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We have a selection of case studies, examples, comments and frequently asked questions on related 'Spanish Properties' and 'Properties in Majorca, Ibiza, Menorca, Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote and Fuerteventura'.

Should you feel you need to contribute to this page, please feel free to comment on the subject in the box below...

Three important web addresses to remember...

PROPERTY SEARCH FOR SPAIN

POUNDS TO EUROS

MORTGAGES IN SPAIN

PROPERTIES FOR SALE SPAIN

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Currency Exchange - In August 2007 there was Jayne from Southampton, she was buying a property in Almeria, Spain. Her transfer was for a villa at 325, 000; a superb 5 bedroom villa with sea views. Her bank had frightened her with the exchange rate, so she decided to look elsewhere; fortunately she came to a brokers website. She was offered an exchange rate of 1.39 / 1; we were able to offer 1.41 / 1. This meant had she continued with the bank she would have realised 451, 750 - however fortunately the broker service could manage 458, 250; saving Jayne 6, 500 (4, 600)

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Properties for Sale in Majorca - Margaret and her husband Roy were buying in the Majorca in December 2007; they were buying a 3 Bedroom apartment on a top class complex, swimming pool, bar, shops etc. The property in Majorca is expensive so a three bedroom apartment was priced at 265, 000. Newly retired they wanted the best deal on their currency exchange. Their bank had quoted 1.31 / 1 but the broker was able to secure at deal at 1.33 / 1. This meant the currency broker was able to save Margaret and Roy 5, 300 (3, 900).

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Properties on the Costa Blanca - Costa Blanca Britons to lose free healthcare

Valencia region can no longer afford expats' bills as housing market slides

* Jacqueline Stevens
* The Observer,
* Sunday June 22, 2008

Half a million British expatriates living on Spain's Costa Blanca are to lose their right to free healthcare under a radical new law introduced by the provincial government.

The Spanish authorities say that providing for 500, 000 Britons - most of whom are over 50 - and other European residents living in the Valencia region is placing an impossible burden on the country's health service.

In 2002 the provincial government offered free healthcare to all expats - not just UK pensioners or those working and paying tax in Spain - in order to encourage Britons and other northern Europeans to invest in the Costa Blanca's then lucrative property market. However, with house prices collapsing, the Valencia government last week announced that the concession had been withdrawn. The move echoed a similar ruling last year against British early retirees in France.

A spokesman for the regional health ministry said: 'It is costing us an extra 1bn [790m] annually to look after a million new residents as well as long-stay tourists, and our services are at saturation point. Some come to Spain to have their heart operation or hip replacement here at a better standard and more quickly than in their own country.'

The decision has so alarmed the British community that health centres and the British consulate in Alicante have been flooded with calls. A British embassy spokesman said UK pensioners and individuals on long-term incapacity benefit who are living permanently in Spain would be unaffected, as they are covered under a reciprocal healthcare agreement with the UK. Those who will lose their entitlement - mainly early retirees aged over 50 - were being advised to take out private health insurance.

Bill Bridges, 63, who is being treated for hypertension and lives on a police disability pension, sold his home in Kent and moved with his wife, Peta, to Orihuela, near Alicante, in 2003. 'We wouldn't have left the UK and moved out here if it hadn't been for the free healthcare on offer. Now it's been snatched away without warning, ' he said

The Spanish move comes just two months after the Department of Health closed the door on free NHS care for British expats visiting the UK. Only those still living in the EU who have obtained a European health insurance card - which provides holiday cover only - from their new country of residence will be allowed emergency treatment. However, people such as the Bridges, who are being excluded from the Spanish health service, will no longer be eligible for a card.

Political parties run by expats - some of whose members won seats in local elections last year - and other pressure groups are petitioning the British embassy and regional government. Bob Houliston, 71, a retired diplomat who is now president of a party representing the 20, 000 expat residents of the Orihuela area, said: 'It should surely be possible for UK and Valencia government authorities to find solutions for those who could otherwise face real hardship.'

British residents in France put up such a fight against the withdrawal of healthcare rights that President Nicolas Sarkozy did a U-turn and the ruling now only applies to newcomers. However, many expats in Spain are battle-weary after years of challenging the country's property laws and doubt that a government defying the European Parliament on that count will be responsive.

Property sales have fallen by up to 40 per cent on the Costa Blanca in the past year, according to the Spanish government. Expat leaders say the only way forward is to gain political power. Expat parties now plan to create a federation to fight local and national elections.
How to claim your rights

State pensioners
British pensioners who have retired to Spain are entitled to free healthcare under an agreement whereby the UK pays Spain a set sum each year per pensioner. To transfer their NHS rights to the Spanish system, a pensioner must obtain an E121 form from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) in Newcastle. Some disabled people under 60 can get an E121.

