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If you are considering moving to Spain then there a few things that need to be taken into consideration and the following tips and advice may be of some help.
Children
If children are a part of the equation you will need to check the education opportunities well before moving. Schools in Spain open their matriculation
process early in the year, usually in the Spring and you will be competing for a place for your child with local parents who have normally secured a place
for their offspring long before Easter comes. There are numerous international schools in all the different regions and a search on most of the big Internet
search engines (Google, Yahoo, MSN, etc) will find a selection for you to contact. If you would like to learn Spanish before you move to Spain then try one
of the many online courses such as these: http://www.bbc.co.uk/languages/spanish/index.shtml
or Spanish Unlimited.
Guarantees
Never complete on a house or land purchase until you have the ‘legal certificate’, which is proof of the land registration guarantees, and that payment of
ALL outstanding bills are complete. A good lawyer should advise you and our advice is to find one of your own (or on recommendation from someone you trust)
as estate agents may be working on commission from the ones they recommend.
Take Expenses Into Account
Always take into account all of the expenses which you will encounter from your new life in Spain; they will include the following basic ones at least:
 Community Charges- Normally paid monthly or yearly, this is a fee, which is charged for the maintenance and upkeep of the local community and is dependent on where
your property is and how much upkeep the communal areas require.
- Utility Bills (water, electricity, phone)
- Payable bi-monthly, normally via direct debit, so you will need a Spanish bank account. Most of the major Spanish banks offer services to foreign
clients and it is best to set this up before you move.
- Property Taxes and Rates
- A government collected tax which is payable to the Town Hall. Your lawyer can do this for you if you give him Power of Attorney.
- Professional Fees
- This would normally be your lawyer’s fees, as he will be the one who is keeping all your paperwork in order, hence the need for a good, reliable
lawyer.
- School Fees
- If you are contemplating sending your child to an International school in Spain rather than the Spanish state schools, then you should expect to pay
school fees. These vary in amount from school to school with the better performing ones normally being the most expensive.
Legal Representation
As a property buyer in Spain, you must have a valid NIE number in place before you can complete the purchase. This is simply a Numero de Identidad de
Extranjeros – an ‘Identity Number for Foreigners’ and registers you into the Spanish system.
Your lawyer used to be able to obtain this for you but new legislation has made it necessary for you now to obtain it in person by visiting your nearest
Policia Nacional station and completing the necessary documentation.
On arrival, with the intention of becoming a resident of Spain, you should apply for a resident permit. Obtaining your NIE number is fairly easy, the
residency permit can take 6 months or more after you have completed the necessary paperwork before you receive it. You should look to get reliable advice on
which documents you will need to complete as this varies depending upon the applicant’s age and finances. Remember; be prepared for a long wait, as the
queues can be very lengthy.
Removal Companies
If you are moving your possessions to Spain then you will need the services of a good and reliable removals company as they can often arrange for storage
of your goods at the destination if necessary (house not finished on time as promised? – no, that would never happen in Spain :). Even if you are selling
all your possessions in your home country, chances are that the personal effects / clothes etc. that you do wish to keep will be overweight for your
airline baggage allowance and you will have to ship these separately. Keep costs down by helping out with the move – packing / unpacking yourself and even
helping to load / unload the lorry. See some of our recommended Partners for selected removal companies.
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