Why you should buy in Valencia with Easy Property Spain

TO: WINE LOVERS!

2008-03-13T12:45:00.000+01:00

Moderate wine consumption cuts stroke risk
The moderate consumption of wine (but not beer or spirits) is associated with a reduced risk of stroke, according to a new report. The authors believe wine’s protective effects may be linked to disease-fighting compounds other than alcohol. “Intake of wine is associated with lower risk of stroke,” concludes a 16-year Danish study led by Dr. Thomas Truelsen of Copen-hagen University Hospital

Previous studies have suggested that moderate wine consumption (a glass a day, for example) may provide cardiovascular benefit. This phenomena is exemplified by what the Danish team call the ‘French paradox’ - “a low incidence of cardiovascular disease in the (wine-drinking) French population despite an unfavorable exposure to known cardiovascular factors (such as smoking).” Investigating further, the authors tracked the stroke incidence of over 13,300 Danes for 16 years.

They report that, compared with abstainers, individuals who said they drank wine on a monthly, weekly, or daily basis had a 16%, 34%, and 32% reduced risk of stroke, respectively.

These findings suggest that other compounds in wine besides alcohol may have a positive impact on cardiovascular health. “Wine contains flavonoids and tannins,” the authors explain, “which are components presumed to prevent cardiovascular disease.” They speculate that drinking patterns specific to wine lovers may also influence cardiovascular health. Wine is more commonly consumed at mealtimes than either beer or hard liquor, and “these differences in ‘timing’ may be important,” according to the researchers. One recent study concluded that mealtime alcohol consumption reduced unhealthy alterations in blood composition that can occur after eating.

Experts point out that excessive drinking can actually raise the likelihood of cardiovascular disease, heart attack, and stroke.

The following are some quick suggestions on how to enjoy your lifestyle and enjoy your glass of wine in order to live a healthy, long life:

Exercise is a key factor.
However, it is wise to exercise before drinking a glass of wine or any other alcohol. Exercise makes your blood stream circulate faster, and could lead to a quicker absorption of wine in your system.

Believe it or not, you can get drunk quite quickly from just one glass.

Have wine with foods that are filling.
Foods like pasta, red meat, fish and potatoes, this way, you will drink less. Always remember that moderation is important.

The second or third and last drink of the day should be taken at night, an hour before going to bed. First, this will make you sleep better. Second, it will clean out your system one last time before hitting the hay.

Never use alcohol as an escape method for difficulties you may face in your daily life. Once you start going down the path to addiction, it's ten times as hard to get out. Do yourself a favor and seek counseling from friends, family and professionals.

Be aware of the alcohol content of all your drinks. Wines tend to be the least concentrated with alcohol. If you are a whisky or Scotch drinker, however, one small glass per day is enough.

VALENCIA’S GARDEN OF EDEN

2008-02-12T11:52:00.000+01:00

VALENCIA grew alongside the river Turia for many years and has a very special relationship with its water way. After the devastating flood of 1957, it was decided living alongside the river had become too great a risk and it was diverted. Today, the Turia’s old courseway is the largest urban garden in Spain, even though there was pressure for it to become a motorway...

As the popular Spanish proverb goes, ‘nothing bad ever happens where some good doesn’t come out of it’, and the catastrophe of 1957 brought with it an amazing silver lining. The river turned into a magnificent garden that crosses the city from the north to the south and offers numerous possibilities for walking and sightseeing to visitors and residents

A walk along the Turia
It is best to explore the Turia, by starting from the south and heading north, beginning with a visit to the impressive Arts and Sciences complex designed by prestigious architect, Santiago Calatrava. This year, the Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias (CAC) is celebrating its tenth anniversary, so it is a good time to visit and enjoy some of the one-off activities that are taking place.
A visit to the CAC will take the best part of a morning, and later you can go down to the riverbed and start walking away from the sea.

For those who are allergic to exercise there is a miniature tourist train that runs along the riverbed. The first feature you come to is the Gulliver, a children’s park with Jonathan Swift’s character of the same name lying asleep. He also serves as a climbing frame with several slides and other apparatus to keep the kids amused.

Next is the Palau de la Música, the first of the city’s musical buildings and at its feet, some beautiful palm-lined gardens popular with skateboarding fans. Nearby fountains provide other activities for parents and children such as sailing remote-controlled model boats.

Further on, there are several tiny copses where residents practice jogging, T’ai Chi and gymnastics. Soon you come across a bridge known as the Puente de las Flores. This walkway that crosses the river is home to – hence the name – thousands of flowerpots that change shape and colour according to the seasons. Later, there is another bridge, the Puente de Santiago Calatrava, which the Valencians call the Puente de la Peineta (‘little comb’) precisely because it looks like the comb-type accessories that falleras wear in their hair. Here, the trees begin to take on a dense, green lushness and their shade is very welcome on a warm, sunny day.

Next, you will make out the shadow of the San Pio V fine arts museum with its blue dome alongside the Jardín de los Viveros. Both garden and museum are well worth a visit. The San Pio V gallery houses Spain’s most significant collection of 19th-century painting after the Prado museum in Madrid.

A few metres on and you will probably come to a mass of people playing football at the feet of the Torres de Serranos. These imposing towers are one of the twelve gateways that gave access to Valencia via its old city walls - the majority of these gateways have disappeared now but these towers remain in a good state of repair, despite having been built as far back as the 14th century.

Continuing on to the Pont de les Arts – a recently-constructed bridge that is influenced by 1970s’ architecture.

Next, you will reach the entrance to the IVAM, or Instituto Valenciano del Arte Contemporáneo, one of the largest and most significant of its kind in Europe. Here, you can stop for a well-earned rest and a bite to eat in the cafeteria, which has a varied and tempting menu at very reasonable prices.

You can continue along the Turia gardens as far as the Parque de Cabecera, crossing the La Petxina bridge and admiring the shell of the same name that christened it.

Just fifteen minutes further on, you come to the last of the parks built into the riverbed that is soon to become home to Valencia city’s new zoo.

EMPLOYMENT LAW IN SPAIN

2008-02-04T11:30:00.000+01:00

Employment in Spain is highly regulated, with the main purpose to protect an employee's rights. The regulations are complex: jobs are grouped into categories, and each category has a different set of regulations. It’s important both as an employer or employee to be aware of the different types of work contracts, holiday entitlement and social security requirements when considering the options of working in Spain.

LEGAL REQUIREMENTS

If you are an EU national you can enter Spain as a tourist and register with the Spanish National Employment Office (Instituto Nacional de Empleo - INEM) to look for a job, then you have 90 days to find employment. You can obtain an extension after that date or leave Spain and re-enter for a further 90 days. Once you get a job, your employment contract will be necessary to apply for your residence card.

If you are from a non-EU country willing to work in Spain, you will need to apply for your work and residence permit, and therefore you will be required to present a job contract or an offer of employment in the form of a pre-contract stamped and signed by both parties (or a letter written on the headed paper of the Spanish employer).
Once you are legally working in Spain you will be subject to the same labor legislation as Spaniards, and you will be entitled to all its benefits.

TYPES OF WORK CONTRACTS

• Indefinite contracts
This category includes the normal indefinite contract as well as several types of indefinite contracts with government incentives.
The main characteristics of the normal indefinite contract are:
In the absence of any other formalized contract type, the contract is presumed to be normal indefinite.
Severance pay for improper dismissal is a maximum of 45 days salary for every year worked, up to a maximum of 42 months equivalent salary.
There are no Social Security subsidies or any other financial incentives.

Indefinite contracts with incentives may be used when hiring:
- Workers over 45 who have been unemployed for at least one year.
- Women unemployed for more than a year who have been hired for work in sectors where women have been traditionally under-represented.
- Workers between 30 and 44 who have been unemployed for more than a year.
- Unemployed workers under 30 years of age. Workers with disabilities.

The main characteristics of an indefinite contract with incentives are:
- Severance pay for improper dismissal is 33 days salary for each year worked with a maximum of 24 months equivalent salary.
- Subsidies of up to 75% from the employer's social security contribution.
- Tax benefits.

• Temporary contracts
The main types are:

Contract for a specific project or service, arranged for the purpose of performing work or providing a service which is temporary but of uncertain duration.

Casual contract due to production overload or backlog. The maximum duration of this type of contract is six months in any twelve-month period.

Contract to sit in for employees entitled to return to their job. The duration of this contract is the period during which the absent employee retains the right to return to his or her job.

Work experience contract. This contract can be arranged with university or junior college graduates or persons with vocational qualifications or recognised equivalent qualifications, provided that not more than four years have elapsed since they completed the related training. The duration is from six months to two years.

Trainee contract. This type of contract can be arranged with workers aged 16 to 21 who do not have the necessary qualifications to obtain a "work experience contract". The duration of this contract ranges from six months to two years, although it may be extended to three years by a collective labor agreement.

Transitory employment needs may be met through workers provided by temporary work agencies.

British homeowners in Spain: The right move at the right time

2008-01-14T17:16:00.000+01:00

Spain is not a bad place to invest or move. After a long period of bad press in the UK and unstable British economy, things change and buying in Spain keeps being a profitable decision!
Article from Daily Mail. 24th April 2007:
Jennifer and John Day moved from Buckinghamshire to the Costa de la Luz last year.
The couple, who are in their sixties, have made a killing on their property - and maybe just in time.
Their home has almost doubled in value in 18 months.
In November 2005, they paid £150,000 for an off-plan, three-bedroom, three-storey townhouse overlooking a golf course, seven minutes from the beach.
By the time they moved in a year later, it was worth £230,000. Last week, it was valued at £286,000.
Mr Day runs a building company. Mrs Day, who works as an administrator, said: "We'd been coming to Spain for years. Originally, we planned to keep this as a holiday home but then decided to relocate over here.
"We used to go to the Costa del Sol but it has become so over-priced and over-crowded with high-rise blocks.
"Here it is far more authentically Spanish - there isn't much of an expatriate community - and it's much better value for money.
"Property prices in our region are stable. The Spanish aren't as obsessed by property prices as we are in England although they are happy enough to sell their homes for huge sums of money if foreigners come offering it."

Readers of the Daily Mail newspaper said about this article:

“My wife and I have been in Spain for 11 years and we have our son and his wife and two granddaughters, both of whom were born here. It is a great place to live with a fabulous climate and a lot less state interference in our daily lives. Our health service is second to none and the education system absorbs British kids into the system incredibly well. Property prices have risen but there are still good deals to be had; the silliness in the market of recent years has now ended. It is a buyers' market and you can always find a good deal if you are seriously looking”
- Peter Mitry, Manilva, Spain
“It is just possible to buy a property to enjoy. Does everything have to boil down to money and profit? We have a house in Spain to benefit from the climate and lifestyle not to make money.”
- T Lovell, Horsham, West Sussex

SPANISH CHRISTMAS

2007-12-21T17:14:00.000+01:00

Unlike many other places in Europe, Christmas lights do not go up in Spain until December. Every town and city will decorate the streets. Christmas markets also begin to appear. Christmas trees are on sale everywhere and gypsies begin to sell Christmas trees in the streets.

Spain has many of its own unique traditions, all of which are great fun.

22nd December - All over Spain people never stray far from a TV or radio as the Christmas lottery is drawn over a period of many hours. Everybody in Spain buys tickets for this lottery in the hope of winning El Gordo (the fat one) and the winning number usually means that a good number of people from the same village become a lot better off overnight. Besides the big three prizes there are thousands of smaller prizes shared by people all over Spain.

Christmas Eve is celebrated more so than Christmas Day. The family gathers together in the grandparents' home, alternating grandparents from one year to another, but all the women and many of the men help in the preparation of the evening meal - a veritable feast - which begins about 10 p.m. and can go on until the small hours. Some sing carols around the crib of the nativity scene which remains without the baby until the stroke of midnight. Other families go to midnight Mass but many in modern-day Spain watch the Christmas programmes on TV while washing down Christmas sweetmeats of Turron (nougat) and mantecas (a range of butter-based biscuits) with Cava after their meal.
After the meal the adults will then exchange presents. The children will usually only receive a small gift.

Every town and most churches will have a 'belen' which is a nativity display. Some of them are very impressive and can cover massive areas. Some are animated and illuminated and draw huge crowds.

Christmas Day is a fiesta day so all banks and shops are closed, probably to recover from the night before. Christmas Day in Spain is one of the quietest of the year. Anyone wanting to eat out on this special day will have to book well in advance.

28th December - This is the day of Santos Inocentes (Holy Innocents) and is the equivalent of April Fools' Day when people play practical jokes on one another. Often the national media will include a nonsense story in their broadcasts. In some villages youngsters of a village light bonfires and one of them acts as the mayor who orders townspeople to carry out civic tasks such as sweeping the streets. Refusal to comply results in fines which are used to pay for the celebration.

New Year's Eve is big in Spain and on New Year's Eve it is the tradition to wear red underwear but they have to be bought for you by someone else. Most towns organise street parties with entertainment and firework displays that last all night. Most bars and restaurants are open for private parties only. There will be music and dancing and the wearing of the usual party outfits. At the stroke of midnight it is tradition to eat 12 grapes - one on each stroke of the clock to bring good luck for the new year. The grapes are a late variety from Vinalopó near Alicante.

6th January - This is the Feast of the Epiphany when the Three Kings arrived in Bethlehem. For Spanish children this is the most important day of the year when they wake up to find that Los Reyes Magos (the Three Kings) have left gifts for them in their house. Santa may leave them a token gift on 25th but the Three Kings are their favourites, especially Baltasar who rides a donkey and is the one believed to leave the gifts. During the day of 6th the Three Kings continue their good work and are seen distributing gifts to children in hospitals all over Spain.

