I have discovered your site, and think it is very good and informative. Hope you don't mind me asking a few questions....I understand you are busy!
Myself and Husband would like to get away from UK to Spain along with our 6 year old boy. We also have a Daughter (16) who has joined a Dance school in London for the next 3 years so lives there now. We have a 19 year old Son also who lives at home.
Our main worry is my Husband working. He presently is self-employed (groundworks, drainage, driveways, fences, all that sort of thing) He can do about anything. If we moved to Spain, then self-employment would not be immediate as he would need to build up contacts etc. We don't speak much Spanish either.
My questions are- What do you think someone in My Husbands situation chances would be of finding work? Either with a Spanish or British Company.
We would like a villa that needed perhaps work needing done to it (similar to your own!) but not too much.......no major works....just appearance, internal works etc. outside works not a problem either.
Which part of Spain is best? I would like other British people to be in the vicinity (a must)
How much do you think we could get a 3 bed villa needing some works done for? My Son would need to go to a School there? Is that an easy process?
I am sorry to bombard you! We know nobody who has done this, and are fed-up with the way the UK is going.....Husband works 7 days a week just to keep us comfy and pay the mortgage. He is 42, but the general bad weather ages a person who works outside I think. We had a holiday in the Costa Del Sol over the New Year, and that confirmed to us that we really want to get to a better climate.
Any advice you could offer me on the above questions which are my main concern would be fantastic,
Hi
There is lots of building work going on here in Spain but there is also a lot of competition for it and also a lot of builders here who are neither qualified nor have carried this tyoe of work out before. Having said this there are successful businesses set up by ex pats in all areas of Spain.
It is difficult to generalize but it really is a huge issue when you need to work. I recommend that you ask on the forums where you will get a picture of what you are up against.
I do not wish to sound negative at all but many people move out and do struggle to make a living so research and as much information is the key. Labour is very cheap here so you may be better off and wiser to go alone you pay approx 240 euros per month state payments and if you employ you pay for them too so these are other considerations.
School is an easy process its basically a catchment system as in the UK.
You can get an idea of the prices for a villa on my site but you should try here for research on these forums about work etc we paid 240,000 euros for ours (170,000) but have done lots to it (still a way to go) It is quite frightening when you add up the costs but of course it is also putting value on the property so it will benefit us. Haivng said that I can t see us moving form here, we will be aobut 90 when we finish it!!Cant really say which part of Spain is best as it is a personal preference and we of course think its here!
http://www.expatfocus.com
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http://www.costablancauncovered.com
http//www.contactexpats.com
Torrevieja - Forum
http://www.torrevieja.co.uk/phpBB2/viewforum.php?f=12
It is expensive in the CDS so here in the Costa Blanca your money will certainly go much further. I definitely wouldn't argue with you about the weather it has been beautiful for the last few weeks bit cool at night but in the day lovely blue skies and bright sunshine.
Hope this helps