The Latest Spanish Property News from Kyero.com

Expatriates are so happy in their new lives that nine out of ten would recommend a move abroad to friends and family, it has been reported.

As many as three in every four said that their quality of life had got better since making the move, recent research by BUPA suggested.

Meanwhile 60 per cent of the 1,787 people asked said that they liked the weather better in their new country and 58 per cent said they were more open-minded having made the move.

Tim Slee, head of European sales at BUPA International, said: "Moving abroad is a huge life-changing challenge and while our survey shows it's a very successful move for most people, careful planning is essential."

Many people find they miss the things most familiar to them at home, whether that be friends and family, or even favourite foods that are not available abroad.

Finding a rental property overseas could give those looking to move permanently a feel for the area before they make a final decision.

As James Dearsley, European sales manager for Atlas International said recently, long-term rentals in Spain are particularly popular for this reason.

Full story from holidaylettings.co.uk

Schools in Marbella have twice as many foreign pupils than the provincial average. Almost twenty schools have special classes for Spanish language lessons, and these are attended by 3,600 foreign pupils. One out of every ten is from Ecuador.

German, British, French, Chinese and even Australian. The presence of foreign pupils in schools, children of immigrants who have settled in the province, is a phenomenon which, instead of decreasing each year, keeps on growing. Teachers and school directors find themselves obliged to use their ingenuity and find ways of handling the mixture of languages in the classrooms. The objective: to avoid the children who do not speak Spanish becoming isolated and help them to absorb the language so they learn to speak it as well as their Spanish classmates.

This system, with its classrooms where different languages and cultures which are no less different are mixed together, is particularly evident in the state schools in Marbella. The statistics from the Junta de Andalucía are clear. Whereas the provincial average of foreign pupils in schools is almost 9 per cent, in Marbella the figure is 22.8 per cent. This means that, of the 15,750 schoolchildren in the town, some 3,600 are of other nationalities. The majority are Latin Americans; in fact, one out of every ten foreign pupils is from Ecuador, although there are also large numbers of Moroccans, Argentineans, British and Germans.

Surprisingly, this mixture of languages in state schools in Marbella is a relatively recent phenomenon. Even though this is a cosmopolitan town with a high percentage of foreign residents, traditionally the children of the wealthiest parents attended private schools such as the British, Swedish and German schools which have set up in the municipality.

“We have to set the record straight about Marbella, because British or Swedish children from middle and upper class families go to private schools”, says Manuel Mellado, who is the director of the Centro del Profesorado (CEP) of Marbella-Coín. On the contrary, foreign children in state schools have a very different profile: “they tend to be more problematical because they are nomads, from unstructured families, and they tend to arrive part way through the term”, he comments.

Adaptation

To cope with this massive influx of foreign pupils, 17 schools in Marbella have the so-called Temporary Classes for Linguistic Adaptation (ATAL), set up by the Junta de Andalucía, which are run by about ten teachers who work exclusively in teaching Spanish to foreign children. “They learn Spanish during the school day”, says Joaquín Perea, who is in charge of the Inter-culturality department of the provincial Education authorities. In this way, the youngsters progress through spending several hours a week in learning Spanish during reading periods, in groups according to their age and their knowledge of the language. In schools where there is enough demand, this is backed up with workshops for language support which are held as an extra-curricular activity, to provide an even greater opportunity for learning.

Despite these resources being provided by the Junta, teaching staff are calling for extra measures to deal with the presence of foreign children in their classrooms. “In comparison with other countries, where the influx of foreign pupils has been slower, there has been an avalanche of such children here and the impact of this has left teachers disconcerted”, says Mellado, who describes the linguistic support as “insufficient” and says it is hardly applicable to the material they teach, in which western culture is almost one hundred percent dominant.

“They are investing money but not where it is most needed”, comments the director of the CEP, who is also involved in organising courses and workshops to train teachers to deal with this new mixture of culture in schools. The aim is clear: “We are trying to change teachers’ attitudes so they aren’t afraid of the situation because otherwise it becomes a real challenge and, indeed, it is for many. Not for others, though, others see it as something very enriching”, adds Mellado.

And enriching not only for the teachers but also for the pupils. If learning the Spanish language is important, it is also important for foreign children to understand the culture and religion of the country and, on the other hand, for Spanish pupils to learn about the different lifestyles of their foreign classmates. “There are workshops to support and maintain their grasp of their native languages so they don’t become illiterate in their own language, because otherwise they stop reading and writing in it”, says Perea, referring to the seven schools in Marbella which have extra-curricular classes to improve knowledge of German, Moroccan and English.

Plans to accommodate foreigners who arrive here for the first time and inter-cultural activities which include parents complete the resources used to help integration and avoid situations of rejection or xenophobia, which are more likely in some places than others. “In Marbella they are more accustomed to living together and the attitudes and aptitudes are different, for example, from a village where the phenomenon is more recent”, concludes the head of the Inter-culturality department of the provincial education authority.

Full story from surinenglish.com

Taking holidays during the winter and avoiding the colder weather is a favourite past time for many Brits. Spain continues to be the top destination for holidaymakers flocking south for the winter, with the pleasant weather making it one of the easiest destinations to get away from it all. Spain also has the added advantage of having many operators running cheap flights to the country, particularly in the off peak season during winter. Spanish destinations that are popular during the winter months are Barcelona, Cost del Sol and the Canary Islands. Take a look below for some quick information on each of these destinations.

Barcelona

Located in Catalonia in the north of Spain, Barcelona is the second biggest city in the country. If you specifically want winter sun then this might not be your ideal destination as the average winter temperature teeters around 12 Celsius, but there is a fair share of warmer days. However, Barcelona is an incredibly scenic city, complete with fabulous shops and stunning architecture, while a truly magnificent view can be seen from the nearby peak of Tibidabo. It is also famous for its old city, which features many medieval aged buildings, with some dating as far back as the Roman times. Art Nouveau architecture is also a prominent feature of the cityscape, especially the remarkable work of Antoni Gaudi. His unfinished church of the Sagrada Familia is one of the must see sites of the city. Check out Flymonarch.com for cheap flights to Barcelona.