The day after receiving their gifts children return to school, their parents go back to work and Christmas in Spain is all over for another year.

SPAIN - Driving Licence Points System

2007-11-22T13:43:00.000+01:00

With 4,400 people losing their lives on the roads of Spain last year, the Government hopes that the new points driving license, introduced on July 1st 2006 will change driving habits across Spain.

People will still be fined for traffic offences as before, but most of the offences will now see a deduction in the number of points on your driving license. There is still a 90 € fine category for small offences which sees no change in your points tally. Also if a fine is issued but the driver at the time is not identified, then obviously no points can be taken, although the fine can now reach 1,500 €.

Drivers with more than three years experience start with 12 points, while new drivers are credited with eight. Drivers can get two extra points after three years with no offences and a further point after that after three more years to reach the maximum number of points – 15.

The points are to be deducted when the fine becomes fixed. When you receive the letter with the fine there are three things you can do.

1. Pay up within a month and get a 30% discount and get the points deducted.
2. Launch an appeal within 15 days.
3. Do nothing. If you do nothing the fine is considered fixed in a month when your points will be deducted.

If you leave the fine unpaid, you'll find the amount due taken automatically from your tax rebate or directly from your bank account.

Drivers can check their current balance on the Traffic Department website – www.dgt.es. The points can be considered as being virtual in as much as should you renew your driving licence, your points balance remains unchanged.

You can voluntarily take a course once every two years. This consists of 12 hours of classes, 170 € cost and 4 points at the end guaranteed. However if you lose your license you are obliged to take another course of 24 hours of classes, 320 € cost and 8 points at the end, provided you pass an exam. These new education centres are now being established and the government has a target that by the start of next year, all residents of the country will be no further than 30 kms away from one.

Passengers can lose points too. If you are a passenger in a car and stopped not wearing your seat belt, then your license will still be deducted the three points, even if the driver is wearing his.

How can you lose points ?

Speeding - Between 2 and 6 points depending on how far above the speed limit you were travelling.

Using the mobile phone or any other apparatus considered a distraction – 3 points.

Not using your seat belt or helmet for bike riders – 3 points.

Drink driving – 4 or 6 points.

2 points will be taken for:

* Dangerous parking
* Using radar speed trap detectors
* Forgetting to turn on your headlights
* Taking a child under 12 as a passenger on a motorbike

3 points will be taken for:

* Making an illegal turn
* Driving too close to the vehicle in front

4 points will be taken for:

* Driving without the correct license
* Taking a vehicle onto a motorway that is not authorized
* Reversing on a motorway
* Dangerous driving or overtaking
* Blocking another driver from overtaking
* Jumping a red light
* Disobeying police instructions
* Throwing any dangerous objects from the car – this includes cigarette butts
* Driving with too many people in the vehicle

And finally 6 points will be taken for:

* For extreme dangerous driving, which could be, for example, taking part in racing, driving against the traffic and so on.
* Professional drivers risk losing six points if they do not respect official rest periods

DRIVE SAFELY AND SAVE POINTS AND MONEY!

Valencia Off-plan Properties, a viable option for overseas buyers

2007-11-12T12:54:00.000+01:00

Off-plan property purchase in Valencia was once viewed as the optimum way to gain 18 months of capital appreciation without so much as applying for a mortgage. In the early 2000s, when capital appreciation was 15 or 20 per cent per annum, offplan development was a very attractive proposition,
but with the recent property downturn in Spain is there still anypoint in buying off-plan?

The developer likes early-bird purchasers as their deposits not only provide a bit of cash to get the heavy plant digging but also reassure the bank manager that his financial stake is safe.

In return for your ‘support’, patience and willingness to take a ‘risk’ in buying something you cannot physically see, the developer will discount maybe 10 per cent or so from the market value.This, of course, means at completion stage you have a minimum 10 per cent profit already built in, yours for the taking upon resale.

Price aside, off-plan purchase gives you the chance to cherry pick the best unit. Penthouses, corners and those with the best views sell faster and resale better and as a pioneer you can take your pick.

Additionally, an off-plan property in Valencia should display the latest in building techniques and materials from sound-insulation to durable flooring. And, that ten-year construction guarantee, compulsory under Spanish law for structural defects, is yours for the full decade, which can’t be said for a resale.

Lastly, many developers allow you to get involved in the closing stages of build and stamp your personality on the product. Whether that may be choosing tiles, paint colour or appliances, it is a luxury only afforded by off-plan purchasers

Off-plan property development in Valencia still has its place and that the recent downturn in the country’s property market is making the option a more attractive proposition. Buying off-plan property is no longer as attractive as it was when prices were rising in Valencia, but it will still suit some buyers who like stage payments spread over many months, and want a brand new property.

Developers are now bending over backwards to attract buyers with incentives such as furniture packages and mortgage payments, so in a funny way buying off plan is starting to look more attractive than at any time in recent years.

Spanish property experts advise that buyers of off-plan property in Valencia do their homework, look at examples of the developer’s previous work and make sure both they and their lawyer are clear on which features or qualities were promised contractually, including square metre build sizes.

Real estate investment is based on research, research, research, and research would suggest that better areas for off-plan investment exist to those prepared to work with market professionals.

GOLF BASICS FOR BEGINNERS

2007-10-17T18:02:00.000+02:00

There are a lot of books and other information products available for established golfers, but not a lot for adults who are brand new to the game. Amongst all the tour talk, long drives and 400cc drivers, it seems beginners are left out.

Golf is a great game providing a lifetime of enjoyment and when you finally achieve a certain level of proficiency, a whole new element of the game appears, ensuring there is always a challenge.

Here are some of the basics you need to know in order to get started.

Golf Course
First thing that one encounters is the golf course. A course is made up of a series of holes, each comprising of a teeing area, fairway, rough and other hazards, and the green with the pin and cup. A typical golf course consists of eighteen holes, but many have only nine.

Hole
Holing a ball consists of hitting a ball from a tee on the teeing box and once the ball comes to rest, striking it again and again until the ball goes into the hole. A hole is classified by its par, the number of strokes a skilled golfer should require to complete play to the hole.

Traditionally, a golf hole is either a par-three, -four or –five, though some par-six holes exist, but are not usually found on golf courses.The par of a hole is determined by the tee-to-green distance. But these distances are not absolute rules in themselves. There can be variations depending upon the prevailing rules and practices.

Handicap
A handicap is basically rating of an amateur golfer’s ability to play golf over 18 holes. The 2 main formulas used in the game are stroke play (also known as brutto or medal) and match play.In the Stroke play formula an individual competes against the par of the course to determine his/her handicap. The match play formula is a game during which two players compete with each other. In other words, your score per hole depends on the other player’s score.

Clubs

Golf clubs are used to hit a golf ball. They basically fall into three broad categories namely

• Woods: Earlier they used to have wooden heads, hence the name, and are used to propel the ball for long distances from a tee or fairway. They have varying degrees of loft (angle of club face relative to vertical). Now these come with titanium or composite heads.

• Irons: Originally with metal heads also with varying degrees of loft.

• Putter: they are used to propel the ball short distances along the ground with optimum accuracy, usually on the putting green.

VALENCIA – THE RIGHT INVESTMENT

2007-09-21T13:05:00.000+02:00

With a beautiful old town, beaches, modern architecture and now the latest addition to the grand prix circuit, this stylish city has much to offer buyers.
It is on the Mediterrranean, the place that invented paella, has a wonderful medieval centre that is a World Heritage Site and the cathedral has a little ancient stone cup that some believe to be the Holy Grail.

Valencia has acquired a taste for the international spotlight. With the America's Cup came a new £350million super yacht marina in place of a functional fishing port. Now Spain's third-largest city is turning its attention to the next glitzy event: the arrival of Formula One next year on a new harbourside circuit to rival Monaco.

It has the same prized combination of a beautiful old town and beaches. It also has some fantastic modern architecture: Santiago Calatrava's City of Arts and Sciences rises spectacularly from the dry river bed that dissects the city, much of it an exotically landscaped park that gives the impression of abundant greenery.

One of the reasons that the city remains relatively unexplored by second home buyers may be the "land grab" scandal, which came to light in areas such as the Costa Brava. Here, unscrupulous builders, working alongside malleable councillors, developed land without permission. But so far cases of developers serving compulsory purchase orders on home owners have only applied to rural areas.

The tourist office is doing a good job now of promoting the city. Low-cost flights are drawing people looking for a lively weekend bolt-hole, two hours from the UK and 10 minutes from Valencia airport."
New metro and tram routes and a high-speed rail link to Madrid, opening in 2009, are also making Valencia's suburbs an appealing prospect for commuters.

Tim Marshall, 23, a builder from Bristol, has renovated and sold a five-bedroom house in Villamarchante, 30 minutes by tram to the city centre, for £275,000. He has now bought a six-bedroom house in nearby Pedralba for £165,000 through Valencia Property.

"The city and surrounding villages have developed a lot in the four years I've been here," he says.
"You can live just outside the city, in a large house with a garden, stables, and terraces overlooking orange groves and mountains for the price of a two-bedroom apartment in the centre."

LIVING IN VALENCIA

2007-09-07T13:02:00.001+02:00

Valencia, Spain’s third-largest city and capital of the region. Foreign tourists don’t overrun the city, as they do much of Spain, and the foreign community is smaller than in Madrid or Barcelona. This makes it easier to meet locals.

Moreover, the city itself is an appealing and inexpensive place to live, with a pleasant historic center and numerous art museums. The waterfront esplanade, lined with restaurants and bars, where on summer weekends the dancing goes on until sunrise, is only a 10-minute tramway ride from the center.

A three- to four-hour bus ride, the cheapest and most convenient way to travel, brings you to Barcelona in the north, Madrid in the west, and Alicante in the south. The famous party island of Ibiza is an overnight ferry ride away.

In Valencia, as in the rest of Spain, people are lining up to learn English. University students need English to find employment upon graduation, and companies tell employees that career advancement depends on their ability to speak English. As a result, English language schools are opening up all over Spain.

Main industries
With a very large and important port, Valencia is definitely an industrial city. Manufacturing, furniture, shoes, cement, paper, ceramics, and textiles are main industries here.

Language
The community of Valencia (the three provinces of Alicante, Valencia, and Castellón) has two official languages: Castellano and Valenciano, a local dialect. Classes at the University of Valencia are offered in both, and with speaking and understanding only Castellano you can certainly get by in daily life in Valencia. If interested, you can also take classes in Valencia to learn Valenciano.

Gastronomy
You will not go hungry in Valencia. Like any modern city, Valencia has a little bit of everything in terms of food and restaurants. There are some constants, though. I found that Valencia has a very Mediterranean cuisine, with lots of seafood, olives, olive oil, vegetables, and rice. Tapas (small rations of food) are, of course, famous in Spain, and Valencia is literally FULL of tapas bars and restaurants.
Valencia is famous for its paella, a rice dish made in a special pan, also called a paella. While there is paella in all of Spain, it is said that paella originated in the area of Valencia. Paella comes in all forms and ingredients, but traditional Valencian Paella contains chicken, rabbit, special beans and vegetables, and saffron. Another famous food here is aioli, a garlic mayonnaise.

Eating times in Spain are different than what you may be used to. Breakfast in the morning usually consists of only a coffee and croissant. Lunch, "La Comida" is usually eaten between 2-4 pm, and is the big meal of the day. Many stores and businesses close for the time of the comida, the famous Spanish "siesta." Dinner, or "La Cena" is typically a lighter meal and eaten around 9-11 pm.

Nightlife
Informally, Valencia is known throughout Spain for its parties. Whether you like small bars, jazz clubs, or huge elaborate discos, you will find it all here. And most likely, all in the same night! People typically don't head out to hit the town until late, sometimes going to a disco as late as 2:30 or 3:00 am. Some clubs stay open until 8, 9, or even 10:00 am! If you stay out to see the sun rise, you've had a normal Spanish night of fiesta. And if you're not into the bar scene, there are lots of other things to do, too. Movie theatres, a Music Hall, plays, tapas restaurants…whatever you can imagine!

Transportation
Taxis - Taxis are white, everywhere, and pretty cheap. You can usually flag one down on any street. The green light on the roof illuminated means the cab is free
Buses - EMT (the public bus company, 96 352 83 99) buses are big and red, easy to use, and even cheaper then taxis! Maps, destinations, and frequencies are clearly displayed at the bus stops
Metro and Tramvia - Valencia has a good metro system, There is also a monorial-type tram that runs from various points in the northern part of the city, to the beach
Train - RENFE is the company that operates the trains that traverse Spain. The main RENFE station in Valencia is Estacion del Norte. You can inquire about schedules and buy tickets right at the station, to go virtually anywhere in Spain or further.
Central Bus Station - For longer trips outside of the city, the Central Bus Station has buses that run virtually everywhere in Spain and other cities in Europe.

VALENCIA GRAND PRIX 2008

2007-09-05T12:20:00.000+02:00

Spain’s second Grand Prix has been confirmed for 2008 with the announcement that the European Grand Prix will be held on the streets of Valencia.

The Hermann-Tilke designed track will chart a course around the city’s Americas Cup port. The city announced a seven-year deal with Bernie Ecclestone today.

It will be the first time that F1 has visited two true street circuits in a year since 1991, when races were held at Monte-Carlo, Monaco and Pheonix, United States.
When the beautiful Mediterranean coast collides with fun-loving Spaniards you are bound to have a good time. But when you take that and combine it with a challenging new street course, F1 fans have just found another favourite race!

