Living In Spain

    A Home In The Sun?

To Buy Or Not To Buy?

Should you or should you not? It's a big question. One which only used to be considered by those who were financially much better off. Things are changing, however, in this world of ours. What was once the perogative of the rich is now being considered more and more frequently by the not-so-rich.

A Wonderful Environment

You've been on holiday to Spain or the Spanish Islands. You had a great time - it was perpetually sunny, the sea was warm and inviting. Now you are back in the UK - and it's raining would you believe? The holiday environment is a distant memory, but such a pleasant one.

Like so many others, you may now be considering the possibility of making that environment a permanent one by buying a Spanish property and moving to Spain permanently.

So Many Questions

It's a nice thought. Is it sensible to consider living and working in Spain, however? We watch those programmes on TV - like 'a house in the sun'. Will the finances stretch to buying a second home? Shall we sell up and use the proceeds to buy that Spanish property and live there permanently? What will it cost? Where do we get the information which will enable us to consider the question properly?.

Retirement In The Sun?

What if you are retired? Living in a warm climate will be better for your health and could make the later years more pleasant. The Spanish health service is good, so no worries there.

So many things to consider!


    Where Can We Get More Information?

What Are The Legal Restrictions?

There are now very few legal restrictions to prevent us from buying private Spanish property. And it is being made easier all the time.

Easier, but ...

It may be much easier now than at any time in the past, but buying (and selling) property anywhere is not something to be undertaken lightly - especially in a country with whose laws we are not familiar.

This is a time for lots of help and advice - the more the better.

Information Freely Available On The Internet

It has been with this in mind that I have scoured the Internet to find the best which it has to offer potential Spanish property buyers.

The best I have been able to find is that provided by the Fundación Instituto de Propietarios Extranjeros (FIPE) - or, the Foundation Institute of Foreign Property Owners. The FIPE is a non-profit making body with vast experience. For a small annual subscription one can take advantage of the wealth of information which they have.

On its website, the FIPE also has some free short information statements about many aspects of property ownership in Spain. Some of this free information is reproduced here for the benefit of my visitors.


    The Foundation Institute of Foreign Property Owners

A Great Source Of Information

The website of FIPE - the Fundación Instituto de Propietarios Extranjeros (Foundation Institute of Foreign Property Owners) - is a great place to go if you are seeking information concerning any of the matters detailed below.

I am a firm believer in widely publicing material which will help as many people as possible to avoid those pitfalls that many of us fall into when doing something which is unfamiliar to us. It was with this thought in mind that I approached the FIPE and asked for their permission to reproduce some of their information on my site. They kindly agreed that I could do so.

Information Reproduced On This Website

Buying property in Spain
Building a house
Selling property in Spain
Resident or tourist
Your health in Spain
Banking in Spain
Taxes on foreigners in Spain
Local rates
The foreigner and the car
Telephone, electricity & water services
Renting & letting
Inheritance
The community of owners in Spain
Timeshare in Spain


    Visit The FIPE For The Very Latest Information