Costa del Sol

Sometimes referred to as the Costa del Golf, the Costa del Sol is a golfing hotspot during winter time as well as being home to a range of top beaches. With over 320 days of sunshine a year the average temperature during the winter months teeters around 16 Celsius, which makes it especially pleasant for golfing. The region is also home to the city of Malaga, the birthplace of Pablo Picasso, and Marbella, a particularly famous destination for super rich people from across Europe. There is a large British expat community across the Costa del Sol, and plenty of holiday homes that British nationals flock to each year. The area is principally served by Malaga Airport, and cheap flights to Malaga are readily available from a number of UK airlines and tour operators.

The Canary Islands

Sharing the same latitude as the middle of the Sahara desert makes the Canary Islands hot all year round, and the warmth continues into the winter with average temperatures at a pleasant 21 Celsius. The famous black sand beaches are still full throughout the shorter winter days, while all seven of the islands have unique features beneath their volcanic slopes. Tenerife is the most popular of the islands to visit, with the stunning site of the huge Los Gigantes cliffs and the amazing lunar landscapes around the tall peak of Mount Teidi being some of the highlights away from the beaches. Monarch Airlines also offer cheap flights to Tenerife throughout the holiday season.

Full story from travelbite.co.uk

Foreign fields are attractive - but it's your future, not a holiday

Spain continues to be the most popular destination for homes abroad

Around one million Brits are receiving their pensions abroad, according to figures from the Institute of Public Policy Research, and this is set to more than triple to 3.3 million by 2050, as the lure of the Costas increases.

Around three quarters of these sun-seeking pensioners have relocated to Spain and are drawing their state pension abroad, according to Bank of Scotland International (BOSI), and it continues to be the most popular destination for homes abroad.

If you are entitled to the state pension, because you have paid enough qualifying years of National Insurance contributions (Nics), then in Spain it will increase in line with inflation.

The qualifying years are falling from 44 years for men and 39 years for women to 30 years for both - so check if you think you may now be eligible.

If you choose to emigrate to other areas - ironically some Commonwealth countries such as Canada and South Africa - your state pension will be frozen at the level it was when you left Britain.

This double standard becomes even more bizarre when you consider, for example, that Spain's resident expat British pensioners can also claim the Winter Fuel Allowance - designed to help pensioners cope with the prohibitive cost of British fuel bills - whereas those in Canada, where minus 22C is much more likely than 22C, cannot claim it.

While your pension benefits may be affected by the move, said BOSI if you plan to be abroad for less than two years your pension can be left to accumulate, so you get a lump sum when you get home.

You will not be able to get Pension Credits in Spain, but you can claim other benefits - a full range is listed in the Department for Work and Pensions guide GL29, and you should let the relevant government departments, such as the Social Security Office, the DWP and the National Insurance Contributions Office, know that you are going to be living abroad.

That way, no matter where you decide to retire, you will still receive your pension.

The tax status for pensions is different abroad too, and you need to check where you stand before you go, otherwise you may find you have less to live on than you thought.

For example, if you are due to pay tax in Spain before you have vested your pension, then you may not be able to get the 25 per cent tax-free lump sum that you can enjoy in the UK, said BOSI.

If you are spending in euros, but are paid in sterling, then you need to consider opening a euro-denominated bank account which can help mitigate the costs of currency risk.

It is a reality, and can mean you have less to live on one month than you did the last, which can make it very difficult to budget.

Often, if you have a home in the UK, or bank accounts here, or even an income, then you may well be taxed by HM Revenue & Customs, which means filling in your tax return like nearly 10 million other Brits each year.

If you want to check your tax status, then IR20 from the Revenue website is the best place to look, unless you have an adviser that you trust.

Often, if you start to make arrangements before you go, such as opening a bank account before you leave Britain and checking your tax status, you will find that your financial affairs are easier to sort out when you get to your new home.

If you leave it until you have arrived on the Continent, you may find it harder than you expect to get credit and bank accounts, as you would have no credit history in that country.

A little forward planning can go a long way, no matter where you want to retire to. You need to sort out your future, not just your holiday.

Full story from telegraph.co.uk

The government of Spain has announced plans for a grant scheme to encourage homeowners to make their properties more environmentally-friendly.

Speaking on Monday, Spanish prime minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero promised subsidies of one billion euros to renovate properties for the period from 2008 to 2012, plus another two billion euros per year in loans.

The programme will also see the introduction of an energy certificate for homes that have had improvements made, which it is predicted will give a valuable boost to the prices of affected properties.

Mr Zapatero believes that half a million homes can be improved in this way, in order to combat climate change.

At the same time, the government is to pay for energy efficiency measures in thousands of public buildings.

The prime minister said: "We will give our country a leadership role in the fight against climate change and the transition to a new productive model that distances itself from carbon and moves closer to renewable energy."

Spain has a general election due in March 2008.

Full story from holidaylettings.co.uk

Car dealers, especially those selling four by four vehicles, are reporting a busy end to 2007. Spain’s new “green tax” comes into force on January 1st next year, when the cost of registering a new vehicle will vary according to how much it pollutes the atmosphere. Until now there have been two rates, seven or 12 per cent, according to the size of the vehicle’s engine. From January there will be four levels of registration tax, depending on the CO2 emissions per kilometre, and as a result the least environmentally friendly vehicles will cost up to 1,500 euros more than they do now.

As the year nears its end dealers are already noticing the repercussions of the new system. While the sale of the more ecological vehicles which will be cheaper to register next year has fallen, the demand for the more contaminating jeep type vehicles has shot up.

Figures released by the association of car dealers, Faconauto, confirm the trend. In October sales of cars were down by 2.3% but demand for four by fours had gone up by 18.7%, with 444 vehicle of this type being sold in the province of Malaga. Now firms are reporting waiting lists and delays of several months for some models.

Concha Salinas, the manager of Mavesa (a Mitsubishi showroom specialising in four by fours), confirms that demand has increased. Nevertheless she maintains that the new green tax, which will make these vehicles slightly more expensive next year, is unlikely to put buyers off. “Our market is mature; people know what they want”, she explains.

Full story from surinenglish.com

Funny how a four-digit-number incrementing it's least significant one seems so special. Can you believe it's almost 2008?

This time last year, where did you picture yourself now? Are you there? I wonder if you saw a future for yourself in Spain but, for whatever reason, didn't arrive?

