the local student population who attend the nearby Valencia University. !To the east of the Station is the area that will be affected by the planned demolitions and it is scruffy, very scruffy. You can buy a property for a song here but the potential compulsory purchase may well put you off if the evident decay of the area doesn’t. Don’t worry though, it is just a couple of blocks before moving back into the Cabanyal itself. The Northern part of the Cabanyal has hundreds of beautifully tiled two story homes in various states of repair, rehabilitation or falling down. This is a property investor’s wet dream.


AND THE PATACONAThe Malvarrosa

!The Malvarrosa takes its name from the plant that used to grow wild about the beach area and it is a solid working class area of Valencia with excellent connections by bus into the centre and the marvellous beach just a few minutes walk. The property in the Malvarrosa ranges from apartments from around 40000 Euros up to million Euro houses on their own plots with superb sea views and amazing pool and gardens. !There is a buzz about the Malvarrosa area of the city that is different to the rest of the city, a feeling that people don’t belong to Valencia itself, an otherworldliness and friendliness that is created by the closely bonded community. As in any working class area there are a plethora of fruit and veg shops, a lack of chain stores, grubby corner bars serving surprisingly good food with very reasonable menus of the day and people standing around on street corners smoking, chatting and watching the world go by. Gentrification is happening in certain areas of the Malvarrosa but avoid the Casas Rosas area (One street) as despite the properties being virtually given away you wouldn’t want to live there)


AND THE PATACONAThe Patacona

!The newest area of Valencia beach is the Patacona. Even just fifteen years ago there were fisherman’s huts here at the side of the Mediterranean which gave it a strange feeling when backed by the growing eight or nine floor buildings being constructed behind them. Then in one of those awful corruption scandals that always seem to involve Valencian politicians and constructors they were given compulsory purchase orders as they violated the coastal law and they were bulldozed. Conveniently this left some prime building land for the constructors to put some new restaurants, apartment blocks and more, conveniently forgetting the Coastal law, just as the building boom went to bust. !However it is not all bad, some old Palaces and houses were left which are now developing a huge buzz with the Llevant restaurant, the La Más Bonita cake shop, the Spaghetti and Blues restaurant/club and more taking off, the Patacona is now being recognised as an excellent place for families to hang out during the day overlooking the beach and for going out in the evening for excellent Mediterranean style food and drink with a sea breeze.


AND THE PATACONAProperty is more expensive here, built as it was just a few years ago, and there are a few skeletal buildings that may or may not get finished as the economy comes back to life but expect to pay roughly double per square metre in the Patacona than the Malvarrosa meaning we recommend the Malvarrosa or the Cabañal for that Spanish city seaside bolthole. !There are other areas of the city and elsewhere with coastal acccess of course. To the North of the City is the Port Saplaya Marina where people who maybe don’t have a superyacht but like sailing moor their boats. 4km into the city from the North it is a popular area with an ever growing permanent population rather than the 2 months of summer full and ten months empty feel of many coastal areas. !To the South of the Port you have the Nazaret area which is probably the cheapest real estate that stands direct onto the Mediterranean, (Including that in Africa) However it is not really recommended as it is out on a limb and separated from the rest of the beach area by the container port. !If you want to know more about the beach area of Valencia and what your money will get you just contact us by mail here or on Twitter and ask for more information. Happy to be of help.

THE SPANISH PROPERTY NETWORK AND THE SPANISH RESIDENCY PROJECT.