Early retirees and job seekers
Britons in this group can ask for form E106 from the DWP after moving to Spain. This 'residual care' gives the individual free healthcare in Spain, funded by the UK, for up to two-and-a-half years, depending on the holder's National Insurance and tax records. Early retirees should arrange private insurance before this expires.

Holidaymakers
The European Health Insurance Card is a plastic replacement for the old E111 form. It can be used on visits of less than three months for urgent treatment only. It can be obtained from the Post Office

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Property News - Thinking of buying a house in Spain? The Spanish property market is a thriving, but complex, sector and more and more non-residents are taking advantage of low interest rates in Spain and reasonable house prices.

However, it is very very important to consider all the possible pitfalls involved in purchasing property in Spain. This section is designed to help you to do so.

There are many reasons to live in Spain, and lots of benefits to be got out of making a wise property purchase here. But, as is the case in any big, profitable sector, there are also alot of sharks swimming around in the real-estate sea, dying to get their jaws around that sales commission. So be very very careful, make sure you read as much as you can about how to protect your rights and your investment before taking the plunge.

Spanish promoter took buyers' money before obtaining building permits - Martinsa took money from buyers without obtaining building permission

Following the announcement last week that one of Spains largest construction companies, Martinsa-Fadesa, cannot repay its debts, certain irregularities have come to light regarding the contracts property buyers were asked to sign with the company.

More than 12, 500 families that have signed contracts with Martinsa-Fadesa are now waiting to see if their properties will be completed or not and many are in the do not know whether they will be able to claim back money paid in advance as it has emerged that a lot of money was paid before any official deeds were drawn up.

The lawyers dealing with claims from buyers have already detected a number of irregularities which may place buyers in a vulnerable situation regarding the legality of contracts. The company of lawyers, Ofilegal, has been the first to set up an association for those affected by Martinsa-Fadesa. Ofilegal says that the contracts it has seen so far are poisonous.

According to Ofilegal, Martinsa-Fadesa took money from buyers without first obtaining the necessary building permission. In one case it received money from buyers for a promotion of properties, Colmenar Viejo (Madrid), from 2004 onwards despite the fact that building permission was not granted until 2006 when some buyers had already paid up to 40, 000 euros each.

Ofilegal says that many people are not aware that money paid in advance is insured which guarantees that money is repaid if contracts are broken. However, in some cases the guarantee is about to run out which would make it virtually impossible to recover any money already paid to the company.

Other problems for buyers is that Martinsa-Fadesa has signed contracts with landowners offering them a certain number of properties when building work is completed. However the land is only fully signed over once building work has been completed within the timescale agreed. If work is not completed on time the landowner can reject the contract and Martinsa-Fadesa would in this case lose the land (and buyers their potential new home).

Another serious irregularity has been discovered in a subsidised housing project in Mstoles, Madrid. In this case Martinsa-Fadesa forced buyers to create an owners association (communidad de propietarios) and pay money into it. Up to a million euros was deposited in the association and it has now been discovered that the administrators of this association who are linked to Martinsa-Fadesa have already spent 500, 000 euros.

Martinsa Fadesa is also currently negotiating with unions over the redundancy conditions of 234 of its employees, a quarter of its workforce. Unions have asked the company for further information on the locations of those affected by redundancy. CCOO will demand that Martinsa-Fadesa presents a viable plan for the continuation of the company and maintenance of its workforce and UGT will ask for access to documentation. UGT has also informed the Ministry for Work of its concerns regarding the situation of workers in companies that have been subcontracted by Martinsa-Fadesa and has asked for them to be inspected.

Courtesy: euroresidentes.com

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PROPERTIES FOR SALE SPAIN

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PROPERTIES FOR SALE IN SPAIN continued...

PROPERTIES FOR SALE SPAIN

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Properties on the Costa Blanca - Costa Blanca Britons to lose free healthcare

Valencia region can no longer afford expats' bills as housing market slides

* Jacqueline Stevens
* The Observer,
* Sunday June 22, 2008

Half a million British expatriates living on Spain's Costa Blanca are to lose their right to free healthcare under a radical new law introduced by the provincial government.

The Spanish authorities say that providing for 500, 000 Britons - most of whom are over 50 - and other European residents living in the Valencia region is placing an impossible burden on the country's health service.

In 2002 the provincial government offered free healthcare to all expats - not just UK pensioners or those working and paying tax in Spain - in order to encourage Britons and other northern Europeans to invest in the Costa Blanca's then lucrative property market. However, with house prices collapsing, the Valencia government last week announced that the concession had been withdrawn. The move echoed a similar ruling last year against British early retirees in France.

A spokesman for the regional health ministry said: 'It is costing us an extra 1bn [790m] annually to look after a million new residents as well as long-stay tourists, and our services are at saturation point. Some come to Spain to have their heart operation or hip replacement here at a better standard and more quickly than in their own country.'

