Spain breaks its tourism record

Last updated on February 19th, 2020 at 01:35 am. The number of tourists visiting Spain keeps on rising. In 2015 68.1 million people came to Spain whilst in 2016 the number recorded had reached 71.6 million by November. In this Infograph we can clearly see how the number of tourists visiting Spain over the past […]

Read more

What is the perfect recipe for paella?

Last updated on February 19th, 2020 at 01:36 am. Jamie Oliver certainly caused a storm when he recommended that paella be made with chorizo. Eduardo Simón from the Customer Care Department at Ábaco explains what should and shouldn’t be in this very important Spanish dish.  What conjures up Spain more than a large, colourful paella? […]

Read more

What is carnaval?

Last updated on February 19th, 2020 at 01:36 am. Carnaval, the Spanish spelling of carnival, is quite an event in many parts of Spain. It can also be something of a conundrum if you are not a native of the country. In this article we delve a little into what ‘carnaval’ is all about. It’s […]

Read more

Donating property in Spain is still a good option

Last updated on March 19th, 2020 at 02:05 pm. We have written before about the benefits of donating or ‘gifting’ your assets rather than bequeathing them when you die. ‘Donación de bienes’ is an alternative way of handing over your property which has a number of benefits. Arranging this handover sooner rather than later means […]

Read more

Spanish residency for pensioners

Last updated on February 19th, 2020 at 01:38 am. Many people are confused when it comes to what they need to apply for residency in Spain. In this series of four articles, David Ruiz of Torrevieja Translation, explains what the specific requirements are for pensioners. This is the second article of a series of five […]

Read more

Mini guide to Spanish residency – an overview

Last updated on February 19th, 2020 at 01:37 am. Many people are confused when it comes to what they need to apply for residency in Spain. In this series of four articles, David Ruiz of Torrevieja Translation, explains what the general requirements are.   Welcome to the Mini guide to Spanish residency. This is the first […]

Read more

What does embargo mean? – Everything you need to know about embargoes

What does embargo mean

Last updated on June 5th, 2020 at 06:16 pm. Like many words, ‘embargoes’ has different connotations in Spain to what it does in the UK. For most British people when you talk about embargoes you picture a prohibition from one country on another. So what does embargo mean? It comes as something of a shock […]

Read more

Enjoying Spain on a Harley

Last updated on September 13th, 2019 at 09:08 am. When Bob Bray first fell in love with Harley Davidsons at eight years old he didn’t envisage that he would be touring Spain on one. Now, he plans to share the varied and marvellous scenery with his wife too. ‘I was in Bognor Regis when I […]

Read more

We like it so much we’re buying again

Last updated on October 28th, 2019 at 04:05 pm. When Paul and Donna Mclaren bought their first property in Spain they didn’t realise just how much they would fall in love with Gran Alacant. Now, thirteen years later they’re on the move…down the road.  Paul and Donna bought their first Spanish property in 2003. ‘We’d looked […]

Read more

Exploring Bodegas in Spain

Last updated on April 9th, 2020 at 12:25 pm. Spain is famous for its wine and deservedly so. It has a huge number of vineyards many of which welcome people to come and find out about the grapes that are grown there and the wines that result. The bodega is officially the warehouse where the […]

Read more

EU commission rules on floor clauses

Last updated on October 28th, 2019 at 04:57 pm. The EU Court of Justice has ruled that banks in Spain must return all the interest on mortgages that they have over-charged prior to 2013 as well as after. During the property boom, many Spanish banks got their customers to sign mortgage agreements that included a […]

Read more

Taking care of your health in Spain

Last updated on April 8th, 2020 at 11:41 am. Spain has a reputation for having one of the best national health services in Europe. How can you make sure you can access it if you come to live here? Caroline Clinton explains what the options are. For those people considering coming to live in Spain […]

Read more

Demystifying the valor catastral

valor-catastral-spain

Last updated on April 30th, 2020 at 05:42 pm. Like most countries, you must pay council tax in Spain. But what is it and how is it calculated?  In this article Linda Robertsson Posada, from the fiscal department, explains IBI and the role that the valor catastral has to play. However, we would like to […]

Read more

Why compromise? Build your own in Spain

Last updated on October 28th, 2019 at 04:06 pm. It’s often said that to find your perfect property you must compromise. After all, you can’t expect to have everything you want in one location. But perhaps there is an alternative- why not build your own in Spain? In this article we find out more about […]

Read more

Which country should you choose?

