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

 His health reasons to moving to Spain

 Alan’s experience finding homes that are disability-friendly

 Working closely with builders

 Learning Spanish

 The moment they found the right property

 The nature that surrounds their villa

 Alan’s daily lifestyle

 Being open-minded to long-term plans

 How their estate agent helped solve the stumbling blocks with buying

 Advice to people with health issues moving to Spain 

Episode 67: Allan who purchased in Lorca, Murcia

&nbsp;Intro&nbsp;&nbsp;<ul><li>Welcome to the Kyero.com Spanish Property podcast, where we interview people who recently purchased their dream home in Spain.</li><li>They tell us what worked, what didn’t and what they’d do differently next time.</li><li>I’m Beth Davison and today I’m speaking with Allan, originally from near Bristol, in the U.K. who purchased his dream home in Lorca, in Murcia.</li></ul>&nbsp;<ul><li>One major factor to consider in his move was Allan's health. Just wait until you hear about what a difference the Spanish lifestyle has made. Also, as a thalidomide victim, Allan offers some invaluable advice about accessibility when it comes to buying abroad.&nbsp;</li></ul>&nbsp;<ul><li>He worked with estate agent 4everSpain to find his dream home.</li><li>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.</li></ul>Body of Transcript&nbsp;Allan:&nbsp; My name is Allan. We live in a villa, or we bought a villa back in June, 2018. I live near Lorca, between Lorca and Puerto Lumbreras, in the Murcia region. We moved out due to health purposes and the fact that I am a disabled gentleman.&nbsp;&nbsp;I'm a thalidomide victim where I was born with no arms and badly deformed legs. A lot of the reason that we moved out was for health reasons. In a sense, we moved out because a lot of the time I was taking pain killers, in the U.K., with regards to my hips and legs and whatever. Since moving out to Spain I'm not even taking any pain killers now - no tablets at all, even when I go back to the U.K. I feel fantastic.&nbsp;Beth:&nbsp; That's an incredible difference. Did you suspect that that was going to be the case when you arrived in Spain? What first put you onto the idea that perhaps, for health reasons, the Spanish climate would be better for you?&nbsp;Allan:&nbsp; Well, a friend of ours has been living out here for about ten, twelve, or thirteen years and she invited us out to come and see what she was doing and whatever, on holiday. We stayed for about ten days, and that ten day period I just felt that my health was better. I found I wasn't taking as many pain killers at the time when we were out here.&nbsp;&nbsp;We then came back out, again, to see her Mum because her Mum, we knew, was a neighbour of ours and I had taken her Mum out to Spain. We came out to see her Mum and how she was getting on, in Spain, and her health was an awful lot better as well.&nbsp;&nbsp;Again, we came out for about maybe ten days or a fortnight at that time. Again, I felt really quite good. So, we started looking around and Di introduced us to a lady called Carol who runs 4everSpain, the estate agents and whatever. We had really, really had gotten involved with her and she took us around and showed us some houses.&nbsp;&nbsp;Some of the houses weren't really appropriate. Quite a lot of the houses, actually, were built off the ground with steps, and I'm unable to manage any kind of steps at all. So, Carol kept us in contact on a weekly basis, telling us what was happening, send us things. Then we came back out again and started looking at signing paperwork and things and I was a bit concerned that the issue of my disability would be a problem. Carol assured me that that wouldn't be the case.&nbsp;Beth:&nbsp; So, just to talk a little bit more about your disability, you were obviously looking for very specifically accessible properties. Did you find that they had lots on their books, or was it more that they were showing you things that could be adapted to help with your disability once you had moved in?&nbsp;Allan:&nbsp; I think more adaptive or whatever.&nbsp;&nbsp;Beth:&nbsp; OK.&nbsp;Allan:&nbsp; A lot of houses are actually built off the ground for obvious reasons. If you get floods, or if you get any heavy rain. It had been so dry out here that when it rains the rain just lies on the ground and eventually soaks away. So, that’s fine, they were all needing adapting on everything that we looked at.&nbsp;&nbsp;Accessibility in the house [is important]. I wanted to be able to move around well, which I do. All the doorways are wide enough. I use an electric wheelchair occasionally and the doorways are all wide enough to get the electric wheel chair through. So, these were the types of things I was looking at in the house, and outside the house I knew that we would have to either build a ramp or some kind of access by lift or whatever.&nbsp;&nbsp;Carol was fantastic with builders and we've got an absolutely fantastic relationship now with a builder. Some of the builders don't speak English, but I can get my words over or I can get things over, and sign, and sort of make them understand different things that they've never come across before.&nbsp;Beth:&nbsp; Yeah, totally. How is your Spanish? (Laughter) I can hear a laugh in the background there.