If that is the case, perhaps the property market or the economy in the UK or US or Ireland or Europe had something to do with it?

Maybe the stupid saga of Valencia's land grab or Marbella's municipal misdeeds or the demolition threat of too-close-to-the-coast houses complicated the move?

Could it be that amid the restlessness and rumour of Spanish property being overvalued by 30%, you decided to wait for prices to plunge?

Whatever the reason, I hope that we'll see you here in Spain in 2008. I don't expect that the doom and gloom will abate much nor do I think that the market conditions will improve nor deteriorate very much either. I'd be very surprised if property prices change much in either direction.

In 2008, at Kyero.com we'll continue to try to make the world of Spainish property safer, more predictable and transparent.

We'll be adding a Get Answers section on every page so that you can easily ask us about anything related to Spain and Spanish property. We'll answer you personally and directly - and we'll build a library of articles with those questions and answers.

I hope you'll help us to help you and everybody else searching for property in Spain by asking your question. Between us, maybe we can come up with some new and exciting ways to make the process of finding a property in Spain easier, safer and more fun?

We'll continue posting news stories until the 24th of December and we'll start up again on the 2nd of January with the first 2008 Property Pulse due out on January 8th.

Whether you're spending the holidays in Spain or elsewhere, I hope that you have a whale of a time celebrating the changing of a 7 into an 8.

Martin Dell, Kyero.com

Equity release is a generic term for mechanisms which allow homeowners to turn the cash value of their home into a stream of income or capital payments – or both.

They are often aimed at homeowners of retirement age and over because this group often find themselves “asset rich but cash poor” – i.e. the value of their home has increased substantially since the time they bought it but their level of income and savings are low. With an equity release scheme they can unlock some of the wealth locked up in their home and use it to provide things they need and/or enhance their lifestyle. It can also be used to help children and grandchildren, for example with wedding or education costs.

Equity release schemes are well-known in the UK and today are considered a safe and reliable way to raise money. Earlier schemes were riskier – in the late 1980s many people lost their homes. However, those sorts of schemes are now banned in the UK and the current ones are tightly regulated and offer levels of protection for the borrowers.

British expatriates will be forgiven for thinking that all the equity release schemes available in Spain are exactly the same as those available in the UK. Unfortunately the term can be used loosely here and in many cases they do not work in the same way as the UK schemes. It is also worth noting that there is no similar regulation system in Spain.

For a start some of the so called “equity release” schemes offered in Spain are for a number of years (eg, five years) and then need to be renegotiated. There is therefore always the risk that the lender will not renew and you will have to pay back the money borrowed. There is every chance that you will not have this money available, in which case you would need to borrow it from elsewhere or sell your home to raise the cash. If you borrowed 100% of the value of your home and house prices have fallen in the meantime you will not make enough from the sale of your property to repay the loan. This is an extreme scenario but not impossible.

A Lifetime Loan is an equity release mechanism, but with this type of loan it would be for life. The loan would be yours to keep until you die (or, if you have a spouse or nominated resident, when the second one of you dies). The only time the loan has to be repaid before death is if you decide to sell your home, for example, to move to a smaller property or into care (however in certain circumstances the loan can be moved from one property to another). Although the loan is for life, you can choose to pay it back at any time if you so wish, without penalty.
Another related difference between most Spanish equity release schemes and a Lifetime Loan, is that with the so called equity release ones you have to meet regular interest payments. This can be a surprise for UK residents because most UK schemes do not require interest payments until the end of the loan. So you will need to know you can afford the interest repayments each month (or whenever they are due).

There is also the risk that interest rates could rise, and if property valuations (and those of any related investments) should fall at the same time and you end up defaulting on interest payments, the lender could demand that you sell your home and the investments to repay them. Interest is obviously also due on a Lifetime Loan, but in this case it is only payable at the end of your life, or when you yourself decide to sell your home, or if you opt to pay back the loan early. In other words, the interest accumulates over the loan period and is added to the loan value, so that the interest is only paid back when the loan is repaid.

Another aspect that can surprise British people about the Spanish equity release schemes is that they require you to make an investment. With the Spanish arrangements you can only use a small portion of the loan as you wish. This is usually up to 25% of the loan and the other 75% must be invested. This means that if you need to raise, for example, €20,000 to cover home repairs, you will in fact have to borrow €80,000. Interest will then be due on the €80,000. Some schemes only allow you free choice with 10% of the loan, so in this example you would need to borrow €200,000!

The money that is invested is used as security for the loan. It is assumed that the investment return will always outstrip the interest rate charge, but this is an assumption that can lead to you losing your home. In effect you are borrowing to invest in bonds and shares. This is not true equity release (as you know it in the UK) and, if you borrow to invest when the loan is repayable in your lifetime, you are always taking a high risk because the investment value can fall at the same time as interest rates rise.

With a Lifetime Loan you are free to do what you want with the entire loan. There is absolutely no requirement to invest and you can spend the entire loan on things that give you pleasure, if you so wish. If you need the money to cover expenses or increase your income in retirement you can also do so – the choice is entirely yours.

Another benefit worth mentioning that is only applicable to a Lifetime Loan are that it is very flexible – you can take a cash lump sum, or staged payments to create income, or simply know that you have money available to use in the future should you need it. You can establish a facility to access additional cash in the future, when, or if, it is required. A Lifetime Loan also offers the safety of a ‘no negative equity’ guarantee, so that even if house prices fall and it is not enough to repay the loan, neither you nor your estate are liable for the shortfall. There is currently only one Lifetime Loan available in Spain, the Seniors Money Lifetime Loan.

Full story from tenerifenews.com

There are plenty of legal obstacles to be overcome before this island, reminiscent of Dubai's The World, can ever take shape.

The World in Dubai is probably the most famous housing development on the planet. However, it's not the only man-made residential island; the are already around 300 others worldwide. Dubai also has The Palm, and a completely new island in the Seychelles was opened earlier this year. Plans for other artificial islands in Slovenia and Portugal have also been unveiled. With Spain's coastline being so heavily built up already, developer Redis 6's suggestions for an artificial island near the city of Valencia, just off Malvarrosa beach, suggest a way to meet demand for seafront property in future.

