Day: 24 April 2019

Are you thinking of a life in the sun and don’t know where to start? Take a look at our top tips for moving to Spain from the UK. 

Learn the language  

Getting to grips with the Spanish language will make life a lot easier when it comes to starting your new life in Spain. 

There are many ways to learn the Spanish language; whether it be group lessons, one-to-one lessons or online lessons, there are plenty of options to help get you started.

Make sure you are correctly registered for Healthcare in Spain  

As an expat, you are entitled to free state healthcare. All residents in Spain need to register to access healthcare.

Once registered for healthcare, basic state services are free, but there are some things that patients need to pay for. 

UK nationals usually access the Spanish national health system in one of these ways:

• If you are employed or self-employed and make social security contributions in Spain
• Registering a UK-issued S1 form with the social security office
• Through entitlement to healthcare as a permanent resident if they’ve lived in Spain for 5 years
• Paying directly into the public health insurance scheme (Convenio Especial)

Get a visa

Since the UK left the EU, it is considered a third state. Since 1st January 2021, any British citizen who wants to emigrate to Spain will need to apply for a visa. 

Before you move to Spain, you must apply for the appropriate visa from the Spanish consulates. After submitting an application at the Spanish consulate, and the consulate approves the procedure, you get a visa that allows entry into Spain. 

There are many types of Visas which will get you entry into Spain. Please see below information on popular visa types and links for additional information.  

• Golden Visa- The “Golden Visa”, is a fantastic opportunity for a non-EU citizen to invest in property while also obtaining a Spanish/EU residency visa. The scheme is for investors with an investment budget of £500,000 or more, and can be invested across a portfolio of homes. Contact the team at Dream Spanish Homes for more information – [email protected] 
• Non-working residence visa – https://bit.ly/3B7IHEM
• Employee visa – https://bit.ly/3eJ8b3E
• Self-employed work visa – https://bit.ly/3BATMQo

You must tell the UK government offices that deal with your benefits, pension and tax if you are moving or retiring to Spain. 

Check your profession is regulated

Regulated professions differ between EU countries. To find out if your profession is regulated in Spain, visit the regulated profession database https://bit.ly/3cVo5rr.  

If the profession you want to practise is not listed, it may be possible that it might not be regulated in Spain. If you are unable to find any information about your profession, contact the National Assistance Centre for the Recognition of Professional Qualifications as they will be able to offer additional information. 

Buy your property from Dream Spanish Homes

At Dream Spanish Homes, we have been helping turn dreams into reality for over 16 years. We are one of the fastest-growing real estate agents on the Mar Menor, Costa Cálida. We offer our customers complete peace of mind and are the only agent to give you more.

Don’t just take our word for it; hear what our clients are saying…

“We recently purchased and completed our first property abroad from Dream Spanish Homes. From the first initial meeting with Michael at Alicante airport and then being settled into a local hotel before viewings, then providing an offer/ completion, we cannot speak highly enough of your excellent service. With Michael doing the viewings and Sue on the admin/clerical side, nothing was too much bother, and we were kept informed of every step via e-mails/ calls etc., on the property purchase procedure. We have completed and would highly recommend Michael and Sue of Dream Spanish Homes to anyone considering a purchase in the Costa Calida area. Once again, thank you for such professional service” Martin and Julie, UK.

For more information on available properties, contact the team directly at [email protected]

 

Did you know we are the only agent to give you more? 

We offer FREE furniture for your new Spanish home, thanks to our unique and wonderful partnership with a highly-rated local furniture store. As part of our commitment to give you more – AND to make sure you enjoy an unforgettable welcome to your new home – we’ve teamed up with Muebles of Murcia to fill your Dream Spanish Home with brand new furniture. All at no cost to you! You pick, we pay. 

How can I get free furniture?

With selected new build properties, Dream Spanish Homes can offer you and your family a free-spending spree at Muebles of Murcia. 

What furniture can I get?

Muebles offer a brilliant range of furniture, from kitchen, bedroom or living room to accessories such as lamps and vases. One of the best benefits of Muebles is its range of products and furniture. From single-seaters to corner sofas, you will find it all at Muebles!

How does the Free Furniture Plan work?

At Dream Spanish Homes, we have a large range of properties within our portfolio. All you need to do to qualify for a free furniture package is purchase a new home through us!

If you purchase a property that qualifies for this plan, we will let you know. We will then allocate you a budget of how much you can spend at Muebles. Once you know the budget, you may spend it however you wish. 

For more information or if you are interested in purchasing a new build property in Spain, get in touch with the Dream Spanish Homes team or visit our office located in Los Alcázares.

If you have been thinking about moving house for a while, now is a fantastic time to put your home on the market. 

Here are our top tips to ensure your home sells quickly and you can get the best possible price.