Setting the stage for the 2008 European Grand Prix, Valencia appears to be, dare we say it, a sister race to the Monaco Grand Prix. No longer can Monaco boast the only street course, let alone alongside a harbor, on the F1 calendar.

Valencia`s new street circuit will be based harbor-side around America`s Cup Port, which currently houses the America`s Cup sailing event. Sailing, cycling, diving, golfing, racing, you name it! Valencia loves sports! Located along the Mediterranean Sea and blessed with good weather year-round, Valencia is draped with sun-kissed beaches and azure blue waters.

The calendar as proposed is as follows:
Australia (March 16),
Malaysia (March 23)
Bahrain (April 6)
Barcelona (April 27)
Turkey (May 11)
Monaco (May 25)
Canada (June 8)
France (June 22)
Britain (July 6)
Germany (July 20)
Hungary (August 3)
Valencia (August 24)
Italy (September 7)
Belgium (September 14)
Singapore (September 28)
China (October 12)
Japan (October 19)
Brazil (November 2)

Buy to let properties in Spain

2006-09-29T19:45:00.000+02:00

Spain is one of the best places for a buy-to-let holiday home, because it offers excellent rental income.

Buying a bargain abroad means that your loan repayments won't swamp your letting income – "The Spanish rental market is well established and there are cheap, flexible mortgages. Wherever you're thinking about holiday letting, ask yourself:

1)Is it easy to reach your property from the UK?

2)Is there an established tourist trade?

3)Are there seasonal fluctuations for ski or beach properties?

There's a range of mortgages available in Spain, including up to 60% of the property's value for self-certified mortgages, and 95% on a status basis, and you can find a mortgage fixed at 4.89% until October 2008."

Original source: New Skys

Valencia - Possible site for new UN Logistical Base

2006-09-25T11:29:00.000+02:00

Francisco Camps, the political party leader for the PP in Valencia, announced in Brussels that he accepted the proposal to present Manises as a possible future base for United Nations peace forces.

Mr Camps added that he had been given an "in-depth" presentation of the project and that the enlargement of the Manises airport had been taken into consideration.

Mr Moratinos, the Foreign Affairs minister and member of the opposing party, thanked Mr Camps for his support and collaboration, and apologised for not warning Mr Camps before proposing Manises as a candidate, adding that it was "geographically and geopolitically" the perfect site and added that he was "delighted that we can all work together to ensure the success of the project."

Valencia airport Metro link

2006-09-20T14:03:00.000+02:00

It has been rumoured here in valencia, that the new extension of Line 5 of the Valencian Metro service will begin stopping at the airport in the first quarter of 2007.

The line which will be extended to include Quart de Poblet, Manises and the airport will be approx. 200 metres from the Terminal buildings.

Home buyers put sun before profit

2006-07-14T18:00:00.000+02:00

Two-thirds of Brits want to escape the UK and buy a home in the sun, a new survey has revealed.

Surprisingly, 62% rate overseas sun and lifestyle more important than effective investment or making a profit from their home abroad, the survey from currency experts HIFX shows.

Around 50% want an overseas property to escape long and stressful UK working hours and high taxes and more than a quarter are looking to emigrate.

The 2458 adults questioned by pollsters YOUGov are three times more concerned about escaping the UK’s bad weather than making long term profit.

Spain remains our top get away destination with 46% of prospective buyers aiming to buy there. However, far flung destinations such as Australia, Canada and New Zealand are also increasing in popularity and emerging destinations such as Bulgaria and Cape Verde are also making an impact.

Most want a villa by the sea (49%), followed by a house in the countryside (19%); just 5% of buyers would consider an apartment in a city.

Mark Bodega, marketing director of HIFX comments: “There has been a shift from a second home being regarded as a luxury to it being something attainable by most people.

“The impact of growing prosperity, cheaper flights and the low cost of borrowing – even lower in the Eurozone than in the UK – mean the trend for buying property abroad is expected to accelerate.”

Original source: New Skys

Valencia Train crash Victims elevated to 42

2006-07-06T20:18:00.000+02:00

The death of a relative of a personal friend of ours here at EPS raises the number of deaths in the Valencia Train crash to 42. The daughter of the victim, an 11 year old girl, who was also admitted to the “Hospital La Fe” is thankfully stable.

The mother, Carmen Stick, was in a critical state as a result of the accident and unfortunately passed away at noon today in the hospital.

All of us here at EPS and TODOCASA (our parent company) are deeply shocked and deeply saddened by the tragedy which struck hardest here, as 20 of the 42 who died where people who lived here in Torrent where we are based.

Once again EPS/TODOCASA sends its condolences to all the Victims of the tragic accident and most of the businesses here on the Main Avenue, including ourselves closed early yesterday afternoon, as a mark of respect to the dead.

EPS TODOCASA

Valencia Train Crash

2006-07-03T22:44:00.000+02:00

At least 34 people have been killed and dozens more injured in a train crash in Valencia.

Officials said a wheel broke on a curve as the train approached the Jesus underground station and two carriages derailed.
Another 32 people were hurt, of whom two were in critical condition.

Trapped passengers rang emergency services from mobile phones and 150 people were evacuated from the station platform.

Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero decided to cut short an official visit to India and return to Spain on news of the accident.

"It seems this unfortunate accident was caused by excess speed and a wheel breaking just before it entered the station," government official Luis Felipe Martinez told Spanish radio.

Emergency services set up two field hospitals in tents on the street and a judge arrived to supervise the removal of bodies. Hospitals appealed for blood donors.

Last September, three trains crashed into eachother on the metro network but no-one was killed.

Easy Property Spain would like to offer its condolences to the families of those affected in the crash.

Pope in Valencia

2006-06-27T19:32:00.000+02:00

Pope Benedict XVI will host the last 2 days of the 5th World Meeting of Families in Valencia, on the 8th and 9th of July. Thousands of families from all over the world are expected to gather in the Spanish city for the event which is organised every three years by the Catholic church.

FUN IN THE SUN IN VALENCIA

2006-06-21T12:50:00.000+02:00

This week as it has been so hot in Valencia, we´ve decided to have a bit of fun and therefore we thought we would share these funny comic strips that we received via email, we´ve taken out the rude ones and left the ones that we hope won´t offend anyone.

From all of us at Easy Property Spain, we hope you enjoy them as much as we did.

To view them clearly you should ideally click on each photo as this will open it full size in a new window

VALENCIA SHAVES LUV

2006-06-19T20:23:00.000+02:00

The new territories and housing chief González Pons has revoked a section of one of the 13 articles of the new Ley Urbanistica Valenciana, LUV, that Brussels says infringe EU legislation.

His move comes as the European Commission steps up pressure on Valencia to make sweeping changes to the law so that it fully complies with EU regulations. In a letter sent to Valencia in April, the commission highlighted 13 articles that it claims do not adhere to current EU rules. It also questioned how certain promoters gained advantage over their rivals when Plan Parcial schemes were presented.

Sr González Pons also has to explain to the commission the system for awarding public contracts, which up until now have never been published in the EU official bulletin.

The regional environment secretary Cristina Serrano said on Sunday that only 69 Planes de Actuación Integrales (PAI's) were approved between 2004 and 2005 and not 1,000 as claimed by the European Commission.

Critics of the LUV land law say the revoking of a sub paragraph of article 135 is no way near enough to cool the EU Commission's interest.

OVERDEVELOPED

A report elaborated by the Observatorio de la Sostenibilidad shows that 60 per cent of the Valencia region territory has been developed, leaving the region as the third most developed in Spain only behind Madrid and Baleares.

Meanwhile Sr González Pons countered by saying that environment minister Cristina Narbona has doctored the figures by adding 25,000 hectares of concrete to them. He claims that Sra Narbona is trying to give the Valencia Region a negative image and damage tourism.

Author: Tom Cain

Triangle of Gold in Valencia

2006-05-30T11:41:00.000+02:00

The real estate company Llanera appears to be negotiating the acquisition of a company called REVA, which controls the largest citrus operation in the province of Valencia.

With the purchase of Reva, Llanera would own 6.5 million meters in the triangle between the A-3, the by-pass and the Perenxisa mountain range (Calicanto and “El Bosque”).The agricultural land owned by Reva, belongs to 3 municipal boroughs: Chiva (the majority), Aldaya and Torrent (the least), and consists of different types of oranges and mandarins.

In parallel with this process, Reva created a real estate division that has been urbanizing various plots of land located to the north of the A3, in the municipality of Ribarroja, where industrial estates and residential groups have been created.

Three years ago, the international real estate consultant Richard Ellis described this area as an authentic “triangle of gold”, indicating that it was one of the areas of future urban expansion with the greatest projection and expectations in Spain, due to the strategic location, magnificent communications with the Mediterranean, the availability of water and its proximity to the airport and the city of Valencia. And yet it stated that such advantages were, nevertheless, priced lower than in Madrid or Barcelona.

Americas Cup on tour in Valencia, Alicante and other major cities

2006-04-21T14:25:00.000+02:00

The Alinghi Team on the balcony of the

Town Hall in Valencia

The Americas Cup Tour Exhibition which will take place in various European cities, will be located in Alicante - Valencia until next thursday 27th, from there it will move on to Alcoy and then onward to more than 30 cities.

Also there are just 21 days left to the start of the 2006 Americas Cup season with the Louis Vuitton Acts 10 & 11 which will take place between the 11th and the 21st of May 2006 in Valencia to win the fantastic trophy shown below.

Formula 1 in Valencia by 2009/10

2006-04-10T19:09:00.000+02:00

52,500 people turned up to the Ricardo Tormo race circuit in Valencia to show their support for the GP2 races and show Mr Ecclestone that we should host formula 1 races also.

Although the Cheste race circuit would need modifications to compete with other existing circuits, such as more overtaking areas, faster straights and wider pit lanes, the Valencian community would be willing to spend the estimated 20 million euros necessary.

Mr Ecclestone, suggested that mooring for super yachts would be required but with the Americas cup being hosted in 2007, Valencia seems to be the perfect place especially when the airport (which is currently been extended) is only a mere 15 minutes from the track.

Finally, he also described it as "the best kept secret in the world," stating that the Ricardo Tormo circuit at Cheste would be allowed to play host to Formula One racing.

Just another reason why you should buy in Valencia NOW before it´s too late!

Four new towers to be built in Central Park in Valencia

2006-04-07T18:43:00.000+02:00

Four new towers and 100,000 square meters of garden will be added to the 250,000 square meters of current garden area closest to the Centre of Valencia.

CURRENT PHOTO

PROJECTED PHOTO

As for the use of the four towers, Alfonso Grau explained that they will be used for residential and tertiary use, without any concrete building assigned for offices. The design of the green area may change with the definitive project, although the intention of the City council is that it will serve to link the districts of Jesus and Ruzafa with a checkerboard proposal, thanks to pedestrian areas.

Formula GP2 comes to Valencia

2006-04-06T18:36:00.000+02:00

HISTORY OF FORMULA GP2

Formula GP2 (formerly known as International Formula 3000) started in 1985. It rose to being the final training ground for future F1 drivers, being the main support race at European Grand Prix. It produced a long line of Formula 1 drivers including Juan Pablo Montoya, Jean Alesi, Nick Heidfeld, Olivier Panis, Ricardo Zonta, Justin Wilson, Luca Badoer, Roberto Moreno and Ivan Capelli.

In 2005 the formula was relaunched. It is now called Formula GP2 to be more in line with the old Formula 2 name and public expectations as a stepping stone between Formula 3 and Formula 1.

Amongst the competitors in 2005 were the sons of previous Formula 1 World Champions Nelsinho Piquet, Nico Rosberg and Mathius Lauda.

Nico Rosberg became champion and was then given a Formula 1 drive at Williams alongside Mark Webber, whilst Scott Speed - who finished third - secured a drive with the new Torro Rosso F1 Team. At least half a dozen GP2 drivers also got to race for their countries in A1 Grand Prix, so the relaunch of the series achieved its aim of furthering drivers careers.

GP2 LATEST NEWS

Nelson Piquet Jr has set the fastest time in the final afternoon of testing at Circuit Ricardo Tormo.

Nelson Piquet Jr has finished the final session of pre-season GP2 series testing on top of the timesheets. The Brazilian took his Piquet Sports entry to a top time of 1:19.445 on an afternoon in which the teams and drivers ran heavy to test race set-ups for this weekend's races. Neslon was followed by the iSport of Tristan Gommendy, with local boy Felix Porteiro third for the Campos Racing team.

The temperatures stayed down this afternoon, as light spots of rain fell towards the end of the afternoon. The rain never fell hard enough to merit wet tyres as the potential downpour that had been forecast instead manifested itself in light spitting.

The top three were joined in the top one second bracket by the Dams of Franck Perera, as the Trident Racing pairing of Zuber and Bruni came home fifth and sixth. Adrian Valles completed an excellent day for Campos Racing in seventh, with Lucas di Grassi eight for Durango, Nicolas Lapierre ninth for Arden International, and the quickest overall man of the test Lewis Hamilton tenth for ART Grand Prix.

Tomorrow is a free day for the drivers and teams, as they prepare for the race weekend which begins on Saturday morning. Tomorrow night however will see the launch of the GP2 series in the heart of Valencia itself.

Thanks to official GP2 Website for latest news and pictures and Motorracing for links to driver info.

Madrid - Valencia High Speed link (AVE) delayed

2006-04-04T18:20:00.000+02:00

The high-speed train, or AVE, linking Madrid with the Valencian region has been a focal point for everyone in the area ever since it was announced. However, now the works aimed at laying the tracks have practically ground to a halt, with projects remaining held up in the Infrastructure ministry in Madrid.

