Initially this meant people spreading out from the big tourist destinations to other coastal towns. Over the last 5 years though even these have grown to have much larger numbers of foreigners living there. This isn’t always a bad thing as it means it isn’t a necessity to learn Spanish before moving there and there will be people you can turn to for support if you run in to difficulties.

There are still nice untouched Spanish towns on the coast but they are becoming fewer and fewer. People who are looking for traditional Spain and a more peaceful relaxed lifestyle are now turning to rural areas of inland Spain. If you think this might be right for you there are a number of things you should consider. Rural Spain is mostly untouched by tourism and is very traditional. You would struggle to get by in such an area if you don’t already speak the language. The big advantage though for most is that you aren’t moving to what is basically Blackpool (English Seaside Resort!) with nicer weather.

The other big advantage of rural inland Spanish property is that they are far cheaper than coastal locations. The prices on the coast have been pushed up by people buying them to use as holiday homes. Like anything else, increased demand leads to increased prices. In rural locations you can find habitable homes starting from €30,000 and even stunning villas for less than €100,000. Spain in general doesn’t have the hustle and bustle of England but there is an even greater contrast in inland rural locations. If you are looking for a relaxed lifestyle with a slow pace of life it could be ideal for you.

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.

Find a lawyer
You will need to find a good Spanish lawyer, this is essential as there are a lot of differences in property law, taxes and administrative procedures in Spain. Nearly all of the horror stories you hear about people who come in to difficulties when buying a home in Spain are due to not using a lawyer. The best way to find a good lawyer is through recommendations, ask around to find other people who have bought a home in the area and see who they used. If possible try to find a lawyer local to the area you are buying, they will then know the local system and the ways you can speed up the purchase of the house, and ensure it goes through smoothly. The fees should end up been no more than 1% of the purchase price and this should include a few basic services. Checking the property is registered, that the owner is really the person they say they are and if there are any debts against the house are the main ones. In Spain any debt will stay with the property even when ownership is transferred, so it is very important this is checked out.

The Contract
When the contract is drawn you will need to have 10% of the purchase price as a deposit. It will usually include assurances that property is sold free of charges, tenants and mortgages aswell as the completion date. When it is signed and your deposit paid the property is secured. This is a binding contract so penalties will be incurred for breaking it or not honouring the terms of the contract. At this stage you should check the receipt that shows the IBI (Impuestos sobre Bienes Inmuebles) the annual real estate tax, has been paid. It also gives the Valor Catastral which is the official assesed value of the property.

Signing the Deeds and Property Registration
A month or so after the contract has been signed you will sign the deeds in the presence of the Notary and pay the balance of the purchase amount with or without the “Black Money” (see below). You will then register the property with the land registry which should be done as soon as possible. Before this time it is possible for the seller to get a mortgage or make charges against the property.

Black Money
It is commonplace in Spain for houses to be under valued during the sale and for black money to pass between the buyer and seller to make up to the full value. The reason behind this is for the buyer to lower their transfer tax and the seller their capital gains tax. This all takes place in the presence of the Notary in a comical scene where they turn their back and pretend they don’t know what is happening! Although commonplace you should be very careful before going down this route as the tax authorities are clamping down on it and heavy fines being imposed. Also when you come to sell the house if you can’t find someone to use the same technique you will incur much larger capital gains tax.

Costs
The costs of buying a house in Spain are unlike those in England so you should be aware of them before you buy. As a general rule you should allow 12% split roughly as shown below

• Professional fees - the cost of the lawyer usually around 1%
• Notary charges - paid to the Notary for preparing the deed and overseeing the signing, the fee is fixed according to the property value and shouldn’t exceed 1%
• Property registration fees - paid to the property registration office to inscribe the new deed into your name. Shouldn’t exceed 1%
• Property tax (resale) or IVA (new build) - Both are charged at 7%
• Plus Valia (local municipal tax) - Based on the increase in the value of the land since the last time the property was sold. This differs greatly depending on the size of the plot
• Mortgage registration - if you need a mortgage this will need registering with the Spanish authorities and costs around 1%

Local Agents
As you would expect their are advantages and disadvantages of both options. If you choose to use local agents you will have the hassle of arranging the flights and accommodation for your trip as well as all of the viewing’s. However you can do everything at your own pace and pick exactly the properties you want to see. Doing it this way will also mean you get more choice as you are not tied to one agent. If you choose agents that are popular with Spaniards you also know that you will be paying the going rate for the property rather than an inflated tourists rate. This can obviously save you a lot of money.

• Oranges and Lemons - A family run business that specialises in property on the Costa del Azahar.
• Casas y Cia - An estate agent covering the Costa Blanca and Costa del Azahar.
• Online Oliva - Based in the small town of Oliva covering much of the Costa del Azahar.
• Orange Blossom Homes - Located in the town of Gandia covering the Costa del Azahar and Costa Blanca.
• Gatehouse International - Based in the UK offering properties throughout the Costa Brava.
• Bay of Roses - Based in the Costa Brava with a wide selection of properties available.
• Delfin Immo - Properties in Costa Brava, particularly Puig Rom, Canyelles and Almadraba.
• Brava Casa International - Offering a wide range of services, with properties along the whole Costa Brava.

Inspection Trips
The main benifit of inspection trips are that they are very easy to arrange as you just book one and everything is take care of when you get there. The trip itself is very cheap as it will be subsidised by the agent offering it. They typically lasy a few days with every day spent looking at a different complex. This is a great way to see what is on offer in a particular area in terms of purpose built holiday homes. It is not very good though if you are more interested in traditional properties as you will only get to see new builds on these holiday complexes.

• Incredible Homes - Offers houses all over the souther coast of Spain.
• Golden Coast Estates - Specialises in property located on the Costa del Sol, Costa Blanca and Almaria.
• Prestige Homes International - Properties throughout Spain, a very large selection.

Do it yourself
This is without doubt the hardest of the three options but offers the cheapest prices. With agent fees of up to 10% you can really get a bargain by going direct to the seller. To start your search you can browse through the local papers, look for adverts around your chosen area or just drive around looking for “for sale” signs. Without an agent doing the organising you will need longer find your house this way so it may be unsuitable for some.

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!