Life in Spain

Thursday 24th June 2021

Year-on-year price increases reported for the first 5 months of 2021, for average prices of finished homes (new and used) on the Mediterranean Coast.

TINSA Spain research reports have shown the average price of finished homes (new and used) registered increases year-on-year, as reported by the TINSA research team.  The following increases were shown for the Mediterranean Coastal region, which stands out with some of the highest increases in the average price in the inter-annual rate.

May 2021 + 3.2%

April 2021 + 5.1%

March 2021 + 0.1%

February 2021 + 2.3%

January 2021 + 0.1%

Please click on the following link to view the TINSA website. "Google Translate” is available if you wish to see the reports in an alternative language.

https://www.tinsa.es/servicio-de-estudios/

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Sunday 27th January 2019

The leading Spanish property valuation company Tinsa has reported a 6.7 % rise in prices in Mediterranean coastal properties in the last year (December 2018).

The leading Spanish property valuation company Tinsa has published their most recent data concerning property prices, reporting that the on-going recovery of prices across the country continues in all areas and categories.

The year on year increase reported in December 2018 was shown as 6.5 per cent across the country and 6.7 per cent in Mediterranean coastal areas. 

Year on year variation in property prices in the last four years:

2015:  + 2.9 %

2016:  - 1.3 %

2017:  + 5.7 %

2018:  + 6.7 %  

Please click on the link below to see the official Tinsa report showing the table of figures and the full details.

https://www.tinsa.es/servicio-de-estudios/imie/general/diciembre-2018/

 

 

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Sunday 22nd July 2018

TINSA property valuation report released 17.7.18: Prices on the Mediterranean coast have risen by 7.4% over the last year.

The leading Spanish valuation company Tinsa has published their latest report on Tuesday 17 July 2018, relating to residential property values. The average price of housing in Spain increased by 6.4% year-on-year in the month of June 2018, driven by the "capitals and large cities" and by the "Mediterranean coast", which show an increase of 10.2% and 7.4% respectively.

While the latest average price is still calculated to be 35.7% lower than the peak reached during the boom in 2007, it now 12% higher than when the market bottomed out in February 2015.

After the first 6 months of 2018, Tinsa describe the increase in property values as "dynamic”.

Here is a link to the Tinsa report.  You can download the report by clicking on "descargar informe" or scroll down the page on the link below, to see the figures for the Mediterranean coast under the section "Variación interanual en los últimos 12 meses" (interannual variation for the last 12 months):

https://www.tinsa.es/servicio-de-estudios/imie/general/junio-2018/

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Tinsa IMIE junio 2018: + 6,4%. 17 julio, 2018

Las capitales y grandes ciudades toman impulso y se encarecen más de un 10% en tasa interanual en junio 2018.

El precio medio de la vivienda terminada en España se incrementó un 6,4% interanual en el mes de junio, impulsado por las "Capitales y grandes ciudades” y por la "Costa mediterránea”, que se revalorizaron un 10,2% y un 7,4%, respectivamente.  

Descargar informe:

https://www.tinsa.es/servicio-de-estudios/imie/general/junio-2018/

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Monday 26th March 2018

UK nationals in the EU: Essential Information (last updated on www.gov.uk on 23 March 2018).

Progress in the Negotiations - Citizens’ Rights Agreement.

The Prime Minister has been clear that safeguarding the rights of UK nationals in the EU and EU citizens living in the UK was her first priority for the negotiations. This is a commitment that we have delivered.

The UK government has reached an agreement with the European Union on citizens’ rights in negotiations on the UK’s withdrawal from the EU. This will provide certainty about the future of UK nationals and their families living in the EU. Most importantly, it will allow UK nationals to stay in their Member State of residence after the UK leaves the EU on 29 March 2019.

In December, we reached an agreement with the European Commission on citizens’ rights. On 19 December, the Prime Minister wrote to UK nationals living in Europe with details of the agreement reached with the Commission in the first phase of the negotiations.

On 19 March 2018, we reached a further agreement with the Commission on the terms of a time-limited implementation period that will start on 30 March 2019 and last until 31 December 2020. This means that all UK nationals lawfully residing in another EU Member State on 31 December 2020 will be covered by the citizens’ rights agreement reached in December.

During the Implementation Period, UK nationals will be able to visit, live and work in the EU broadly as they do now. UK nationals currently living in the EU who want to move to a different Member State will be able to continue to do so during the Implementation Period.

