Spanish Goodlife
Spanish Goodlife sells and rents new and existing apartments, casitas, town houses, villas, fincas and businesses along the Spanish coastline.  Spanish Goodlife also has a selection of off-plan investment properties for sale.

Spanish Goodlife look after you, should you have any interest in buying a Spanish property,  from A to Z. Entirely without obligation, Spanish Goodlife will help you to make a decision as to whether buying a property in Spain is right for you.  We will help you to define a location that will suit you and we can advise you upon what is available within your budget.  Furthermore, we provide you with all the help and advice that you will need: from fiscal and legal matters all the way through to the renting and/or maintenance and care of your property.  We provide a full wrap-around service that is always tailored to your individual needs.  

Spanish Goodlife mainly concentrates upon properties along the costas but also in all the towns, mainland and its Islands. We have a network of excellent offices, contacts and partners.  This enables us to offer you a wide selection of properties and locations – so that you can take advantage of the excellent living conditions and properties that exist within Spain.

Spain is the number two  holiday destination for the British and other countries  (after France). Indeed, in 2001, between 1.2 and 1.3 million British tourists came to  Spain. No wonder then that so many people dream of living there or, at the very least, owning a holiday home in the country.  Many already have! In fact, there are almost 1 million foreign property owners already in Spain, some 20% of whom live there permanently.  Those that are not resident have holiday homes and/or investments – often with a view to their retirement. 

 
Information; Spain attracts more and more pensioners  (65+)
Every year more and more pensioners come to the Costa Blanca and this trend is set to continue.  Forecasts for the Costa Blanca suggest that by 2010 there may be as many as 700,000 foreigners on pensions along the Costa Blanca as opposed to the 173,000 living there now. The climate and infrastructure along the Costa Blanca is superb for those retiring.  A combination of the mild, temperate climate with the excellent healthcare and services infrastructure makes the area ideal for those wishing to start a new life after many years of hard work.  The World Health Organization has pronounced that the climate alone is one of the healthiest in Europe - and certainly it is an excellent tonic for those suffering the aches and pains associated with a cold, wet climate!

The ageing demographics of northern Europe and excellent pensions being received by north Europeans mean that now, and for the future, there is every likelihood that an ever increasing amount of retired people will choose to live in Spain – particularly as their money goes so much further there than in their home countries.  Certainly, the Eastern sideboard around Valencia is being favorably compared with Florida in the United States.
It is never a bad idea to rent for a while in Spain before you decide to buy a property.  It can be surprising how some areas change radically out of season.  For example, some areas can be wonderfully full of life during the summer and then turn into phantom places during the winter. For permanent living it is really important to find somewhere that has an active and constant infrastructure and community all year round.
 
One of the great advantages to living on the Costa Blanca is its user-friendly nature.  If you speak little or no Spanish you can still easily get by in your own language.  The Spanish have a good knowledge of English and French and often you can find shops, dentists, doctors, restaurants, rental companies, banks, consultants, insurance experts, lawyers and so on who are native English, Dutch or German who have moved permanently to Spain and can help you
Obviously, it is advisable to learn Spanish.  It is good not to have to be dependent upon your own countrymen and, perhaps more importantly, you will gain enormous satisfaction from learning another language.  It can be very enriching – and fortunately the Spanish are tremendously tolerant of people mangling their language!  Naturally, there are many language schools around and it is often easy to find someone who can even come to your own home to give you lessons.

 
The location of your property will always be vital and there are some critical factors to consider:

• price
• accessibility (transport to airports, major towns and a nearby village)
• cost of living (away from the coast is usually cheaper than on the coastline itself (particularly the tourist areas)
• convenience both in summer and, just as importantly, winter
• climate (can you stay over in the winter?)
• recreational, cultural and social possibilities
• rental options
• re-sale possibilities both for the long and short term

Should you wish to move permanently to Spain with your children, it is also well worth looking closely at the education facilities around.  There are some really excellent (and not expensive) Spanish private schools and, of course, international schools.  It is well worth going round these schools and checking the facilities and the curriculum taught.  The Spanish education system is excellent, has a well founded reputation and the Bachillerato is highly regarded.
 
Tip!
Before you actually buy the property that you want, it is well worth assessing the area around the house.  Try to imagine what it will look like in the future – how much further growth is there likely to be? Are there undeveloped plots around the house which may be built upon and spoil your view or destroy your tranquility whilst building is undertaken?  Often it is best not to have any surprises and to buy where there are existing properties all round.  Your lawyer should always check with the town hall as to forthcoming development plans – but the application of your own logic is also no bad thing at all.
Spanish residence permit
Buying a property in Spain does not mean that you automatically obtain residency.  You must apply for it and it is well worth taking legal advice beforehand.  Certainly, if you live in Spain for longer than 183 days in a year then you will be deemed to be ‘resident’.  And if you want to work in the country then you should consider applying to go onto the full national insurance system which will include paying Spanish National Insurance and social security etc.
Some of the important aspects to purchasing or constructing a property in Spain.

• Is the property developer bonafide? Does he have a good reputation and can you check his work and obtain reference?
• How do you know that the person selling you the land is the real owner?.   
• Are there any encumbrances on the property – such as mortgages?  If there are and they are not removed then you may find yourself paying someone else’s debts!
• Is the building legal?  In Spain there are three property designations: Urbano, Urbanisable and Rustico.  The designation of your property is of critical importance!

• Has the property been urbanized and, if not, will this occur?  You may have to pay considerable money for the installation of the infrastructure, if your property has not been urbanized – lights, pavements, mains water, electricity, metalled roads etc.
• Are there any advance payments on the property – or is everything to be paid in front of the Notary?  
• In a construction contract, is there a clearly defined start and finish date for the project – perhaps with penalty clauses?
• For all new constructions the builder must supply a 10 year insurance-backed building guarantee that will protect you against any mal-construction.  
• Check to ensure that you will have mains electricity, mains water, and a telephone landline together with (preferably) mains sewage disposal.
• Be careful not to be tied to a particular constructor should you require works performing on the property during the 10 year building guarantee.
• When everything is in order you must sign the Escritura (the property deeds) in front of the Notaire.  Once this has been completed it is vital that the Escritura is registered properly at the Land Registry.  
• If you agree to have a house built then always ensure that it is your name on the Land Registry as being the person that owns the land.   
• Always ensure that when any works are performed on your property that you correctly register the works and that the Land Registry is updated to show the declaración de obra nueva.

We at Spanish Goodlife are ready to serve you – from A-Z!