In Pobla Larga, part of a bridge collapsed, injuring five workers, and the remaining work has been stopped, as an investigation is under way. The same happened at Siete Aguas when a 100 tonne concrete beam broke loose, which has also resulted in the site being closed due to an investigation.

As for the tracks entering Valencia, it was first thought that the tracks would be partly underground, and with the works still to be undertaken, it has now been decided that the tracks
should be underground.

It is obvious that the promise by president Zapatero to finish the works by 2010 is simply not being fulfilled. The fact that everything has slowed down over the AVE is yet another sign of how the socialist government seems intent on slowing down the prosperity of the Valencian Community.

The Metro transported more than 2.600.000 people during Fallas in Valencia.

2006-03-22T13:48:00.000+01:00

The metro obtained an historical record by transporting 2.650.034 people during Fallas in Valencia, a 7.31% increase over 2005.

The daily average was of approx. 400,000 travellers, more than double during a normal day.

The stations most used were those in the center. In fact, in Xàtiva 297,483 people were registered, whereas in Colon it was 237.233.

Slightly less used was the Plaza de España Station,(another one of the main stations), with 160,432 people.

Euribor rate hits 3.1%

2006-03-21T11:50:00.000+01:00

The Bank of Spain has confirmed that the euribor has surpassed 3.1% for the first time since November 2002.

During the next month, the monthly quota of an average mortgage will increase by an additional 40 euros.

The euribor - the main mortgage reference continues with the bullish rising initiated during the middle of 2005 and yesterday surpassed 3.1%, something that has not happened in almost three years.

The euribor over a year is the average interest to which money is lent by the European banks with a view to a 12 month period, it is calculated daily and the average of each month is used as an official reference to fix the mortgage conditions on most of the variable type loans.

Fallas 2006 in Valencia officially over

2006-03-20T20:01:00.000+01:00

The piromusical Antonio Caballer was a magnific prelude for cremà.

With eyes full of tears, wishing that the clock would not strike one o´clock in the morning, Lucia Gil and her Court of Honour made their appearance on the Town hall balcony in company of the President of the Generalitat, the Mayoress of the City and the Councilman of Celebrations and Popular Culture.

Thousands of people were crowded into the town square to be present at the “cremà” of "Imagin". "Senyor pirotècnic pot començar el castell" was the order that Lucia gave from the privileged viewpoint of the celebration. “Fuegos de Artificio Antonio Caballer S.A.” of Moncada, did not defraud delighting the crowds with a firework show to the music of “l´Entrà la Murta”, “Lo cant del Valencià” and the “Pasodoble Valencia”. Spectacular lights and colors combined with aerial gunnery and the force of the terrestrial earthquake, were a magnificent prelude for the ritual of the municipal “cremà”.

Seconds later the maximum representative pushed the digital button that initiated the “cremà” of the monument created by Ramon Espinosa and his team. “Imagin”, was quickly devoured by the flames, renewing another year of the ritual at night of San Jose. The sobs and smiles invaded the maximum representatives in the balcony, who remembered all that was lived during these days while they contemplated the fire which turned the monument to ashes.

The notes of the Fallero, accompanied the dance of the flames and with them culminated the emotion of an exercise that has brought us many joys, such as the visit of the Kings of Spain in the heat of festive week and to be able to share more and more the best thing of the Valencian Earth with all those that visit us.

More info available from the Official FALLAS Website which can be viewed by clicking on the link www.fallas.com

NEW CV-50 for Valencia to join Lliria and Alzira

2006-03-20T19:04:00.000+01:00

The CV-50, Llíria-Alzira dual-carriageway, is one of the most important projects of the “Conselleria de Infraestructuras and Transporte”. Next to the CV-35 (Lliria-Losa del Obispo), it comprises a package of new routes that will be financed by the “Shadow Toll system”, that is to say, without cost for the users since the Generalitat pays the construction company an annual amount for the vehicles that use the route.

Yesterday it was announced to the public that the first section, that connects Benaguasil and the A-3, and that allows a conclusion date of 2008. The section is 22 kilometers long and will cost 200 million euros, 92 for expenses of conservation and maintenance, since the construction company, besides constructing the dual-carriageway, will have to maintain it in perfect conditions during its lifetime.

Rangers fans rampage in Benidorm

2006-03-15T20:28:00.000+01:00

National and Local police in Benidorm had to be reinforced with National police officers from Alicante on Monday night as hundreds of Glasgow Rangers fans in Spain for the Rangers-Vilareal Champions League match went on the rampage.

Around 700 fans had gathered in the popular Costa resort before Tuesday’s match in bars in and around Calle Mallorca. At around 01.00 they spilled out onto the streets and began throwing tables and chairs around.

Restaurant and bar owners called in the local police but as they arrived on the scene they were subjected to a barrage of bottles, glasses and other objects.
Realising the situation was fast developing into a serious matter, National Police in riot gear were deployed to the zone. Their arrival fuelled the situation even further with the alcohol-filled mob turning its attention on them.

National Police in Alicante were called on to send reinforcements to help get the mob under control. During the riot, five national and one local policeman were injured and had to be hospitalised. A member of the public was also taken to hospital after he was set upon and beaten.

A police spokesman said that damage to cars and property in the area was substantial.
Following the riot police arrested eight men believed to be the instigators behind the disturbance. All eight were taken to Alicante pending possible charges and an appearance before magistrates

Original author: Tom Cain

New Lliria motorway to cause 10 months of traffic to accomodate new bridge

2006-02-27T13:18:00.000+01:00

A section of the motorway between Lliria and Valencia will be replaced by a bridge of 118 meters in length. Ten months is the time considered by the “Conselleria de Infraestructuras” for the provisional rerouting as of this morning.

The drivers who enter Valencia via the CV-35 from Llíria tomorrow will have to reduce their speed before arriving at the Palace of Congress.

The new temporary route will have three lanes of circulation, similar to the existing motorway, and therefore the traffic capacity will be identical to the existing one at the moment, although the allowed speeds will be reduced to 60 kilometres an hour. The total investment goes up to around 30 million, with a new bridge of 118 meters in length and 32.5 meters wide.

The majority of the work required for connection will take place during the night to reduce the traffic issues.

Don´t phone and drive in Valencia

2006-02-27T12:50:00.000+01:00

Valencian motorists could face hefty fines this week if they are caught using mobile phones at the wheel as the Traffic Department (DGT) launches an intensified campaign of spot checks.
Guardia Civil are carrying out 7,000 checks per day throughout Spain during the new awareness campaign that started on Monday and will run until March 5.

The checks will be carried out by officers in both marked and unmarked police vehicles. The campaign is accompanied by announcements on the radio and adverts in the press, as well as messages on overhead information panels on main roads warning of the dangers of using a mobile phone whilst driving.

The DGT says many motorists are still putting themselves and others at risk by flouting the law. A survey has revealed two thirds of drivers are willing to ignore the phone ban, several years after the law came into effect.

Spanish law prohibits talking on a mobile phone while driving, stopping on the hard shoulder of a road to continue a phone conversation, or using a phone at a petrol station, and the offence carries a fine of up to 600 euros and confiscation of the driving licence.

Last year 3,329 people were killed and another 3,000 were injured in road accidents in Spain and statistics show that one in every three accidents is caused by a distraction, in most cases talking on a mobile phone.

Experts say that the most dangerous moment is when a driver receives a call and that after talking for a minute and a half, even using a hands-free device, a driver’s average speed falls by 12 per cent, he misses 40 per cent of signals, and his reaction times are increased.

Last year over 72,000 motorists were caught on mobile phones during spot checks and the traffic authorities say they are looking at increasing the sanctions on motorists who use mobile phones, listen to music on headphones, or watch a DVD whilst driving, and that those flouting the law could risk losing three points off their licences under the new system.

Original Source: Costa Blanca News

LUV Law replaces LRAU in Valencia

2006-02-08T11:50:00.000+01:00

Fears of further mass development on the Costas were diluted this week when Valencia announced permission will only be given if there is sufficient water supply – a requirement that will jeopardise many schemes.

This is one of the new requirements set by the new LUV land law that came into force this week replacing the controversial LRAU.

Under LUV, town halls are obliged to modify their town plans to approve a new Plan Parcial development, a step that must be sanctioned by Valencia. It also requires a full study of scenic impact, subsidised housing included in the scheme (if the municipality has more than 10,000 residents) and 10 square metres of green area per resident.
Acceptable development scheme parameters are now set by law, not by the town hall, thus avoiding controversial decisions.

Analysts say the LUV has solved some of the problems caused by the LRAU and gives property owners more protection and information. However other controversial rules remain and the LUV has not been adapted to EU directives according to the ultimatum given by the European Parliament recently. This opens the door to judicial action from Brussels regarding the new law.
Meanwhile, developers were quick to get in schemes before the LRAU deadline on Tuesday (see full report on page 3). Planning and territories councillor Rafael Blasco surprised everyone on Wednesday by saying the LUV directives will be applied to these last-minute LRAU projects although the new law says otherwise.

Original Source: Costa Blanca News

The Rain in Spain stays mainly in Valencia

2006-01-31T19:07:00.000+01:00

First SNOW now RAIN. Valencia is currently experiencing some very strange weather indeed, but some are grateful for it.

The water reserve stored in the peninsular dams has increased for the fifth consecutive time, thanks to the abundant rain that during the last days has fallen throughout Spain.

According to the Ministry of Medio ambiente, the dams have recovered during the last week 119 cubic hectometres, an increase that has benefitted mainly the reserves of the Duero, which has grown 60 cubic hectometres, whereas the reserves of the Ebro have descended 33 hectometres.

SNOW and ICE cause problems in Valencia

2006-01-30T11:24:00.000+01:00

Manises airport registered problems with ice in the early hours of yesterday morning which forced several airplanes to leave late from the Valencian terminal. The low temperatures "had frozen" several apparatus, according to sources in "Aeropuertos Españoles y Navegacion Aerea" (AENA). The same sources informed that by noon the situation had already returned to normal. Identical problems took place in other airports like the one in Oviedo, Santiago de Compostela and Granada. The weather caused delays in the departures of airplanes from these airports. Hundreds of travellers arrived at Madrid with delays and lost their connecting flights.

The weather also caused delays in some RENFE lines, but there were no suspensions in the service. Sources at RENFE informed that first thing in the morning some delays took place, due to the accumulation of snow and ice in some sections of the rails, but at no moment was the service stopped.

SPANISH TAXES UPSET BRUSSELS

2006-01-25T18:43:00.000+01:00

DISCRIMINATING AGAINST NON-RESIDENT EU CITIZENS BY TAXING THEM AT DIFFERENT RATES ON BOTH INCOME AND CAPITAL GAINS IS GETTING SPAIN INTO TROUBLE WITH BRUSSELS.

The European Commission has filed a complaint with the European Court of Justice accusing Spain of financial discrimination.

Non-residents pay a flat rate of 25 per cent income tax while residents pay on a salary-dependent progressive scale from 15 to 45 per cent.

A spokesman for the EC said, “The different treatment is especially significant in the case of taxpayers with relatively low incomes.”

Capital gains on real estate sales are taxed at 35 per cent for non-residents, while for residents there is a progressive scale if the property was held for less than a year and at a flat rate of 15 per cent if the time of ownership was greater than a year.

The EC said the Court of Justice has clearly established that offering different financial treatment to resident and non-resident EU citizens is ‘incompatible’ with the European Treaty.

“The difference in the tax treatment for residents and non-residents constitutes indirect discrimination on the grounds of nationality prohibited by the Treaty,” the spokesman said.

“The higher tax burden on non-residents may dissuade individuals from taking up employment or buying property in Spain while remaining resident for tax purposes in another member state. It also makes it less attractive for Spanish employers to recruit labour from other member states.”

The EC’s move to report the case to the Court of Justice comes after Spain failed to alter its tax structure after an official request in July 2005.

Original Source Costa Blanca News

Teruel Nº7 in the list of 20 Best places to buy abroad

2006-01-10T18:05:00.000+01:00

BUYING ABROAD

20 Best Places To Buy Abroad

The overseas property market is opening up as never before. On Channel 4's 20 Best Places To Buy In The Sun Amanda Lamb chose her 20 recommended property destinations.

20. Dubai - Modern buildings and a booming market. It used to be all sand round here.

19. French Riviera(Cannes, St Tropez, Monaco) - If conspicuous consumption is your thing and you don't mind paying £10 for a coffee.

18. St Kitts and Nevis - If you're not intimidated by self-build or the long haul this could be for you.

17. Marrakech - Hang out in the Medina with Richard Branson and the Rolling Stones

16. Florida - The no1 long haul destination for British buyers and scene of a classic tv series.

15. Down Under - Youth and action in Australia, peace, solitude (and cheaper prices) in New Zealand

14. Costa del Sol - Still famous after all these years.

13. Tuscany - Find the population of Islington on their summer hols

12. Cape Verde - Great beaches, fantastic surf and wonderful weather

11. Barcelona - One of the most expensive places to buy property in Europe. But worth every penny.

10. Normandy - Not just a holiday home - you could live here and work in England

9. Cyprus - A taste of home with added sun and sand

8. Croatia - Once a tragic war zone now a highly desirable destination

7. Teruel - The cheapest place to buy in Spain

6. Bulgaria - A cheaper Costa del Sol with houses for the price of a second hand family car in the uk

5. Limousin - Beautiful scenery and quiet farming villages and as yet relatively undiscovered.

4. Slovenia - One of the most beautiful places in the world.

3. Turkey - The country with something for everyone

2. Cape Town - Africa's property hot spot still offers investment potential.

1. The Algarve - Golf courses, beaches, sun - no wonder it's number one

Cheap Houses in Teruel

2006-01-10T17:44:00.000+01:00

The residents of Teruel in Spain are celebrating. For decades, this beautiful province near Valencia appeared to have been forgotten by both Spanish and international tourists. The locals felt so neglected they set up a pressure group, “Teruel Existe!” After years of lobbying, the campaign has paid off. Teruel is now considered to be one of the best areas in which to invest in property. The locals were stunned by the amount of interest they have managed to generate.