The UK and European Commission will now continue to negotiate on the detail of these agreements, to be included in the overall Withdrawal Agreement between the UK and the EU.

Who will be covered by the Citizens’ Rights Agreement?

The citizens’ rights agreement reached in December provides a level of certainty to UK nationals in the EU and their families. It will allow UK nationals in the EU to continue living their lives broadly as they do now.

Following the agreement on the Implementation Period, all UK nationals lawfully residing in another EU Member State on 31 December 2020 will be covered by the citizens’ rights agreement.

Close family members (spouses, civil partners, unmarried partners, dependent children and grandchildren, and dependent parents and grandparents) of UK nationals covered by the agreement will be able to join those UK nationals in their Member State of residence. Close family members will enjoy the same rights by virtue of their relationship, where the relationship existed on 31 December 2020.

Children born or adopted to a UK national, covered by the agreement, outside of the UK national’s Member State of residence after 31 December 2020, will also be covered by the agreement.

Agreement so far on the rights of UK nationals in the EU.

The UK and EU Commission have so far agreed that:

·UK nationals and their family members covered by the agreement will continue to have the same access as they currently do to healthcare, pensions and other benefits.

·UK nationals and their family members covered by the agreement will be able to leave their Member State of residence for up to 5 years without losing their right to return.

The UK and EU Commission have also agreed that:

·EU27 Member States may require UK nationals and their family members covered by the agreement to apply for a residency document or status conferring the right of residence.

·Administrative procedures for such applications will be transparent, smooth and streamlined.

·Where an application is required to obtain status, UK nationals will have until at least 6 months after the end of the Implementation Period to submit their applications.

·Residence documents will be issued free of charge or for a charge not exceeding that imposed on nationals for the issuing of similar documents (such as passports).

·UK nationals who, before the end of the Implementation Period, are holders of a valid permanent residence document or a valid domestic immigration document conferring a permanent right to reside, will be able to exchange that document for a new residence document free of charge. They may be required to provide proof of identity and undergo criminality and security checks.

·The introduction of administrative procedures, or changes to existing administrative procedures will be decided by each Member State. We will publish details on these administrative procedures as soon as possible.

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Saturday 25th June 2016

BREXIT - A message from Ximo Puig the President of the Valencian Community, 25.6.16.

Europe cannot be understood without the United Kingdom. The Europe which the world admires, is that which has been the hotbed of the brightest ideas of human thought for centuries. The Europe of Shakespeare, Newton, Darwin, Stuart Mill, Jane Austen, Dickens, John Lennon, Keynes.

The Europe of parliamentary democracy and freedom.  The Europe which displaces the boundaries of art and knowledge, radiating creativity to the rest of the world. It is the Europe of peace after the war.  From that peace has evolved the material that allows the real progress of peoples.  In short, Europe has largely learned to be what it is, thanks to the UK.

In Valencia we understand this.  More than 82,000 British citizens live with us. 89% of these in the province of Alicante.  In 2015 more than 2 million Britons visited us.  And their preferred destination was Alicante, especially Benidorm.

We export in value almost 3,000 million euros, and the UK is one of the main investors in Valencia Province.  To all those, who live among us and to our visitors, the investors, the Generalitat Valenciana wants to send a message of calm and reiterate our affection and gratitude.

This message of tranquility extends to our businesses, and to the thousands of people from Valencia who for work or for study reasons are in the UK.

The Valencian Community has been, is, and will be a welcoming land, a land that wants to do business for the benefit of all.  Whatever the next chapter in Europe will be, we want it to be written with friendship and cooperation with the United Kingdom.

No political project is without its risks and challenges. Europe has to change, adapt and combine all identities and sensibilities.  All forms of feeling European. Europe needs to regain its sense of being.

We have to once again make a reality of the quote of Jean Monnet. "We are not bringing together states, we are uniting people."   We need to regain our passion for Europe. XIMO PUIG.

(President of the Valencian Community)


 

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Saturday 26th November 2011

Mediterranean diet

Statistics have recently been published declaring that the UK has the highest level of overweight women in Europe, approximately one quarter are classed as “obese”. Men are not too far behind the fairer sex. Why? Maybe their lifestyle is the big issue, for example taking the children to school and back, the infamous “school run”. When I was a lad, I walked 3 miles to school and 3 miles back, in all weathers. Today parents will say that it´s not safe for their children to walk to school, how sad. But I digress. Eating habits have also changed and it is a big concern that these habits will be passed on down through the next generations.

