Mac's Poll - Let's Vote

eggcup said:
Wednesday, January 16, 2013 @ 11:34 PM

Well, it's more worrying now, with the economic climate. On the other hand, although it appeared to be more appealing 10 years ago, people didn't know how precarious it was going to become - buying a house which they then couldn't sell, for instance. 10 years ago it felt like you couldn't go wrong with property - the value would increase in perpetuity. Now that people can see that prices can go up and down, in some ways, almost perversely, it's a better idea because people are less likely to make mistakes. And I just voted that it's less appealing, when I've now convinced myself I should have voted the other way!

Tamara said:
Thursday, January 17, 2013 @ 4:20 PM

Haha Eggie! Well I voted MORE appealing, because I've just done it! I think the trouble is, Mac, that everyone who has just or is about to, will vote MORE, but the majority of posters on EOS are here and disgruntled so more likely to vote LESS. I voted MORE appealing because the way I see it is that house prices are REALLY low (doesn't mean they won't drop further), the exchange rate is pretty good (doesn't mean it hasn't been better), and the combination makes it pretty tempting. Plus the weather in the UK seems to be getting worse!

BigBrenda said:
Saturday, January 19, 2013 @ 3:20 AM

Definitely more appealing for someone who is retired and on a small pension. No way could I afford to live in the UK.
I think though for someone who still needs to work it is probable less appealing. Jobs are few and far between, salaries are lower and I suspect it will be some time before things start to get better.

Disappointed said:
Saturday, January 19, 2013 @ 10:34 AM

I voted LESS appealing, when I came here 23 years ago it was like a quiet country village, traffic was slow and gentle, no-one ever sounded their horns, cars would queue up and wait whilst the one in front would have a chat with someone, shop assistants were friendly and helpful, cafeteria service was instant, I could go on forever, now, everyone is in a mad dash, one can sit at a cafeteria for a while then getup and walk away without a sign of a waiter. I still love it though and wouldn't want to live anywhere else.

Kevin said:
Saturday, January 19, 2013 @ 10:40 AM

I'm not yet an expat, as still to retire, however we did buy our property in Spain 11 years ago, and spend 7-8 weeks a year in our Spanish home, and do intend to move when the time is right.

I think one of the big differences impacts those who were out to make a quick buck rather than those who were in for the long-haul. Most of the negative press about Spain in the UK evidences this....people did lose out, or get trapped by being unable to sell. But..like all investments, the value of your investment can go down as well as up, so there were a lot of people who unfortunately suffered.

I have sympathy for those that threw evertything they had at it and made the move, and perhaps saw their life savings take a hit, or whose circumstances changed and they had to take a big loss as they had to move home.But there were many others in the mix where it was just a second home and yes they lost a bit, but hey, I bet they had some good holidays out of it as well.
I do think there are a lot of people (like me) who may otherwise have been expats by now, but have lost confidence in being able to make a living in Spain, so have had to put plans on hold.

I honestly thought we would be living in Spain by now, perhaps employed, or even running a business of some kind, but the job opportunities are much poorer now, and when you've studied the turnover in sales of bars and cafes over the years, you realise it is unlikely to be a viable option. So, with a need for income, we've had to put plans on hold until we reach retirement age, or have a enough funds to live without reliance on work, and any further income being a bonus.

But I think for many (and we have a lot of friends in Spain who do live permanently) times are very good. Mortgage rates are low, eating out seems to be getting cheaper as places try to attract business, many beachside towns are becoming more 'Spanish' as the Brit bars close down and locals take over (which for me always seems to be a better result!) and exchange rates have recovered a bit. Some things like utilities are more expensive, but overall, a lot of people are quietly very happy in Spain right now.
Although I've noticed a bit of a dip in past couple of years, I'd also say there a much fewer closed/boarded up shops in Spain.
Despite it's label as a poor relation, our town in Spain, seems much more vibrant and 'alive' in terms of shops and nightlife than our town in the UK, where the High Street is dying.
For me, the main things that attracted us in the first place still exist - better weather, more outdoor living, better and healtheir lifestyle, great food, and a more relaxed way of life are all still there, and I can't wait until the numbers add up and we can finally make the move.

christine Harris said:
Saturday, January 19, 2013 @ 11:41 AM

The best thing about spain is the weather and the worst thing is corruption you must keep on your toes to live there!

andrew said:
Saturday, January 19, 2013 @ 12:15 PM

Delighted to see Kevin,s opinion. We are in the same position having to wait an extra couple of years but even with the extra utility bills etc Spain is definately a better option than uk/ireland.So even though we're not expats yet we've spent enough time in spain to say its still just as appealing.

sophie said:
Saturday, January 19, 2013 @ 12:42 PM

We spent 10years in Spain as residents,and returned to the uk,two years ago.Over the years we saw so many people leave,especially those with families.Living in Spain was always a dream, and we did it when my husband state retired.We always knew we would return to the uk at some stage.Several of our friends went back after 8-10years which for us also was the right time. The one thing we did was to keep a bolthole back here,and that at least enabled us to return.We loved our years there and still go back for holidays but is was definately a better place 12 years ago.We saw so many changes.

