09 Jul 2015 10:18 AM:

Good post johnzx about a common problem not only in the UK but even worse in Spain. Each time we go into Marbella the bling capital of the CDS there is loads of dog cr4p on pavements even around the old town, most inland towns have the same problem too. Beaches in the UK and Spain unfortunately above the tide line where parasitic eggs lie dormant, these can hatch and cause blindness especially in children. UK councils do not enforce fines and blame lack of funds to employ more than one dog warden whilst pouring money into their flower beds.

Just back from San Diego where on Coronado they have a long dog beach where 100's of dogs are allowed and their mess has to be cleaned up whilst it's an offence to take dogs on the pristine public beach.

Thread: Dogs defecating

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06 Jun 2015 10:25 AM:

There is currently a huge run on the Greek Banks, Zero Hedge article shows that in the last 7 business days 3.4 Billion Euros has left their Banks and I heard this has brought the total figure to approx. 100 Billion Euros. This is unsustainable and their Banks are close to broke. It's expected capital controls will have to be imposed very soon at this rate, there's an almighty dash with the cash. All of which will have repercussions throughout Europe. That money is going somewhere, into German, British and other Northern European Banks/safe countries' Banks quite likely.

IMO all that's been done is continual sticking plasters on the problem. If they can't or won't repay their debt it is being said Portugal might go the same way and say 'why should we repay our debt' and so on. 

It would have been less costly for Europe and Greece itself if the country had left the EU ages ago.

 

Thread: The Greek crisis

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12 May 2015 2:43 PM:

You are right to rent first to see if you really want to live in Spain, contracts I believe run for 11 months. Mijas used to be typically Spanish but very touristy now and yes loads of expats there and in Benalmadena, completely different areas though. Look down from the top in Mijas at the huge urban coastal sprawl below you, pretty damn awful sight, will probably make you prefer Mijas. As for jobs, I'd really try and secure those before you go, it's not that easy to get jobs in Spain, everyone wants them including locals. How good is your Spanish too, if rusty or poor, you will need to improve to compete? I know middle class English people who've lived there for over 25 years, fluent in Spanish yet still scratching about for a living and they've had to claim Spanish benefits in the past, whilst their property prices dropped a bomb, they cannot now buy back in the UK.

Above all, do plenty of homework on where, jobs, language, problems etc.

Thread: Moving to Costa del Sol

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03 Apr 2015 10:52 AM:

Despite agents and those with vested interest desperately talking the market up again I doubt if there will ever be such a large scale calamitous property crash as the one Spain had. (Cyprus was a similar disaster but a smaller market and buyers there are also house trapped in the sun.) They destroyed green areas, cut off hill-tops, got rid of avocado farms, all for greed, building what is probably the largest continuous housing estate in Europe. They spoilt their own coastline for good. As a result so many expats were ripped off especially those buying at the top of the market and they are the ones finding life tough. A lawyer we know (Brit) who lives near Malaga says the truth is so many had mortgages which are now far more than the value of their properties, many handing the keys back and unable to buy again in the UK, it's 10's of 1000's of expats in this situation across Spain. The programme was a timely reminder to balance some of the current hype.

It's surely in the interest of commonsense that this never happens again, and, what Spain cannot get right is that buying and selling costs of 20% is no way to revive a property market, plus it really needs to regulate agents and developers and speed up it's ridiculously slow legal redress system. Pigs might fly in Spain before they take proper action on what they did wrong. 

Good luck to those stoical Brits who may be affected and who best get on with life.

 

 

This message was last edited by scambuster on 03/04/2015.
Thread: BBC TV Programme 31st March 2015 Shows How Tough Life is for Many Brits in Spain.

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02 Apr 2015 4:59 PM:

What an essay Lol Lol  but to cut to the chase we also have a lovely garden in Spain and never been on the market since we bought over 15 years ago, we kept it for mainly family holidays and as it's in a good area unlike some of those shown in the programme a very good place for years to come, and very pleasant neighbours Brits and Spanish. Have to say our garden in England is also rather pleasant, but a real property investment over the years. However we know so many house-trapped Brits in Spain who can't sell due to negative equity caused by mis-selling

My view is also balanced Team GB since I live in both countries and know the differences and btw you were rattled.

The programme was very watcheable but a snap shot of the worst of Spain but nowhere near as biased as Channel 4's A Place in The Sun programmes which so often makes sweeping statements about the talking up of property markets they visit Lol Now I'm sure none of us want another boom and bust again to impact on the populus.

Thread: BBC TV Programme 31st March 2015 Shows How Tough Life is for Many Brits in Spain.

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