1) First impressions count

Before a potential buyer enters your home, they have already made their mind up on what they think of your property. Your house may be beautiful inside, but if the outside does not look great, you may jeopardise your sale. Most people only focus on the inside of the property and making sure it is well presented, but the exterior is as equally important. Before any potential buyers come to your house, spend time tidying up the outside of the house – plant flowers, have clean pool water, trim bushes, remove weeds, and repaint the front door. Think like a buyer, if you are buying a house, what would you like to see?

2) Clear the clutter

One of the biggest reasons people give for wanting to move house is they would like more space. A home free of clutter instantly feels more spacious.

Research has shown almost a fifth of buyers (22 per cent) wouldn’t make an offer on a property because it was too cluttered,”. Before any potential buyers come to view your property, take time out, and declutter all the rooms in your house. If you don’t need it or use it, take it to a charity shop or throw it out. If you want to keep it, temporarily put it away (no one sees what is in your cupboards) and keep your blinds and curtains open to let in plenty of natural light.

3) Spring clean

A clean home will reassure potential buyers that the property they might be looking to invest in is well cared for. Kitchens and bathrooms help sell a home, so we highly advise you to do a deep clean of the kitchen and bathrooms as these are the areas that most people will focus on.

4) Eliminate bad odours

Bad odours are an instant turn-off for potential buyers. When you are living in a property, you may not recognise odours in your home, such as pets, cooking, smoking etc.

5) Fix it

Do you have a door that doesn’t close? Or maybe a dripping tap? Fix it before you accept viewings.

6) Keep it neutral

Home sellers should always opt for neutral tones like beige, grey, and white when trying to sell their home. These warm colours will help buyers visualise themselves living in it as they can put their own stamp on it when they move in.

7) The right agent

Your home is one of your biggest assets so put it in the hands of an agent you trust.

At Dream Spanish Homes, we have been helping turn dreams into reality for over 16 years. We are one of the fastest-growing real estate agents on the Mar Menor, Costa Cálida. We offer our customers complete peace of mind and are the only agent to give you more.

If you would like to sell your property, contact the Dream Spanish Homes team and book a free valuation.

Los Alcázares is a famous fishing village in the sunny Murcia region in southern Spain. In recent years it has become a popular area for people looking to buy second homes from all over the globe, with a rich multicultural population. The area comes alive during the summer, with many people travelling to the region to enjoy its sunny weather and beautiful beaches. Its neighbouring towns include Torre-Pacheco, San Javier and Cartagena, a city known for its rich Roman history. Even though Los Alcázares is a small town, it has plenty of amenities, shops, restaurants, and bars for you to enjoy.

Los Alcázares is known for having a Mediterranean climate. Murcia generally enjoys an average annual temperature of 18 º C. Los Alcázares and surrounding areas enjoy more than 3600 hours of sun per year – a dream come true for anyone looking to escape to the sun.

Whether you are going on holiday to Los Alcázares or are looking to purchase your dream home here, we have created this blog to highlight the top things we would recommend you do/visit when in Los Alcázares, we hope you like it and find it useful. 

Go-Karts Mar Menor

Enjoy some friendly competition in the sun with your family and friends at Go-Karts Mar Menor. A fun activity for children and adults of all ages with various go-karts to choose from. 

The circuit is open every day. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 10:30 am to 9 pm. Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday from 10:30 am to 9:30 pm.

Pre-booking is essential. To book your tickets, call +34 868 104 550 or send a message on WhatsApp at +34 625 555 111.

Golf 

If you are a keen golfer, Los Alcázares is the place for you. With 15 golf courses in Los Alcázares and the surrounding areas, this is a golfer’s paradise. Golf courses include Mar Menor Gold Resort, listed in the top 100 golf courses in Spain, La Serena Golf Resort, Las Colinas Golf & Country Club, Roda Golf and Beach Resort and many more. 

Beaches 

The beaches in Los Alcázares are stunning and a must-see if you are visiting. Behind the beaches is a paved promenade which stretches along the seven beaches of the municipality of Los Alcázares, a distance of 7 kilometres. This is very popular with walkers, joggers and cyclists throughout the year.

Los Alcázares Boulevard – Rio Nalon

Popular with tourists and residents, the boulevard is situated in the heart of Los Alcázares. Whether you are looking to go out for a meal with family or friends, watch sports or have a cheeky cocktail or two or if you want to do some shopping, the boulevard is the place to be. It comprises international bars, restaurants, supermarkets, beauty salons, estate agents, and banks. If you visit the boulevard, pop into Dream Spanish Homes and say hello. 

Dream Spanish Homes has been located on the boulevard for 14 years. We thought we would share with you our top picks for dining and drinks. We highly recommend Little Sicily if you are going out for dinner; pre-booking is essential. If you enjoy a cocktail, Zarcos Cocktail bar is a must, or if you are a sports fan, The Celt is the place to be. 

Music concerts 

Life would be boring without music, right? Los Alcázares has hosted some incredible musicians over the years, and this summer, we welcome El Divo to Los Alcázares. The concert takes place on 29th July at 22:00 and will take place at Polideportivo Municipal Los Alcázares, Murcia. 

For more information on Los Alcázares, contact us today at [email protected]