Moving to Almeria, Spain?

Question

We're moving to Almeria, Spain, is there anything specific we should be looking out for as we've heard a few horror stories, thanks.

Answer 1

I wouldn;t bother even considering living in Spain. Its not the place painted on the TV or what you see on holidays for two weeks at a time. The place as a whole, is going downhill, I have seen this decline over the last 3.5 years. The bars and restuarantas are not doing very well with many really struggling to survive the summer, let alone the winter. You cannot buy the same level of goods here as you can in the UK, there are so many rip offs and scames going with regard to buying property too, with many estate agents being rip off merchants and over charging horrendously. Many homes are up for sale and not selling, prices are begining to fall and those who have mortgages will soon be in a negative equity position, many not even selling through estate agents because of the fees. Taxes are frequent, while the equivalent of the council tax may not be much, inheritance tax is a big issue, its payable within 6 months of death and kicks in after 15k€ not the several hundred thousand pounds you're all moaning about in the UK! You can't sell the property to pay the taxes either! 50% of new build homes are not selling and 9% of the housing stock is empty, people are being sold the dream of a property in the eastern side of europe from here now as they know the market is done here. prices of food and fuel are much the same as the Uk but wages considerably lower! So in the long term its more expensive to live here. Its all very well coming for two weeks and thinking its great, it not, its dull, and dead, shops dont open 24/7 and they only have sunday opening during the high season, thats if youre on the coast as well! Its hard being here and I can't wait to be able to get out...

You will also be subjected to stacks of red tape and blatant racism as there is a huge resentment of the spanish towards the english as its the english thats built this place up, pricing the spanish out of many things.....you won't get work for a spanish company unless you are completely fluent, dont even consider coming here to be a plasterer or builder, the place is saturated completely and they are all struggling for a bit of work, undercutting each other and almost working for nothing....

Answer 2

Nothing Special. If you are going to work here, you'll need a NIE if you are from the EU and a "permiso de trabajo" if you are non-EU.

If you're going to buy something, don't leave your brains at home and make sure that everything is "legit". AKA the property is fully registered and there are no debts outstanding.

"Land Grab" is something that happened in Valencia and is being processed in court.

Just consider Almeria as another town in Europe. Not better, not worse. But sunny!

I live in Mojacar and I love every bit of it.

Any specific questions, send me an email.

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