Despite being bordered by only one other country (Spain), Portugal has an intercontinental feel. The culture, architecture, language and cuisine have all been influenced by centuries of global travel. Living standards are high due to the advanced economy, peaceful governance, and emphasis on moral freedom for its citizens. The weather is uniformly warm in the summer months, while temperatures in winter vary depending on location. For example, you’ll find snowfall in the mountains, mild microclimates by the coast and subtropical islands. But it’s the stunning variety of terrains that draws so many tourists and expats to the country. You can hike in the national parks, walk the cobbled streets of the historic villages, search the Atlantic horizon for glimpses of North America from dramatic cliffs or lounge on one of the many glittering beaches. The Portuguese have a hospitable nature and you can expect to eat freshly sourced ingredients cooked simply and served with a flourish. Fish, squid, smoked meats, olives, cheese, bread and local wines are plentiful and you’ll find produce markets and restaurants at every turn. Feasts are central features of many of the festivities but you’ll also find music, dancing and night-time revelries at the frequent celebrations throughout the year. The north of Portugal is rocky and rugged and famous for the port wine-growing region, the Douro Valley. Rising up from the rural interior are wild mountains dotted with hunks of granite and flowing from them, the wide, fertile Tagus, Guadiana and Douro rivers. Lisbon is the most densely populated city, closely followed by Porto, and the southern Algarve region is a tourist hotspot. The Madeira archipelago is made up of 8 volcanic peaks, only two of which are inhabited and there are 9 islands in the Azores offering pale beaches, thermal lakes, geysers and black lava fields. This land has been fought over by Celts, Goths, Greeks, Romans and Moors, each of whom have left their architectural marks. Modern property development tends towards spacious, open-plan homes with echoes of these historical styles. The people of Portugal revere a rural life and as a result, there are a lot of villas or plots of land for development available in the countryside. In contrast, the cities and coastal regions are filled with affordable apartments. The road networks are good, air travel is quick and easy from northern Europe and America and there are high-speed international trains from connecting cities in France and Spain. Children are legally required to be in education from six to eighteen years old and there is a range of schooling options for international students, from public state schools, private faith schools or international schools. There is a state healthcare system in Portugal too. EU citizens can access it for free once they’ve registered and received a healthcare number (cartão de utente).

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Beautiful weather, excellent food and wine, world-famous art and culture and low living costs are just some of the reasons you should pack up and move to Spain. Spain is one of the largest countries in Europe and also one of the most geographically varied. With some of the cleanest and most beautiful beaches in the world, breath-taking mountainous regions, fertile plains, and sun-drenched isles, there is something to suit every preference. Visit Spain and you’ll enjoy a Mediterranean climate of hot, dry summers, mild winters, with snow in northern and mountainous regions. If you love art and culture you’ll have much to discover in Spain, which is home to some of the finest architecture in the world. There are ancient marketplaces, Moorish palaces, and the fantastical structures of Antoni Gaudi, not to mention the Dali museum, Frank Gehry’s Guggenheim, Fundacio Joan Miro, and the numerous festivals which regularly take place throughout the country. Spanish food is as varied as its landscape; the Spanish are absolutely passionate about their local cuisine. Tapas is popular worldwide, and you’ve probably sampled at least one of these delicious little dishes. The variety of tapas offered in Spain is huge, and varies from region to region and also according to season. Spanish markets are abundant with huge fruits and vegetables, thanks to the long months of sunshine. The great news as a prospective buyer, is that food, like the cost of living generally in Spain, is very affordable and of excellent quality. Moving onto more practical matters, the healthcare system in Spain is ranked among the best in the world, spending 10% of its GDP on healthcare. There are also excellent transport links throughout the country, with modern metros, high speed trains connecting most cities, long distance coach services between major cities, and bus services in all major cities and towns. It’s no wonder that Spanish public transport is known to be some of the best in Europe. For those wishing to venture further afield, it’s easy to travel from Spain to other parts of Europe by plane, train or bus. And of course, with 36 international airports, it will be easy for friends and family from back home to come and visit!