JWhite said:
Saturday, January 19, 2013 @ 2:55 PM

My opinion probably mirrors many who have bought in Spain with the intention of retiring. We had always intended to keep a place in the UK plus our apartment and had decided more or less to move over to Spain. However, after retiring and realising that financially (with ever increasing utility bills etc)we could not keep 2 places (a bolthole in the UK) and our apartment in Spain, plus I realised after spending 5 weeks in Spain that I could not live there without family or friends, so we put our place in Spain on the market to pay off our mortgage on our UK home. It took nearly 3 yrs to sell and we have lost a lot of money in the process, having to sell our UK home instead to move downmarket whilst waiting to sell our apartment.

The reasons we love Spain are still there although we believe it is much harder to live in Spain financially. However, the UK is not the home I was born and brought up in and it has deteriorated immensely in the last 10 yrs also. So even though I will always keep a home in the UK (that I can rent out), when my daughter finally makes the move this year to CDS, we will be following her, if only for the weather and the laid back lifestyle, spending lots more time outdoors which we love. Spain still has the same going for it that it did years ago when it first attracted Brits to it, so the love is still there for us and we will always want to spend the majority of our time in Spain whilst we have family over there. I am however, a person who needs family around her, so that will always be the motivating factor as to where I end up living.

dartboy said:
Saturday, January 19, 2013 @ 8:22 PM

i am in the same boat as Kevin and Andrew,my in-laws had an apartment in calpe and we have stayed there alot over the years but since they sold it we have stayed in villas mainly in moraira in 2005 we seriously thought about moving out there,if we sell up here we can buy a place outright and have about £100,000 in the bank but with 2 kids with us and 2 just left and the need to work felt it wasn't the right time (thank god as i'm a tiler and would struggle to find work now )but the pull of living out there is still as strong and if we don't do it before we will definately retire there.I believe spain joining the euro was when it all changed in spain going from being a cheap place to live/holiday to that of being as expensive as other countries.

Casares said:
Sunday, January 20, 2013 @ 5:29 PM

i am happier there then i am in Dublin, i spend about 9 months of the year there, food tastes like food, it has done 1,000 of air miles, it is affordable to eat out , yes house hold bills have gone, yes there is corruption , where is there not? i do think things were better 10 years ago, but things were better all over then, so no comparison. It sunny and warm, one can live outdoors most of the year, food is less expensive than Ireland for sure, and just going out is less expensive, Health care, private or not is half the price and far better than in Ireland, one can afford to live a better life style on very little money, but i still agree Spain was a better place to be in the past. There is always that feeling of the ex.pat being ripped off by everyone, you do have to keep on your toes all the time as another reader said. the thing is to try and keep a small place in ones home country.

Casares said:
Sunday, January 20, 2013 @ 5:30 PM

i am happier there then i am in Dublin, i spend about 9 months of the year there, food tastes like food, it has done 1,000 of air miles, it is affordable to eat out , yes house hold bills have gone, yes there is corruption , where is there not? i do think things were better 10 years ago, but things were better all over then, so no comparison. It sunny and warm, one can live outdoors most of the year, food is less expensive than Ireland for sure, and just going out is less expensive, Health care, private or not is half the price and far better than in Ireland, one can afford to live a better life style on very little money, but i still agree Spain was a better place to be in the past. There is always that feeling of the ex.pat being ripped off by everyone, you do have to keep on your toes all the time as another reader said. the thing is to try and keep a small place in ones home country.

Valerie Casares said:
Monday, January 21, 2013 @ 12:57 AM

I had a great dream about Spain in 2000. I bought off plan, and was very happy for a while. It's all the red tape, and corruption that has spoiled it for me. Not just the Spanish, but the Brits too. Being on my own (widowed), I felt it would be the best place for me to invest my pension money, have my children for family holidays, and enjoy. Only to be ripped off so many times. Not just because of the recession. It has been a nightmare. I wish I had never set foot in Spain! Evil place, full of con merchants and robbers. I feel I must always look over my sholder, even when I go to the supermarket,too creepy.

raymond said:
Monday, January 21, 2013 @ 9:27 AM

too many greedy brits thought they could make fortunes on the property ladder over here, they treated the spanish as idiots i am personally glad many of you are unhappy those of us who properly planned our finances and learnt the language and integrated are doing great so farewell to old blighty for good been here for 17 years and loving it