Can you find everything you need for a new life in Spain in one place?
John and Julie Glover from Derby did when they retired to the Costa Blanca last week.
“We’d worked very hard for many years, and it was time for our next chapter,” explains John, a retired train driver. “We don’t have any grandchildren yet; our parents had recently passed away, so there was suddenly nothing to stop us moving.”
They’d holidayed in Spain every year and admit they didn’t really know anywhere else, so it was the obvious choice.
With the finances from two inheritances to help pay for a home, they turned to A Place in the Sun and ended up picking up the phone to Customer Services (email us at [email protected]!).
“We loved watching the TV programme, so turned to the website. We decided that going on the TV show would mean waiting too long, so we were recommended a good estate agent and headed out to Spain to start working out what area we wanted,” says John.
Find a lawyer
They also found a lawyer to get some advice from when they started looking, which Julie recommends.
“It proved useful having those discussions early with Sun Lawyers, as we realised it would make more sense to sell our UK home first, bank the money so we were ‘buyer ready’ and also save on any capital gains tax once we had become tax resident in Spain,” says Julie, 62.
Sun Lawyers helped them set up a Spanish bank account and arrange power of attorney.
They sold their home in Derby quickly and headed back out to Spain in May.
Find an estate agent
After being introduced to Your Dream Home through Sandy in the Cabo Roig office of A Place in the Sun, the couple took a three-day viewing trip to look at homes around La Zenia on the Costa Blanca.
But on the first day, they found their ideal home: a three-bedroom quad villa on an urbanisation in Los Dolses.
“It was immaculate, with furniture included, and balconies opening off the bedrooms,” says Julie.
There are two shared swimming pools and a sauna on the development. Their offer of €260,000 was accepted.
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Use a currency specialist
Whilst chatting to Sandy, they also set up calls with A Place in the Sun Currency, so they were able to transfer their funds to Spain to pay their reservation fee and then deposit.
This meant they could save money compared with sending it over via a high street bank.
Find out more about A Place in the Sun Currency
Get help with getting a visa
Through Sun Lawyers, they also started talking to the relocation team, who helped them prepare for getting a Non-Lucrative Visa (NLV).
They were assisted in sourcing all the documents they needed and obtaining an S1 Certificate that entitles them to healthcare in Spain, thanks to John being over UK State Pension age.
The visa took around 12 weeks to obtain as it was over the summer break.
“One of my tips is to apply for a visa over the winter when they don’t have a big pile of student visas to process, or the summer break,” says Julie.
Completing their property purchase and moving to Spain
The purchase process only took two months, but the couple had to wait to get their passports back from the Spanish consulate before returning to Spain. This is where power of attorney comes in handy.
On 1st October, they got their visas, and a week later they were flying to Spain with ‘some very large suitcases’ to start their new life.
“We got everything we needed from A Place in the Sun Customer Services, so it really was a one-stop shop,” says John. “It has all gone very smoothly, and actually we feel very at home already. Everyone has been so helpful.”
Julie suggests that people do not overlook the 10% purchase costs required when buying a property.
“As long as you have the right help, don’t overthink it – just do it.”
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