'La Luna de Valencia', as the island would be known, would cover 1.6 million square metres. Only a million square metres of that would be land, and the remainder would be canals and channels. Solar energy and desalination facilities will keep the island supplied with power and water. Property would include apartments and villas, with the smallest apartments measuring 40 square metres – enough for holiday use but too small for permanent living and costing from 300,000 Euros. The developer has been careful to stress that it would not simply be a rich man's paradise as the plans include 25% to 30% viviendas de protección oficial (social housing) among the others.

While Redis 6 has stated that it has Spanish investors prepared to finance the 5,000 million euro cost, the development may never be built. Spain's 1988 Ley de Costas, which governs building around the coastline, expressly forbids the extension of land into the sea, which La Luna de Valencia would do. Given the Spanish Environment Ministry's current crack down on land-based developments that breach the law, including the demolition of properties built too close to the sea, and concerns about the effect of global-warming-induced sea level rises, the developer is going to have an incredibly difficult time getting planning permission. And that's before all the people who own frontline properties in Valencia discover that their sea view is about to be swallowed up by homes for 1,000 people and start protesting...

Full story from homesworldwide.co.uk

The autonomous community of Aragon is tucked away in the Northeastern corner of the stunning Mediterranean nation of Spain - and whilst Aragon is rich in culture, rich in history, rich in traditions and also rich in GDP and employment prospects, it is poor in terms of what is known about it outside of Spain. Whereas the national average figure for foreign homeownership in Spain is 12%, in Aragon it is just 9% with the greatest concentration of foreign owners being in the region's main towns where there is considerable employment.

Aragon is in fact one of the lesser known, lesser explored regions of Spain both by travellers and by international expatriates - and yet it is a haven for nature lovers, for outdoor sports enthusiasts and for all those who wish to get away from the madding crowds and head off the beaten track.

Aragon is bordered to the north by France, by Catalonia to the east, Valencia to the south and Castile-La Mancha, Castile-Leon, La Rioja, and Navarre to the west.

Being landlocked and bounded by better known regions, Aragon and its three provinces of Zaragoza, Huesca and Teruel are Spain's hidden gems – and now it's time to lift the lid off the delights that await all those who take the time to explore Aragon.

In travel and tourism publications the region of Aragon is little touched upon and usually described as being a featureless landscape – and yet how incredibly incorrect can the general consensus of opinion actually be! Not only is Aragon one of the most affluent communities with strong employment and population dense, exciting and vibrant cities such as Zaragoza, it is a land deeply rich in history as mentioned, where the people are fiercely proud of their culture, cuisine and heritage and where the geography is strikingly divergent - but because Aragon is lesser explored, opinion is often drawn from second or third hand sources.

Thanks to the fact that millions of euros have been ploughed into the development of a high-speed rail link from Madrid to Zaragoza and because the latter will play host to the 2008 World Expo, Aragon is soon to make its mark on the international travel and tourism scene – but outside the cities it is quite possibly the geography, landscapes, climate and natural environment of Aragon that makes this particular region of Spain so overwhelmingly appealing.

You have lush green valleys with rampant rivers, snow-capped Pyrenees peaks, arid plains and rolling hills. The flora and fauna in Aragon are also breathtaking in their diversity with vultures and eagles the most popular of the Pyrenean endemic species for those who explore this region. Those who enjoy the great outdoors are spoiled in Aragon – you can hike and trek, mountain climb, mountain bike, you can horse ride, paraglide, ski, raft and ice dive – and for those who enjoy shopping, culture or fine wining and dining perhaps, they can be equally spoiled in the regions main towns and cities.

New to Aragon as well will be a massive casino and theme park resort which has just been given governmental approval - and this of course will be a significant new draw to the region. The casino resort will take ten years to construct, consist of hotels, theme parks and a stadium as well as a conference centre – bringing much welcome development and likely greater prosperity to Aragon as well as huge numbers of national and international visitors!

As employment prospects in the region of Aragon are so impressive and the community's GDP is so strong, property prices in the provinces of Zaragoza, Huesca and Teruel have remained strong in the wake of a global property slow down and more specifically in the face of a property market decline in Spain. According to the latest figures and statistics from the Ministry of Housing in Spain the Zaragoza province enjoys the highest property prices out of the three Aragon provinces with median values being about 13% above the national average. Teruel province is actually under priced when you compare it with the national average with prices about 37% below making this region of immediate potential interest to those seeking affordable homes in Spain.

Martin Dell from Kyero.com, winner of the 2007 CNBC Best International Property Portal award comments that whilst there has been a drop off in terms of sales volumes, prices remain strong in Aragon because there is consistency of employment. What this means for investors is that there is strong demand and sustainability of affordability as well...and because Aragon is about to get its moment in the limelight when the spotlight falls initially on the World Expo 2008 and the city of Zaragoza specifically before focusing on the mega casino resort, demand among second home owners could certainly increase as could the desire for rental accommodation year round in the community's most stunning areas of natural appeal.

Procoal have released an exclusive new development in the Almanzora Valley in Southern Spain. Designed by leading architects the villas are now available ‘off plan’. Clover Estates are proud to announce the release of their exclusive Peach Grove development, located less than 5 minutes from the beautiful market town of Huercal Overa in the Almanzora Valley.

Huercal Overa was formed by the merging of two medieval villages; Huercal and Overa. It sits between two branches of the Almanzora River in the province of Almeria, Southern Spain. Today, it is the second largest town in the region and offers a mixture of Spanish tradition and all the amenities and services required of modern-day living. In addition to hotels, churches, banks, shops, bars, restaurants, doctors, chemists, a cinema, theatre and leisure centre, the town also boasts the Inmaculada Hospital, recently voted the finest in Spain. With much of the local economy for the region derived from agriculture, the surrounding countryside is lusher than might otherwise be expected; reforestation has taken place close to the town and there are many groves of olive, almond and citrus fruits.

‘Peach Grove’ is also situated only 15 minutes from the long sandy, white beaches of the Mediterranean coast. As well as natural parks and coves to explore, there is a full range of outdoor sports and pursuits available. Of particular note are the nearby 18 hole championship golf courses including the Peter McEvoy designed course at Desert Springs. Since this region benefits from the clearest skies and highest hours of annual sunshine in all of mainland Europe, these attractions can be enjoyed throughout the year.

