Thread: The truth please......

Hi all

This is my first query on this forum, I basically want to know the truth about Brits living in Spain/The Canaries.

If the news here is to be believed then hordes of ex-pats are winging their way back to the UK as things have gone steeply downhill in Spain. We are told that the "bubble has burst", people are getting their home bulldozed, there are no jobs whatsoever, the recession has hit Spain really badly and numerous other tales of woe.

In China, the government employ a group of people to spread rumours and untruths on the internet, basically for the good of the state. My wife thinks that perhaps we have a similar group of people here in the UK as everywhere you look online there are people quick to tell you how much better life in the UK is compared to other countries....

What is the truth of it all? Is Spain no longer the "promised land" for ex-pats? Are things really that bad in Spain that people are rushing back to the ever-declining UK?

We would love to relocate one day, mainly for the sake of our children, but just don't know what to believe when it comes to a possible new life in Spain. Any input welcomed, answers appreciated.

Thanks

Hi Illumin, welcome to ASF. Spain is what Spain is, it's what you as an individual makes of it. I've been here 22 years, I've never had my house pulled down. All 200 of my ex employees have found work here in Spain.
My Daughter is 13, she was born here, speaks two languges, has tooooo many friends, spends her life school, horse riding then swimming.
If you are ambitious then you can make a go in Spain. If you are just coming for the sun,sea,sand and sangria, they are the types that are leaving spain. Most of the people leaving where only here for about two years. Most never worked full time.
Fill in you profile so we can see a bit more about you. What is yout USP unique selling point for Spain, what would you bring to Spain.
I love Spain always defend it from people who down it. I would never live in the uK again, I may move to a different part of Spain. It is my home now.

I have no idea what the promised land was/is. I live in a bit of a cosy bubble but do believe that Spain has been hard, I read that spanairds are going back to fields to work, the construction area is dire and jobs for outsiders are more difficult to find. The bulldozed home issue has been done to death I think as has discussions about the press/media part in the scaremongering stories about life in Spain. I have not lived in UK for any length of time recently but I much prefer life here. I will not be rushing back to UK even after the recent death of husband. I will continue to make a new life here where at the moment I feel at home and comfortable.

It is said over and over again. if you come here armed with resources to survive for at least a year and a strong will to succeed then yes it could work. Come having looked through rose tinted glasses and nothing but a dream well you might hit lucky but then again you may well be up the creek with no paddle.

Originally Posted by illumin

Hi all

This is my first query on this forum, I basically want to know the truth about Brits living in Spain/The Canaries.

People will tell you all kinds of things...

The only truth is that it all depends. And it all depends on YOU!

While Bob might not find a job, you might. While Anne might head back to the UK, you might come... etc. Get it?

If the news here is to be believed then hordes of ex-pats are winging their way back to the UK as things have gone steeply downhill in Spain.

Many have moved back and yes Spain is not what it once was, but is any other place still what it once was?

We are told that the "bubble has burst",

If you are referring to the real estate "bubble", then yes that's burst.

people are getting their home bulldozed,

That's a bit of a dangerous way of putting it... The reality is, certain people have found themselves caught up in a legal problem and the courts have asked those homes to be demolished.

there are no jobs whatsoever,

No jobs? Erm...

Reality = unemployment is rising. Expats find it VERY hard to get a job. MAJORITY of the jobs don't pay over 1,000 Euros.

the recession has hit Spain really badly

Yes it has.

and numerous other tales of woe.

Put them into perspective and relate them to yourself.

In China, the government employ a group of people to spread rumours and untruths on the internet, basically for the good of the state. My wife thinks that perhaps we have a similar group of people here in the UK as everywhere you look online there are people quick to tell you how much better life in the UK is compared to other countries....

What is the truth of it all? Is Spain no longer the "promised land" for ex-pats? Are things really that bad in Spain that people are rushing back to the ever-declining UK?