&nbsp;Allan:&nbsp; We're getting there slowly and, obviously, we pick things up. We're not doing lessons or anything, but there are a lot of people out here that are interested in you and I think it's important to try and speak their language, and they do speak some English as well.&nbsp;Beth:&nbsp; Yeah, and so, communication wise, you're fine. Were you surprised by how helpful Carol was with looking at things specific to your disability? Were you expecting that level of commitment from an agent?&nbsp;Allan:&nbsp; Not from her, no, it was really, really quite amazing, really, how well she accepted and just started to understand all the different things that may need to be done or did need to be done. She's an absolutely fantastic woman, absolutely.&nbsp;Beth:&nbsp; Well, I'm so pleased that you managed to find the right place for you and that the right things have managed to happen since you moved in. When you first saw this property, what were your first thoughts when you walked in, how did you feel?&nbsp;Allan:&nbsp; Well, my wife told me that I was buying it because she loved it and I looked around and made some mind boggling things about where we wanted to put things and then when we walked away, when we were back at our friend’s house, we sat down and discussed things. Then we phoned Carol and asked her was it possible to do what we wanted to do. Then Carol would come up with some suggestions or come up with some ideas.&nbsp;Anne:&nbsp; I thought it was ours from day one.&nbsp;Beth:&nbsp; That's Anne in the background. Hi Anne, what did you say?&nbsp;Anne:&nbsp; I thought it was ours from day one, as soon as I walked through the gate I said, "This is mine. This is what we're buying."&nbsp;Beth:&nbsp; That's such a good feeling.&nbsp;&nbsp;Anne:&nbsp; "I don't care, this is what I want."&nbsp;Beth:&nbsp; (Laughter) OK, so you were the driver in this situation I think it's fair to say?&nbsp;Anne:&nbsp; Yes.&nbsp;Beth:&nbsp; What was it about it, for you, that made you go, "No, this has to be ours?"&nbsp;Anne:&nbsp; I don't know. It just said, "Buy me."&nbsp;Beth:&nbsp; Wow.&nbsp;Anne:&nbsp; We went and looked at some others and Allan was looking around one that he really liked and I went, "I don't know why you're bothering, I don't like it."&nbsp;Beth:&nbsp; (Laughter)&nbsp;&nbsp;Anne:&nbsp; I didn't know why I didn't like it, I just didn't like it. Then when we came into this one I hadn't even gotten up the steps and I went, "This is what I want. This is mine."&nbsp;Beth:&nbsp; So, paint me a bit of a picture of the property then. What's it like? What are the views out of the window? What sort of positioning does it have in comparison to other properties around it?&nbsp;Allan:&nbsp; We've got mountain ranges on both sides of the property. I think where we actually live is an agricultural farm area. There are a lot of fields around where the farmers plant their crops, although there are a group of houses that we live in. I think there are about twenty houses all in the same area.&nbsp;&nbsp;We live in a valley. It's not like a narrow valley, it’s wide, It’s just nice to get out and have a look at the mountains outside and we never really have got very many clouds either. It's always a nice blue sky except when it's bad weather, obviously, but we don't get very much of that. I think being in the valley, the weather is much nicer.&nbsp;Beth:&nbsp; Lovely, and what about lifestyle differences for you, in Spain, in comparison to where you were before? What's your daily life like?&nbsp;&nbsp;Allan:&nbsp; It's a bit more. The village is only about a ten minute ride in my electric wheelchair which gives me a bit more independence. Although I am disabled I am able to drive my own car as well. I have got a specially adapted vehicle which I bring out with me when we stay out here.&nbsp;&nbsp;The difference is in it being dryer. I don't have any more pain killers. I don't take them anymore. I can walk an awful lot more. If we go shopping I don't rely on my wheelchair nearly as much as I would do in the U.K. Here I can get out of the car and have a walk around.&nbsp;Beth:&nbsp; Yeah, and what have friends and family made of this, because it just sounds almost miraculous in a way?&nbsp;Allan:&nbsp; My step daughter loves us being out here. She thinks, eventually, we won't come back home again, although we do go home every now and again. She thinks that we'll probably maybe sell up in the U.K. and just come out here and live.&nbsp;Beth:&nbsp; And do you think that too? Is that sort of what your long term goal is?&nbsp;Allan:&nbsp; Long term I honestly don't know because of my disability I can't become a resident in Spain because of needing medical issues with regards to my legs like dressings, callipers and boots, and things like that to be able to get around. I still think I'd probably need to stay as a U.K. resident and go back and forwards as often as I'm required to go back and forwards. I don't really want to go home when I go home because I don't feel as well as I do out here.&nbsp;Beth: Interesting, and if you can’t get residency in Spain, because of your disability, does it mean that your healthcare is compromised over there if you do need to use it, or do you still receive great medical care in Spain?