TWO PROJECTS TO HELP YOU TO GET WHAT YOU WANT IN SPAIN

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SPANISH PROPERTY BUYERS MOVING INTO

THE CITY

SPANISH PROPERTY BUYERS MOVING INTO THE CITY

Spanish Property Insight is commenting on a Knight Frank report that states that Spanish property buyers, and investors, are gradually moving away from the Spanish Costas and are looking towards the big cities, for more higher end properties and a better return on their investment. !In Madrid alone, sales to foreign investors account for 15% of the market which is a relative high for a city 300km and more away from the nearest coast. Sales of property in Barcelona have increased by 50% compared with a year ago, with a large proportion of that from foreign buyers. Valencia is also attracting huge numbers of foreign buyers now as rental yields on property are excellent when compared with the much lower prices. !When looking at prices, if you are at the lower end of the investing spectrum, Valencia is the place as prices are up to 50% cheaper than the two biggest cities. Whilst Madrid and Barcelona are experiencing a huge boom in the numbers of short term rental apartments, available both for tourism and for business, as the Spanish Economy starts to move more in those areas and tourists look for something different from the hotel sector.


It must be remembered that the big cities benefit from less seasonality than the Costas for foreign investors, as they are inhabited all year round. Traditionally there are two or three months of good rental yields on the Costas (except on the Canary Islands where good yields all year round can be found with a little spadework). Cities, on the other hand, have people flooding into them for work opportunities, (Work is less available in the countryside), for students and for long term rental. There is a good opportunity in the long term rental market because Spanish cannot, in general, get mortgages to buy as the banks are hugely reticent to grant mortgages still. Therefore people are forced into a situation where they need to rent and they are also looking for long term stability in their rental contracts. !One thing to bare in mind is that there are certain places where your investment for rental has to be thought out well. Barcelona has just temporarily suspended the granting of tourist licences for short term rentals. The hotel lobby is heavily pressuring ministers in the Spanish Government to regulate against sites like AirBnB and others offering short stay rentals and the tax office is tightening up on non declared rentals.


!If you are looking to invest in a city property just get in touch and we will see what we can offer you depending on your requirements. We have local experts in Simon in Barcelona, Pierre in Madrid, Lisa in Malaga and Graham in Valencia to offer you much more. Take a look at some of the past issues of the SPM (Spanish Property Magazine) too for some of our great offers and contact us on [email protected] with your requirements.

We have just got one of the last tourist licences for a couple of our clients in Barcelona so they can rent out their property in the centre, without any problems. We are now looking to find a selection of properties available in the city with licences for sale too. The fact they have a licence will make them slightly higher in price than others without a licence, but for investors, that licence is often the single most important thing. Long term rentals are not affected by the new licensing system.

THIS MONTH’S PROPERTIES

MALAGA

THE SPANISH PROPERTY NETWORK

269,500 [email protected]

Situated on the upper part of the prestigious development of Mijas la Nueva. This detached property is a "home", which benefits from a private carport for two cars, awesome coastal, countryside and mountain views. Incredible storage space, both inside and outside, making it perfect for anyone looking for a permanent home. Entry is via a private gate into a charming patio area. There is a small hall leading to the spacious lounge/dining room. Log burning fire, ceiling fans and patio doors that take you to a lovely conservatory, which provides extra living space, and is just the place to absorb the countryside and mountains views, interrupted only by orange, lemon and olive trees. On the lower level is the well appointed kitchen, which has plenty of cupboard space, double sink, gas hob and electric oven. There is a double bedroom, with built in wardrobes and also a walk in storage closet. It has an en suite bathroom, with shower over the bath. The washing machine is also situated in here. Upstairs is the master bedroom. This is a good size with built in wardrobes. It has double glazed patio doors onto a quaint Juliet balcony. There is an ensuite family bathroom. In addition there is a third room, presently used a study. This can be made into a third bedroom. Outside there is a generous sized garden laid to lawn at the side and terraced at the rear. Bordered with flowers and shrubs. Various casitas and storage sheds. Viewing is highly recommended to appreciate this lovely "home"!