We would love to relocate one day, mainly for the sake of our children, but just don't know what to believe when it comes to a possible new life in Spain. Any input welcomed, answers appreciated.

Thanks

Make the move, if it is right for you! But it has to be right for you (and your children). Definitely don't come here with any fantasies. Open your eyes and do your research.

The media do tend to "sensationalise" and exaggerate. No its not as bad as they make out. However, jobs are in short supply. Gone are the days when you could come to Spain, buy a cheap house, live cheaply and do a bit of pool cleaning, gardening, odd jobs every now and again to pay for it all, its grown from all that. Todays Spain is very european. You need to speak and write the language to get a half decent job, as I say work is in short supply and there is mass unemployment amongst the Spanish nationals, its even harder for the "expats"!

As for people going back to the UK in their droves??? No, not droves, maybe a few are, but its generally cos there is no work, or they're pensioners who feel that the bad exchange rate is reducing their spending power, altho I still believe its cheaper for those to stay in Spain. As for "bulldozing" houses, well alot of those people kinda knew that they were building where they shouldnt, some were conned by unscrupulous developers, estate agents. But in the grand scheme of things its a minority. You just have to be cautious if/when you buy here. There are warning signals and if you choose to ignore them, its at your peril.

I love it here, the weather, the open spaces, the "laid back attitude" But to fund us being here my husband has to commute to the UK to work. The cost of living here is still cheaper than the UK but with the exchange rate as it is, its not a huge difference anymore

Jo xxx

Hi Illumin and welcome from the mountains of the Sierra Sur de Jaén.

People going back to UK? but to what? As has been said, they are most likely to be those who came for the cushy side of lazing on the beach sipping sangria. That is NOT what Spain is all about unless you are a millionaire.

We came because:

• With my mother-in-law living with us, we needed a larger property which we could not afford in UK with all its overinflated property prices.
• We wanted a better lifestyle, where there was still respect, respect for people, property and the needs of others.
• We wanted to live where people are warm and friendly and a pleasure just to know.

Yes we have found all that and more. This village reflects the life I remember in a village in UK when I was a child, 60 years ago. My pension goes further here than it did in UK, we have no mortgage, our cost of living is lower and our quality of life is higher.

You ask what is there here for you - more importantly, what are you prepared to put in? It isn't what Spain will give you, what will you give Spain? Many of those who have gone back were those who were quite happy to take out while putting very little, if anything, in. When the supply of "take-out ables" dries up, they quit. Most of us say 'good riddance'

What you need to do Illumin is come over for a fact finding visit and get a feel for how things are and how they would be for you

Jo xxx

Hi we live in Norwich and have a house in Spain, we love Spain we spend as much time as possible there. People like to spread doom and gloom about this and that, you need to be wise when buying a house in Spain as you do in the UK. I would like to know why Spain is the most looked up on the Internet searches if it is that bad. Also emerging markets like to knock down Spain and build themselves up. Turkey is one of them that people are pushing, I did here on BBC Radio 4 that the Muslim government has rounded up a lot of military leaders to tighten their grip so i would be very wary about buying there - they aren't in the EU so there isn't the same protection longterm. Cyprus and Greece are also an established markets like Spain but have got it's share of property problems now - it's global, not just in Spain. Look at what happened in Goa, if you were a foriegner owning property you lost it without compensation!
No where is perfect. If the UK was such a great place to live you wouldn't get a quarter of a million nationals leaving for good every year! We have family and friends in Spain and none of them would return.

As with any big decision in your life do your homework. The facts(as I see them), work is hard for expats to get and the wages will be lower so get relevants skills, qualifications, people have gone back due to lack of work or the loss of strength of the pound affecting pensions but if you earn in euros the cost of living here is lower than the U.K. Rent a property before you buy but buying is a good option and no many propertys are not in danger ofbeing bulldozed(although I really feel for those who are in this situation).
Spain is a wonderfull place don't let the doom mongers spoil your dream!