In south-east Spain we have the wonderful “Mediterranean” diet, a great balance of fresh fruit and vegetables, fish and good quality meats. I must admit, the Spanish can be seen having ‘almuerzos’ at 11.00 am, with wine and brandies, then proceed to climb up trees or buildings to continue their daily jobs. Take a note of what they are eating though, olives, artichokes, small fish and green peppers, home made stews. Not a full “English” breakfast! Combined with the fact that the locals may also sleep for a short while in the afternoons (the Spanish “siesta”), which allows the body to rest and relax, taking away the stress and strains of modern living, very different to the lifestyles of many people who live in the UK.

So, a good diet, rest periods, less stress, outdoor living (with lots of sunshine!) and short periods of exercise, seems to be the answer.
Best still, why not move to Javea! We have one of the healthiest climates in the world, the best food and the best property prices during the last 10 years. Relocating to Spain may be a great option to secure future health and happiness for you and your family. You know it makes sense!

Contact me for further information on Telf. (0034) 669 908 353.
Steve Nott, www.javeacasas.com.

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Monday 15th January 2007

Solana's to Aleluya Bar

We set off with friends old and new to the Jalon Valley to visit Solana’s restaurant, on the first cloudy day since Christmas. The restaurant has been trading since we first arrived in Spain in 1987, so those older than us, can inform us of the exact opening date of Solana’s in Alcalali.

We have never been disappointed with the quality of the food, value for money and the ‘nothing is too much to ask’ politeness, of the Solana’s Restaurant, situated in the small village of Alcalali. It is always best to book in advance, when you want to sample the delights of this well established venue.

The food is superb value, well presented and tastes as close to home cooking as you can achieve in a restaurant. No surprises there, as Solana’s has been trading since we first arrived in Spain, 20 years ago. We have many favourite restaurants in Javea, Moraira and the Jalon Valley. Solana’s delivers the best of the best, every time we visit it.

After the three course meal of roast lamb, roast pork and rabbit stew, served with wines, coffee and after lunch liquors, we headed off to the famous bar in Jalon village called Casa Aleluya. Juan the owner sang, ‘Aleluya’ and ‘Oh my God’ as we entered the bar and ordered drinks. The place is filled with bottles of wine, honey and other goodies to purchase. Juan also performs his well practised trick of drinking wine from a glass decanter spout, pouring it into his mouth then slowly letting the wine flow travel up, then down his cheeks, in two channels and one down his nose. How Juan found he had this unique talent, you have to wonder.

Juan was later accompanied by his bare chested friend for a duo drinking act. Not to be out done, the girls had a go, sadly, not bare chested, each enjoying the ‘free’ flowing wine, and a kiss on the forehead from Juan. Next, Nick rose to the challenge and performed a first time duo, minus the bare chest and the kiss. This will surely change the way we all drink wine in the future.

I gave Juan’s drinking trick more thought, then realised that as a young lad, he must have missed his mouth on many drinking sessions, and must have decided that his forehead was a bigger taget than his mouth, and chose to drink this way in the future. No problems here for the girls then…..

As a finale, Nick went outside and poured water over his head, just to make us laugh? No, really, we all enjoyed another great afternoon out, with good company and good food.

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Monday 11th December 2006

Poble Nou de Benitatxell, BBQ

It all started with a ‘Welcome’ letter we found in our post box from Jaume, a young man from Benitachell village. He stated in the letter that he would like to start a forum for people new to the area. Jaume and his business partner Miguel Angel would assist new residents with tax, NIE applications, public health care and educational issues, etc. From this introdution letter, we contacted Jaume and he invited us and some of his friends to a traditional Valencian style bbq.

We all met in the Mas y Mas car park at 12.00h on a sunny Sunday in Benitachell. We were introduced to Keith and Sheila, Rolf and Erika and also our party of six, Ian & Diane, Hilary & Nick, Dawn & Steve. The drive to Jaume’s casa de campo was only 2 minutes away and we were all soon sampling the home made sweet wine made by Jaume’s father and the raisins, made from their own grapes and dried in the summer sun.