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Are you looking for a change of scenery? &nbsp;If this is the case, France should be at the top of your list! This magnificent country is a treasure trove of stunning landscapes with a wide range of settings to suit everyone's tastes and a rich history that will captivate you. Starting with the southern part of the country, the warmth of the people will greet you at every turn. This region is well-known for its sunny weather, sun-kissed beaches, outdoor celebrations, vibrant markets, and music festivals. Over a glass of wine, people gather to celebrate life, exchange cultural traditions, and foster an environment that is warm and welcoming to visitors from all over the world. As a matter of fact, the <a href="https://www.kyero.com/en/advice/france/places-to-live/occitanie-0l58192">Occitanie</a> region in the southwestern part of France is truly a one-of-a-kind destination with its diverse offerings of landscapes and activities. With direct access to the Mediterranean coastline and the majestic mountains and ski resorts of the Pyrenees. &nbsp;Coastal cities such as Montpellier also offer a rich historical and cultural heritage, this region is an ideal choice for those looking to enjoy the nature, history and culture of France. A little further north, nature enthusiasts will find a peaceful haven in the renowned French Alps, known for their breathtaking alpine scenery and outdoor activities like downhill skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, and sleigh rides. With the largest skiing area in the world, the <a href="https://www.kyero.com/en/advice/france/places-to-live/auvergne-rhone-alpes-0l60750">French Alps</a> offer unforgettable experiences for all kinds of nature lovers, all year long. Finally, with their world-famous cuisine and vibrant arts scenes, French cities such as Paris, Lyon and Bordeaux offer an unforgettable experience that combines the best of urban living and cultural heritage. Regarding the cost of living, France is a great place to call home. Although prices have increased in recent years, it remains more affordable compared to other European nations like the UK. With a strong economy and an excellent quality of life, &nbsp;You can experience a comfortable lifestyle without overspending. Also, the French culture offers a more relaxed and laid-back way of life that will have you feeling right at home in no time. Why not seize the moment and fall deeply in love with a property in France? Start living your dream today by preparing for your move and reading our location guides on different regions and provinces in France. &nbsp;

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Buyer Stories

 Is it common for Americans to relocate to Spain?

