MOVE TO SPAIN
If you do any research into moving to Spain then it will not take you long to find out that the process is nothing less than a minefield – most particularly if you intend buying a Spanish property. Indeed, the more you read, the more that you will come across horror stories which are likely to fill you with misgivings. Before long, you may even decide not to move to Spain…
It would be great if I could, here and now, state that all is well in Spain and that moving here is pretty much as easy as moving within the UK. However, this would be far from true. Spanish culture is markedly different from that of the UK (despite superficial similarities) and this is never more so the case than with Spanish property law. The latter is very complicated and has some serious pitfalls for the unwary.
Naturally, the last thing that you want is for your long cherished dream of moving to Spain to turn into a disaster! This is all too easy unless – before you start – you know how to manage your move. This is critical and actually quite easily done with a little sound research.
Certainly, you should not be under the impression that you cannot move to Spain safely and buy a Spanish property – safely. You can. In fact, Spain is no different from many other Mediterranean countries and is far from being alone in being radically different from the UK and requiring detailed know-how.
Last year, I wrote my book ‘How to Move Safely to Spain’ - largely because I was so disappointed by often meeting people who had moved to Spain with high expectations that had quickly floundered amidst an array of largely unnecessary problems. This saddened me, given the wonderful life on offer here and one that has provided my family with so much pleasure. However, to achieve this you need to get the foundations of your move right, so that you do not start with problems that can spiral out of control and ruin any move.
Of course, you would be correct to ask: what right have I to produce a work like ‘How to Move Safely to Spain’?
In fact, I have known Spain since the mid 1970s and I have been living and working permanently in Spain for the past seven years. During this time I have worked extensively in real estate (an extraordinarily ‘dirty’ business here), as well as writing as an investigative journalist (see some of my Articles on Spanish Culture above). Meanwhile, my children have gone to Spanish schools (my son is now at a Spanish university) and my wife has set up (and runs) a successful business teaching English.
One way or another, I think we have experienced most of what Spain can throw at us – both good and bad. So, my writing comes from someone with a sustained experience of Spanish culture and real life in Spain. Therein, I would submit, lies the value of my book which is nothing if not practical.
Of course, e-books tend to have a somewhat ‘dodgy’ reputation. Many can be worthless and often they are little more than an agglomeration of material ‘cut and pasted’ from the Internet. This is not the case with ‘How to Move Safely to Spain’ which is completely original. In fact, the book is not just original – it has 84,500 words (345 pages), 26 distinct section and an appendix with 160 critical terms and definitions and a listing of useful contacts. Perhaps better still, it was written in conjunction with 9 highly qualified contributors including a specialist property lawyer, a vet, asset management specialist, doctor and so on.
Importantly, ‘How to Move Safely to Spain’ has been favourably reviewed by a series of highly regarded media professionals…
So, if you are thinking of moving to Spain and are a little perplexed by the culture of Spain (and rightly concerned by Spanish property law and abuses) then you may wish to have a glance at my book. It would be no exaggeration to say that it really could save you thousands of pounds…
