|
Properties Spain
***** o0o*****
buy properties spain
apartment in spain
properties in costa del sol
apartment for sale in spain
property for sale in majorca
property for sale in mallorca
houses for sale in majorca
properties for sale in
mallorca
***** o0o*****
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
*******************
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)
*******************
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).
*******************
*******************
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
*******************
*******************
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 Spain´s 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 Móstoles, 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
*******************
PROPERTIES FOR SALE SPAIN
Scroll below... For more SPANISH PROPERTIES Case Studies,
Examples and Frequently Asked Questions
|
|
PROPERTIES FOR SALE IN SPAIN
continued...
PROPERTIES FOR SALE SPAIN
*******************
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
*******************
*******************
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.
*******************
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
*******************
PROPERTIES FOR SALE SPAIN
****************************
*******************
Spain -
Andalucia - Wednesday, July 23, 2008 - Latest figures for foreign tourism in
Spain - Number of foreign tourists visiting Spain this year increases
The sun and beaches continue to attract foreign tourists to Spain. In the first
6 months of this year the number of foreign tourists visiting Spain went up by
2.6% to 26.6 million compared to figures for the same period last year.
According to the Survey on the Movement of Tourists published today by the
Ministry for Industry, Tourism and Commerce Spain received 5.7 million foreign
tourists which is 0.7% less than for the same month in 2007.
Catalonia is the most popular destination for foreign tourists and received 6.6
million tourists between January and June this year which accounts for 24.8% of
the total followed by the Canary Islands which received 4.7 million tourists
(15.6% of the total). Andalucia was in third place with 3.7 million foreign
tourists (14.1% of the total). The Comunidad Valenciana received 2.6 million
foreign tourists (10.1% of the total) and the Comiunidad de Madrid received 2.3
million foreign tourists (8.7% of the total).
The survey found that 7.3 million tourists were from the United Kingdom (27.5%
of the total) which is 1% more than for the same period last year. Germany is in
second place with 4.7 million of its citizens visiting Spain during the first 6
months of this year which is 2.8% more than for the same period last year.
French visitors numbered 3.6 million and Italians visiting Spain number 1.5
million.
Out of all the foreign tourists visiting Spain this year between January and
June 18.4 million tourists visited independently (7% more than for the same
period last year) and the number of tourists visiting Spain which were not on
package tours continued to decrease. In fact the number of tourists coming on
package tours went down by 6.8% during this period.
Arriving by air continued to be the most popular form of travel with 20.9
million tourists arriving this way (78.5% of the total) an increase of 2.8%. The
preferred type of accommodation continues to be hotels (65.9% of the total)
which is an increase of 3.8% while the number of people not staying hotels
remained the same at 8.8 million which is the same as 2007.
*******************
We hope these have been helpful and look forward to your comment
contribution...
|