Located in the south of Aragón, Teruel has a distinctive atmosphere. The hilltop villages have a strong Islamic influence and the houses are a blend of Moorish and European Gothic. Tourists visit the capital to see the spectacular Mudéjar architecture, which has been included on the Unesco world heritage list, and the magnificent cathedrals and medieval belfries.

While Teruel town has its charms, it is worth leaving the capital to explore the region further. It takes about half an hour to drive to Albarracín. The brick-red fortress town creates an impact as soon as it comes into view, with its medieval ramparts that sprawl over the hillside. It has the feel of an Arab medina and it is fascinating to view the varieties of rather chaotic plaster buildings that bulge on to the streets.

But if you want to get away from it all, there are many other hilltop villages that are far less populated. Some of the more isolated regions conjure up images of the Wild West, where you can see for miles over the rugged landscape.

The Spanish Government has decided to regenerate Teruel province and plans to repopulate the region. One of the first schemes is to create a new motorway link that will allow visitors to drive from Valencia airport to Teruel in less than an hour. This should certainly draw more visitors to the region as the journey takes at least two hours and is an exhausting drive. The Government wants the motorway to be completed before the America’s Cup comes to Valencia in 2007. Teruel will then become a more attractive proposition for investors seeking a holiday home, and property prices will almost certainly rise.

Eric and Jan Wright discovered the charms of Teruel 13 years ago and have lived there since. They bought a rundown 17th-century flour mill for £7,500. Eric said: “We were living in Alicante and visited Teruel only because a friend told us that there was a beautiful property for sale. But as soon as we arrived, we succumbed to the region’s charm — rural Spain at its best.”

Eric and Jan have a few suggestions for people interested in buying property in Teruel. “People should be aware that Teruel is completely different from coastal Spain. You have to like space and tranquillity to live here. It is also vital to learn Spanish, as very few people speak English. That said, if you do make an effort to learn the language, the people are extremely friendly and welcoming. We are seeing a few more British people buying here now and I am not surprised. It is a lovely place to live and, while Jan and I were tempted to keep this fact a secret, the reality is that Teruel is truly a hidden gem.”

Full article can be read on Times Online

Valencia leads the increase of English tourists in Europe

2005-11-17T19:09:00.000+01:00

British tourists have situated the capital of the Turia area as the most demanded European destiny during 2005, a 97% ahead of the rest. A total of 29,000 additional tourists in comparison to 2004 coming from Great Britain landed in the city, according to the Valencian Tourist Office.
65.1% of these visitors have confessed to choosing Valencia for holiday reasons, while 34.7% have done it for business.

One of the Reasons why Valencia begins to receive more visitors is due to the 62 weekly flights to and from Great Britain.

The british remain in the city around an average of two days and have left close to 28 million euros in the Valencian coffers.

The Financial Times, Daily Mirror and the radio broadcaster Classic FM are some of the means of comunication used to open the doors to Valencia Tourism. The objective: to promote Valencia alongside the news articles.

It is believed that the city will reach 82,000 visitors by the end of the year, Even, some capitals such as Barcelona or Helsinki have decreased in figures.

A medieval market in Castellón

2005-11-17T18:23:00.000+01:00

On November 19th and 20th the historical centre of Castellón will be transformed into a medieval village, with stands, booths and shows. Stroll along the Calle Mayor, through the Plaza de las Aulas, and around the surrounding alleys and narrow streets and become captivated by the magic of the middle Ages.

Crowd pleasing shows, performances, jugglers, dance and music lessons and metal workshops are but some of the scheduled activities. In the Plaza de las Aulas you’ll be able to sample and purchase medieval food products, in the company of local dwellers from the past in their traditional attire, monks in their habits and pirates, and many other medieval characters. If you like craftwork, Castellón is the place to be for artisanry and observing artisans from ages hence applying their trade.

Spain goes to Brussels for cash to pay medical care

2005-11-17T18:13:00.000+01:00

Health authorities claim British and other EU pensioners are placing undue pressure on the health system and Spain’s health minister Elena Salgado has gone to the EU to demand more cash to pay the health bills for the increasing number of expats in Spain.

A ministry spokesman said the reciprocal agreement which exists between most European countries to cover health bills is insufficient in the face of a steadily growing population in Spain of elderly people from the UK, Germany, Holland and Scandinavia, many of whom fail to subscribe to the E121 system, whereby part of the costs can be reclaimed from their country of origin.

According to Age Concern around one million Britons own property in Spain and a high percentage of these are retired citizens. But while 225,000 are registered to vote in municipal elections, only 49,436 of them have applied for the E121 form, which acts as health cover for those people not contributing into the social security administration.A spokesman from Age Concern says that they deal with around 12,000 elderly British people in Spain and estimates that one in eight of them is seriously ill or even destitute and needing constant care.

The Spanish health authorities are expecting some form of compensation from their British counterparts. They say that the cost of looking after the expat population here works out at an additional 58 million euros (£40m) every year and are demanding that this money be refunded by the British government.Meanwhile, the UK work and pensions department insists that their staff do everything in their power to inform emigrants on the correct procedures of subscribing to the health system to ensure they are legally entitled to medical attention in their new countries.

Even so, many of the new settlers are still ignorant of the laws and regulations and continue to inadvertently take advantage of the Spanish health system by not presenting the correct SIP health card (if they are paying Seguridad Social contributions), the E121 form (for pensioners who are resident in Spain) or the EIH card, formerly the E111 (for visitors spending up to three months in the country).

For more information on the correct procedure for British citizens to obtain medical attention in Spain contact The Pensions Service, Tyneview Park, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE98 1BA.

SIGN ON THE PADRÓN: It is most important for residents to sign on the padrón at their local town hall; it is obligatory and necessary to receive a SIPS card. Signing the padrón costs nothing and helps municipal finances and essential services which are regulated by population figures.

Original Source: Costa Blanca News

NEW property purchase costs cut in Valencia

2005-09-20T20:02:00.000+02:00

New legislation approved by the government this week will benefit buyers of NEW houses by forcing developers to include the connection of mains services in property prices.

The deputy prime minister, María Teresa Fernández de la Vega, and the minister for health and consumers, Elena Salgado, held a press conference this week to present the proposed consumer protection law.

Electricity, water, gas, and sewage connections, which until now have been a major headache in some cases of the buying process, will have to come within the sale price of a property.

Developers will no longer be able to oblige buyers to take out a mortgage with them, and the law will highlight that the payment of capital gains tax is the responsibility of the seller and not the buyer.

ROUND-UP ROUNDED OFF

The new law will also curb the rounding up of charges made by service providers such as telephone companies and car parks, and will simplify the process of cancelling a service contract.
Until now, service providers have been able to round up charges to customers, but the proposal made by Minister Salgado will put a stop to the overcharging.

Consumer associations have welcomed the proposals which will ensure that customers only pay for what they use, instead of block periods of time such as per-hour parking or per-minute phone calls.

As part of the reform, measures will be introduced to make cancelling service contracts such as telephone, electricity, gas and water, as simple as signing up for them. Misleading small print and clauses leading to loss of money paid in advance will be prohibited, and customers will have to be clearly informed of the procedure for cancellation.

Original Author: Tony durbin - Costa Blanca News

Two trains crash close to Torrent and Valencia

2005-09-14T19:34:00.000+02:00

The mayor of Picanya, Josep Almenar, explained today to EFE that one of the two trains on line 1 of the Valencia Metro which collided was apparently, stopped by a failure when the other train collided behind.

Mayor Almenar, who travelled to the scene, confirmed that the driver of one of the trains is the person who has suffered the greatest casualties. The slightly wounded are being taken care of in the Paiporta Health Center, close to the location of the accident, whereas the severely wounded have been transferred to the General Hospital in Valencia.

The collision took place at 10:30 am and caused the derailment of both trains. According to the Generalitat, the collision has been very strong, and has completely destroyed the cabins of both trains. Luckily at the time of the collision both trains were circulating on a section of the line that is above ground. Line 1 of the metro, which unites the populations of Llíria and Bétera and Villanueva de Castellón, has interruptions between the stations of Valencia Sud and Torrent.

Valencia property prices keep rising

2005-09-12T11:37:00.001+02:00

Developers in Valencia forecast property prices to continue rising for next three years According to the Technical Institute of Construction (AIDICO), developers in the Valencian region expect property prices to continue rising for the next three years, albeit at a reduced rate compared to recent years. This expectation of further price rises is based on present low interest rates, robust economic growth in Spain, increasing immigration and continued demand for holiday homes and retirement homes among European buyers.

TOMATINA attracts record crowds.

2005-09-09T19:58:00.000+02:00

The roads ran red when 40,000 visitors and locals participated in Buñol’s famous tomato-hurling event last Wednesday.

At noon, municipal trucks dumped about 113,000kg of ripe, juicy plum tomatoes at the feet of adrenaline-charged crowds in the town's main square. Within minutes the area was dripping with red slime, and clouds of tomato sauce filled the air.

Officials pelted the crowds, who retaliated by flinging their over-ripe missiles back at the officials and each other. The squashed tomato battle went on for an hour, until officials sounded the alarm. It is absolutely forbidden to hurl tomatoes after this moment, as the streets need to be cleared of tomato seeds and pulp before the mess starts to dry.

The unusual celebration is known as La Tomatina and takes place on the last day of the fiesta honouring the town’s patron saint. The fun began in 1944 when a group of friends had an impromptu tomato fight and enjoyed it so much that they met the following year to pelt passers-by. Curiously, this has evolved into an annual fiesta that becomes more popular every year.

Although there were some injuries, fewer people were hurt than in previous years.

Original source: Joanna Cruickshank Costa Blanca News

Valencia to triple the number of 5 star Hotels

2005-09-08T18:28:00.000+02:00

In nine months time their will be 3 new 5 star hotels available in valencia, including 1 with a SPA. Hotel Las Arenas, Hilton and Sorolla will all be available to cater for the increasing number of tourists who are starting to discover Spain´s Third city.

The hilton hotel will be 117 metres high and will have 30 more rooms than it´s new competitors, including 1 room of 160 m2.

Starting prices to stay at the "Las Arenas" hotel will start from 275 € and for 500 € you get to stay in the suite.

Castellon Airport work to be stopped

2005-09-07T18:05:00.000+02:00

In spite of an order this week from the Infrastructure Ministry, work on Castellón airport will go ahead. Although the ministry claims no building permit has been issued, provincial government chiefs say the plans were authorised in 2002 and the ministry has no right to halt work.
SL Aerocas, the company created by the provincial government of Castellón and the Valencia government to carry out the scheme, has not commented, but work on the site is continuing at its usual pace. Ministry spokesmen say this is the second time they has ordered works to be halted, however, insiders say that when Francisco Álvarez Cascos was running the ministry, the airport project met all the environmental requirements. The same sources say another study will be carried out prior to the airport being opened to the public.

Original source: Costa Blanca News

Thinking of buying a Property in SPAIN

2005-09-06T13:56:00.000+02:00

If you are planning to buy a property in Spain there are a number of legal costs and taxes that you will have to account for. We will try to give you an insight on just some of these things so that you can start planning for that dream home in the sun.

COMMON COSTS OF BUYING A RESALE PROPERTY

Transfer Tax ( Commonly known as ITP)

This tax applies if the property is a resale property and is usually 7% on the price of the purchase. The Transfer Tax is paid by the buyer and has to be paid upon completion.

Agency Fees

Our Estate agency fees or commissions are paid by the seller, unless otherwise agreed. Other agencies may expect the commission to be paid by the buyer or even both.
Despite the ability to buy without the need for an agent most people still use agents to find property in Spain, as this guarantees greater coverage and provides you with the comfort that you will have someone available to you who can speak the language fluently and is in a much better position to make any offers on your behalf.

Mortgage costs

If you choose to buy with a mortgage then this will incur several additional costs. First there will be the property valuation that the mortgage provider will require before granting the mortgage. This is paid for the by the buyer and can cost around €400. Then there will be the costs of the mortgage itself. This varies according to the provider, however there is usually some kind of opening fee of around 1-2% of the value of the mortgage. Finally a mortgage will increase the Notary expenses.

Notary Expenses

Notary expenses are nearly always paid by the buyer and are calculated in relation to the purchase price declared in the deeds of sale. To be on the safe side you should calculate Notary fees as being 1% of the purchase price declared in the deeds of sale. In many cases, however, Notary fees are more like 0.5% (or less) of the price declared in the deeds.

Land Registry

Expenses related to registering the sale with the land registry office are also nearly always paid by the buyer, and are calculated in relation to the purchase price declared in the deeds of sale. To be on the safe side you should calculate 1% of the purchase price declared in the deeds but the fee could be considerably lower. In summary, allow for up to 10-12% of the purchase price in taxes and other costs.

Banking Costs

To pay for the property, you may need to write a banker’s cheque. In order to do that, you will need to have a Spanish bank account which we can open for you and transfer money from your own bank. We will normally provide you with contact details for companies who specialize in foreign currency transfers.

OTHER COSTS TO KEEP IN MIND

There will of course be costs associated with owning a property in Spain. Some of these will be maintenance costs, such as cleaning, repairing, reforming, utility bills, rubbish collection, and so on.

