Hi all, im new to this site/forum.

My partner and i are a young couple (ages 27 & 29) and researching a move to Spain, just for a better way of life!
We are doing our research, watching the “A place in the sun” prog’s, reading sites like and just talking to people about it.

Just wanted some advice really as to how to start getting the ball rolling and what to do first. We have a dog (over 3 mths), and some furniture but not that much, and 1 car to take.
My boyfriend is a bus-driver and i work in social care in administration, but i also dabble quite alot in eBay so i could always earn from that.  Would it be quite easy for us to find jobs?

I lived in Turkey for 3 yrs before now but that was somehow different as i knew lots of people there and everything was quite easy, and i always found jobs there but was working without a work permit, but then again Turkey wasnt in the EU.

So any advice on our move to Spain and what area to choose would be a great help!
Thanks 😊

PS. We are trying for a baby also so what would be the best bet for that?

Spain Is Great Place…
“BUT” “Dome and Gloom Bit”

Spain Is now the No 1 in Europe for the highest Unemployment rate and poverty is increasing…
Jobs are “rare” and people are losing there jobs by the day this year alone will be just over 4 million unemployed….
Apparently today (What the News Says) that the President has stopped work visas for people outside Europe to stem the influx of Immigrants coming in…. so that really says quite a bit really….
When jobs are advertised there?s (Sometimes) more than 100 people per position that apply or even more…
So all in all it is difficult at the moment some Expats are up sticks and leaving to go back to the UK because there money has run out….

The Good News…..

Spain is a great place to live if you are willing to learn the language and intricate in Spanish society There is jobs but you have to look really hard from them… Rent in some areas of Spain has come a bit in some places up to 30%

I wish you the best of luck in your new venture it?s hard but the toughest survive….

Sorry if you think it?s all gloom but mostly people are trying to survive or selling up and leaving…. In some cases finding work Abroad to maintain the family….

Good Luck!

Regards Anthony

Jobs are hard to come by unless you’ve got specific skills in something like IT, and even then they’re like hens’ teeth.  Starting your own business could be the best route and although it’s not a good time, you could probably make some money driving a van/running a shop/providing a service if you pick the right area.  Learning Spanish is essential if you don’t know some already - don’t know if you learnt Turkish but I think it’s different because the Turks maybe don’t expect you to know Turkish if you work in tourist areas, but the Spanish certainly do expect you to know Spanish just about everywhere. Spain’s a brilliant place to have a family and people I know who have had a baby/used Spanish healthcare have nothing but praise for the system, but make sure you are covered for all the care you need - many people have combined state/private care.

Thanks for your replies.
We have decided to buy a holiday home in Spain and remain in the UK for a few years to establish our little family, and by then hopefully the recession would have gone.

So now im after any advice on buying a villa, house or apartment in Spain - preferably Costa Blanca area.
Any good advice and/or estate agent contacts would be great, thanks!

Good luck Sara and the Costa Blanca is great, lots of us very happy here.  Some great property bargains to be had as well,

Maya

I just PM some Websites to you Maya 😊

Happy Hunting

Hello, I’m an italian living here and have about your age.

1) Learn some Spanish. People here does not speak English really.
2) It is hard to find jobs, except you work in IT, where it is still “easy”. The best page is undoubtedly http://www.infojobs.net
3) For jobs, sun, and coast, the ONLY option is Barcelona and suuroundings. If you do not care about the coast, Madrid is another option (where I live)

Regards

SandK - 12 April 2009 08:15 PM

Any good advice and/or estate agent contacts would be great, thanks!

Dont believe a word any real estate agent tells you until you see proof. I’m not saying they are all liars but they may be relying on verbal info from a dishonest seller.
Find your own lawyer from recommendations.
Leave your contact details and your requirements at real estate agents offices but don’t expect many of them to be contacting you when they actually have something that may interest you. We bought our place this time last year. I know that many of the agents we spoke to while still looking, had properties come in after we left our details but they didn’t bother to tell us about them. Now that business is slow I wonder if they are kicking themselves for being so lazy?
Contact all the real estate agents you can find on the internet that operate in the areas you are considering. We were looking on Ibiza so I used Google and searched for “real estate” “ibiza”, “estate agent” “ibiza” and “inmobiliaria” “ibiza” contact them all. Walk into every real estate agency you see, no matter how big or small. But don’t forget that most of them probably wont get back to you.
Good luck.