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Take The Risk - Pension Plan or Preparation

Submitted by cwiffen on Sun, 24/08/2008 - 12:22.

Guardamar del Segura

Your Name:

Colin Wiffen

Where are you from?:

Norfolk, England

Where do you live now?:

Norfolk,England

When did you move here?:

04/2006

Who did you come here with?:

Partner / Husband / Wife

Why did you decide to come here?:

We decided to start looking to buy abroad because we love sunshine and didn't feel that we liked the direction in which Britain is moving! Spain is a great country with (mostly) very friendly people, a relaxed atmosphere and a strong sense of family.

What did you leave behind?:

<pre> Nothing yet, we are still in the UK building towards our future plans. In the mean time as I said above, we rent our apartment, many potential purchasers have rented it out and found it a nice base and a useful location www.costablancaholiday.info. This doesn't pay the mortgage in full but every bit is a help. This may be the way foirward for you if you do not want to move just yet. </pre>

What work do you do?:

Software Development in the UK, also we invented a card game called Grab a Pig which is great for travelling adults and children.

What made you choose this location? Did you know much about it before you moved here?:

We went to Guardamar del Segura to check it out as friends have an apartment there. The first day I arrived I hated it, the next I loved it, truly it happened that quick. We came back 6 months later to start looking to buy and when we drove into Guardamar it felt like you were driving home.

Tell us about the place you live? What's it like (a house, apartment, flat, etc)? What are your neighbours like?:

We have an apartment in a resedential complex. 33 dwellings of which the majority (except about 5) of our neighbours are Spanish. The Spanish can be quite noisy and can do a lot of Furniture rearranging (scraping on the floor) but we are lucky, and our neighbours seem very nice. We always speak in Spanish where possible as most do not speak English (our Spanish is not perfect but always appreciated).

What's the best thing about where you live?:

Everything, the location (views to the sea), the cuisine (a diversity of different restaurants), The locals (most are very friendly), The town (Still predominently Spanish so unspoiled by an over abundance of British bars and fish and chip shops)

What have you learned about your area that you think other people should know?:

Respect it for what it is, the Spanish are very Patriotic about their towns and country. Embrace the culture and always try to speak in Spanish, even a few words are appreciated. Do not buy a property thinking it will make you rich, there are still a large number of empty properties, see it as a long term investment and you won't lose out.

Is there anything you're not so happy about?:

Some Spanish officials (such as those who manage our community) can be very poor with communicating with the British, just remember that some may have the same opinion of foreigners (us) that some people have in the UK.

How important do you think it is to be able to speak Spanish?:

As expressed earlier, it is essential. Think to how you feel when foreigners in the UK don't speak English! It is always appreciated and it anables you to mix with locals, buy from local shops, use local tradesmen, and enriches your life. Don't be embarrassed about using it, my philosophy is that if the person you are speaking to cannot speak English, even your poor Spanish is one step better towards communication, just remember, you are the foreigner!

Do you miss anything from your home country?:

As explained We still live in the UK, so at the moment I cannot give you a definitive answer.

Do you have any regrets?:

No, admittedly we have not moved yet, but we have no regrets with our decisions, don't get in to the position where you can regret it - DO YOUR RESEARCH :-)

What's your best bit of advice for people thinking of doing the same as you?:

Do your research, don't buy a house or apartment in any country without exercising the same logic and common sense that you would in the UK. We found our own Lawyer, never (in my opinion) use the lawyer of the company selling you the house, it just doesn't make any sense! We got caught on our first purchase attempt and had to take the developer to court, we won because we had good legal rerpresentation and were in the right. The developer's lawyer asked me who advised me to use a lawyer - odd question I thought! The bottom line, don't trust anybody however nice they seem when they stand to gain from telling you what you want to hear. Buying a property is a big decision to take, a wise step to make, but just go in with your eyes open, and get your legal representative to do all necessary searches etc, it is worth the extra cost.

