Thinking of moving to Spain. Any other ex-pat affilates out there?

[notabene]

Tweet

Any lessons to be learnt before I get on the plane??

[smingle]

Don't strap your sandwiches to yourself under your clothes

Good luck if you do decide to move, the only thing stopping us mobing there is the kids schools / friends etc.

User name "Entrepreneur" on here has moved to spain and works from there - drop him a line. Very nice guy too

[ContentBoss]

Spain is supposed to be a train wreck now, economically. I suppose that means you can pick up property bargains left right and center, of course.

[cclayton]

WOW! This is something I can help on as I actually made the move about 4 years ago and I moved back to the UK after a year.

I enjoyed the lifestyle of living in spain and I guess it depends on where you live. I lived in a small town in spain with no ex-pats and I spoke little spanish but the spanish were really all such nice and helpful and patient people. The real problem I had was with the spanish system, there is sooooo much paperwork and red tape around doing anything and everything there that it made me appreciate that the UK actually wasnt that bad and that if anything goes wrong in the UK you can sort it out but in spain their legal process takes forever. One thing I would say is make friends with the spanish and especially the spanish people who work for the notary or the police force as they will help you when you need it.

Our next door neighbours son was a police officer and when we were sorting out our visa stuff (cant remember the name of it) he offered to help us and took us to the main building in malaga and skipped us past all the queues and we were done in about half an hour when I know other ex-pats have waited hours. The spanish people can be so very helpful and nice, you just need to embrace them and their culture and they will accept you.

Good luck with it... its a gorgeous country full of really nice people - just dont go become a 100% expat, learn the language and respect and embrace the culture and you will have a great time.

[notabene]

Thanks Guys,
Its a bit of a risk but property is so cheap to rent out there, am already renting out my place here. Its near Valencia which is warm and I fancy the sun on my back for a year playing golf and clicking refresh on the AW management report suite!

There's also a very nice tax break if you move before April 5th!

[Shane]

Valencia is great, one of my favourite places ever, it's so laid back, I've been over there so many times I've lost count now, On a night it doesn't even get busy till around midnight then they party till silly oclock...:tup yet in all visits I've made I have never seen a fight, arrest or anyone even being sick, places very rarely even have doormen as trouble is so infrequent .. so it's very unlike the UK !!! it's very refreshing and you feel much safer out at night.

am very jealous.. I'd be living there now if I had my way

[Seamaster]

I would love to live in Barcelona one day. I guess its quite pricey there though.

I am thinking of moving to Thailand for a year with my mrs when she goes in September. Anyone moved over there?

[sammia]

I've lived in Thailand and am now in Tenerife. Wish I was still in Thailand TBH.

But here I am and it's fine. Paperwork and all is a PITA but its not that bad. Yes, property is cheap but banks are not handing out mortgages easily. Finding work on the island is getting tough. I know a few people who left a deadbeat company because they didn't like the boss and have lately called cap in hand to get their jobs back. Errr...no.

Spain's economy is the worst in Europe because they put so much faith in manufacturing for other countries. Now with foreign companies pulling out of Spain... well it's all going tits up, really.

With all the property on the market that is not selling, rents should get cheaper. If you are working for yourself and are not reliant on local sales then weather's great, people are friendly ... what's stopping you?

[thai_king]

I think with the the £ the way it is it probably no the best time to move permanently abroad.

[Seamaster]

what's stopping you?

Money! When I'm making £2k a month from the internet I will be off (unless it takes 22 years and I'll be 50)!!

[MoneyLoanUk]

Any lessons to be learnt before I get on the plane??

I moved from the UK to spain 6 months ago. I love it here and can't see my self going back.

[babrees]

I am sssooo green with envy - I would move out tomorrow if I could!

[affiliatemarketingltd]

i'll soon be in fuertevetura i hope ...
was going to move last year but with the finance sector virtually going to pot decided against it

[mtuffin]

Any lessons to be learnt before I get on the plane??

Whilst I don't live there I like others have looked into it.

Pick an area and search for the local ex pat magazine. We were in the Costa Brava area in October for a short break and they have an ex-pat magazine which offers a whole host of services to get you moved over there and assist with the paperwork.

Mike