 What made Spain so appealing for Thomas and his wife

 How they came to choose Almuñecar, Granada

 How Tropicana Estates helped Thomas’ overseas search

 How they found the dream property

 Description of property and Almuñecar area

 Experience of buying abroad as a non-European

 How Thomas was able to budget

 Taxes in Spain vs taxes in USA

 Thomas’ advice to buy

Episode 19: Thomas who purchased in Almuñecar, Granada

&nbsp;<h2>Intro</h2>Welcome to the Kyero.com Spanish Property podcast where we interview people who recently purchased a home in Spain.They tell us what worked, what didn’t and what they’d do differently next time.I’m Beth Davison and today I’m speaking with Thomas, originally from the USA, who purchased a three story house in<a href="https://www.kyero.com/en/almunecar-property-for-sale-0l23521"> Almuñecar, Granada</a>.After falling in love with southern Spain, Thomas was keen to purchase in a safe location with copious amounts of natural beauty.He worked with estate agent <a href="https://www.kyero.com/en/spain-property-for-sale-0l55529?agent_id=3">Tropicana Properties</a> to find his dream home in Spain. &nbsp;Check out the show notes at <a href="http://kyero.com/podcast">kyero.com/podcast</a> to find links and resources mentioned in this episode<h2>Body of Transcript</h2>Tom: &nbsp;My first name is Tom and we bought in La Herradura, which is a district of Almunecar, in the Granada province. As far as what I do for a living, I don’t do anything now because I’m retired.Beth: &nbsp;Lovely, so this for you was a kind of retirement plan?Tom: &nbsp;Yeah, my wife and I decided, after we both finally retired for the second or third time, to come to Spain, to move here and we’re extremely happy.Beth: &nbsp;I’ve obviously been talking to mainly British buyers throughout this process, but is it quite common for American people to relocate permanently to Spain? Have you met any other Americans who have done what you have done?Tom: &nbsp;There are very few Americans, or even American accents here.Beth: &nbsp;That’s what I thought.Tom: &nbsp;Americans, they will move, for instance, to a lower cost area like Arizona, or the Midwest, or something like that, if they’ve lived in a place where they can capitalize on the sale of their house.That happens a lot in California, where I’m from, because the value of the houses has gone up tremendously in California if not in other parts of the States. But, we really didn’t want to move to another state. We fell in love with Spain when we were on holiday, so here we are.Beth: &nbsp;Yeah, lovely, so obviously you’d holidayed in Spain. How well did you know it before you started looking at moving there permanently?Tom: &nbsp;Only for what we had read and researched. Prior to that our only trip to Europe had been to Paris and that was about twenty years ago.Beth: &nbsp;Wow, so what was it about Spain that so appealed?Tom: &nbsp;My wife is of Spanish ancestry and she did a lot of investigation in ancestry.com to see about where her family came from. So, that was a very big link. We were fortunate enough, on our vacation, to visit the churches and cathedrals where her ancestors, going back to the 1700s, I think, had been born and married and things. It was quite exciting.Beth: &nbsp;Yeah, it sounds it. Did you know the specific area you were looking for, or when you first started your initial search was the net cast very wide?Tom: &nbsp;Good question. When we came here we visited almost every part of Spain except the Basque area. So, we got a really good feel for the various locations and when we came to Malaga we just fell in love with that area.My wife’s from Puerto Rico and I used to live there, so it was very much like Puerto Rico. It just felt like home. So, we tended to want to live in the southern part of Spain, as opposed to Madrid or up in the northern part.So, we just started investigating and, I have to be honest, Carol was a big influence in understanding this area. We first started looking in the Costa del Sol area, honestly, online. But in reading more about it we found ourselves wanting to be more in the Costa Tropical area because it had more rain, different types of vegetation, and fewer tourists.So, the search lead us to the Almunecar and Salobrena area.Beth: &nbsp;Yeah, lovely. Presumably, for people that I’ve been speaking to for this podcast series, they’re nipping across the viewings because the flight is only a few hours. Maybe they’ll try and put it all in one trip, or whatever. But, for you, we’re talking six thousand miles from where you were. So how did you do viewings and stuff?Tom: &nbsp;Ah, we were fortunate enough to start communications with Tropicana Properties, with a realtor named Martin, who since left and moved to France, but Jose was the guy who picked up the ball. We had an email correspondence going back and forth for quite some time.We would see things on Kyero and then talk to him via email. So, when we arrived here we had a really focused house search in just the Almunecar and Salobrena area. Frankly, once we saw the Almunecar area that’s all we wanted. Salobrena was out.So, Jose did an incredible job of finding what we wanted because we had made pretty clear what our requirements were. He surpassed that. The place that we bought is beyond what we had expected and for an extremely reasonable price.Beth: &nbsp;Yeah, so let’s talk about the specific place, in the end. What was