What plans do you have for your future in Spain?:

Currently my plan is to retire out to Spain, I have no desire to be working full time for somebody else by the time I am 55 and life is for living. A risk is always worth taking if it is a calculated one, there is no advancement without risk in my opinion.

In your experience, what is the biggest mistake other people make when moving to Spain?:

<pre> Burning their bridges! If you can afford it, never sell your house in the UK (or your home country) I have known too many people who sell up, a year or two later they don't like it and then they cannot get back on the property ladder back home. It is better to go for a year and pay rent, this should be long enough to see if you like it or not. If you do then sell (if you want to). We decided to buy whilst we are working and then we will rent our UK house out when we move which by then will mean we have paid the mortgage on our Spanish property. Also learn the language and get out and mix, with locals as well as Ex-Pats, take up some hobbies or interests otherwise the idylic lifestyle may not seem so idylic when the boredom sets in! If you want to take a look at the area in which we plan to live we can rent you our fully equipped apartment just visit <a href="http://www.costablancaholiday.info/">www.costablancaholiday.info</a> for more details </pre>

Visit Buy a fantastic British card game for adults and children, ideal as a travel game

Case Study Requests for Alicante region

Submitted by debsjenkins on Mon, 19/05/2008 - 13:50.

Calling anyone who lives in any of the following areas:

* Alcoy (Alcoi)
* Alicante
* Altea
* Benidorm
* Benissa
* Calpe (Calp)
* Dénia
* Dolores
* El Campello
* Elche (Elx)
* Guardamar del Segura
* Javea (Xábia)
* Moraira
* Orihuela
* San Miguel de Salinas
* Santa Pola
* Tabarca
* Torrevieja
* Villajoyosa (La Vila Joiosa)

Something out of the Ordinary

Submitted by Cutting Edge Events on Mon, 19/05/2008 - 12:44.

“This is IT!

Playa del Pinet

Submitted by jordan on Fri, 10/08/2007 - 12:08.

Guardamar del Segura

Type:

Sand

Blue Flag:

Showers:

Toilets:

Lifeguard:

A 1.75km sandy,semi-urban beach south of the town El Pinet with good facilites. Can be reached by car from the N-332 but no buses currently go here.

El Rebollo, La Marina and Pesqueras

Submitted by jordan on Fri, 10/08/2007 - 12:00.

Guardamar del Segura

Type:

Sand

Colour:

Gold

Blue Flag:

Yes

Showers:

Toilets:

Lifeguard:

A mixture of over 2km of isolated (further south – which isn’t blue flag) and semi-urban golden, sandy,blue flag, beaches with decent amenities and moderate waves. These beaches are backed by sand dunes and can be reached via the N-332 by car.

Playa Centro

Submitted by jordan on Fri, 10/08/2007 - 11:57.

Guardamar del Segura

Blue Flag:

Showers:

Toilets:

Yes

Lifeguard:

Yes

This cosmopolitan 2.6km beach has all the amenities you’d expect from a main beach in the centre of town. As well as toilets, sun lounger hire and life guards
there are also ice cream and food stands here. This beach is located right at
the heart of Guardamar del Segura.

Guardamar del Segura

Submitted by admin on Sun, 18/03/2007 - 15:09.

The resort of Guardamar del Segura lies in Alicante province at the mouth of the river Segura on the Costa Blanca.

Backed by a large pine forest Guardamar's 11km long white sandy beach stretches along the Costa Blanca on Mediterranean sea.

The town derives its name from the Arabs name Guald-a-amar (River of the Sand)

Guardamar's local fiestas include L'Encantà, Fogueres de Sant Joan and Moros y Cristians. A local drink to try is Aigua de València made from Cava, fresh orange juice and cointreau.

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Guardamar del Segura

Take The Risk - Pension Plan or Preparation

Case Study Requests for Alicante region

Something out of the Ordinary

Playa del Pinet

El Rebollo, La Marina and Pesqueras

Playa Centro

Guardamar del Segura

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