VILLA IN SPAIN (LA DROVA)
When we came over, we did exactly what I advise in my recent book: we rented a property for three months to enable us to investigate the Spanish property market extensively whilst ensuring that our chosen area was truly suitable. As a family with two young, school age children we knew that any move to Spain had to be done carefully. The stakes were high (as invariably they are for everyone) and we knew that every step had to be made with caution to ensure that our move to Spain was set on firm foundations – both financially and in terms of lifestyle.
After considerable research, we eventually bought our present home. This is a rather lovely, older style, Spanish villa with a reasonably large plot (1,400 m2) on an enchanting (Urbanizado) estate within the Valencian mountains overlooking Gandia. The choice of location was inspired and rarely have we been so happy. The Spanish school my children have attended has been excellent and my son is now at Valencia University. Meanwhile, our village (Barx) has delighted me with its welcoming, joyful and supportive community. Nearby, vibrant Gandia is wonderful and the surrounding landscape gorgeous. Effectively, we live within ‘spitting distance’ of fantastic beaches and untold areas ideal for walking, riding, climbing and so on…
So, what is the problem, you ask?
Well, our property needed renovation which (as I did much of the work) took around three years to complete. This was no surprise as, having worked in construction, I was fully aware of what I was taking on when we bought our home. The trouble is that it made me and, by association the rest of my family, house-centric. In other words, the first three years of our life in Spain were spent (when I was not working) largely in and around our house during its renovation. This absorbed almost all our spare time – and it is something I now regret!
Of course, our home has been improved greatly through being reformed extensively (although I say it myself!) but this is to miss the point. The whole reason for moving to Spain was to bathe in the fun and stimulation of living and working permanently in another country. Importantly, we had deliberately chosen a country with a different language and a culture that bore little resemblance to the UK – so that it would offer a challenge. We knew it would be somewhere that deserved undiverted attention whether in learning the language or revelling in the native culture. However, unwittingly, we fell into the trap of initially being forced to spend too much time within our own property.
My point is that if you are thinking of moving to Spain then be careful not to ‘lose the plot’ – and the plot (pun not entirely intended!) is not about buying a bigger or better property in Spain than you had in the UK. Nor is it about being house-centric – for whatever reason. Far from it.
The only really compelling reason for moving to Spain is to increase your overall quality of your life. This is not something that is achieved (in my view) by inanimate objects, let alone by a property. On the contrary, an obsession with property can millitate against getting ‘out and about’ and maximising the joys of a new way of life.
Naturally, buying the right Spanish property is important – and care in this regard is of the first importance when it comes to property in Spain. As I have said many times, the Spanish property industry is untrustworthy and requires real care and knowledge if you are to navigate your way past its worst elements. However, for what it is worth, if I was to come here again I would buy a low maintenance (probably new-ish) property in Spain – despite instinctively preferring older, ‘character’ houses.
The truth is that for life in Spain to be successful and fulfilling you need to be out of your property more than in it – in fact, rather like the Spanish themselves! The wonderful climate, great beaches, terrific mountains, lovely culture and great social life are all here to be enjoyed – and none have anything to do with being in your property.
So, for what it is worth, if you are thinking of moving to Spain then be careful about what you buy to ensure that your property in Spain does not become horribly like the ‘tail wagging the dog’. If that happens then you will risk not enjoying Spain and the life that is on offer here to the full!