Sunday, August 31, 2008

September Finally Arrives




And after the fiestas and Formula One we now have people actually working again from tomorrow. If i seem a little slower on replies then bear in mind that my wife goes back to work this week and I get to spend some time in the mornings with the little ones and the not so little one.

Just to accompany this here are some images taken from the Tomatina in Buñol last week and yes it is totally mad. Come one year you will like it.

Sunday, August 24, 2008

One Seriously Cheap Property



Some friends of mine have just emigrated leaving their properties for sale. The jobs they were offered were just too good to be true. Anyway, they need to sell up some properties and because of this they have dropped the price on the properties they have got for sale. So if you want a lovely stone village house for under 100,000 Euros we have a bargain here for you. Five bedrooms, mains, water, electric, telephone line with broadband, two bathrooms, kitchen open up into the living area and a good sized storeroom with the possibility of opening up a lovely roof terrace with storming views, it must be worth 99,997 Euros of anyone's money.

It is in the village of Bodegas just outside Casinos and a mere 30 minutes away from the airport at Valencia and the city itself.






Look at the photos and get in touch with your offers. info@valencia-property.com for more details.

Valencia; Capital of Cool


This article is taken from the Times last week and you can see it here. Great article by Sue Mallia and not one mention of the Land Grab Law...


Valencia is gearing up to stage its first Formula One grand prix this weekend and to capitalise on the tourism spin-off. As the competitors race through the streets of its port and around the America's Cup marina, the spotlight will also fall on the city's abundant attractions and its emergence as one of Spain's most avant-garde destinations.

This reputation is best embodied in the bold complex of futuristic cultural and leisure venues that make up the City of Arts and Sciences. The wow factor generated by Santiago Calatrava's dazzling architecture helped to draw a record number of visitors to Valencia last year.

Tourists are also flocking to the new Bioparc, where people can enter the world of wild animals with barely any visible barriers. The innovative zoo, which opened in February, re-creates the habitats of creatures ranging from leopards to lemurs and gorillas to giraffes, with the animals living side by side as in nature.

On the other side of the city, curious fish can watch human beings at feeding time in the Submarino underwater restaurant attached to the Oceanográfico. More than 45,000 examples of 500 marine species inhabit the ecosystems of the world's seas created at the marine park, the only structure within the City of Arts and Sciences not designed by Calatrava.

The other buildings within the futuristic complex are the science museum, with its ribbed skeleton and roof line of shark fins; the Hemisfèric, which is shaped like an eyeball and, appropriately, houses an IMAX cinema and laser show; and the Palau de les Arts Reina Sofía, a world-class concert hall that is a work of pure theatre.

A pleasant way to reach the complex is to head for the Turia gardens, a ribbon of parks and gardens stretching for 8km around the eastern edge of the old city. The gardens were created in the dried-up bed of the Turia river when it was diverted after serious flooding. They are now the domain of cyclists, joggers and walkers and the only sound of water is the gentle splashing of fountains.

Set off in the morning from the 16th-century Puente del Real, passing under several of the other bridges that span the gardens, including one resembling a Spanish comb, designed by Calatrava, who was born in the city. Look out for the playground where little people clamber over a giant outstretched Gulliver. After a gentle stroll of 30 to 40 minutes the complex, linked by shimmering lakes, lies ahead of you, the spectacular white buildings sparkling in the sunshine.

Valencia's climate is one of its biggest natural assets - it enjoys 300 sunny days a year. It is also a family-friendly city and easy to get around. As well as a modern metro and good tourist bus services, there are 75km of cycle routes, making it possible to explore any part of the city at your own pace. You can also pedal out to the long sandy beach at the port.

A good reason to head to the beach is to eat paella at one of the traditional restaurants, such as La Pepica, that line the Mediterranean shore. The dish was created in Valencia after the Arabs brought rice to the city during their rule from 714 to 1238. They also brought oranges and tiger nuts, from which the drink horchata is made.

Despite the emphasis on new attractions, the old city has much charm and is the most popular area for nightlife. The Plaza de la Virgen behind the cathedral is still the heart of the city as it was in the days of the Romans, who founded Valentia in 138BC. Remains from Roman times as well as the Islamic period and the years after the Christian Reconquest in 1238 can be seen in the nearby L'Almoina archaeological centre. The city's rich heritage also lives on in the wealth of medieval buildings, notably La Lonja de la Seda, the 15th-century silk exchange - the Arabs also introduced mulberry trees and silkworms to Valencia. The elegant Gothic exchange is a World Heritage site in itself. Its combination of architectural detail from Islamic, Christian and Jewish cultures is a lesson in physical and spiritual harmony.

Across the street is the Central market, one of the city's Art Nouveau gems, along with the glorious Colón market, which looks like a gingerbread house topped with speckled icing, and the north railway station.

Valencia also boasts more than 30 museums, many housed in restored historic buildings and palaces, such as the ceramics museum with its flamboyant 18th-century alabaster entrance.

