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Choosing the right location
You are probably frightfully aware that moving house is one of the top stressful events that will take place in your lifetime, and possibly more than once. Add to this the idea that you may be leaving behind the comforts of home and jetting off to another country, and I know for a fact that your head is reeling and tummy doing dramatic somersaults. To ease this anxiety ever so slightly, it is worth doing some research, and getting together a list of pro’s and con’s about living in Spain as opposed to staying put, so that you are sure in your own mind that you are doing the right thing. After all, it has to be said that Spain is not for everyone, and once the novelty of sun, sea and sand has worn off you may find that day-to-day life is not so appealing. Here are a few points to consider before you start packing your bags….
choice for you if:
• You are incredibly impatient and expect everything to be done yesterday. The bottom line is, it won’t be! Spain is incredibly bureaucratic, and that coupled with the laid back “mañana” approach to life means that pretty much everything takes a lot longer to happen than what you might expect! It is frustrating, and it will annoy the hell out of you, if you let it. So the best thing to do is accept that that’s the way it is, and you are not going to change things.
• You don’t make an effort to appreciate the culture and have a stab at the lingo. Even if you get it wrong the locals will appreciate your attempts and respect you for it- you are in their country after all! Try to steer away from your old routine and traditions, and embrace the wealth of new experiences that await you in Spain. You won’t be disappointed.
• You are unable to cope with a little noise from time to time. Spaniards are generally a lot louder and more animated than us Brits, and people from other nations, so if you have Spanish neighbours you will know about it! They also have a tendency to receive visitors at a time which we might consider to be late at night, as they are never in a hurry to go to bed! Noise levels increase during fiesta times, which take place frequently throughout the year, and involve flamboyant street parties, lots of food and drink, and very little sleep. Your only option if you are to maintain any degree of sanity is to join in, lose track of time and enjoy!
You will be right at home in Spain if:
• You love the sun and outdoor living. It’s amazing how quickly we acclimatize – in a few years down the line you will think that the 20ºC lows in January are rather chilly!
• You like the idea of a slower pace of life- Spain is definitely the ideal escape from the rat race.
• You want to become part of a vibrant, multicultural community, where there is ALWAYS time to chat.
• You are more concerned with family values and having a better quality of life than material things. Health and happiness are priority in Spain and money comes into play once everything else is running smoothly.
What Do I Want From My Spanish Home?
If Spain is still ticking all of the right boxes, then it’s time to start putting an action plan together and get some inspiration regarding your ideal location, as Spain is a pretty big place! The easiest way to do this is to determine what it is that you hope to gain from your new home. The Real Estate options are endless, ranging from ultra modern, new-build city dwellings to traditional, rustic farmhouses; with access to amenities also varying in accordance with the location. It is probably too early for you to pinpoint the exact town or city where you would like to be, unless of course you have already been there and fallen in love with the place! For most, it makes more sense to make a list of things which you would want to have either within walking distance or a short drive away.
Are you hoping for 365 days of uninterrupted sunshine (we cannot promise this by the way!), or would you prefer to be able to distinguish between seasons? Consider then, that not all of Spain experiences scorching hot summers and warm winters, and the further north you go the wetter, and greener it is. Will you use it as a holiday home, investment property, or do you plan to relocate altogether? This factor is also going to have a huge impact on the location which you choose, as generally speaking your holidaying needs will revolve around attractions and leisure activities, whilst permanent residency might require a few more practical considerations such as employment availability.
Do you fancy a beachfront bungalow, penthouse apartment with views over the mountains or frontline golf course? Do you need to be close to an international airport, good rail links or on a bus route? Perhaps you have restricted mobility, or are a wheelchair user, meaning that a mountainous location might not be the best choice for you. You might have a leisure interest that you wish to pursue from your new home, such as scuba diving, golf, bowls, cycling, swimming, dancing, gym membership or even taking up Spanish lessons, the provision of which could influence your move.
Do you need to be quite central with a range of employment options at your fingers tips, or perhaps you will set up your own business and work from home? Or better still, maybe you plan to retire so the more remote the better! On that note, the choice between a bustling city or secluded, countryside retreat is quite a tough one, and it is important to consider the consequences of each before you dive in with both feet. A rural setting will usually guarantee you peace and tranquility, but may also mean that you are entirely cut off from basic amenities, and in some cases mains electricity and water! On the other hand, city life is not everybody’s cup of tea, and may contravene your reasons for choosing Spain. Therefore, newcomers are well advised to go for a modest sized town or village at least when they first arrive and are finding their feet, perhaps on an urbanization where they are likely to meet other expats in a similar situation. This should provide the best of both worlds- a strong community feel and range of amenities on your doorstep, without the fast pace and commotion of the city.
It may seem like there are too many factors at play here to allow you to satisfy all of them, or indeed make the right decision. But with the right information, budget and a bit of imagination, all of these dreams really can come true! So put pen to paper, and start designing your Spanish home today.