Thread: Are Brit's abandoning Spain or Not?

From the Costa Blanca news this week states that Brit's registering on the Padron have increased, not decreased as popular census has us believe.
On this forum, all I can see is about 8 set's of people wanting to make the move to Spain and only two lot's who want to go home.
My bank manager (friend for last 18 years) of the CAM bank, say's she did 11 new mortgages this month Feb 2010 for new british clients.
That say's something.
My feeling now is that most have got used to the recession, the crisis or whatever you want to call it and are now just getting on with life. I see restuarants full, shops trading, houses selling, new people arriving and more cars where sold in Feb this year than feb last year. So are we out of the crisis?

I feel for these new people who want to come and live here. When I came here in 1987 with no money at all,Spain was in a recession. I was cleaning villas, airport runs , selling Insurance policies to the brits after translating them for them. So why put off the new people who want to come here. No it's not easy, but in my opinion to start a new life , a new business whilst in or at the end of a recession is the ideal time to start. If people are sensible and have business accument they will survive.

You will always get the sad-sacks with no money and the same quantity of functioning brain cells who think they can just fetch up on the Costa Criminale and not just survive but thrive and make their fortunes by screwing honest decent people, then, when it doesn't work out the way they had planned it, want to up sticks and move on leaving debts and broken hearts behind them.

The serious, sensible, honest folk who want to come to live here and play by the rules and enjoy life will still always want to come here and become valuable assets to the community.

To true. Let's look it at a different angle. The Polish moving to UK. They go there to work 90% of them are good hard honest workers and will make it work for them. The 10% are scroungers thieve's etc.
We don't want any of the 10% brits coming here causing the problems mentioned above.
There are opportunities here, many have not been explored yet.
I hope to see an influx of new UK peoples coming here in 2010 and either starting there new life here or retiring to enjoy their golden years in the sun. (What sun you may ask)

Originally Posted by ELJEFE

I feel for these new people who want to come and live here. When I came here in 1987 with no money at all,Spain was in a recession. I was cleaning villas, airport runs , selling Insurance policies to the brits after translating them for them. So why put off the new people who want to come here. No it's not easy, but in my opinion to start a new life , a new business whilst in or at the end of a recession is the ideal time to start. If people are sensible and have business accument they will survive.

When you came here in 1987 Spain may have been in recession, but it was still very new. There were still things here that hadnt been done, buildings to be built, infrastructures to go up and the pesata/sterling was good! This recession has a Spain that is completed! There is very little thats new and hasnt been done to death here. Prices here are european and not cheap anymore. Its no longer a country that needs lots of pioneers


Jo xxx

Originally Posted by AdlT-resident

When you came here in 1987 Spain may have been in recession, but it was still very new. There were still things here that hadnt been done, buildings to be built, infrastructures to go up and the pesata/sterling was good! This recession has a Spain that is completed! There is very little thats new and hasnt been done to death here. Prices here are european and not cheap anymore. Its no longer a country that needs lots of pioneers
Jo xxx

and even less, the timeshare touts, the swindlers and the crooks who would grease a palm or two to get illegal builds done in those days or the illegally licensed bar, etc. It is the consequences of the activities of those types that are coming to light now and resulting in the demolitions etc that are the staple food of the rants of the yellow press and are forcing a lot of Brits to return to UK having lost their all.

I am sure there is a great deal of truth in what I heard recently that 90% of the crooked deals that have ruined so many were orchestrated by none other than Brits to the detriment of their fellow countrymen and women.

"I am sure there is a great deal of truth in what I heard recently that 90% of the crooked deals that have ruined so many were orchestrated by none other than Brits to the detriment of their fellow countrymen and women." Quote by baldilocks

If that is true (which I suspect it is as our original estate agents, who now seem to have disappeared, were Brits - long story!) it makes it even more annoying when people blame Spain and the Spanish people for their woes. We bought the property we are living in now through a Spanish estate agent, and so far so good....

Sue

I think confidence is returning..last week I was viewing businesss' and my agent was dealing with 3 other couples and all made offers.

The plane was full on both flights and there were plenty Britts about.

The only time we came across negativity was from long term pensioner residents who had been in Spain 8 years and was still remembering the 145 to the £ exchange rate.

Too many Britts over extended their comittments back then, loans, mortgages etc back in UK and living the high life in Spain.

As I have said already, we could not have afforded to buy a few years ago and alot of opportunist rogues have flown the nest...WIN WIN

Originally Posted by Jax 62

I think confidence is returning..last week I was viewing businesss' and my agent was dealing with 3 other couples and all made offers.

The plane was full on both flights and there were plenty Britts about.

The only time we came across negativity was from long term pensioner residents who had been in Spain 8 years and was still remembering the 145 to the £ exchange rate.

Too many Britts over extended their comittments back then, loans, mortgages etc back in UK and living the high life in Spain.

As I have said already, we could not have afforded to buy a few years ago and alot of opportunist rogues have flown the nest...WIN WIN

I hope you're right and only time will tell, there is a lot of bad news coming out of Spain (greece, portugal in trouble etc), but that said, if the Euro could just come down a bit (or a lot ) I think it will encourage tourism, commerce etc and help get things going over here. But right now, there really isnt a feeling optimism. And the pound is falling against the Euro at the mo!!!!!!

Jo xxx

Sorry but we are optimistic, but then we bought when the exchange rate wasn't so good, we have no mortgage or other similar commitments and try only to buy something when we can pay for it in full. We still have some work that needs doing on the house, especially after this winter and although we can afford to have it all done, that will reduce our bank balance to a level below which we don't want to go, so, only the urgent stuff will get done for now.

Yes we (all three, sorry, now four, of us) manage on my pensions. The secret is not to overstretch yourself, if you can't afford it, don't do it!