The Peach Grove development consists of only 25 elegantly proportioned, detached villas; each constructed on a spacious plot. The site layout has been designed to create a sense of freedom and comfort, in a secure and relaxed environment. All plots are fully walled with wide, wrought-iron gated entrances.

Clover Estates have an extensive range of architect designed, luxury 2, 3 and 4 bedroom villas for you to choose from. Each villa will be be-spoke, tailored to the client’s individual specific requirements and preferences.

Clover Estates employ only the best professionals and craftsmen available and utilize the latest plant, machinery and techniques in the construction of our properties. High-grade materials designed for longevity are used throughout. To ensure complete customer satisfaction external testing bodies are used to test and certificate the materials used during construction, and the services of an independent quality control company are employed to verify the quality of construction and finish. Clients receive a 10-year structural guarantee for their property and a copy of the report produced by the quality control company for that extra peace of mind.

Subsidised inspection visits are offered for a one-to-one consultation with one of their property consultants. A relaxed, unhurried tour of their luxury properties and developments only takes up about 5 hours of your inspection visit. The rest of the time is yours to relax and consider your options.

Full story from prleap.com

Galicia in North Western Spain finally believes it is starting to emerge from five years of hard work repairing the damage to the economy inflicted by the sinking of the oil tanker “Prestige” off its western shores in November 2002. The disaster which claimed the lives of over 300,000 birds and assorted wildlife ran up a clean-up bill of reputedly 147 million euros.

When the oil tanker Prestige sank off the coast of Galicia in 2002 many people (justifiably at the time) predicted the death knell of tourism in the area. Five years later it seems that “with a little help from its friends” (and Mother Nature) it seems that Galicia has sprung back better than ever.

“Some times when you are tramping around in the disastrous aftermath of a major oil spill, your boots are up to their ankles in Class C Crude Oil and to be blunt; the air is awash with a heavy blend of oil and petroleum fumes mixed with the stark odour of death. It can be pretty easy to believe that a coastline will never ever recover” said Gabriel Nunez, Regional International Relief Coordinator.

Such was the general opinion of those unfortunate to have been involved in the clear-up of the 53,000 tons of Class C crude oil deposited on Galicia’s beaches in Nov 2002 when the Liberian registered oil tanker Prestige sank off the northern coast of Galicia – the so called Costa da Morte, the Coast Of Death.

Never has a geographical description been more aptly deserved than during those dark days of November 2002. The World Wildlife Fund estimated that overall some 300,000 sea birds died either directly or indirectly as a result of the oil spill.

Galicia, with its 1,300 kilometres of Coastline along with neighbouring Cantabria and Portugal bore the brunt of this catastrophe and life looked and indeed was, pretty bleak for some time. Hundreds of thousands of volunteers from across Spain and beyond helped in the cleanup operation alongside local residents, fishermen and members of Spain’s Armed Forces. It was estimated that the total bill for the cleanup operation exceeded 147 million euros and compensation was paid out to over 20,000 people who saw their livelihoods either destroyed or seriously impaired. The resultant court cases are scheduled to start proceedings in Coruna in early 2008 and are also including claims on behalf of those affected in France.

Fast forward 5 years to November 2007 and the scene is remarkably different and perhaps says more for the resilience of Mother Nature and the local people than to anything else. The economy, heavily based on the sea is vibrant once again and tourism is on the rise. Add to this the fact that produce harvested from the shores of Galicia on the North Atlantic Ocean is now finding its way into the tables of some of the finest restaurants throughout Europe and you have a comeback tale of almost epic proportions.

Vigo, on the western coastline of Galicia is now arguably Europe’s busiest (and some say main) port and Galicia’s Rias are the world’s largest producers of mussels. The abundant nutrients from the Atlantic Ocean combined with the ideal conditions at these latitudes form a unique ecosystem that supplies the most exquisite produce. The wide variety of produce is also remarkable considering the events of the last ten years and the quality of the goose barnacles, Norway lobsters, clams, spider crabs, sea crabs, shrimps and lobsters along with the oysters, mussels and cockles make Galicia one of the worlds leading centres of seafood cuisine.

Delicacies such as “Hake a la Gallego”, “Octopus a Feira” and “Octopus a la Mugardesa” have now deservedly earned the region its place at the top table. of international cuisine and who is to say that Atlantic Cuisine is not now truly Haute Cuisine?

Full story from pr-usa.net

Last week was the longest I've spent in the UK for many years. A combination of business meetings and family events throughout the week saw me dashing in and out of hotels, trains, planes and automobiles.

Needless to say, I am now suffering from a cold (man-flu as a less-than-sympathetic nurse friend quipped).

I had completely forgotten how London in December is all about going from hot to cold and back again. There's the overheated hotel room (where the window is sealed shut), the air-conditioned reception, then the howling wind and rain outside. It's very difficult to select the appropriate clothing at precisely the right moment.

There's the intermediate bit where the tube station may or may not be open to the elements and the train itself which will either be sweltering or chilly.

I found myself alternating between dripping with sweat and freezing - no doubt that's why I'm sniffing and sneezing at the moment. It made me realise, after living in Spain for six years, how I completely take the mild climate there for granted.

Even now, during the day in Almuñecar, the temperature will be around 20 degrees and, even though the evenings are colder, most homes have no need of central heating. Of course there's a little more rain at this time of year but mostly, the sun will shine all day, most days.

Despite this, over the weekend, at a family party, I spoke with a relative who has lived in Norway for many years. We both struggled to express a vague feeling of something 'missing' from each of our chosen countries. We agreed that it was related to a difference in culture and sense of humour, a feeling of displacement and lack of connection.

I mention it because it took both of us by surprise that the pull of 'home' is so strong despite many logical and rational reasons for living elsewhere and some of the more obvious reasons for not wanting to live in the UK.

So, today, I am a little more tolerant of foreigners who come to Spain and try to recreate a little piece of home here. I also better understand those who enjoy the best of both worlds by spending extended and frequent holidays in Spain and going home to their main 'home' - wherever that is.

Next week will be the last Property Pulse Newsletter of 2007. Over the Christmas and New Year break, I'll be compiling a summary of the property market in 2007 and the first 2008 Property Pulse Newsletter will go out on Tuesday January 8th.

