Spain Explained

Last updated on September 13th, 2019 at 09:08 am. Some people have a travelling vein in their body. They simply can’t stay in one place for too long. Some people take advantage of their early twenties to tour foreign countries whilst others prefer to wait until they retire. Some, make it a life choice earlier. […]

Last updated on October 28th, 2019 at 04:58 pm. They are both very important documents and yet many people haven’t even heard of them, let alone know what the difference is.  Not until they want to sell their property that is. Jessica Martinez explains why they’re so vital. Every new property in Spain must be […]

Last updated on February 25th, 2020 at 03:12 pm. There are different rules in Spain to other European countries when it comes to dangerous dogs. Dogs are not banned in the way they are in the UK but the owners and those walking a dangerous dog in Spain must be licensed. The law that governs […]

Last updated on March 19th, 2020 at 03:10 pm. Two changes within Spanish law have meant that our inheritance department has been very busy this year. In our question and answer section we try to address some of the queries that we have been receiving.  I would like to donate my property in Spain to […]

Last updated on September 13th, 2019 at 09:08 am. Most people know that there is an airport in Malaga but not much else about this city in the south of Spain. For those with a base in Marbella or Fuengirola, Malaga is the airport they will probably use, although Gibraltar is also another option. It […]

Last updated on October 28th, 2019 at 04:08 pm. The community of owners is an important and influential group of people in Spain. Most properties belong to a community and you should check out the implications before you buy. The community of owners is a group with a firm foundation and legal status in Spain […]

Last updated on September 16th, 2020 at 03:52 pm. When you have made the decision, for whatever reason, that it’s time to move on, you want to sell your Spanish property as quickly as possible. In this article we look at an unforeseen complication that might hold up your sale. Once you have secured a […]

Last updated on October 28th, 2019 at 04:59 pm. As concern about what  Brexit will mean for those living in another European country rises, some people have wondered just what it would take for them to go one step further and become a Spanish citizen. Until now, the benefits of this move for those living in […]

Last updated on October 28th, 2019 at 04:09 pm. Ábaco is a member of AIPP. In this article we explain a little  more about this organisation and why membership can provide added assurance surrounding the services we offer. When buying a house in Spain you want to be sure that you are given the correct […]

Last updated on September 13th, 2019 at 09:08 am. How to drive legally in Spain is one of the most talked about and written about subjects amongst the expat population. We frequently receive questions from clients directly and on the forum about licences, vehicle registrations and driving laws in Spain. Here, Graham Shelton of www.spanish-number-plates.com answers some of the […]

Last updated on September 13th, 2019 at 09:08 am. The body of the Spanish writer Federico García Lorca remains buried somewhere in southern Spain. Murdered by Franco’s Spanish nationalists, he remains one of the many individual tragedies of the Spanish Civil War. Lorca is one of the most important Spanish poets and dramatists of the […]

Last updated on September 13th, 2019 at 09:08 am. Most people who are wanting to explore Spain will visit its major cities of Barcelona, Madrid, Seville and Granada. Each one is special and different and provides examples of Spain’s rich past. But if you want to travel to somewhere a little different that has a […]

Last updated on March 19th, 2020 at 03:11 pm. A new inheritance law has been causing lots of discussion amongst foreigners living in Spain.  The Regulation (EU) No. 650/2012 and the creation of a European Certificate of Succession has raised many questions about the validity of existing Spanish wills covering property in Spain for those […]

Last updated on March 19th, 2020 at 03:11 pm. Some people make a choice that they would rather donate their property in Spain to family or friends rather than pass it on as inheritance when they die. Taking this decision needs careful consideration. However, if it is your preference then it can be done for […]

Last updated on March 19th, 2020 at 03:10 pm. Inheritance in Spain works very differently to how it works in many other countries. For example, even between spouses there is no automatic transfer of ownership. If one of you should die then the remaining spouse does not automatically inherit the deceased spouse’s share of the […]

Last updated on September 13th, 2019 at 09:08 am. Of course, what you consider to be the best and the worst will depend on your own personal preferences and experiences. For example, if you have had a particularly bad experience at one airport – perhaps you lost your luggage or had something stolen – then […]

Last updated on September 13th, 2019 at 09:08 am. Smoking banned indoors in Spain? Never! Many people initially felt that Spain was a country that would never introduce or enforce such a ban. They were mistaken. Certainly the introduction in 2011 of a number of strict measures went relatively smoothly. Smokers have perhaps been helped […]

Last updated on September 13th, 2019 at 09:08 am. If you are anywhere near Elche in the middle of August then you cannot let the Mystery Play pass you by. There are three important dates to put in your diary. On the 13th August it’s La Nit de l’Albà when fireworks and firecrackers are let […]

Last updated on October 28th, 2019 at 04:10 pm. You don’t need to be a legal expert to find your way round the buying procedure in Spain, but it is useful to have a few handy hints to follow. Handbooks and legal advice can be full of the official information but good tips for buying […]

Last updated on October 28th, 2019 at 04:10 pm. When Magnus came to Orihuela Costa on his mission to find a property in Spain he thought he had plenty of choices lined up. ‘We had been searching on the internet,’ says Magnus, ‘and we’d found a real estate agent too. But when we came to […]

Last updated on September 13th, 2019 at 09:08 am. The Tour de France this year proved to be a spectacular victory for the British cyclist Chris Froome as he cycled away with the yellow jersey. However, he wasn’t on his own in deserving a mention. The Spanish riders Alejandro Valverde and Quintana made the final […]

Last updated on September 13th, 2019 at 09:08 am. For many people, it’s their dream. After years of the daily grind, to make the most of their retirement by coming out to live in Spain. What better place to enjoy the extra time you have than in a beautiful climate with fresh, healthy food and […]

Last updated on March 27th, 2020 at 07:50 pm. One of the first questions we ask of those considering buying a house in Spain, is ‘What’s your budget?’ Knowing what your budget is, is crucial if you are going to make the right purchase for you. What many people do is forget to include buying […]

Last updated on September 13th, 2019 at 09:08 am. It may seem very far removed from beaches and bars, but what happens in Spain’s local and general elections is of great importance to everyone with a property in Spain and not only those who live here. The political climate impacts on day-to-day lives probably more […]

Last updated on September 13th, 2019 at 09:09 am. People who have property in Spain fall into one of two groups – resident or non-resident. You are a non-resident here if you live less than 183 days in Spain – and these don’t need to be consecutive days. However, there is perhaps another group within […]