Property Ownership Tax (Commonly known as IBI)

A local tax on the ownership of property in Spain, irrespective of whether the owner is a resident or not. Calculated on the basis of the ‘valor catastral’ (an administrative value that is usually lower than the market value, sometimes considerably so) set by the town hall the tax rate goes from 0.4% - 1.1% of the ‘valor catastral’ depending on the Spanish region.

Annual Wealth Tax (Impuesto Sobre Patrimonio)

Both residents and non-residents have to pay an annual wealth tax on the net wealth they own on 31 December each year. For non-residents this tax only applies to assets located in Spain. Non-residents who only own property in Spain (and no other types of assets) can expect to pay a wealth tax based on the value of the ‘Escritura Publica’ or the ‘valor catastral’, or a value assigned by the tax administration for the purposes of other taxes - whichever being highest. The tax rate varies between 0.2 and 2.5%.

Personal Income Tax (Commonly known as IRNR)

Non-residents who own property in Spain have to pay an annual income tax that varies according to whether the property is rented out or not. Non-resident property owners who do not rent out their property and who do not have any other source of income in Spain pay income tax based on the value of their property. The tax rate is fixed as 25% of 2% of the ‘valor catastral’ of the property.

If non-residents rent out their property and receive an income in exchange, they are obliged by law to declare this income and pay taxes on it. The taxable base and the tax rate will be determined by the laws as they apply to each person’s particular circumstances (taking into account the double taxation treaty - if any - between Spain and the country of origin of the non-resident). In many cases non-residents simply pay a flat rate of 25% of the gross income they earn from their property in Spain.

Residents in Spain will have to pay the income tax based on their income earned during the year. The tax rate depends on the level of income.

Insurance

Household insurance will vary according to the circumstances of the owner and the type of property. However it should be born in mind as a cost that all property owners will face and Banks providing mortgages will expect you to purchase Buildings insurance and will also ask if you want life insurance to cover the mortgage should something happen.

A quick guide to the Spanish Education system

2005-07-27T20:10:00.000+02:00

Relocating to a foreign country can, it’s true, be a trying process – and that’s when you’ve just got yourself to consider. When your responsibilities extend to getting your entire family settled in to a entirely new culture, you might be forgiven for occasionally pulling out the odd handful of hair; and that’s even before you tackle the problem of learning a whole new language.

Of the many thousands of Britons moving to Spain each year, a growing proportion are families looking to give their children a taste of something completely different: a new cultural perspective, the chance to learn a new language amongst native speakers, and perhaps the opportunity to take a look outside what many see as an excessively-insular British society. Yet parents are also aware that too much disruption during the critical years of a child’s education might have disastrous consequences for that child’s future well-being. Unless carefully thought-out, the move from a British education to the (very different) Spanish schools system can cause a great deal of upheaval at the worst possible time.

“It was a very big issue for us,” says Julia McFarlane, who moved to the Costa Brava four years ago with husband Euan and son Michael, now 14. “We’d wanted to move for some years as Euan’s job meant he was spending almost all his time here anyway. But we were very worried about taking Mikey out of school; we didn’t really know when would be the right time.”

In the end the McFarlanes decided to wait until Michael had finished his primary schooling, reasoning that as he would be experiencing a certain amount of upheaval anyway it would be the most appropriate time for a more substantial change. However, to help Michael adjust as quickly as possible to his new home and school, his parents arranged private Spanish tuition for the year leading up to their move.

“It seemed the logical thing to do,” Mrs McFarlane continues. “At the beginning we weren’t really sure what kind of school would be best for Mikey, and we thought that even if we ended up choosing a British school the Spanish would obviously come in handy. If we went for a Spanish-speaking school, though, then it would be vital.”

After a good deal of thought and consultation the McFarlanes selected a British school for Michael, where, he says, he has been very happy and enjoys his studies.

“Definitely, it was a good choice,” he says. “When I left my old school I was worried, I thought it would be hard to make friends. But most kids at my school are the same as me and it was really easy to settle in. My Spanish lessons were really useful though, it meant I could get to know people outside school a lot easier and I’m pretty fluent now.”

*

In the UK, a parent’s choice when it comes to schooling is relatively straightforward: the state sector or, for those who are willing and able, private education. In Spain similar options are available, but there’s the added dimension of a variety of schools catering specifically for the numerous ex-patriate communities to be found across the country. Which school is right for your child depends on a number of factors, including among other things the degree of cultural integration you want your child to experience, the level of fluency in Spanish you wish him or her to achieve and the kind of qualifications with which you want him or her to leave school.

The traditional option for ex-pat children in Spain has been the (fee-paying) international school, normally supplying a general education taught in English and preparing pupils for the International Baccalaureate exams – the internationally-recognised equivalent to the British A-levels. Although the standard of teaching can, of course, vary, the majority of Spain’s international schools are well-respected and of a high quality. The fact that the International Baccalaureate examinations are independently assessed by an international body means that schools can be measured against one another in terms of results in a manner which compares favourably with Britain’s own system of league tables. A small minority offer alternative examinations, normally involving the domestic qualifications but occasionally including the British AS- and A-level exams.

John Welsh, a British ex-pat who has lived with his family in Madrid for over ten years, has sent his three daughters to an international school in the city and has absolutely no regrets.

“I’m very happy with the girls’ school and they’ve done very well, and been treated very well,” he says. “Before we left England we did think for a a bit about sending Ayesha” (Welsh’s eldest daughter, now 17) “to boarding school but we couldn’t really bear to do without her, to be honest! So we looked around and having spoken to a few of the other Brits out here we thought we’d choose an international school. And we’re very happy we did; Ayesha’s well on her way to university now – we hope! – and she’s had a first-class education here.”

Alongside the international schools are a number of more purely British establishments. In Spain, a “British school” refers to one which follows the British curriculum, such as that attended by Michael McFarlane. These schools teach all subjects in English, with Spanish taught as a foreign language as in the UK. British schools are the nearest equivalent you will find in Spain to the private schools found in Britain itself and often offer a similar ethos and philosophy. The degree of Spanish integration your child will experience at a British school may be relatively small – especially if his or her social circle outside school is predominantly British; however, for those who are only planning to reside in Spain for a short time, this may well be the option which causes the least disruption to your child’s education and development.

There are many advantages to sending your child to an international or a British school. Often – though not always – the majority of pupils will find themselves in similar situations to your child’s own; the initial sense of dislocation can be dispelled relatively quickly by the forging of an esprit de corps amongst those who are “all in the same boat”. The fact that lessons are almost invariably conducted in English means that your child will almost certainly have a smoother transition between systems and, perhaps, between different educational philosophies.

However, for a growing number of parents these advantages are anything but. Increasingly, Britons moving to Spain want their children to become as integrated as possible into the Spanish way of life – and frequently this means turning down the “easy option” of an international school, and plumping instead for a Spanish-speaking private or even, in many cases, state school.

Just as in the UK, Spanish private schools come in all shapes and sizes. The vast majority follow the Spanish curriculum (although there may be an extra emphasis placed on the study of English and, potentially, French and German), although many offer a choice between the International Baccalaureate and the Spanish bachillerato. With the obvious exception of language classes, lessons are almost invariably conducted in Spanish, although there is a developing tendency towards intensive English tuition at primary level so that when children enter secondary education they are almost fully bilingual. It is imperative to ascertain as early as possible the degree of fluency which your child will be expected to demonstrate at his or her particular entry level; the desire for cultural integration is a laudable one, but on no account should it be allowed to have a detrimental effect upon your child’s overall education and asking, for example, a twelve-year-old to move into secondary school with no or very little Spanish might detract greatly from his or her learning in other areas regardless of the benefits to the child’s command of the native language.

“I don’t know what it would have been like to go to a Spanish school,” Michael McFarlane says, “but I think it would have been ok. I would have made friends and I think I would have got used to the lessons in Spanish quite quickly. A couple of my English friends go to a Spanish school and they really like it. But I’m happy at my school – I wouldn’t change anything.”

One of Michael’s friends, 15-year-old Simon Wilton, has been attending a private Spanish school for nine years and says he wouldn’t have it any other way.

“Completely happy, absolutely,” he enthuses in unaccented English. “Obviously I don’t really know any different but I’ve had a great time. I don’t like working too much but then, who does?”

Simon knew no Spanish when he started school; his parents had moved almost on the spur of the moment and decided they wanted their son to be as integrated into Spanish society as possible.

“It was hard for him at first, and we had a few tantrums,” admits Simon’;s mother Joy with a grin, “but it was amazing, really, how quickly he settled in. Since then, almost since he started, his Spanish has been better than ours! And I don’t think there’ve been any negative effects on his education; he’s doing fine. I must confess we were dubious at first but I realized very quickly that that was more a result of our own prejudices than any flaws in the system.”

“To be honest I can’t really remember starting school; I can remember being very annoyed because I couldn’t understand but that passed quite quickly,” he says. “Now I feel no different from anyone else in the school, and I get treated the same.”

The private sector in Spain offers a variety of more specialist schools for parents with particular needs or wishes. For example, there are a number of religious schools – predominantly Catholic, as is to be expected – which will provide your child with an education based on the Spanish curriculum but with an added religious emphasis. Some of these schools, while fee-paying, are heavily subsidised by the national government and can often prove to be a more economical form of private education. However, most do not offer a comprehensively bilingual curriculum.

*

For parents who might not have the wherewithal to choose even a subsidised private school for their offspring – or for those who want to integrate their child or children as completely as possible into the Spanish way of life – the state sector offers a similar cross-section of facilities and quality of schools as does its British equivalent. Although many parents instinctively shrink from public education, the fact of the matter is that excellent state schools can be found in Spain, and for those who want to get as close as possible to the stereotypical “real Spain” this might be a preferred option.

Three factors must be borne in mind, however. Firstly, just as in the UK there is no guarantee that your child will be accepted into your preferred state school; although the state system accepts foreign students it’s vital to check that your child will indeed be offered a place, as just as in the UK the quality of state schools can very from district to district and you may end up sending your child to a neighbouring school which might not fit your own selection criteria. Secondly, the International Baccalaureate may not be available at your local school and, if your child wishes to continue studying at an English university, it is vital to check whether or not the universities under consideration accept Spanish qualifications.

Thirdly, there is a vast mountain of paperwork which must be trudged through in order to get your child admitted into the state system. Without a specific document known as the padremente you will be unable to enroll your child; the padremente is obtainable from the government, and you will need to supply proof of residency in Spain, your passport and details of your Spanish bank account. By all accounts, obtaining a padremente is a real exercise in patience; there is a huge number of different appointments and validation forms required before a padremente is granted, and at least some knowledge of Spanish is essential to get through the process.

It is clear that there is no simple answer to the schooling dilemma; each sector has its own specific advantages and disadvantages and it is, perhaps, most sensible to say that the circumstances and duration of your stay in Spain, and the degree to which you wish your child to become assimilated into Spanish society may be the deciding factors when it comes to choosing a school.

What is vital is that you research the schools in the area to which you are moving as thoroughly as possible; in fact, many recommend choosing a school even before choosing a house – for what could be more important than your child’s future? A lack of basic research at the start of your family’s Spanish adventure could have unforeseen long-term consequences for your child’s future. On the other hand, with careful planning and preparation – and this involves knowing exactly what type of school it is that you are looking for, and for how long – the process of getting your child educated in Spain should be no harder than if you had remained in the UK.

Original Source: newskys

If you wish to receive further information on the Private english schools available in the Valencian area, then don´t hesitate to contact one of our agents at sales@easypropertyspain.co.uk

Valencia dresses up for the July Fair

2005-07-11T20:13:00.000+02:00

The city of Valencia will celebrate its traditional Feria de Julio (July Fair), from 2 to 29 July, presenting an extended and varied program of activities to take place in various venues around the city. Celebrated since 1871, the Fair is a fun-filled event, giving visitors the chance to take part in great activities during the pleasant summer nights.

With the arrival of the mid-summer heat, the Auditorium in Viveros Gardens will once again be a venue for the concerts and shows of the Fair, which include eleven concerts by Spanish musicians and seven by international artists. Jorge Drexler, José Mercé, Alice Cooper, Isabel Pantoja, Raphael or Andy y Lucas, are but some of the invited artists.

The concerts will bring together young artists such as Bebé, Andy & Lucas or Orishas, and historical names like Alice Cooper or the Auserón brothers, Sapandaw Ballet or Paul Young. There will also be free concerts by Valencian Bands, such as Doctor Divago, Una Sonrisa terrible and La Peluqueria. This year, for the first time there will also be opera (Aida) and theatre shows (Monty Python).

In addition, the activity program will include four fireworks displays in the old Turia riverbed, and summer cinema, as well as activities for children and the elderly. Moreover, the San Jaime Bull Fair is set to take place in the Bullring, where corridas (bullfights) and novilladas (bullfights with young bulls) will be presented. Also scheduled is the band music competition Bandas de Valencia.

Outstanding among all the scheduled events is the highly regarded Batalla de Flores (The Battle of the flowers), a spectacular parade along the Paseo de la Alameda, with carriages decorated with real flowers. During the event, the public throws flowers and petals at the carriages, and in the end there is a mascletà, or firework display. The Battle of the Flowers is the closing ceremony of the July Fair.