Benitachell BBQ

It was a mixture of 70% sweet muscatell wine and 30% red wine. Jaume pointed out that everything we were going to eat was made with organic produce, chuletas de cordero (lamp chops) home baked bread and locally made chorizos, morcilla or botifarra in Valenciano, (liver and blood sausages). A wheel barrow was loaded in the front garden with wood from grape vines, orange trees and the protected carob tree. Normally there is a hole in the ground, where a wood fire is prepared and a large calderon (pot) is placed filled with lamb, chicken or pork. Left for many hours to cook slowly over the fire and to absorb the smokey flavours.

Another oven in the casa, was also filled with the same types of wood and then both of the fires were lit. We sat in the warm December sun as Miguel Angel arrived to assist Jaume in the preparation and cooking.

The lamb was rubbed with salt and the onions, artichokes and chorizos were cooked in home made olive oil. When the fires were glowing nicely, the food was cooked to perfection. The home made bread was broken into pieces and the feast began. Large slices of onion were filled with anchovies and olive oil, cooked over the fire, perfect dunking the chunks of bread into, a Benitachell specaility. The artichokes hearts were flavoured by the smoke and the taste and texture was wonderful.

As we enjoyed the food and wine with Jaume and Miguel Angel, we chatted about the various topics on the Valencian culture, diet and laungage. Many people living in Benitachell were forced to speak Castellano during Franco’s dictatorship and they are now unable to read or write in their mother tongue. Benitachell or Benitatxell, spelt the Valenciano way, used to be in the region of Javea, however some 300 years ago, the villagers decided to create their own region and town so they founded the ‘Poble Nou de Benitatxell.’ We retreated to the large family casa’s naya room, as the winter sun lost it’s warmth, to end our enjoyable day with melon, desserts and glasses of Baileys.

May we all say a big thank you to Jaume and Miguel Angel, for their hospitality and for giving us the opportunity to sample and taste the flavours of Valenciano life. If you would like more information on the services provided by these two enterprising men, you can contact them by telephone, email or go to their offices in Benitachell.

MG Economistes.

Miguel Angel Garcia Buigues,

Assesorament comptable, fiscal i laboral.

Avda Lepanto, 34 2.n-4

El Poble Nou de Benitatxell

03726

Alacant

Tel-fax: 96 649 3061

Miguel Angel’s mobile: 653 067 401

Email:miquel_gb@hotmail.com

Jaume’s mobile: 636 541 817

Jaume’s email: jpedros81@hotmail.com

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Monday 4th December 2006

Javea Music

Another day in paradise. A visit to some friends house at the weekend, they were clients, but have now become good friends. We were celebrating two birthdays and a bbq and a jamming session was the order of the day.

Warm, sunny weather greeted us on the 3rd December in Javea. We started eating some great garlic chicken wings, pork fillets and a home made paella, accompanied by sweet sauce and salad to add that special extra. All prepared and cooked by our hosts.

The lads have all played guitar, on and off over the years, so we decided to have a bash altogether.

Ant warmed up the crowd with some great solo’s playing Bowie, Paul Weller and some Oasis. Ant is excellent on vocals and guitar, Steve on lead a bit rusty and Ian on bass, had to struggle with the keys we were playing in. He managed very well, considering it was his first time that he had played any of the songs before.

The girls wore wigs and danced and sang chorus, guest singer was Diane and a ballet dancing queen entered the room and performed the Dance of the Butterflies. .

Gerry really going for it!

Great food, fun and great company!

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Monday 13th November 2006

Javea, El Montgo. A walk on the wild side

During the summer months in Javea, it is wise to stay close to a pool, the sea and a cold beer. Once the warm days of October and November had settled in, we decided to ascend the Montgo mountain for the third time in 20 years. It proved a harder challenge than we remembered.

Javea Montgo

Setting off from the Javea to Denia road, drive from Javea up the winding road and when it levels at the top of La Plana and you can see a lane to your left. Drive a few hundred metres and park the car. We were well equipped with good walking shoes, lots of water, a chicken sandwich and a banana. I joked and proceeded to load rope and tackle and a few spikes and a shovel onto my back, this was met with a surprise from our climbing companions and quickly turned to laughter, as I told them in was a gentle climb, needing only good walking shoes and plenty of water.