Last updated on September 13th, 2019 at 09:08 am. The HSBC survey aims to give people an opportunity to see how others rate the country they’ve moved to. In this article we look at the overall results and summarise opinions on Spain. If you live in Spain but are of a different nationality, what made […]

Read more

Legal representation in Spain

Last updated on October 28th, 2019 at 04:06 pm. When buying a property in Spain the additional costs of the buying process can soon add up. Paying for a solicitor is one of the main additional expenses that people incur and it is understandable that they might look for a short cut to reduce the […]

Read more

Declaring your sources

Last updated on October 28th, 2019 at 04:57 pm. Post Panama, more people are probably aware of the issues around money laundering. In Spain, long gone are the days when few questions were asked about the source of your finance. We explain. If you buy a property now in Spain you will be asked to […]

Read more

Have you thought about giving it away?

Last updated on March 19th, 2020 at 02:06 pm. Making sure your loved ones benefit from your hard-earned money is a priority for the majority. You can’t take it with you but it’s nice to have control over who you’re leaving it to. For some, ‘gifting’ their property seems like the best option, particularly now […]

Read more

How to cope with Brexit – finding tax-wise solutions

Last updated on March 19th, 2020 at 02:06 pm. Most of our British clients are worried about the implications of Brexit. In this article we look at some possible tax consequences in Spain; helping you take matters in hand and provide peace of mind for you and your family.   Have you ever considered donating […]

Read more

Spain’s banks have their knuckles rapped

Last updated on October 28th, 2019 at 04:57 pm. A judge has ruled that a clause included in 30% of mortgages in Spain is illegal. Ábaco’s legal department explain why and what this might mean for you. In the past, Spanish banks have not always been transparent when selling their products, particularly when it comes […]

Read more

Brexit implications for donation and inheritance

Last updated on March 19th, 2020 at 03:09 pm. As speculation continues into the implications of severing ties with Europe, there are some emerging realities that we should already be contemplating. The impact on donation and inheritance tax in Spain is one. There are many imponderables when it comes to considering what the implications of […]

Read more

Taking the train in Spain

Last updated on September 13th, 2019 at 09:08 am. How is it best to travel around Spain’s 500,000 sq km of land?  With 17 autonomous communities and countryside varying between the rugged and the rolling it really is worth exploring if you have the transport to do so. And if you don’t? You can take […]

Read more

A mini guide to official translations in Spain – guest article

Last updated on October 28th, 2019 at 04:58 pm. Ever wondered what an official translation is? Can just anybody produce official translations? In David Ruiz’s mini guide he includes his advice for hiring an official translator. An official translation is an accurate and legal translation of a document completed by an official translator. Official translations […]

Read more

Customising your property with a mortgage

Last updated on October 28th, 2019 at 04:07 pm. Anthony Dewhurst had seen a property he wanted to buy. With a little extra funding, it could be made even more ideal for his family’s trips out to Spain. But could he get a mortgage to help with the cost? Anthony and his family are regular […]

Read more

Getting the most from your plants in Spain

Last updated on May 8th, 2020 at 08:02 pm. With a hot, dry climate you might have low expectations of what’s possible when it comes to creating colour in your garden. However, you might be surprised. Nico Clinton provides some gardening tips to help your garden in Spain flourish. In the height of the summer, […]

Read more