Original Source: Official Valencia Website - http://www.comunitatvalenciana.com/index.htm

Don´t forget if you want to buy a holiday or permanent home in Valencia, don´t hesitate to contact us on sales@easypropertyspain.co.uk or alternatively view our properties on http://www.easypropertyspain.co.uk

The biggest party in Valencia shakes to the samba rhythm of Carlinhos Brown

2005-07-11T20:04:00.000+02:00

The best of Brazilian music will twist along the streets of Valencia on July 17th offering a show of music and colour, with two floats taking the lead. If you are willing to enjoy four hours of the biggest party our streets have ever seen owing to the participation of Carlinhos Brown, Ivete Sandalo and Margareth Menezes, join the carnival and swing to the samba rhythm.The show begins!

The Carnival, which will begin at 8 pm and will go on ‘till midnight, will be a fun caravan of music and dance open for everyone. The Caravan will depart from Viveros garden and will continue along the Alameda Path up to the Plaza de Zaragoza, where it will turn around and return to its initial point of departure. The Brazilian singer, Carlinhos Brown, will command the Movistar Carnival, which will become the biggest party in the streets of Valencia. The party’s objective is to join everyone in a free in the open-air and without banner music.

Carlinhos Brown, Ivete Sangalo and Margareth Menezes want the city to vibrate to the afro-Brazilian and pop music rhythm, as they did in Madrid, Barcelona, Sevilla and Bilbao.

Carlinhos is one of the most creative artists of the new Brazilian musicians generation connected to the last contemporary tendencies. He has integrated completely different rhythms such as African, Brazilian and traditional pop. The Carnival of Bahia is an important part of his life for it was there where he started playing the timbau drum. The voices of Margareth Menezes and Ivete Sangalo have travelled all over the world. They are two artists that have marked the history of Brazilian and Bahian music.

In order to enjoy the Carnival, it is suggested that the Festival participants go to the different established points of the caravan route and provide themselves from the beginning with water and other beverages.

Don’t forget to come and enjoy four hours of music and dance with comfortable shoes or sneakers; the street will be yours.

Original Source: Official Valencia Website - http://www.comunitatvalenciana.com/index.htm

Don´t forget if you want to permanently join in the party by buying a holiday or permanent home in Valencia, don´t hesitate to contact us on sales@easypropertyspain.co.uk or alternatively view our properties on www.easypropertyspain.co.uk

Lower taxes for non-residents working in Spain

2005-07-06T10:35:00.000+02:00

The Spanish government has announced its intention to lower the income tax charged to non-residents in Spain. The tax is called Impuesto sobre la Renta de no Residentes (impatriados).

The new law allows people with fiscal residence to declare Non-Resident Income Tax (Impuesto sobre la Renta de no Residentes) and aims to encourage activity of foreign companies in Spain.

People who have fiscal obligations in Spain but have not been residents here for the last 10 years and who have arrived as a result of a contract can opt for Non-Resident Income Tax. The work they are paid for must take place in Spain, although some activity can take place abroad (no more than 15 percent of overall earnings). If the company they work for is part of an international holding, then 30 percent of their wage can be earned abroad.

Non-residents must work for a company registered in Spain. Tax payers who opt for this fiscal status will have to declare their taxes each year and will pay a fixed rate of 25 percent. They will not be liable to any tax deductions. They will have to apply for Non-resident status during the first six months of working in Spain, and the maximum period granted for non-resident status is set at five years.

Original Source: New Skys

Polaris World reveals newest resort, Condado de Alhama

2005-07-05T13:35:00.000+02:00

Polaris World amazes again, gathering the best partners, Jack Nicklaus and Melvin Villarroel, to present the most spectacular residential complex on the Mediterranean Coast. Jack Nicklaus has designed three impressive “Signature” golf courses, his most exclusive Seal, covering an area of more than 2,500,000 sqm.

Incredible, isn’t it? And there is still more, two of them include the 36 best holes Nicklaus has developed as a designer all around the world. Something unique for Polaris World and located in our exclusive “Nicklaus Golf Trail”.

On the other hand, the distinguished architect Melvin Villarroel, known by his work in Marbella and creator of many of the most exclusive resorts in the Costa del Sol (Málaga), has designed an ensemble of apartments with vast terraces and elegant interior design, all of them being part of a sub-tropical garden.

If you are interested in buying Spanish golf properties from a registered Polaris Agent, a villa in Spain, a rural property in Spain, or general properties for sale in Spain visit http://www.easypropertyspain.co.uk/ and a Valencia property real estate agent will be happy to inform you.

Habla Español?

2005-07-04T19:53:00.000+02:00

Sarah Drane, a Briton living and working on the Costa del Sol, insists you speak Spanish if you have a home there and explains the benefit of doing so.
If you move to Spain, learn some Spanish, no excuses, no why should I’s, just get it done. Modern cars have CD players, so take out the Lighthouse Family and put in the Linguaphone, at least your time won’t be completely wasted when you’re stuck on the M25 in first gear for two hours.

Children’s books are also fantastic, and the Purple Cake Factory is the proud owner of the Usbourne First Thousand Words in Spanish complete with 500 stickers. Yesterday we learned ’la mariquita’, a ladybird, which they never taught me at A Level.

If you want further proof of why learning is essential, my little Clio broke down on Monday; it decided to spontaneously immobilise itself and so I called Renault Rescue.

A flat battery was diagnosed and little Calvin (I’m female, I can name my car, it’s my right) was winched up on the back of the pick up truck. I sat in the front of the cab and merrily chatted away to Antonio, my rescue man, and he was mightily impressed with my command of the Spanish language for an English girl. During the 20 minute journey we covered the weather, where he was born, what I did for a living, what I disliked about London and a bit more. We were pals by the time Calvin was deposited on the forecourt of the Renault garage.

Then, miracles started working before my eyes courtesy of Antonio. The queue of seven people was bypassed on my behalf, the mechanic summoned to replace my battery immediately, the reception chap instructed not to charge me a penny and I left with a fixed car, two Fernando Alonso posters, a non-violated wallet and an invitation to the Estepona feria (festival) in the company of Antonio and his family.

All because I was an Englishperson that had taken the time and the courtesy to learn the language of the country that I now called home. So, if you want to win the hearts of the locals, get your sticker book and start practicing. Right, Purple Cakes, today’s words are ’la correa del perro’... the dog’s lead...

Original Author: Sarah Drane

Residents and tourists urged to save water

2005-06-30T19:31:00.000+02:00

BY DAVE JONES

THE MINISTRY OF THE ENVIRONMENT HAS THIS WEEK CALLED UPON RESIDENTS AND HOLIDAYMAKERS TO SAVE WATER AS SPAIN EXPERIENCES THE WORST DROUGHT SINCE 1947.

The dry winter and spring has left national water reserves nearly 50 per cent down on total capacity, with rainfall not expected in the worst-hit areas until October.

Valencia and Murcia regions are facing the most critical shortages with reservoirs on the Segura and Júcar rivers running at just 15.9 per cent and 29 per cent of total capacity respectively.
To compound the situation, Met Office experts are predicting a dry, hot summer with temperatures up to two degrees higher than average for the months of July, August and September.

This week, the National Water Authority refused to rule out placing restrictions on water use on the Costa Blanca, although chiefs have said such measures are not foreseen at the moment. The drought has hit farmers the hardest, with crops in Valencia and Murcia going to ruin. Viticulturists in the Vega Baja have warned they face losing hundreds of thousands of euros because they do not have water to irrigate vines. Forest fires, which have hit large inland areas, have been raging due to the tinder-dry conditions.

Central and regional governments have announced plans to pump a total of 472 million euros into emergency projects in the Valencia Region alone to counteract the effects of the drought.
After several weeks of environment minister Cristina Narbona stating there would be no problems in supplies this summer, the ministry said on Tuesday that restrictions are not discounted.

Sra Narbona says Spain is experiencing the effects of climate change. She explained: “Our rivers have less water than 20 years ago and the land is becoming more arid.”

The minister urged residents to take measures to save water in their own homes. She asked people to take showers rather than baths, to turn off dripping taps, to only use the washing machine with a full load and not to change swimming pool water. “These are only small measures but if everyone does it we will save a lot of water,” she said.

more information can be found in the costa blanca news.
Original Author: davejones@costablanca-news.com

Guide to buying a property in Spain

2005-06-27T19:48:00.000+02:00

The following is just a simple and rough guide to buying a property in Spain. More information is available on request.

If planning to ask for a Mortgage, you should bring or ensure you can easily get access to your payslips and P60 if employed or last year’s accounts if self employed. Easy Property Spain can easily arrange Euro mortgages through Spanish banks which have the ability to offer low interest rates currently averaging 3.5%.
Remember property in Spain (especially in Valencia) sells quickly, therefore you need to be in the position to leave a deposit and have the relevant paperwork arranged before you go on a property visit.
It is advisable to contact UK agents for Spanish property or at least ensure that the agency has English speaking personnel to guarantee that they can show you what you are really looking for.
Look for the agents of Spanish property who have a large database of properties both re-sale and off plan to offer. A good estate agent or property consultant should be able to offer you several properties for your viewing.
Make appointments in advance to come out on viewing trips to Spain to avoid disappointment. The property market in Spain is buoyant so you should therefore not expect to be taken out from one day to the next.
It is a standard practice to leave a deposit of around 3,000 € with the estate agent to guarantee that the property is taken off the market. At this stage, our Legal department would perform the necessary checks on the property and our services department will help you with any extra services you might require.
EPS can also provide you with the contact details of an English speaking lawyer should you prefer to use a third party. Ask us for a list of lawyers in the area, so you can choose which one to use. In general the legal fees are based on the value of the property and it is highly recommended that you use an Agent who either has a legal department or a lawyer in Spain as the Spanish legal system is very different from the one in England.
Buying property in Spain normally attracts additional costs. It is recommended you allow a minimum of 10-13% of the property price to cover additional costs, such as legal, notary, registry fees, stamp duty etc.

If you require more information, Easy Property Spain is the best choice for your real estate agent in Spain.

For your cheap Spanish homes, Valencian villas, rural property in Spain, or Spanish golf properties, contact our Valencia Property real estate agency at sales@easypropertyspain.co.uk and let us guide you in your property search in Spain.

AMERICAS CUP FEVER TAKES HOLD OF VALENCIA

2005-06-24T18:45:00.000+02:00

The current Americas Cup holders, the Swiss Alinghi team won all eleven of their races throughout the weekend of the 17th of July, to make the 4th Act of the Louis Vuitton Challenge a bit of a one horse race. The 4th act which is one of the regattas which will help the teams to build up points for the final 2007 Americas Cup competition, was held on Valencia´s coast line with the 5th act also taking place there. The Spanish Team (Desafío Español) were beaten in the final race of the 4th act by Sweden´s Victory Challenge to finish sixth overall. The Alinghi team beat their main rivals, the Emirates Team New Zealand and BMW-Oracle. The latter two teams fought it out for second place in a head to head in the final race of the competition, which Team New Zealand won by a mear 16 seconds.

If you would like more information on this prestigious event you can visit the official Americas Cup page at http://www.americascup.com/en/ or alternatively if you would like to join in the festivities by buying a property in the now much sought after Valencian area, visit our webpage on www.easypropertyspain.co.uk or email us sales@easypropertyspain.co.uk

VALENCIA TO CONSOLIDATE LAND LAWS

2005-06-21T18:33:00.000+02:00

CURRENT LEGISLATION GOVERNING THE AREAS OF URBANISATION, TERRITORY AND HOUSING WITHIN THE VALENCIA REGION WILL BE CONTAINED WITHIN ONE SINGLE DOCUMENT FROM 2006 UNDER PLANS BEING PUT FORWARD BY THE VALENCIA GOVERNMENT.

Its aim is to give each law a common criterion and unify many of the existing regulations to make legislation more manageable.

At present, there are five laws that come under the control of the territories and housing council, these being the Ley del Suelo No Urbanizable (LSNU), Ley de Ordenación del Territorio y Protección del Paisaje (LOTPP), Ley Reguladora de la Actividad Urbanística (LRAU), Ley de Ordenación de la Edificación (LOE) and Ley Valenciana de la Vivienda.

All of these are recent laws except for the LRAU, which is soon to be replaced by the Ley Urbanística Valenciana (LUV). Regional territories and housing chief Rafael Blasco has ordered that the new document, being prepared by judicial consultants in Valencia, be ready by 2006.

more information can be found in the costa blanca news
Original Author: tomcain@costablancanews.es

Information on hidden costs and taxes when buying a property in Spain

2005-06-15T10:39:00.000+02:00

It's difficult to know how many Brits have seen the wisdom of this logic and own a home in Spain because many do not register as official residents, but the scale of Britain's southbound migration is staggering. Most sources suggest 700,000-800,000. In addition, 150,000 Brits bought homes in Spain last year, and another 200,000 will do so this year. If you are looking to buy a property in Spain, visit www.easypropertyspain.co.uk for a grand selection of Valencian villas, country houses, apartments, town houses, and other properties.

Development fever is also raging in the Valencia Community, the most popular area of Spain with Britons and Germans. Already, 240,000 homes in the region are said to be owned by non-Spaniards. Another 600,000 properties will be built in the coming years, according to local forecasts. The effect of this pressure on property prices in recent years has been spectacular, and gains have often far exceeded those in Britain. In the Valencia Community, many owners have doubled their money in three years. To find out how to invest in properties, email our real estate agent in Spain at sales@easypropertyspain.co.uk.

What if the price of property in the UK wobbles again, and British confidence in buying abroad is shaken? What if the European and American economies continue to stutter?

There are underlying factors to suggest property prices in Spain will continue to rise. If Britain joins the euro, it will have the same effect as when other countries joined - property prices will rise as people rush to get rid of cash. There are many people who are just itching to move overseas because they have worries about health care and what will happen to their pensions. They are finding that there are other countries with new hospitals, superb health care, and a lower cost of living.