the viewing process like? Did you walk in and know immediately that it was the place that you were going to have?Tom: &nbsp;Yes, we had spent a long day looking at properties and I think this was the third day… no this was the second day of viewings and then we went out a third day. But, on the second day we saw this place. It was at the end of a very long day.It was similar to the reaction when we bought our house in California, forty years ago. We walked in and just knew. It’s one of those feelings that, I’m quite sure, your other customers have.Beth: &nbsp;Yeah.Tom: &nbsp;So, when we saw this, and we saw the price, and we kept the next day and saw the other properties and just said, “This is what we want.”We worked out an offer. It was accepted, and then we just bought it.Beth: &nbsp;Yeah, lovely. So, what was it about the house, then, that gave you that great feeling of just knowing?Tom: &nbsp;Location. I don’t know if you’re familiar with the Almunecar area but it’s right on the ocean. All of the housing, because it’s so mountainous, the houses are literally on the sides of mountains. The roads are mountain roads. They’re pretty narrow and twisty and sort of dangerous. So that was not a good thing for a lot of the places that we saw.This one is closer to the Marina and has a better access. So, that was a big thing. The other was how the house is laid out. Again, with houses on the side of the mountain you have a lot of stairs. Some of the stairs are really steep. This house has three floors, so they didn’t try to jam everything into two floors and make steep stairs. They spread it out over three floors and the stairs are more gradual.Beth: &nbsp;Right, nice.Tom: &nbsp;For our knees, believe me that was welcomed. (Laughter)Beth: &nbsp;Yeah, very good.Tom: &nbsp;Then, it’s just a beautiful house with marble floors and we have two terraces and a balcony and view that people would kill to have. It’s just incredibly beautiful. The back of the house faces due east, so we get the sunrise. The community, here, is a very nice community. You get the feeling that it’s a nice, safe place. All the people that we’ve talked with have confirmed that.Beth: &nbsp;Lovely, so it seems like the right decisions were made, which is great considering so much of it was done via email to start with. You’re one of the few people, that I’ve spoken to, who are outside of Europe buying. Did you find that a challenge having to learn different European laws and things like that, or was it very similar to the buying process in the US?Tom: &nbsp;It’s fairly similar. The thing that Jose contributed was to keep us from being way too enthusiastic about houses that we would see in pictures and say, “Oh, we want to buy this one.” He would say, “No, just hold on and wait to get here. You are giving me an idea of what you want.” So, he was able to put together a nice itinerary.The buying process, itself, was very similar. The one big difference was (it was an expensive difference) that in Spain there is a tax that the buyer pays and it’s like a sales tax. That we did not know about until the last moment. So, that was a chunk of change that we had not expected. Thank heavens that we had enough set aside to be able to cover it.Other than that, the relationship between the customer and the realtor and then the attorneys it was all quite similar.Beth: &nbsp;Presumably, with things like that additional tax you had budgeted for that? How did you work out your budget?Tom: &nbsp;Well, we sold our house in California and we paid off all of our debts and had a fair amount of money left over. Then we knew that we still wanted to have something left in the bank after we bought so, we subtracted that and what was left over was our budget.So, we looked at houses within a variety of price ranges and found that, within the budget that we had established, there were a ton of houses that met our criteria. So, it wasn’t necessary to go to a higher price range to get what we were looking for. We were quite fortunate in that regard.Beth: &nbsp;Yeah, fantastic. Do you mind me asking what your budget was?Tom: &nbsp;We were looking at between two hundred and three hundred Euros or two hundred and three hundred thousand.Beth: &nbsp;That’s a big span. That’s a hundred grand difference. So, you can find a lot, I’m presuming, of different sized and different amount of bedrooms and that kind of thing.Tom: &nbsp;Yes, it sounds like a big span, but, it really isn’t when you start comparing what the different price ranges offer. As you get closer to three hundred thousand the amenities, the size of the house, the location, are not that different from the mid and lower two hundreds.Beth: &nbsp;Interesting.Tom: &nbsp;Yeah, so, we figured we could probably find something in the mid two hundreds. In fact, the asking price was two hundred and fifty. So that’s about as midpoint as you can get. We offered two hundred and forty, which he accepted.Beth: &nbsp;Fantastic.Tom: &nbsp;Yeah, so that, budget wise, fit very nicely.Beth: &nbsp;Then the tax that you were talking about - the (not hidden costs) costs that you hadn’t initially thought of and put into your budget, what percentage of the house costs, would you say, that comes to?Tom: &nbsp;That was eight per cent.Beth: &nbsp;OK, fair enough. So, it is going to be a decent chunk if that wasn’t one that you had already thought of.Tom: &nbsp;Yeah, yeah, it wasn’t something until we