Relocating To Spain?
If you are planning to move to Spain we can help you find the right property
Hot Properties in Spain are a famlly run estate agent established in Spain in 2002. Our free personal property finding service is now in it's 24th year and we cover both Coast and Country areas for New Build and Resale properties. Over the years we have built up a great knowlege of the different regions and areas especially along the Mediterranenan Coast and in the Country and we have found some lovely rather special locations.
Having moved to Spain for full time living twice, once from Abu Dhabi and later from the UK, we have personal knowledge of what such moves entail.
We can do the internet leg work for you as once you tell us your buying requirements we will know where to look. We have a network of like minded agents with whom we collaborate in different areas. We are also appointed by all the main developers, promoters and builders of new properties.
Therefore whether you are relocating from Aberdeen or Abu Dhabi, Doncaster or Dubai we are able to help you find the right property
Here are some points to consider:
Choosing the right location - Coast or Country?
Location, location...location! The location of your new home is even more important in Spain than in the UK as the right property in the wrong area will be a costly mistake.
CHOOSING THE RIGHT LOCATION – equally as important as the property
Coast or Country – The Pros and Cons -
Coast – Advantages
- Close to the beach and a holiday atmosphere
- Lots of busy bars and restaurants, both Spanish and British
- Lots of ex-pat communities and activities
- Good opportunities for rental income
- Great for young kids
- Best for Holiday homes
Coast – Disadvantages
- The nearer the beach the higher the price and the smaller the property
- Some resorts can be too busy in summer
- Some resorts can be too quiet in winter as many of the amenities close down or take extended holidays in the off season
- Main resorts not really very Spanish these days
- Premium prices in the summer
Country – Advantages
- Property prices are lower inland.
- A villa with pool & mountain views for the price of a coastal apartment
- The villa will be more spacious and the plot & pool will be larger
- Eating out is a better and much less expensive experience
- You can make more Spanish friends and like-minded Expats
- Open all year round as not reliant on tourists
Country – Disadvantages
- Further to drive to the beach
- Fewer ex-pat communities.
- Quieter - No water parks etc
- No sea views
There are good and not so good areas in both Coast and Country in every region
Firstly you should think hard about your initial prefered the location. Is it the right one? If like to go to the beach several times each week then a location close to the beach is where you should concentrate. But if you are not so keen on the sand or being on crowded beaches then have a look at properties located further away from the coast. With coastal land prices at a premium you will pay more and get less space both inside and outside of the property than for a similar property 20/30 minutes or so from the sea. If you venture inland an easy drive from the coast you can buy a detached villa with a nice sized garden and private pool for the price of an apartment at the coast.
Is the property to be used as a holiday home or for permnent living? It would become tiresome to have to spend your holidays working on maintenance jobs because the garden is too big or the property is too old. Equally if you retired to Spain full time but found the resort closes down in the winter this would impact on your quality of life.
Therefore the location is as important as the bricks and mortar. If you tell us your wish list and both you short and long term plans then we can usually advise and show you the different locations thatbest match your requirements. For almost 20 years we have been successfully finding just the right properties for our clients and we do have the experience of all areas of the Costa Blanca, Costa Calida, Murcia and Almeria.
Choosing the Right Property Type for Holiday Home, Permanent Living or Investment
CHOOSING THE RIGHT PROPERTY TYPE FOR YOUR REQUIREMENTS -
Holiday Home or Permanent Living? - The requirements are totally different
Holiday Home - essential requirements to look for:
- Near airport – you will want to be able make weekend visits
- Close to Beach / Golf – or favourite activities
- Easy reach of holiday entertainments - water park for kids etc
- Easy to maintain – or better still maintenance free
- Secure – Peace of mind
- Option for rental income - or cover mortgage payments perhaps
If you will never rent it out or do not have young children then you may prefer to be further from the busy beaches.
Permanent Residence – key requirements to consider:
- Amenities & services need to be open all year round
- Less need to be close to airport
- Consider regions with the best winter climate
- Being away from the tourist crowds can offer a more relaxing lifestyle
- Small towns/villages usually offer better value properties
- Real Spain has cheaper and better restaurants, markets and great fiestas
- Which is the best Visa for you?
Investment – Rental income, Capital gain or both?
Rental Income – Holiday lettings or Long term rental?
- Will I need a tourist license?
- Employing letting agent and cleaners and gardeners etc
- Location will affect the price and the length of the letting season
- Holiday lettings have advantages over long term rentals
Capital Gain –
- Off-Plan new builds offer the best capital gains
- Large urbanisations offer least capital gains
Resale or New Build - The Pros & the Cons?
Resale – Advantages
- You can see exactly what you are buying. Often bigger plot for a villa.
- You can sometimes have an offer accepted.
- They are usually ready to go.
- They are usually cheaper to buy (but may need refurbishments)
- They are usually sold furnished.
Resale – Disadvantages
- Need to be in a position to buy when you see what you want (finance all in place)
- No guarantees on the structure or the appliances. So budget for a surveyor.
- Old building standards means poor insulation. So can be cold on winter evenings. 1/3 of Spanish properties are at least 70 years, a similar number are over 50 years old. 80% have a G enregy rating or worse
- Budget for repairs and maintenance and replacement electrical appliances.
- New EU eco regulations mean owners of older properties could face considerable expense to bring them up to minimum requirement before being allowed to sell. From 1st January 2030 properties all properties will need an energy rating of at least a G in order to sell. From January 1st 2033 the energy rating will have to be D
New Build - Advantages:
- Latest building standards with high insulation specifications saves on energy. Most new build homes now have either an A or a B energy rating
- 10 year guarantees on build, as in the UK. Appliances with makers’ guarantees.
- Well designed - latest stylish fitted bathrooms - kitchens with Silestone worktops choice of floor and wall tiles and the latest LED lighting inside and out.
- Most are designed to give more privacy.
- More secure with the latest tech gadgets & offer better capital gain
- Once a new build is reserved Spanish Law protects the buyer by fixing the priceand taking the property off the market. There now are also bank guarantees for all deposits paid.
- New builds usually have a furnished show house to view so you see the sizes of rooms and quality of the fixtures and fittings.
New Build - Disadvantages:
- You have to wait an average of 12 months for completion
- New build prices have been increasing due to the rising cost of building materials
- If you buy off plan you will need to pay instalments during the build time with theinal 50% due on completion.
- You might not like the contemporary designs.
- Tend to be smaller plots
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New EU Rules on Home Energy Rating Certificates
New EU Rules on Home Energy Rating Certificates Required from 1st January 2030
Spain is to introduce the following strict new requirements for home owners from the 1st January 2030:
From 1st January 2030 an energy rating certificate of at least a G will be required to be able to sell a property in Spain
From 1st January 2033 an energy rating certificate of at least a D will be required to be able to sell a property in Spain
Background
Circa 85% of Spain's housing stock is not energy efficient with 80% having a rating of G or below. Around one third of Spanish homes are more than 70 years olf with a similar number 50-69 years old. When compared to new build homes which now offer an energy rating certificate of either an A or a B you can see the size of the problem for the majority of home owners in Spain. Already resale homes that can prove they are energy efficient are gaining 7% premium on their selling prices.
Therefore when buying a resale property in Spain it will be wise to build in a sizeable budget for energy improvements, like new double glazed windows with high efficiency ratings, loft/wall/underfloor insulation.