TOWNHOUSE IN MIJAS LA NUEVA, MALAGA

mailto:[email protected]



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This is an immaculate two bed end townhouse located in the prestigious and unique area of Mijas la Nueva, close to the village of Mijas. !This property has been well maintained and has lots of added extras, making this a perfect home for both outdoor and indoor living. The lounge has a log burning fire, with French triple glazed patio door that are Southern facing spilling out onto a private terrace, with breathtaking views, and borders full of tropical plants and shrubs. Outside, there is a kitchen that consists of oven, ceramic hob, built in microwave and granite work top. There is also an external storage area with a lock up door that would be perfect for an additional fridge / freezer, etc. The inside kitchen has fully integrated appliances; washing machine, fridge, microwave, and a new Bosch oven and ceramic hob with beautiful granite work tops. All in pristine condition. Each of the upstairs bedrooms have fully fitted wardrobes. The master bedroom boasts of a large South facing balcony which offers stunning coastal and countryside views including Africa, on clear days. There is fully double / triple glazed windows and doors throughout, and full air conditioning. The bathroom has a full suite including shower over the bath and a fitted unit.

TOWNHOUSE IN MIJAS LA NUEVA, MALAGA




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Finca on one floor with separated wooden house located a short distance from Málaga and Estación de Cártama distributed as follows: Nice front porch, with access to the sunny terrace ideal for barbecues with open countryside and mountains views. Living room with fireplace, equipped kitchen, guest toilet, separate dining or third bedroom, 2 large bedrooms both with en suite bathrooms. Large storage room can be converted into another bedroom. Large sunny solarium with panoramic views of the surroundings. !Exterior: Terraces, pool, storage, elegant driveway with ample parking. Fully fenced plot with town water. !Plot 4.688m2. Built size 124m2. IBI 303,94€ per year. Built year 1995.

FINCA IN CARTAMA, MALAGA, ANDALUCIA




!Beautiful Villa on one floor on large flat plot with panoramic views of the sea, mountains and the city of Fuengirola. Located within walking distance to amenities such as bars, restaurants, pharmacy, supermarket and bus stop. !The distribution is as follows: Entrance hall, bright living room with fireplace and access to the porch, separate dining room next to the equipped kitchen, large laundry room with separate access. Two double bedrooms with fitted wardrobes and 2 bathrooms (one en suite), third bedroom with access to the backyard. Property in very good condition with marble floors, double glazing, alarm system and air conditioning and heating. !Large garden with fruit trees and automatic irrigation system. Pool with 100% privacy and panoramic views. Garage with automatic gate and room for 2 car. Storage. !Plot 991,60m2. Total built size 198m2. Living area 155m2. Garage 25m2. IBI € 1.155,09€ per year. Built year 1979. (Recently renovated)

Villa in La Capellania, MALAGA, ANDALUCIA




Located in a privileged front line beach development in Calahonda, boasting spectacular sea views, this spacious Costa del Sol townhouse has just been reduced by 65.000€ making it an irresistible bargain and affordable property on the Costa del Sol. The quaint, south facing Costa del Sol townhouse is ideally set within a 3 minute walk to the beach, and walking distance to amenities, restaurants, cafes and well-stocked supermarkets, 10 minutes away by car from the lovely Spanish white fishing village of La Cala and a 20 minute drive into trendy downtown Marbella and its wide choice of luxury shopping, fine dining options and cafes. The bargain, 2 bedroom Costa del Sol townhouse is set on 2 levels and includes an underground private parking space and a storage room. The ground floor of this lovely front line beach townhouse encompasses the open plan fully equipped small but functional refurbished kitchen, a large family room including a dining area, a seating corner and a TV lounge complete with a cosy open fireplace, the ample double bedroom and adjacent bathroom. The family lounge of this Costa del Sol townhouse leads to a covered terrace overlooking the Mediterranean sea and the communal gardens, the ideal set up to enjoy outdoor living practically all year around. The upper level of this Costa del Sol townhouse includes a master bedroom and en suite bathroom, whereby the bedroom opens onto a second large covered south facing solarium terrace with magnificent sea views. The community offers immaculately kept gardens and a large swimming pool as well as a direct access to the beach. http://spanish-property.net/for-sale/2-bed-Town-House-for-sale-in-Mijas/65513/