Martin Dell, Kyero.com

Question: The vendor has shown me the original Escritura - surely this means he owns the property?

Answer: Unfortunately not. Possession of the Escritura simply indicates that the parties mentioned on the Deed made certain statements before a Notary on the date of signing. Physical possession of the Deeds to a property is generally far more significant in the UK than in Spain, and it is easy to be fooled. The up-to-date situation must always be checked by requesting a Nota Simple from the relevant Land Registry, in order to obtain the full details of the current owner(s), whether the property is free of charges or is otherwise subject to mortgages, restrictions on use, court orders etc. Conveyancing in Spain is commonly conducted on the strength of a Nota Simple and buyers are often surprised to learn that this is not sufficient to determine a property's legal situation. There may be fines pending or restoration orders in the pipeline and the Nota Simple alone will not uncover these.

Various searches including of the Town Hall need to be made as well as at the catastral office which is an additional form of Land Registry. I have been told that Capital Gains Tax is 3% for Non-Residents. This is without doubt one of the most confused area of all. If you are purchasing a property from a non-resident property owner, be aware that you must currently deduct 3 % of the purchase price and pay this sum directly to the Spanish tax authorities. If you fail to do so there is every possibility that you will need to pay that same 3% at a later date, in addition to the purchase price. Once the vendor's actual tax liability in respect of Capital Gains Tax has been calculated by the tax authorities, it will be necessary for the vendor to pay any balance due or apply for a refund of any overpayment.

Question: Can I leave money to my grandchildren in the UK without them having to pay UK Inheritance tax on those sums?

Answer: The safest approach is to make no lifetime gifts whatsoever as one never knows what lies around the corner and when that money might be needed. It is often the case however that people wish to gift or leave sums of money to minors (ie children under 18 years of age) who live in the UK. First of all we need to consider whether this is to be by way of a lifetime gift or as a specific gift in the person's Will, and whether the funds are in Spain or the UK.

Lifetime Gift Money held in a bank account in the UK or Spain can be gifted to the grandchild now. It may be more prudent to set up some form of trust arrangement however in order to ensure that those funds can be appropriately managed until the child reaches adulthood. HM Revenue & Customs provided written confirmation, on 23 March 2007, that gifts put into absolute or bare trusts for minors will avoid tax charges by being classified as Potentially Exempt Transfers rather than Chargeable Lifetime Transfers. This means that there will be no inheritance tax payable where the person making the gift survives for seven years following the date of the gift.

Specific Gift in Will Money held in a bank account in the UK can be referred to within a person's English Will and express provision be made that the gift be free of any inheritance tax. A difficulty arises however where the monies are held in a Spanish bank account and where a specific sum is left to a grandchild. The beneficiary needs to be part of the inheritance process in Spain and be referred to in the Deed signed before the Notary. Dependant upon the sums involved it may be that Spanish inheritance will need to be paid upon the sum left to that minor.

Full story from roundtownnews.co.uk

The Spanish government is getting tough on real-estate corruption, with more than 100 investigations opened into suspect public officials and developers just six months after special police units were set up to fight corruption in the sector. So far the civil guard has arrested 57 people and charged 126 others.

The investigations are tackling a huge volume of corruption that erupted during the ten-year property boom, especially in Andalucia, where British investors have been victims of many of the building scams.

The majority of the culprits are town halls officials who accepted bribes from construction companies in order to push through building permits or break zoning laws, allowing properties to be build on beaches and on protected green areas.

The Spanish government has already begun clearing the Spanish costas of illegal buildings, which the Ley de Costas planning law stipulates have to be 106 metres from the waterline. The Ministry for the Environment has demolished more than 660 homes and hotels built too close to the shoreline this year.

The civil guard units are also working to set up a registry of all illegally built properties across the country. This will help to discourage government officials from accepting bribes in future, and developers from offering, all of which makes the Spanish property market a much safer place to invest.

Full story from homesworldwide.co.uk

The director general of Architecture and Housing, Rafael Pacheco, has predicted that house prices in Spain will rise by 4% by the end of 2007. This is 1.3% less than the last official data released by the Ministry of Housing in October, when property prices were rising by 5.3%.

Pacheco confirmed that the market would experience a "soft landing" and dismissed the idea of a market crisis or of a drastic drop in property prices that might endanger the national economy.

His message to the construction industry was for calm and he confirmed that 550.000 new properties would be built in Spain in 2007, plus 100,000 "viviendas protegidas", or government supported houses. This, he pointed out, was a firm indication that the industry is far from "paralysed".

The total number of property sales fell this year, from nearly one million in 2006 to around 900,000 in 2007 which, he says, is not necessarily a negative thing. "We are not in a crisis, the market is simply levelling out", he stated.

Source : 2007 elmundo.es

The Costa Blanca has been named as the most popular domestic holiday spot among Spaniards.

According to a report from the Typically Spanish website, the region overtook both the Canary Islands and the Balearics in terms of its tourist numbers last month.

More than 153,000 Spanish nationals were said to have visited the Costa Blanca during this period.

Citing figures from the National Statistics Institute, the area was also said to be more popular than other resorts such as the Costa del Sol.

The news comes after British Airways (BA) announced that it would launch new flights from Gatwick to Alicante in March 2008.

This means that the region is attracting both international tourists and Spanish nationals, leading to strong demand for rental accommodation in the region.

Next year, BA will also offer extra services to Malaga from both Gatwick and Heathrow, along with flights to Palma, Ibiza and Faro.

Full story from ready2invest.co.uk

British tourists have been flocking to the small Canary Island of Lanzarote for decades. This tiny speck of Spain just off the coast of Africa attracted over 850,000 visitors from the UK alone in 2006. And is now a permanent home to over 5,000 British expatriates – the largest group of non-Spanish nationals on the island.

But what’s the appeal? After all, isn’t this the island Monty Python´s Michael Palin once dubbed Lanzagrotty?

Lanzarote was recently adjudged to have the best weather in the world, according to a recent American study of 600 travel destinations. This clement climate is due to the island´s tropical location. Lying on the same southerly latitude as Florida and parts of Mexico – as well as in close proximity to mainland Africa – just off the coast of Morocco and the Sahara Desert.