We started the walk along a gravel path leading to the base of El Montgo. We named this base camp one. The path soon turns into a stony, rocky surface which could easily snap an ankle or break a leg. We were very careful to watch every step and stopped to catch our breaths and to admire the views towards Denia and the bay of Javea. After around an hour of zig zag climbing, the walk bears south around the trunk of Montgo and starts to turn into a scramble across large rocks and narrow foot holds, using our arms to balance. Another 30 minutes climbing and you reach the 753 metre summit.

All the way up we were blessed with warm breezes and the views just got better. At the summit we could see Denia and north to Valencia, west out to sea and south Javea, Gata and Pedreguer. The Penon de Ifach and the Las Sierra Bernia mountain range stretched further south.

We stood on the peak for 15 minutes, just being amazed at the views, lots of photos and a repair to Anthony’s boots, which had decided to loose the soles, we prepared for the easier decent. We still had to watch every step on the way down, but it was a lot less work coming down. The knees and backs of some of the party, started to take the strain and started to ache.

The thought of a cool drink and the paella mixta, that we had preordered at the Amanecer restaurant, kept us all going. Except our tired legs, a few blisters and soleless boots we made it safely back to the cars.

Within five minutes we were seated in the restaurant and the drinks appeared, bread and alioli and a fresh salad were consumed rapidly.

The paella was marvelous and had lots of flavour, it was a little short of content and could have included green beans, butter beans and a little more chicken, but it still tasted excellent washed down with cool white wine and agua con gas. Needless to say it was a great day out and another one they can’t take away from us, whoever they are.

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Sunday 12th November 2006

Sierra Bernia

A gentle stroll is the best way to describe our afternoon walk, upwards and onwards to the west ridge of the Sierra Bernia mountain range, just north of the famous coastal town of Benidorm.

Drive from Javea to Benissa, travel up the main street, through the town and at the top of the hill take the right hand turn off, CV 750. At the next T junction, turn right then first left. Its a 20 minute drive to the start of the walk, travelling up the winding road, with views on your left down towards Calpe and the Penon de Ifach.

Parking is easy, by the old building, Casa Fabian, situated on your left. There are plenty of shady areas to park your car, which is essential on a hot sunny day. We picked a warm, November afternoon, which was forecasted light rain, but we were lucky and it turn out to be sunny and only slightly misty at the top.

There is a sign at the start of the walk which you can take an 8 kilometre circular route that takes you through a tunnel to the east of the ridge and back around to the old fort. We had decided to head west and do a gentle climb to the fort and back down the same way, which would take us about 3 hours.

The views are just as dramatic on this route, also the path is easy under foot, unlike the El Montgo assent, which we walked three weeks ago. The grape vine leaves are changing into their Autumn colours of browns, bronzes and yellows, highlighted through the sunlight.

After 35 minutes the track narrows and bears to the left and the villages of Tarbena, Polop are clearly seen in the distance. The temperature was perfect for walking and the forecast for rain didn’t happen. The sun was shining and at the peak the clouds and mists rolled in.

The old fort was abandoned, due to lack of the enemy bothering to climb the Sierra and invade the fort, so it became redundant. Stone arches and ruins are clearly visible and there are some information plaques that explain the forts layout. Its a good place to sit and have a drink and look down towards Altea and the Benidorm skyline.

There were some lambs in the distance marinating themselves, on the wild thyme and rosemary herbs that grow across the slopes.

The stroll back was easy, down hill and by now the sun was behind the summit, providing shade. A quick drink in the Casa Fabian, then we got back in our cars, to meet some more friends, waiting in the Restaurante Pepe’s, in Alcalali.

Roast pork with crackling was ordered for 6 people and the others dined on Pepe’s wonderful, steak, mushroom and kidney pie. Others, had the lamb which was tender and you could taste those herbs. Plenty of the three wines, red, rose and white were washed down with our fine fare. Desserts were excellently presented to those that had enough room.

So, until the next time, that’s another one, they can’t take away from us!

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Sunday 16th July 2006

Moors and Christians

Hi,

Anyone that hasn’t seen this display of light, costumes and culture, must visit Javea. In the last week of July, the festivities of Moors and Christians are held in the Javea Port. Their celebration is relatively recent, but important in the region. These festivities represent the confrontations in the past between these two religious communities. The Christian re-conquest of the land held by the Arabs is commemorated. These festivities are among the most noteworthy, for their spectacular nature.

Mauro Derqui Zaragoza

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