&nbsp;Allan:&nbsp; That we haven’t really looked into at the moment, Beth. We’ve not really been out here long enough. We’ve only been out, maybe, on and off, eighteen months. We still go back to the U.K. six months of the year or whatever. And medical problems, I don’t know whether I would get any medical insurance. The problem we’ve got is my wife, she would start to become a residence over here. We could get medical insurance for her, and then I would just have to go back and deal with whatever I would need to deal with.&nbsp;Beth:&nbsp; Yeah, so maybe actually the kind of six months, if that turns into three months of the year the U.K., and nine months in Spain, that balance might actually work really well for you long term.&nbsp;Allan:&nbsp; At the moment it’s working extremely well mainly because, although for the last three and a half years before we came out here I was on pain killers over the wintertime, especially, because of the dampness. I was on eighteen pain killers a day, something like that and I don’t take any more, and I feel an awful lot better. I don’t have stomach cramps. I don’t end up in bed for like a day or so because I don’t feel well. I’m up and around all the time when I out in Spain.&nbsp;Beth:&nbsp; It’s an incredible change to quality of life and it’s amazing to hear about. The process itself of buying, did you find that fairly... What were your expectations going into it and did you find that it matched that? Was it easy? Obviously it’s been worth it for you because it’s meant such a big change but the actual process to get to this point, how have you found it?&nbsp;Allan:&nbsp; The process of buying went through very well. Carol was absolutely fantastic and supportive. We did have a couple of issues with a bank that was out here. I don’t know what was going on, and Carol immediately found that there was a problem and swapped it around and went through somebody else. The market was more or less all together with two or three months.&nbsp;Beth:&nbsp; Wow, so, it all sounds really straight forward, which is fantastic.&nbsp;&nbsp;My final question, as always, is if someone is out there listening and thinking that they might want to do the same thing as you, or, equally, if they have health conditions or a disability, what would your advice be to those people if they were thinking of doing the same thing?&nbsp;Allan:&nbsp; Talking about health issues in my aspect, but for health issues I would definitely think about doing it. It might be a big issue with regards to them, but bear with it and try your best because it’s a fantastic area, it’s a fantastic country, and the weather is just made for issues like that. My wife probably would have a different aspect because she loves it out here. She doesn’t like to go home at all.&nbsp;Beth:&nbsp; Yeah, I can hear that.&nbsp;Anne:&nbsp; I would just say, “Do it!” It’s the best thing we ever did.&nbsp;Beth:&nbsp; Amazing, and it sounds like it’s gone so well for you guys. Thank you so much for taking the time to chat to me today and for being so candid about your health and everything to do with that, Allan. I really, really appreciate it, and I hope it continues to go as well.&nbsp;Allan:&nbsp; Yeah, thank you very much. It’s been a very much enjoyable situation talking to you as well.&nbsp;Beth:&nbsp; Thanks Allan. Alright, have a great day. Bye Anne!&nbsp;Anne:&nbsp; Bye!&nbsp;Allan:&nbsp; Thank you, bye.&nbsp;Outtro&nbsp;&nbsp;<ul><li>Thank you for listening and thanks to Allan and Anne for sharing their experiences and to 4everSpain for making this episode possible.</li><li>It’s great to hear another account of how much difference having a positive relationship with your agent can make. I’m sure Carol was thrilled to hear such glowing reviews.</li></ul>&nbsp;<ul><li>Remember, if you like what you have heard you can search this agent's properties and more on Kyero.com and don't forget to subscribe to the podcast so you never miss an episode.&nbsp;</li><li>This podcast is produced by Kyero.com and our mission is to connect you with estate agents and properties throughout Spain.<ul><li>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</li></ul></li><li>We love hearing how these podcast episodes have helped you find your dream home in Spain. Please do continue to share your feedback with us, and if you’ve enjoyed this episode we’d really appreciate you taking the time to review and rate our podcast on iTunes or your preferred podcast listening app. Your feedback, reviews and ratings help us reach and connect more people with their dream home in Spain.</li><li>And, whenever you’re ready, here are four ways we can help you:<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</li><li>Get a location guide 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.</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!</li></ul></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>&nbsp;&nbsp;Pre-intro&nbsp;<ul><li>Tune in next time when I catch up with Damien from Dublin, who found his dream home in Illar, in Almeria.</li></ul>&nbsp;<ul><li>This purchase is little bit different because it was bank repossession. So you can hear Damien tell me what difference that makes to the buying process.</li></ul>&nbsp;<ul><li>I’m Beth Davison and you’ve been listening to the Kyero.com Spanish property podcast. I’ll see you next time!</li></ul>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

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Episode 67: Allan who purchased in Lorca, Murcia

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