And in terms of relocation this is as far south as you can go and still, technically speaking, find yourself within Europe.

During the 16th and 17th centuries The Canary Islands were an important trading post between the New World and Spain – thanks to their strategic location in the path of the Trade Winds, which helped propel sailors across the Atlantic.

These same currents also have a cooling effect on the island today - creating a mild and temperate climate that is often likened to an eternal Spring.

Add exceptionally low rainfall - rarely more than 6mm annually – and bearable four hour flight times from the UK and it is easy to see why holiday-makers and émigrés find the island such an agreeable bolt-hole.

Just over 50% of these tourists are British, more often than not in search of winter sun – but the island also enjoys an annual influx from the mainland as many Spaniards seek refuge from the stifling heat of the mid-Summer months.

In Spain, Lanzarote enjoys a more up market image than in the UK. It is, for example, the favoured holiday haunt of eminents such as Prime Minister Zapatero and King Juan Carlos, who has a palatial holiday home just outside the resort of Costa Teguise.

But despite the VIP guests and a thriving tourist industry Lanzarote has somehow managed to escape the over development that has buried parts of her bigger Canarian cousins, such as Gran Canaria and Tenerife, beneath a sea of concrete.

In fact there are strict building controls in place on the island – limiting not just the size of any construction (no high rises, nothing taller than a Canarian palm) but also the scale of residential developments - which are primarily confined to the three main tourist resorts on the southern coast.

Even the colour of houses on Lanzarote is tightly controlled – all buildings are painted white, with green shutters in the countryside (for farmers) and blue by the sea (for the fishermen).

Buck the trend and the local council will kindly come and repaint for you – before sticking the bill through your front door!

Uniform it may be – but the white buildings combine strikingly with the black volcanic picon (used as a unique sort of mulch to irrigate plants and crops) and brightly flowering bougainvillea to great overall effect.

Whilst some may grumble about the restrictions, these building controls have had a positive impact on Lanzarote´s property market. Because as supply remains limited demand remains high. Especially when you factor in a doubling of the population to around 130,000, in just the last ten years. So prices remain buoyant.

Equally important, controlled development means that the vast bulk of the island remains pretty much as Mother Nature intended. That is to say, beautiful and unspoiled.

This makes Lanzarote a magnet for anyone in search of the perfect relocation idyll. As here you can be on the beach, or get out and enjoy the natural beauty and outdoor lifestyle all year round.

Overseas investors in search of buy-to-let opportunities are also attracted by the fact that they can rent their holiday property out for twelve months of the year. As opposed to the shorter holiday season that’s the norm elsewhere in Spain.

The importance of this restrained development becomes apparent when touring the island. As Lanzarote boasts unique and varied scenery and a genuine treasure trove of natural wonders – from the eerie, raw landscapes of the Timanfaya Volcano Park in the south (scene of the world’s longest ever volcanic eruption in the 1730´s and modern day backdrop for movies such as Planet of the Apes) through to the lush palm packed valleys of the North.

Little wonder that Lanzarote was the first island in the world to be declared a UNESCO protected biosphere back in 1994.

You’re also never far from a beach, as there are ninety-three of them, the vast majority natural and unspoiled. And as the island is relatively small (just 69km from end to end) you’re only ever ten minutes away from the coast.

Most of the beaches are of the classic golden sand variety – as opposed to the black sand beaches that can be found on other Canary Islands. Some of them, such as the majestic 9km sweep of sand at Famara - and the picturesque coves of Papagayo - are real showstoppers. Ranked right up there amongst the best in Europe. And not a hotel in sight.

The climate and the island’s beach culture together create the perfect conditions for a whole raft of water sports. From the cool and hip, such as surfing and kite surfing, to the more aspirational and up market, such as sailing and sports fishing. Lanzarote also boasts two new marinas, housing quality restaurants and bars such as the Café del Mar, which are proving popular amongst the more affluent wet-set.

This combination of year-round sun and low rainfall is also a powerful lure for athletes of all descriptions. Lanzarote is home to the world-renowned La Santa Sports complex and provides perfect warm weather training conditions. So packs of long distance runners and brightly clothed cyclists are a common sight across the island.

What is surprising is that the plaudits for this restrained development belong not to a government planner or grey bureaucrat but instead to an island-born artist and architect called Cesar Manrique – who exerted enormous influence over Lanzarote’s evolution during the tourist boom years of the 1970´s.

“I believe that we are witnessing an historic moment,” Manrique stated, in response to the potential threat of mass-market tourism; “where the huge danger to the environment is so evident that we must conceive a new responsibility with respect to the future”.

This sort of ecological approach was revolutionary during the 1970´s in Franco´s Spain. For example, high-rise holiday apartments were being thrown up with abandon along the Costas. But Manrique had just returned from exhibiting his surrealist paintings in the US - where environmentalism was becoming as fashionable as smoking dope.

Manrique, then in his mid-forties, was hardly a hippy. But he did share some of their guiding principles. Paramount of which was to work in harmony with nature. So whilst marshalling his influential friends in the island government and campaigning for restraint Manrique also created a set of eight unique tourist attractions.

These were designed to serve as an alternative development model to the usual water parks and golf courses favoured in other sunspots. And they remain the backbone of the island’s tourist industry today.

Indeed, when Hollywood legend Rita Hayworth first set eyes on Manrique´s incredible conversion of a collapsed volcanic tube at the Jameos del Agua (in the north of the island) into an incredible underground auditorium and nightclub she declared it the eighth wonder of the world.

And many other stars flocked to Lanzarote as a result – often beating a path to Manrique´s front door in the village of Tahiche. Here, he had created the most incredible underground home out of five volcanic bubbles.

Omar Sharif was so blown away that he immediately commissioned his own island retreat. Manrique built a stunning house for him into the side of a partially collapsed volcano. The actor then promptly lost it in a game of bridge. Today LagOmar in Nazaret is home to one of the island’s most fashionable restaurants.

So the natural beauty of the island has been well complimented by Manrique´s creations, giving Lanzarote a degree of cultural sophistication that never fails to surprise first-time visitors and anyone who ventures outside of the main holiday resorts.

As well as providing the perfect backdrop for anyone seeking that ideal relocation spot or Spanish investment property.

