Spain Explained

Last updated on October 28th, 2019 at 04:14 pm. People buy property in Spain for many different reasons. Often they begin by buying an apartment or smaller property as a holiday home. Then, perhaps as the time draws near to retirement, they begin to consider what it might be like to take it one step […]

Last updated on September 13th, 2019 at 09:09 am. Trying to get the best deal when it comes to renting a car is no easy matter. We talked to Mike at Coys Rent A Car to find out the behind-the-scenes information. In this part of the Costa Blanca, businesses have a tendency of coming and […]

Last updated on September 13th, 2019 at 09:09 am. In many respects we hope you never have to use either a consulate or an embassy.  A visit to either of these outposts in someone else’s native country is usually a sign that something has gone wrong. The holiday maker who has lost their passport or […]

Last updated on September 13th, 2019 at 09:09 am. If you have a property in Spain, there is chance that at some point you have hired a car here. Most people like to be able to travel around to get the real benefit of a holiday home. If you live in Spain, you have probably […]

Last updated on October 28th, 2019 at 04:15 pm. You may be wanting to buy property in different parts of Spain, for different reasons and with different specifications. The advice on buying property in Spain that people are looking for raises some very familiar issues. We’ve compiled our list of your most frequently asked questions, […]

Last updated on September 13th, 2019 at 09:09 am. One of the main foundations of the Spanish economy is tourism. Tourism and Spain have been linked in the minds of many Europeans for decades. However, this close relationship hasn’t always been cosy or predictable and the tourism statistics for Spain are evidence of this. During […]

Last updated on October 28th, 2019 at 04:16 pm. Let’s look at the evidence. Spanish house prices have reduced dramatically and the value of the euro to the pound has dropped significantly too. We’re seeing a reduction in fuel prices, impacting on the cost of air fairs and more and more tourists choosing Spain as […]

Last updated on May 9th, 2020 at 03:21 pm. We don’t usually write negative articles about buying property in Spain. After all, a major part of our business is conveyancing – we would like you to buy! However, we want you to buy safely and as such this article outlines the 10 pitfalls of buying […]

Last updated on May 18th, 2020 at 05:13 pm. It’s been one of the longest lasting debates in the forums in Spain. Must you exchange your foreign driver’s licence for a Spanish driving licence? The camps have been equally divided for years and you will hear countless stories in the bars about people who were […]

Last updated on May 18th, 2020 at 04:39 pm. Help Vega Baja is a not-for-profit association, helping people out in the local community. In our question and answer session they explain what they do, how they might help you and how you could help them too. Who are you? HELP Vega Baja was established more […]

Last updated on September 13th, 2019 at 09:09 am. We all know how difficult it can be to find the right insurance policy. There is a lot to be made from commission and companies will jostle each other for your custom. No matter how carefully you read through the small print your policy can still […]

Last updated on September 13th, 2019 at 09:09 am. It is hard learning a language, especially if you are slightly older in years and you’re starting from scratch. You can think because you live in another country or visit it regularly that it will somehow come to you naturally. That you will absorb it just […]

Last updated on October 28th, 2019 at 04:18 pm. You’ve found your property, you’ve checked it’s the right one for you and now it’s all systems go. So what happens next? We can sometimes assume that the purchasing process in one country is the same as you will encounter elsewhere. However, this is not necessarily […]

Last updated on September 13th, 2019 at 09:09 am. It’s everywhere. Or so it seems at times. Graffiti is on walls, trains, bins and fences. Anywhere there is a spare square meter of space to record names and messages. Although some of this graffiti is pretty banal there are examples of street-art that have artistic […]

Last updated on March 19th, 2020 at 03:11 pm. Since the summer of 2014 there has been a lot of coverage in the media regarding the EU ruling affecting Spanish inheritance and donation tax. The existing tax law in Spain was considered to be discriminatory against non-residents. Therefore, the European court established that Spain had […]

Last updated on September 13th, 2019 at 09:09 am. The internet has transformed our lives. The way in which most people communicate, research, work and relax has changed immeasurably and it won’t stop there. We cannot imagine what the next twenty years will hold in terms of this revolution. And it is a revolution. The […]

Last updated on October 28th, 2019 at 05:01 pm. How far should we go when it comes to keeping the peace? There is a fine line between freedom of speech and racism, between the right to protest and lawlessness. At what point does a peaceful demonstration become insupportable? Spain’s new Public Security Law or Citizen’s […]

Last updated on October 28th, 2019 at 04:18 pm. You have made the decision that you want to buy a house in Spain. You are not on your own. Many people, living all over the world, make this decision every year. In fact, the number of foreigners buying in Spain has gradually been increasing as […]

Last updated on October 28th, 2019 at 04:19 pm. One of the main concerns that people have when buying property in Spain is ‘how can we make sure that this Spanish property is problem-free?’. Of course, this anxiety isn’t exclusive to Spain. Buying a house is a very big commitment and no matter how carefully […]

Last updated on May 9th, 2020 at 03:58 pm. The new tax legislation in Spain has been debated for a while. Originally proposed in June 2014 it has now been passed and will come into force from the income year 2015. The new law brings with it implications for both residents and non-residents. In most […]

Last updated on September 13th, 2019 at 09:09 am. It’s a sad fact; in most European countries currently work is in short supply. The unemployment figures fluctuate but the trend is still down and we are seeing generally a better-qualified workforce earning less, if they’re earning at all. Some employers are exploiting the situation with […]

Last updated on April 8th, 2020 at 11:49 am. Driving in Spain can be a pleasure. Once you put the city centre behind you, you can find long stretches of motorway without a traffic cone or tailback in sight. Spanish motorways seem to be extraordinarily free from road works and are generally enjoyable to drive […]

Last updated on May 9th, 2020 at 04:01 pm. We’ve recently been reading letters in some well-known free papers from people who really have got their facts wrong. Nothing new there may be, but we feel that some of the myths around complementary tax, if you believe them, could cost you a lot of money. […]

Last updated on September 13th, 2019 at 09:09 am. Do you love the sales? Most people seem to fall into one of two groups. Those who love rooting through piles of clothes to find a bargain and those who will avoid the shops until it’s all over. The Spanish word for ‘sale’ is ‘rebajas’ and […]

Last updated on September 13th, 2019 at 09:09 am. Spain is a country of contrasts. Only a few hours from where they’re basking in the sun on the beaches they’re skiing down the slopes in three layers of clothes and woolly mittens. One of the amazing things about Spain is the variation in its climate […]