Particular to the city is the Fallas museum, which features papier-mâché figures saved by popular vote from the flames during the city's big festival, Las Fallas. During the celebrations on March 15-19, cars are banned from the Old City and revellers pack the streets to enjoy the parades and firework displays, and to welcome spring. Within days the scent of orange blossom pervades the city, confirming that spring has indeed arrived.

Laterooms.com, which is currently promoting Spain, offers discounts of up to 70 per cent on hotel rates. Accommodation ranges from five-star luxury hotels to budget B&Bs.

Deals on offer at four-star hotels in the city until August 30 include £80 a night for a double room at the Vincci Lys from this Sunday, saving up to £224; £76 for a double at the Melia Plaza from Monday, saving up to £85; and £107 including dinner, B&B at the Hotel Zenit on selected dates next week, saving up to £209 on the room.

Friday, August 22, 2008

The Formula One Weekend and Daily Mail

Google says it is going to rain but today, the first day of practice, the weather was rather glorious. Valencia's life as a host of the Formula One circus started today and the atmosphere in the city was great. Also Formula One suits Valencia because the noise is the same as the Mascletas and Firework displays. I took my three year old and saw about five minutes as the visceral noise of the engines scared him senseless and we had to leave.

Anyway, today Valencia Property was featured in the Daily Mail in an article about Formula One and the purchase of flats in the city. If you didn't manage to see it then I will be able to send you a copy next week as currently there is no link on their website and I will have a scan available.

Wednesday, August 20, 2008

The Summer Lull

As usual everything is relatively quiet in Spain in August. Many shops shut up their doors for the whole month but this year the shutting up for the second half of the month is paticularly pronounced. It will be interesting to see how many estate agents, building companies and promotors don't bother to open up when September comes around.

Meanwhile, things are moving on apace with property as bargains are to be found throughtout the site at www.valencia-property.com and you have a chance to get a great deal through the people who wish to seel and release some equity on their property. Check out the site for more info and book your visit early because September looks very busy so far.

Saturday, August 02, 2008

And Now The Good News

When Spain won the Euro champs recently the front page of one of the newspapers said "46 million people say thank you". Spain's population when I was studying was stuck resolutely at 38 million with the second lowest birthrate in Europe. 8 million people have come into the country in just over a decade and they require housing and services. The base of the pyramid is therefore strong as price drops bring properties into the range of these recent immigrants, as long as banks are lending, and that is the issue at the moment. The banks have totally lost confidence in the same lemming like way that they all jumped on the bandwagon in the first place.

However, notaries in and around Valencia for example have reported an increase in signings in the last month or so after Banco Santander opened up the taps to borrowers a bit. Where Santander goes the rest of the financial institutions follow in Spain. In northern Spain where the overdevelopment of the Costas has not happened prices are holding up. Yes they will get caught up in a ripple effect but not in a maelstrom.

Another example is Sagunto north of Valencia. It is not the most beautiful place in the World in my opinion but OK as it has a beautiful Moorish/Roman fort at the top of the hill and the old Jewish quarter is lovely. They are starting work on the largest freeport in the Mediterranean with between 40 and 70000 jobs to be created as a result. This will being people into the area and price drops will be minimal from now as demand will outstrip supply, they have already dropped but by less than other areas and are currently holding up well.

Spain will always be a favourite for Brits as it is a home from home and you can get satellite TV, football at the right times and be back in blighty for important things very quickly. The young professionals that can work from anywhere due to the internet will still look to bring up their families with bilingual children in sunnier climes and less perceived crime. People will still want to retire or semi retire here as fuel bills are cheaper and lifestyle is also cheaper, not as cheap as it used to be but cheaper.

And to finish off being a tad controversial, what is wrong with those who offer nothing to the Spanish economy being forced out because life is getting too difficult for them. These are the same people who spend all day in the UK deriding excessive immigration and those immigrants coming over here to take our jobs etc etc... Come to Spain, learn the language, bring a profession, add something to the mix and mix with the Spanish, they are extremely friendly.

Have a life plan and work on it and Spain will most likely work for you.

Spain's Triple Whammy

Last month inflation went up to 5.3% officially, unemployment rose to over 10% which is the highest in the EU currently and the Euribor, the gauge by which mortgages are set went up to 5.37% meaning a typical mortgage is now around 6% interest in the first year, the highest for years.

Spain is undergoing a transition that is going to be brutal. However opportunities abound now for anyone coming into the market with cash. It is now easier to get negotiated prices with sellers, many of the properties on our site have been modified to take into account the current reality and we have factored in the drops in price. The top of the market was during the first quarter of 2006 whatever official figures may say and we have prices some 20% off those prices now. Sellers are willing to negotiate on price and you can pick up some great long and medium term property bargains at the moment. They will be around for about another two years as repossessions come into the market at BMV prices. For more information about how you can pick up a bargain get in touch on info@valencia-property.com or give us a ring on +34 96 166 28 92 and we will tell you all about it

Ebay Auctions of Spanish Stuff

About Me

Today is a new day, the sun is in the Sky. I wake up this morning and greet the new day.