Story from www.lanzaroteguidebook.com

I'm in London at the moment attending the OPP Live exhibition - a business to business show for those working in the overseas property industry.

I'll be one of the panelists discussing the state of the Spanish property market - so I've been doing some digging into the official statistics from the Ministry of Housing.

A nice side-effect is that we've published a brand-new section on Kyero.com containing an easy download of all the useful official data, translated into English.

I've never been a fan of some of the official statistics for a variety of reasons but, putting those reservations aside, there's a real treasure-trove of information there - especially when it's cross-referenced with our own data.

There's too much detail to go in to right now but I'll be posting articles over the next few weeks - as a Property Pulse subscriber, you'll find out about them first.

Briefly, I think I've found a reliable method of measuring how much money actually passes 'under the table' and when that practice is likely to come to an end.

I've discovered why the land-grab problems in Valencia are big news to foreign buyers but hardly cause a blip on the radar in Spain.

There's also a way of combining historical information with current search trends to gain further insight into where foreign buyers will purchase property in Spain in the future.

I'm really excited about uncovering this set of information and making it available to you. It has always been available on the Ministry of Housing web site - but remained buried, inaccessible and cryptic to most people.

We've simply sorted the useful from the useless, reformatted and translated the information and (hopefully) presented it in a more useful way.

Martin Dell, Kyero.com

Home Seller Packs have been a hot topic recently both amongst estate agents and the general public in the UK

In many respects it is rather surprising that something which seems relatively sensible should cause such fierce debate and controversy. Much of that has been due the breadth of information suggested for these Packs, the timescale for their introduction, who is qualified / able to provide the reports and the fact that they are being forced on the market rather than being introduced voluntarily.

In Spain there has been little or no talk of such reports but is there a place for them, in whatever form, and how could they assist the process of selling and buying real estate investments?

Starting at the most basic level there is a certain amount of information that will be needed when agreeing the private contract for sale (Contrato Privado - equivalent to exchange of contracts in England) and proceeding to completion.

Getting this information at the outset will not only save time, once a buyer has been found, but will demonstrate a "seriousness" and "transparency" of approach by the vendor which could well make the difference between a buyer making an offer or not. Serious and well informed buyers will be asking for this information in any case so why not get it all ready in advance?

What information should be included? At this "basic" level, a copy of the deeds (escritura); a receipt for the last Town Hall rates bill (IBI in Spain); if the property is part of complex / block of apartments etc (known as "Community") copies of the most recent receipts and minutes of the last annual meeting (this will help identify discussions and decisions regarding ongoing maintenance liabilities etc); and normal statutory service receipts (electricity, telephone etc).

None of this will cost anything to put together, will be required anyway and will speed things up when a buyer is found. But should a seller wish to go further, what else could be added to the pack to assist the marketing process?

One of the main concerns amongst buyers is the "legality" of a property, or any works that have been done to a property. If the property is new, has been built in the last 10 years, or has been subject to building works that have required Town Hall consent, it would clearly be sensible to include copies of such consents in the pack. Not only will this demonstrate the seller's integrity but will, in many cases materially differentiate that property from many others on the market that either don't offer this information up front or can't because the appropriate consents are not in place!

Perhaps the biggest step for an owner to consider is whether they should invest in additional information, the key one being a survey. There is little doubt that if a seller can show a recent condition survey from a qualified professional, such as a Chartered Surveyor, theyc will be providing prospective buyers with a great deal of confidence not only regarding the property they are looking at but, as importantly, the person (seller) they are dealing with.

Even if the report is not assignable (ie transferable from seller to buyer so the latter can legally rely on it and have recourse to the report provider) the fact that the buyer can see that a professionally qualified and competent person has reported on such issues as the electrics, basic condition etc, will go a long way to giving the buyer enough confidence to proceed with an offer and, hopefully, purchase.

While the cost of any survey will depend on the complexity of the information requested, a RICS House Buyers Report (suitable for smaller and new properties) or full survey will cost in the order of 500€ - 2,000€ - not a huge investment when one considers the value of most properties and the time that could be saved before a buyer is found. In a market that is relatively weak, as the current one, it is all the more important to put in place any proposals that could assist the marketing of a property and differentiate it from others on the market.

Article courtesy of Novi Property Mallorca

Winter 2007/2008 looks like being a great season for Spain's skiing industry, with resorts from the Pyrenees to the Sierra Nevadas opening on December 1st.

Last year, the warm winter was pretty dreadful for the Spanish skiing industry. Many Spaniards enjoy getting onto the slopes in the fortnight before Christmas, but unseasonably warm weather meant there wasn't enough snow. This year, though, the country's best - and best-known - resorts are opening on the 1st December.

The Sierra Nevada ski resort is probably the one expats are most familiar with as it's conveniently located near the Costa Tropical, Costa de Almería and Costa del Sol. With a heavy snowfall last week and 120 snow cannons in operation, the resort is due to open on Saturday, although it's still unclear how many of the 87 kilometres of slopes will be open. Málaga and Granada are the most convenient airports - Granada is closer, but there are more flight options to Málaga. Many British expats or Brits who own holiday homes along Spain's southern coast enjoy a warm Christmas, heading up to the mountains for snow when they want it!

The resort that skiers claim has the best pistes in Spain, Baqueira-Beret, is also scheduled for partial opening on Saturday. The Pyrenean ski resort should have 13 kilometres of slopes and 11 ski lifts open, with snow at depths of 20 to 25 centimetres. If you're planning to visit this large resort (104 kilometres of piste when fully open), note that the nearest airport is actually Toulouse, just over the border in France. Also in the Pyrenees, Cerler, the highest resort in Spain, and Formigal, one of the largest ski resorts in the whole mountain range, are due to open at the end of this week with 14 and 11 kilometres currently skiable respectively.

The high altitude of central Spain means that the country has more ski resorts than you might expect. There's currently no news regarding opening from Puerto de Navacerrada, the ski resort between Madrid and Segovia, although if you're in Spain's capital you can always hit the artificial slopes at Madrid Snowzone.

Finally, if you fancy a better class of booze during your apres-ski, La Rioja has its own ski station at Valdezcaray. It's currently closed and there is no set date for opening as yet, but there's snow on the ground so look out for it opening in the very near future.

Full story from homesworldwide.co.uk