banks credit crunch economy employment media money property retail sales spanish 
We are all obsessed about the economy. Not a day goes by without discussing the credit crunch, employment prospects, banks in crisis…and now, even the price of a loaf of bread.
We are all going to starve…penniless and redundant!
I spend a lot of my time on the internet. Most of my work dictates that I am connected to the worldwide web practically all day, and so in between all the important things that I (pretend to!) do, I like to take a look at news sites to keep abreast of Spanish property news and global developments in general.
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alicante Barcelona costa blanca costa del sol iberia madrid malaga property ryanair spanair travel I spend a lot of time commuting between my two Spanish homes - a property on the Costa del Sol and a property on the Costa Blanca. Although it´s a gruelling 5 hour drive, the cheapest way to make the journey is by car.
However, it´s sometimes nice to catch the plane. After all, until recently Iberia, Spain´s national airline, operated a direct one-hour flight between Malaga and Alicante airports, ideal for what I needed. This arrangement allowed me to check-in late, relax on the plane, and catch up with phone calls and paperwork without having to concentrate on the road in front!
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airport costa del sol expats holiday hotels malaga marbella money property spanish The Costa del Sol is changing. Although these changes are due to mainly negative factors, I personally think that the area will ultimately benefit.
First of all, let me point out that there is still demand for property in Marbella, and for property in the Costa del Sol generally. The area is still hugely popular as a holiday destination, with passenger numbers through Malaga airport continuing to rise. But the place ´feels´ different.
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alcohol costa blanca costa del sol holiday marbella property spain spanish Ever wondered why those Spanish holiday hangovers are worse than the usual ones that you get at home? It´s probably due to the measures that are poured by the bartender.
Everywhere in Spain, from the popular coastal areas such as the Costa del Sol and the Costa Blanca to the more remote inland villages, if you ask for a gin and tonic, the likelihood is that the bartender will start to fill your glass until YOU tell them to stop!
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costa del sol employment marbella property schools spain spanish I have lived in my property in Marbella for 8 years. When I first arrived, the area was just enjoying its latest surge in popularity, and within 2-3 years, the Spanish property boom was in full swing.
During that time, and driven by the huge demand for property in Spain, the expatriate population of Marbella, and many more seaside resorts in Southern Spain, has increased dramatically. Entire families have relocated, and so the local schools have been full and the shops, the bars and the restaurants have all benefited hugely.
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beach breakfast climate costa blanca english news property sky spain tv I relocated to my property on the Costa Blanca in the autumn of 2000, a blessed relief from my life of hard work and stress in the UK.
I had the property in Spain, the perfect climate, the beach at my doorstep and no bad news to depress me from the UK. I had specifically chosen to avoid all the misery of the UK media, so vowed to live my life in Spain as I meant it to continue – no British newspapers and no British tv.
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beach damp properties property sand sea spain spanish property view Most buyers of property in Spain want to be as close as possible to the beach. I guess this is a natural consequence of years of happy holidays by the sea coupled with the grim climate and scenery of Northern Europe.
But are beach properties in Spain really all there are cracked up to be?
Of course, for those lucky enough to have a frontline beach property in Spain overlooking the sand and the sea, the views and aspect are truly outstanding. But think about your view at night – probably pitch black.
What is it about British people when they travel to Spain? As soon as they step foot in a foreign country, you can spot them a mile away…and for all the wrong reasons.
First of all, I am British, but I live in a very cosmopolitan place, in a property on the Costa del Sol, surrounded by people of all ages and from all walks of life. The local international college teaches a broad international expatriate base of 22 different nationalities. Secondly, I like my football, I enjoy a beer….but I feel like I have nothing in common with these people.
Most vendors are naturally enthusiastic about their properties in Spain. After all, these properties have probably played host to memorable family events or holidays, so I guess it´s only natural for owners to want to tell visitors all about the place.
But sometimes, it´s just not a good idea…..at all!
Most real estate agents spend a lot of time with their clients, spending hours on the telephone and face to face, establishing exactly what a buyer is looking to purchase….and the reasons why.
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100% banks development discounted finance mortgage off-plan price properties property spain spanish valuation Anybody who has recently tried to obtain a mortgage, either a mortgage in Spain, or a mortgage in their home country, will tell you that it´s not the easiest of processes anymore.
During the peak of the Spanish property market, lenders were falling over themselves with offers of easy and cheap credit to overseas buyers. The banks were so hungry for business in a rising property market, that they were prepared to base their levels of lending on the property valuation, rather than the property price. Any market is based on greed and fear, and if we are now in the midst of fearful economic times, then it´s certainly true that at the market´s peak, greed was the overriding factor. Continue reading »
