SPAIN FACT FILE
Background
Spain makes up the bulk of the Iberian Peninsula in South Western Europe. Its neighbours are Portugal to the west and France and Andorra to the north east while its coastlines borders the the Bay of Biscay, the Mediterranean and the North Atlantic ocean.
Spain covers an area more than twice the size of the UK and has a population of about 43 million.
The currency of Spain is the Euro.
The international telephone dialing code for Spain is +34. The national telephone system is generally very good, with broadband and ISDN widely available. However, problems with obtaining a landline telephone, particularly in rural areas, are surprisingly commonplace.
Emergency services: dial 112 (throughout European Union)
Ambulance / Ambulancia: dial 061
Fire service / Bombers / Bomberos: dial 080
National Police / Policia Naconal (for serious trouble): dial 091
Municipal Police / Policia Municipal (for larger towns and cities): dial 092
Civil Guard / Guardia Civil (for smaller towns and villages): dial 062
Spain is divided into 17 regions, each with their own directly elected authorities and different levels of autonomy.
Spanish (Castillian) is the national language of Spain, but other languages are official at regional level. 17% of the population speak Catalan or Valencian, 7% Galician and 2% Basque. In areas where a second language exists, most people are bi-lingual, but will speak the regional language by choice.
Climate
Spain's size and position means that it has a surprisingly varied climate. Claims that winter temperatures on the Costa Blanca for example mean no heating bills do not quite tally with reality!
Summers in Spain are generally sunny and hot - often too hot on the south coast and in central Spain - but in winter the climate is more variable depending on region.
The coastal areas tend to be milder, but the interior is frequently cold and snow is common. In fact Spain has a number of ski resorts to offer during the winter months. Rainfall too is variable with the south and south east of the country suffering from regular water shortages, while the north of Spain is surprisingly green.
Working There
Spain was internationally isolated under General Franco's dictatorship, but since his death in 1975 and the advent of democracy, Spain has prospered. Today it enjoys health, education and welfare systems as good as those found elsewhere in Western Europe.
Unemployment is Spain is higher than in the UK and job prospects for non-Spanish speakers are limited away from tourist areas. Work in tourist areas may also be seasonal.
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Getting There
Ferries are a popular way of reaching Spain because it allows you to take your own car or a larger vehicle containing all of your worldly goods should you be making a permanent move.
To can sail to any
French port and drive through France to Spain or take a ferry to Santander from Portsmouth, Plymouth and Poole or Bilbao from Portsmouth.
And of course you can fly to airports all over Spain from the UK.
above: street in Andalucia
Buying There
Traditionally, property in Spain has been passed from generation to generation. When it was sold it was
done privately - even today many Spanish people view estate agents, or
inmobiliarias as they are known in Spain, and their fees with much suspicion. Estate agents are therefore a relatively new phenomena in Spain and the industry is unregulated.
Estate agents have flourished in
areas of Spain where foreign buyers are most prevalent, most spectacularly
along the Costas, and levels of professionalism and transparency in the buying and selling process vary immensely.
Commissions charged also vary from estate agent to estate agent, with some charging the seller, some the buyer and some both. Rates can vary from 3% up to 10% and more.
It is not unusual to see the same property for sale at different prices with different agents. Shopping around can save you literally thousands of euros.
It is also important to ask exactly what you will be charged as a buyer on top of any advertised price.
We would recommend that you always employ the services of a lawyer, preferably one that speaks English and has been independently recommended by someone you trust. You will hear horror stories about buying property in Spain, but virtually all of them could have been avoided had the buyer involved an independent lawyer in the buying process.
Embassies
There is a British Honorary Consul on Sao Vincente that can provide basic assistance (telephone +238 322 584). The nearest British Embassy is in Dakar, Senegal (telephone +221 823 7392).
Cape Verde Honorary Consul: Mr Joao Roberto, 18-20 Stanley Street, Liverpool L1 6AF. (telephone 0151 236 0206).
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map showing the regions of Spain as well as the three big Costas - the Costa Brava, the Costa Blanca and the Costa Del Sol |
The most popular country for property buyers from the UK, both for holiday homes and permanent living. The Costa Del Sol and Costa Blanca as well as The Balearic and Canary Islands remain popular despite increasing competition from other destinations.
European Union Gives Spain Two Month Ultimatum Over Land Grab Laws
Thursday October 26th 2006 ,
10:03 am
The European Union has given Spain two months to modify the now infamous "land grab laws" that have affected hundreds of British property buyers or face action in the European
More Spanish Properties Face Demolition - This Time In Catral, Alicante
Thursday October 05th 2006 ,
9:00 am
Another house building scandal has hit Spain following the news that the Valencian regional government has stripped the local authorities of Catral of its planning powers amid allegations that hundreds
Twice As Many People Want To Move Abroad In Near Future Says Poll
Friday August 04th 2006 ,
4:18 pm
Twice as many people want to move abroad in the near future according to a poll by the BBC compared to a similar poll carried out in 2003.
54% of the
30 More Arrests In Marbella Property Scandal
Friday June 30th 2006 ,
10:50 am
Police in Spain have arrested 30 more people, including construction company owners as well as politicians, in connection with the corruption scandal that has engulfed the Andalucian resort town of
Jailed Property Fraudster In Dubai A Warning To All Overseas Property Buyers
Tuesday June 20th 2006 ,
6:27 pm
The jailing of a multi-million pound property fraudster in Dubai this month had brought home the dangers of buying property off-plan without seeking both professional and legal advice first.
Maz Ahktar,
Price Of Property Tops €6,000 Per Square Metre In Nine Spanish Cities
Wednesday May 10th 2006 ,
10:01 am
Property prices in Spain have rocketed to €6,000 per square metre in nine cities, according to Tecnicasa.
In 2004, property prices in Madrid, Barcelona, San Sebastian, Bilbao, Marbella, and Santander had
A Third Of Britons Interested In Buying Property Abroad
Thursday April 06th 2006 ,
2:26 pm
Almost a third of Britons (29%) are interested in buying property abroad, either as a hjoliday home or for permanent living, according to new research from Banco Halifax Hispania, the
Golf Resort Refused Planning Permission In Spain As Construction Clampdown Gathers Pace
Tuesday March 14th 2006 ,
4:09 pm
A flagship golf resort of 12,500 houses due to be built in the Murcia region of Spain has been refused planning permission by a local council.
The Condado de Alhama was
Spain And France Losing Favour As Overseas Property Buyers Look To Emerging Markets
Tuesday February 21st 2006 ,
10:33 am
Traditional overseas property hotspots like Spain and France are losing out to emerging markets according to the monthly Global Property Hot Spots report published by currency traders, HIFX.
Historically, the three
Spain Tops Poll In Barclay’s Overseas Property Survey
Thursday February 16th 2006 ,
7:43 pm
Spain has come top of a Barclay's Bank survey asking where people would buy property abroad if they were guaranteed a trouble free purchase.
Of the 1001 people surveyed, 37%
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