Mac's Poll - Let's Vote

 This report sets out to summarise the key aspects of the scale and nature of long-term emigration from the UK, including some trends over the last 20 years. It draws on a range of information sources, including published academic research, and on survey data produced by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) including Long-Term Migration estimates (LTIM) and International Passenger Survey (IPS) estimates.1 The report also presents some associations between economic factors and emigration by particular groups.

GO TO HOME OFFICE EMIGRATION REPORT

334 UNIQUE PARTICIPANTS - 7 COMMENTS. first week of voting. THE RESULTS SURPRISED ME ONLY 14% OF THE VOTERS WERE LOOKING TO LIVE IN AN ESTABLISHED EXPAT COMMUNITY. I THOUGHT IT WOULD HAVE BEEN MORE. HOWEVER WELL OVER 50% ARE LOOKING FOR PROPERTIES OUTSIDE OF THE TYPICAL COMMUNITY COMPLEXES.

 There have been many threads discussing which type of properties are the best: large expat community complexes with pools, golf and all the extras and creature comforts from home; Detached villas without community charges; Country houses and traditional Spanish village homes. Everyone has different tastes and their own idea of what their dream holiday or retirement home must be like. Are those tastes changing? There have also been many experiences where people have had problems with community complexes and now shy away from them and others who have managed to find communities that  run like clockwork. For those who are considering purchasing or renting a property, have these experiences shared by others made you waiver in your decision or directed you down another path? Is their still the demand for the large expat complexes or are new buyers looking for other types of properties. Please cast your vote. If you are the ex-owner of a Spanish property, with hindsight, would you consider the same type of property or a different one?

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412 UNIQUE PARTICIPANTS AND 24 COMMENTS --  first week of voting

THANK YOU ALL FOR PARTICIPATING, I MUST ADMIT THE RESULTS SUPRISED ME, I DIDN'T EXPECT THE OPTION "TO BUY" WOULD HAVE BEEN THE TOP CHOICE. VERY POSITIVE RESULT.

This week it's a simple question, is your intention to rent or buy when it comes to finding your ideal retirement property? Some feel they want to move abroad but are never sure if they will eventually integrate or miss their families so much that they decide to move back earlier than planned and therefore may choose to rent. Others may consider the move more definitive and decide to purchase a property hoping it will eventually increase in value and become an investment for themselves or their children. There are so many reasons for both routes that I thought it would be interesting to get a feel for what the general tendency is right now, especially as the crisis has hit the property market so hard.

So please cast a vote and leave a comment saying why you have decided on one route or the other. I am sure it will be of great help for those who still haven't made a decision.

 1st poll :     327 unique participants and 16 comments. first week of voting

  2nd poll:    279 unique participants 

Spain is amidst one of the largest corruption scandals to affect a political party. Parallel accounts and black money payments have even brought Spain's President into the picture, who is under suspicion too for receiving salary top ups in cash. With over 400 politicians and civil servants currently charged with crimes of corruption what should be the reaction of these people? Should they step down from their public duties until all suspicion has been cleared or should they stand their ground and continue working for the country until they are found guilty or innocent?

This time I will be running two parallel polls, one for politicians charged with corruption and another one on Mariano Rajoy, being The President of the country his situation is even more delicate and transcends international borders.

Please cast your votes and leave a comment !