learned of it at the end of the process. I’m quite sure that they probably told us, but it just did not register because it’s strange for us – a tax in that way. We have bought many properties in the States, because we used to have properties for rent.Beth: &nbsp;It is slightly different. I can totally see how that accidentally caught you out.My last question is about your lifestyle in Spain because it must be so different to the US and what your favourite parts of that are.Tom: &nbsp;My lifestyle right now has been as hectic as in the United States because…Beth: &nbsp;Oh no.Tom: &nbsp;Well, we’ve only been here for less than two months. Of course, our shipment of goods has not arrived yet so, we have been getting some basic furniture, getting a car, and getting a driver's licence.We’ve been on the go since we got here. Thank heavens that the area where we live is very accommodating. We are about ten minutes from town and the town is wonderful. The people are wonderful. We have not been able to take long strolls on the beach like we would like to.Beth: &nbsp;Yeah, of course.Tom: &nbsp;One of these days when we get settled down it will be that way. Lifestyle has been, I would say, in the hectic category right now.Beth: &nbsp;Fair enough, while you’re in the set-up phase of it all. So, your top tips for someone doing it, what would you say they need? &nbsp;A sense of a kind of bravery, I’m sure, for the level of adventure that you did, what else?Tom: &nbsp;Yeah, you have to be committed, and that we were. This is a “no going back” situation for us. Knowing the language is a very big deal, and we both speak Spanish, so that was not an issue. Being open minded and appreciating a different culture is a plus. Don’t go in thinking this is going to be like home, because in many cases it’s not, but in many cases it is, as well, if you just give it a chance.The acceptance of people from other countries here is tremendous. There is not an issue of your British, or your Danish, or whatever. If you’re not British or Danish you are Spanish because that’s about the three nationalities that are here, and then some French, but very few Americans. If somebody is going to make a leap like this, it should be with a real desire to make that leap, not something that you’re always going to be second guessing.Beth: &nbsp;Yeah, totally. Good advice, very good advice. Well, I think I’ve reached the end of all my questions, but thank you so much for talking with me today.Tom: &nbsp;Thank you for the service that your website has provided. It was invaluable.Beth: &nbsp;You’re very welcome. I’m glad that it’s worked out so well. I hope that life calms down a little bit over the next couple of months. It sounds like you’re right in the middle of setting up and it’s all going to be amazing, but I’m glad that it was a good process for you.Tom: &nbsp;Yes, yes. The process was pretty painless.Beth: &nbsp;Good, I’m really glad and I hope that it keeps being everything that you dreamed it would be.Tom: &nbsp;Thank you.Beth: &nbsp;Thanks for talking to me, Tom. Have a good day.Tom: &nbsp;Thank you, you too. Bye bye.<h2>Outtro</h2>Thank you for listening and thanks to Thomas for sharing his experiences along with &nbsp;<a href="https://www.kyero.com/en/spain-property-for-sale-0l55529?agent_id=3">Tropicana Properties</a> for their help to make this episode possibleI was particularly interested to hear about the differences and, in the end, the similarities in the process when you’re buying from the US rather than buying from Europe.Don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast so you never miss an episodeThis podcast is produced by Kyero.com and our mission is to connect you with estate agents and properties throughout Spain.Whether your dream home is a rustic farmhouse surrounded by olive groves or a lock-up-and-leave apartment on the seafront, you’ll find everything you need at Kyero.com.If you’ve enjoyed this episode, we’d really appreciate your 5 star rating on iTunes.&nbsp; It helps us reach and connect more people with their dream home in Spain.And, whenever you’re ready, here are four ways we can help you: &nbsp;&nbsp;<ul><li>Ask a question by emailing <a href="mailto:Beth@kyero.com">Beth@kyero.com</a>.&nbsp; We’ll try and answer them all in an upcoming Q&amp;A episode &nbsp;</li><li>Get a location guide also by emailing <a href="mailto:Beth@kyero.com">Beth@kyero.com</a>.&nbsp; We’ll reply with the latest data and information on the areas you are interested in. &nbsp;</li><li>Calculate your budget. Simply visit <a href="https://www.kyero.com/budget">kyero.com/budget</a>, enter two numbers and you’re done! &nbsp;</li><li>Be our guest. If you’ve already purchased your home in Spain, we would love for you to share your story on the podcast.&nbsp; Just email <a href="mailto:Beth@kyero.com">Beth@kyero.com</a> and we’ll take it from there.</li></ul>Next week I speak with Olle, a freelance writer from Sweden, who purchased in Oliva, ValenciaHe was keen to experience Spanish village life and wanted to find the perfect property he could renovate and really call his own. Tune in next time to find out if he succeeded.I’m Beth Davison and you’ve been listening to the Kyero.com Spanish property podcast. I’ll see you next week!&nbsp;

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Episode 19: Thomas who purchased in Almuñecar, Granada

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