Many of us dream of living abroad at some point in our lives, and technological advances in the workplace, combined with cheaper air travel and the strong pound, mean increasing numbers of us are turning that dream into a reality whether it be on beaches, in our own terrace, in our swimming pool, in our villa or in our Spanish country house.

Estimates are, that British people now own around 1.2 million properties in France and Spain, although most of these are second or retirement homes. Easy Property Spain can help you not only in your purchase, but also in finding a mortgage that suits you. The numbers of house buyers are growing fast.

Buying property in Spain starts with finding the precise area you want to live in and taking it from there. And the lower house prices mean that you are far less restricted in terms of location, except Valencia which has ended up being the unknown Spanish area, and the best moment to buy is starting now.

Property law and practice differs according to where you're buying. In Spain, tax avoidance is endemic so the official valuation given can be as low as 70% of the purchase price. Almost half of all business in Spain is conducted 'under the table' so don't be surprised to find that the amount you are paying for a property is not the amount written in the title deeds. This is nothing to be concerned about as it is done to save you and the seller significant tax bills. Duty on property sales currently stands at 7% which can add a large chunk to your investment, so it makes sense to declare a smaller amount on all the legal paperwork. Everyone does it and the authorities turn a blind eye as they would rather have some money than none at all if the whole deal were done in cash. In Spain and Portugal, you could find yourself liable for any outstanding debts on the property. You'll therefore need to ensure you get expert advice to help you through the minefield, and unless you're completely fluent, you'll need a bilingual estate agent such as Easy Property Spain.

MORTGAGES: Rates for euro mortgages are lower than for sterling. A sterling mortgage for Spain would be charged at 5.75% versus Spanish banks which are currently offering 3.5%.

V.A.T. TAX: This tax is paid by the purchaser at 7% of the theatrical price which is lower than real purchase price agreed between parties.

MUNICIPAL PROPERTY TAX: This is a tax, at a rate set annually, levied by the local authority and based on the "Catastre" land registry value. The rates are different depending on the town hall. It's about 2% of the "catastre" value and the total is typically about 1.6%.

STAMP DUTY: There is a stamp duty of 1% on the transfer of real estate.

As taxes and the manner in which they are applied change frequently specialist advice should always be taken before entering into any arrangements. EasyPropertySpain provides a full range of trustee, and corporate advisory, and invites enquiries. More particulars can be found on our web-site www.easypropertyspain.co.uk

Easy Property Spain is the best choice for your real estate agent in Spain. For your cheap Spanish homes, Valencian villas, Valencian villas, Spanish golf properties, contact one of our Valencia property agents or our Valencia Property real estate agency at sales@easypropertyspain.co.uk and let us guide you in your property search in Spain. If you are interested in buying villa in Spain, Spanish golf properties, rural property in Spain, or in general properties for sale in Spain visit www.easypropertyspain.co.uk and a Valencia property real estate agent will be happy to inform you.

Breaking news on Cheap Spanish Homes from your real estate agent in Spain

2005-06-10T19:22:00.000+02:00

Real estate investing expertise can certainly accommodate the luxury home market. In some ways, the upper end of the housing marketplace produces easier success than the lower end. More skill, however, is required to sell the luxury home. But more important, supply and demand is critical in selling the luxury home. To get “stuck” with any home that does not sell easily can be treacherous, but sluggish sales for the luxury home can be disastrous.

Cheap Spanish homes are at the other end of the housing spectrum. "cheap Spanish homes" abound everywhere. Every community in the country has cheap Spanish properties.

“Cheap homes” in this article is NOT where housing has been severely abused or neglected by property-owners and/or tenants nor does it refer to the burned-out or dilapidated building.

Our definition of “cheap Spanish homes” is the less-expensive housing that accommodates the middle or middle-low class citizen. The demand for this housing is usually high and constant. The predominance of the population lives in inexpensive housing. More people comprise the middle and low income bracket than the high income bracket

“Cheap homes” is a very ambiguous term that is relative to an area. For example, “cheap homes” have lower value in a rural community than in a populous area like Valencia. But even adjoining towns in any Province may maintain different definitions of “cheap,” even though separated by only a few miles.

Where is it possible to buy very cheap property in Spain? Valencia, of course! With thousands of potential property buyers seduced by Valencia’s bargain property prices, the temptation is to think that making a solid return is a no-brainer! Searching the Internet, dozens of articles and property websites boast about the 30% capital growth that can be achieved on Valencian property investments in the space of 12 months.

For first time investors with small budgets looking for a step onto the property ladder, this seems like an opportunity almost too good to be true! The result is that thousands of novice speculators and second homebuyers are flocking to cash in on the investment opportunities it offers. But as the saying goes, if it’s too good to be true, well then, it probably isn’t

Property prices are rising significantly but largely in the more established and more desirable tourist hotspots. Investing along the Mediterranean coastline and areas within 10km of the two major cities is more expensive. Buying a new apartment in these areas can cost as little as €50,000 and is likely to be solid investment, since they can be easily let to the increasing number of tourists coming to experience the delights of Spain.

The situation is similar in other parts of Spain and makes a good example. Though other parts of Spain like Teruel saw property prices increase by over 10% on joining the EU, it is still possible even now inland resale Valencia property for as little as €50,000. These areas are only now gaining the interest of property buyers priced out of Spain’s more desirable locations. These are not interesting investments at a short or medium term.

Isolated areas, lacking amenities and services will be overlooked and property prices in these areas will remain significantly lower than the Valencian region.

For intrepid investors willing to take a long-term view on their investment and wait 15 to 20 years to see significant returns, then cheap Spanish properties may be worth considering. But the certainty of a return and the ability to approximate what that return will be is far more likely with properties in the more established Spanish destinations.

How to find a trustworthy real estate agent in Spain

2005-06-09T18:02:00.000+02:00

Buying property in Spain with out problems, is it easy? Yes! How?

All around the world the real estate sector has a bad reputation and its not because all the bad people in society realized that they were bad and decided to work in this sector nor is there any other strange reason why the problems that happen, occur in this sector. The reason is very simple.

Now, if the reason is so simple, why is this problem so severe?

The problem has been dragged from the past and the solution is very complicated. This article tries to explain some of the key factors without going into too much detail otherwise it would end up being a book instead of an article. The objective of this article is to explain the key factors so that when someone buys a property, they can make the decision with complete assurance, trust, and satisfaction. Let's use the example of Spain, and even more specific the Province of Valencia. If you want to buy a property in Spain, the following information could save you time, money, and more than one headache. Buying a Spanish villa for any person or family is very important being that it is:

- An important economical transaction, probably the most important we will make in our lives
- An important financial transaction, the largest debt of our lives
- A profitable investment transaction, the most beneficial with the least risk
- The highest social-cultural implication, our residence has a social and cultural effect on us
- A family bond implication, it is our family home and it reflects so.

The principal cause of the problems in the Valencia property real estate agent is ignorance. This ignorance, that many Valencia property agents have, is caused by misinformation or an excess of bad information in all the aspects that form part of the process of buying a villa in Spain. Due to its complication it requires long and extended qualifications and good experience in a sector that is poorly and badly regulated by the administrative institutions and in which there is no official regulated university training. In order to ensure that everything goes well, the Valencia property agent has to generate a big enough level of business that together with experience and academic training can resolve the problems which among others are detailed below.

-Economical problems: Be completely informed of all the economic costs in each case. Each Spanish property case can be very different from the next and being that there are many steps and transactions taking place in the pre sales, sales, and post sales, it's important to keep in mind the extra costs even though many of them are a small amounts but no less important. This is why in Spanish property sales there are costs that are not accurately known or even completely unknown by some other Valencia property real estate agent. These costs are generally approximate calculations which lead to errors, which in turn create further problems of difficulties that snowball.

- Financial problems: Given the magnitude of the financial world, it´s a business in which the Spanish Property agent has to generate a certain volume in a few banks with the goal of maintaining competitive financial and economical conditions. Trying with many banks we are not going to find one that offers you conditions that they can not give you, no one gives money for nothing. When all is said and done, it's the same for all and so for the Real estate agency Valencia to get the most competitive economical and financial conditions for their client, the only way is to generate enough volume with a good reputation backed up by their past experience which allows great agreements with banks year after year.

-Legal problems: VERY IMPORTANT! This is the cause of many problems in other categories. Keep in mind that there are many different legal areas in the sale-purchase process of a property (civil, administrative litigious, local, religious, national and international...) and in Spain it's legislated badly and differently from other autonomous regions, obligating you to have a specific department in the property consultants Spain office that is dedicated only to that, making it necessary to have a larger office which can take on these costs. Another alternative for Spain real estate agents would be to resort to a solicitor, that:
1. Is good but consequently too general (civil, family, administrative...) or because he has a lot of experience in various sectors
2. Good and a specialist but unfortunately very expensive or
3. Cheap and a specialist but is inexperienced and in this sector errors are costly.

There are only a limited number of properties for sale in Spain available but in order to maximise the number of properties in Spain available to the client, the Property consultants Spain needs to have a large number of houses and it is necessary to be a medium to large business in order to provide this assortment. Small Valencia property real estate agency will only offer you a limited choice, or even worse, offer you properties in Valencia that they don't even have. This is a common practise in a small Spanish property estate agent, which puts the client under pressure and/or misinforms the client on Valencia villas for sale he has seen or may see with other Spanish estate agents. You should also avoid those real estate agent in Spain that are too big or are franchises, who will show you what they want and not what you are looking for.

So the answer to the title is: Yes, and how? Well if someone is going to buy a property in Spain and wants to avoid having economic/financial/legal/cost effective/human resource problems what they have to do is look at ONLY medium sized real estate agencies from three to five self owned offices which are no more than 20km from one another or in the same area, with a good reputation, with at least 8-10 years of experience, and with academic training, and if they don't have these characteristics what you have are GUARANTIED PROBLEMS.

If you want a real estate agency in Spain with all the guaranties to guide you in your property search in Spain in The Province of Valencia, visit http://www.easypropertyspain.co.uk
for Spanish golf properties, rural property in Spain, cheap Spanish homes, and Valencian villas. Or for more information on property for sale in Spain, email your needs to sales@easypropertyspain.co.uk

Valencia real estate will meet your needs

2005-06-08T13:43:00.000+02:00

The Valencia region in Spain benefits from some of the most beautiful coastlines of Europe. Nowhere else will you find so many fascinating contrasts - with Spanish Mediterranean architecture, magnificent mountain ranges and beautiful long sandy beaches. Valencia is buoyant with many people from northern Europe looking for bargain property deals in Spain. We here at Easy Property Spain have property for sale in Valencia - Spain, as well as apartment sales in the Orange Blossom Coast. There are Valencia villas for sale to suit all tastes and budgets. We can arrange mortgages for buying property in Spain with both leading Spanish banks and the more familiar English banks that are represented here. If you are looking for properties for sale in Spain, look no further than http://www.easypropertyspain.co.uk/. We promise to make every effort to ensure your purchase is as smooth as possible. If you are experienced in the market, we shall provide you with a portfolio of properties that will suit your every need. If you are an investor, we will personally construct investment opportunities that we know you will find most rewarding. If this is your first purchase of a property in Spain, we will explain every procedure carefully and guide you through with experience and expertise. Our service starts immediately when you decide a property in Spain is for you. It finishes long, after you have found your Spanish Dream Home, because we are always here to help.

Why is Valencia so much more popular now than many other destinations in Spain?

2005-06-03T19:23:00.000+02:00

Spain has about one million foreign property owners. About twenty percent of these foreigners live, more or less, permanently in Spain. The remainder purchased their house to enjoy their holidays, as an investment, or with a view to the future. As well as retired people, the number of younger people attracted to Spain is still growing, but Spain is so big. Which area is much more popular now than many other destinations in Spain?
Valencia!

The warmth of the climate has lots to do with it, without the clinging humidity of some hot weather destinations like Andalusia and without the seasonal extremes of others like Murcia. Because of the mountainous hinterland the coasts are mostly sheltered against Meseta winds, making the temperatures pleasant throughout the whole year in the so-called microclimate. Experts agree with each other that the residents of Spain live more healthily and with less physical complaints than elsewhere.

However it is the warmth of the welcome given to newcomers by the locals and their laid back attitude to life that really makes Valencia the first choice. Everybody can live outside almost everyday and enjoy the Spanish way of life. Fresh fruit and vegetables, good red wine, sitting in the village square with friends enjoying a cold beer and warm “tapas” or appetizers. The Valencian people really do have the secret of living well; the lack of stress in our daily lives really enhances both the length and quality of many people’s lives. With its blue skies and sunny days moving to Valencia will add ten years to your life and make you feel ten years younger. For this reason the Spanish are very friendly and helpful especially in the Valencia area.

The Valencian Community is developing quickly now because of the huge supply of attractive and affordable housing, the enormous growth of the provinces, the limited and cheap travelling time between Great Britain to Valencia, and of course by the Americas cup. Living in Valencia is also substantially cheaper than in other areas. Petrol is still a third less than in the UK. With its modernized motorway system connecting all of the major cities, the roads are almost empty compared to many countries even in mainland Europe, there are no speed cameras, and the traffic police on the whole are a rare sight.

There is also lots to do in Valencia. There are dozens of ancient cities to be explored, countryside to hike, ride in, or just drive through. With its undiscovered beaches to swim in, and mountains to climb or paraglide down from, Valencia becomes one of the most healthy places on earth to live. Easy Property Spain is a favourite choice of many people to aid them in their search for their Real Estate in Valencia. Here it is still possible to find your dream future! and when you live in Valencia you really are living.