The decision has so alarmed the British community that health centres and the British consulate in Alicante have been flooded with calls. A British embassy spokesman said UK pensioners and individuals on long-term incapacity benefit who are living permanently in Spain would be unaffected, as they are covered under a reciprocal healthcare agreement with the UK. Those who will lose their entitlement - mainly early retirees aged over 50 - were being advised to take out private health insurance.

Bill Bridges, 63, who is being treated for hypertension and lives on a police disability pension, sold his home in Kent and moved with his wife, Peta, to Orihuela, near Alicante, in 2003. 'We wouldn't have left the UK and moved out here if it hadn't been for the free healthcare on offer. Now it's been snatched away without warning, ' he said

The Spanish move comes just two months after the Department of Health closed the door on free NHS care for British expats visiting the UK. Only those still living in the EU who have obtained a European health insurance card - which provides holiday cover only - from their new country of residence will be allowed emergency treatment. However, people such as the Bridges, who are being excluded from the Spanish health service, will no longer be eligible for a card.

Political parties run by expats - some of whose members won seats in local elections last year - and other pressure groups are petitioning the British embassy and regional government. Bob Houliston, 71, a retired diplomat who is now president of a party representing the 20, 000 expat residents of the Orihuela area, said: 'It should surely be possible for UK and Valencia government authorities to find solutions for those who could otherwise face real hardship.'

British residents in France put up such a fight against the withdrawal of healthcare rights that President Nicolas Sarkozy did a U-turn and the ruling now only applies to newcomers. However, many expats in Spain are battle-weary after years of challenging the country's property laws and doubt that a government defying the European Parliament on that count will be responsive.

Property sales have fallen by up to 40 per cent on the Costa Blanca in the past year, according to the Spanish government. Expat leaders say the only way forward is to gain political power. Expat parties now plan to create a federation to fight local and national elections.
How to claim your rights

State pensioners
British pensioners who have retired to Spain are entitled to free healthcare under an agreement whereby the UK pays Spain a set sum each year per pensioner. To transfer their NHS rights to the Spanish system, a pensioner must obtain an E121 form from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) in Newcastle. Some disabled people under 60 can get an E121.

Early retirees and job seekers
Britons in this group can ask for form E106 from the DWP after moving to Spain. This 'residual care' gives the individual free healthcare in Spain, funded by the UK, for up to two-and-a-half years, depending on the holder's National Insurance and tax records. Early retirees should arrange private insurance before this expires.

Holidaymakers
The European Health Insurance Card is a plastic replacement for the old E111 form. It can be used on visits of less than three months for urgent treatment only. It can be obtained from the Post Office

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Properties for Sale in Spain - Ines and Kevin from Glasgow were buying a Duplex in Spain, January 2008; it was a strange scenario, they were renting before they bought. They had lived in Spain for approaching 11 months and had left their house sale money in their bank in Scotland. Because of their purchase they had been advised to use a broker. Rather than use the broker that the building company recommended, they had chosen to look on the internet. Fortunately they had found a Currency Broker. Most brokers can always beat a bank's quote, it isn't so easy to beat another broker. The Currency Broker saved Ines and Kevin 1, 300 Euros over another broker, but nearly 6, 200 Euros against the banks.

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Properties for Sale in Tenerife - Natalie and Kevin from Blackburn were transferring two amounts over 3 months. They were buying a property off plan in Tenerife. Their first payment was a deposit of 16, 500 and then a final payment of 149, 500. Their first payment was in a period during 2007 when (February) the exchange was good, but by May the rate had changed down a little. However their first bank quote for the first transfer was 1.43 / 1; the broker was able to beat that quote and consequently because of their disappointment with their bank they didn't even get a quote for the second transfer. But the currency broker estimated we saved them 4, 100 which is approximately 2, 800

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PROPERTIES FOR SALE SPAIN

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Properties in Northern Spain - News - 13 NHS students take trip to Spain
Posted: July 9, 2008

NOBLESVILLE -- Spanish teachers Kevin Cole and Marc Slain took 13 Noblesville High School students to Spain June 18-27.

The group's visit included Toledo, Segovia, San Sebastian, Burgos and Bilbao.

The teachers plan to continue travelling every two years.

Students who went were Stephanie Watson, Kyla Garrett, Katie Roesch, 2008 graduate Peter Sackers, Shelbie Deppert, Celeste Bremmer, Stephanie Simpson, Maddie Vulanich, Paul Price, Cara Leuck, Lisa Fink, Erin Boland and Katie LeSesne. Parents Bambi Wills-Garrett and Laura Watson also attended.

Highlights included eating tapas and churros and chocolate in Madrid, seeing the works of art at the El Prado museum, walking the streets of Pamplona where the running of the bulls takes place, seeing the many sights of Barcelona and of course, practicing Spanish.

--- Sharon Trisler, Noblesville Schools

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