BARGAIN BEACHFRONT CALAHONDA, MALAGA




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VALENCIA



A very large well appointed property in Godelleta with superb views to the rear. This large and imposing house of seven bedrooms stands on just over 1100m2 of land with plenty of off road parking, possibility for further building and a very large and sunny pool.!!The owners want to sell because it is too large for them now the kids have moved on in life. They have owned it now for fourteen years and done plenty of work on the property including making an excellent open plan living area and kitchen. !!The main living has two or three bedrooms depending on how you set it up, the large living area and kitchen and a bathroom. Upstairs there are four bedrooms, bathroom, toilet and two good sized terraces to front and rear. !!The plot has a large swimming pool and what used to be a fronton court. There is a lot of scope for development though both on the plot and underbuild.

LARGE PROPERTY IN GODELLETA




Let's get this bit out of the way first right? It's fifth floor without a lift! !!Still interested? If so you get an absolute bargain here. !!Modernised just six years ago this apartment about 5 minutes walk from the Cabanyal Las Arenas beach offers a lot of bang for your buck. !!Ready to move into with three bedrooms, living room, kitchen and bathroom in a good area it enjoys nearby facilities including supermarkets, shops, bars, restaurants and health centre. Although to tell the truth the best health centre of all is the Mediterranean sea just five minutes walk away. !

ANOTHER REALLY CHEAP VALENCIA BEACH APARTMENT




Second floor flat two streets away from the wonderful Las Arenas beach in Valencia. This apartment building has a lift and despite being unmodernized the flat is excellent and only needs general tidying (And a new kitchen).!!Three bedrooms, a bathroom and toilet, kitchen, large living dining room with terrace from which you can see a sliver of the sea and the tempting Med is just a few minutes walk. The building is well maintained and the property is very well priced. Excellent position and well supplied with public transport links, local facilities and amenities. !!By the way ignore all of the heavy 1950’s Catholic imagery when you ask for all of the photos ;-)

EXCELLENTLY POSITIONED APARTMENT WITH TERRACE BY VALENCIA BEACH




Excellently maintained apartment overlooking the Marina at Port Saplaya, where the Valencians keep their boats. Just four km away from the city of Valencia to the north the Marina development has everything you could want self contained (Although it has just lost its McDonalds (Hooray) unfortunately replaced by a Burger King (Boo!))!!This 80m2 apartment has three bedrooms, two bathrooms, living room, kitchen and decent sized terrace. It is on the first floor but has a lift. The property also has access to a storeroom. We believe the owner will negotiate quite a bit on price too so worth looking at if you want this type of property even if your budget is lower. !!The development has two community swimming pools, plenty of restaurants and bars and its own beach as well as a large hypermarket and good transport links into the city of Valencia.

MARINA PROPERTY JUST NORTH OF VALENCIA CITY




Lots of people coming to Valencia want to be as near to the centre as possible. This means prices in the centre are generally higher. The further out from the centre the cheaper property in general. However there are certain areas where you can get really good value for money whilst still being close to the centre of the city. This is a good example in Ruzafa. !!It is an excellent loft style property with a rear terrace of 25m2. First floor apartment without lift. Large living area with kitchen and two exits to the terrace. One bedroom with a bathroom and shower. Totally modernised and nicely put together to give a feeling of space despite there only being 70m2 of flat. The terrace of 25m2to the rear is an excellent addition to this property too.

LOFT STYLE APARTMENT WITH TERRACE IN CENTRAL VALENCIA


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!Thanks for reading the latest issue of the Spanish Property Magazine. We hope you continue to enjoy what is a great amount of work each month as much as we enjoy producing it. !!The Spanish Property Magazine is the reference point for the Spanish Property Network and the Spanish Residency projects. We will continue to provide you with excellent quality property and stories from Spain in the SPM every month of two.!!Our network of collaborating agents and area coordinators is large and growing and we want to make it simply the best in Spain for wherever you want to buy here. !!The presentation of properties in a new and innovative way in the SPM convinces many agents, area coordinators, clients and us that this is the way to go. We hope it does you too. !!For any comments feel free to contact us.

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spanish property magazine issue 22

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