If you don’t need to work once you are in Spain then it isn’t as important than you can speak the lingo. If you move to an area that has any tourism you will find a lot of people in bars, restaurants and shops speak English. The only problems you might have are when you have to deal with things such as house repairs and arranging services where there are less likely to be English speakers.

Unless you are moving to an area with a large ex-pat population you will find it much easier to integrate into the local community if you can speak Spanish. Most areas of Spain are welcoming to people from outside the country but you will be made to feel much more welcome if you take the time to speak to them in their native tongue.

If you have decided that you do need to speak Spanish there are a number of different ways you can do it. There are now a number of computer programs and self learning solutions such as Rosetta Stone that allow you to learn at your own pace in your own time. Alternatively you can go to night classes before you leave for Spain, this has a number of advantages. The main one is that you will find it easier to find and arrange classes in your local area as you will already know where to look. The next option is to go to lessons once you get to Spain. One of the main advantages of this approach is that you may be able to meet people in a similar position to yourself at the lessons. You can then help each other out as you get to grips with a new country.

One final thing to remember is that a number of regions of Spain have their own language that while often similar to Spanish is different in many ways. If you are moving to a region such as Valencia you should keep this in mind. You may end up been able to speak perfect Spanish but still be able to understand some conversations as they are being spoken in Valenciano.

Apartments
One of the most popular styles of home is the apartment. It usually offers more space for your money and extra facilities you might not get with a house. Many apartment blocks include shared pools and shopping arcades. However you will have to pay a yearly or monthly fee to cover the repairs and maintained of the apartment block and it’s facilities. You will also find that you may be able to get an apartment in a much better location than you would a house for similar cost. When buying an apartment in a block you would be wise to chose one with a lift, whilst a few flights of stairs might not seem like much, you will soon get tired of walking up them with your weekly shopping!

Villas
The traditional purchase of the foreigner, the Spanish villa, still very popular with people wanting to buy a home in Spain. Most of the villas purchased as holiday homes are bought on complexes purpose built for the foreign market. This type of property does have it’s advantages, and of course some disadvantages. The main advantage of these villas is that they are new builds, built to modern standards. Many of them often come with a pool or at least a communal pool on the complex. The biggest disadvantage, in some people’s opinion, is that these complexes tend to turn in to completely foreign communities with no trace of traditional Spain. However if all you want from Spain is the excellent climate and you aren’t too bothered about experiencing Spanish life, this may be ideal for you. You can of course find villas in traditional Spanish towns and in some remote locations throughout Spain. These originally belonged to wealthy Spaniards and are now very popular with foreigners looking for larger more expensive house.

Town Houses
These are the traditional Spanish property located in typically Spanish towns and villages. Most of them can be found lined along narrow streets with the the front door opening straight on to the road. They are still the most common type of house in Spain and where most of the Spaniards live. For people who want to experience real Spain this type of property is ideal. Town houses are becoming more and more popular with people buying a home in Spain as they offer great value for money because you aren’t paying a premium for specially provided amenities. You should be wary of buying a town house in a place that is currently entirely Spanish as you may find it difficult to settle in. Most people tend to go for a place that already has a small foreign community so there are people who you can socialise with before you are confident speaking Spanish!

Life in Spain
Thousands of people are now looking for a place in Spain either for lots of holidays or for a new home. Most people who move there are looking for a more relaxed life style and most importantly better weather. Spain is ideal for this as life couldn’t be much more relaxed and your are guaranteed good weather for most of the year. Also the different areas of Spain have so much variety to offer, ranging from beach life to city living, Spain has it all.

As well as the many people who are happy living in Spain there are a few that have had it all go wrong and have moved back “home”. Anyone considering a move to Spain should make sure they have considered everything before they commit themselves. If work is going to be a requirement it will be important to speak the language as there will be very few jobs where you can get by without speaking Spanish. Another common reason for people returning home is missing friends and family so make sure this has been fully considered before making a final decision.