UK HOUSE PRICES ARE FALLING - NOW IS THE
TIME TO SELL AND MOVE TO SPAIN
House prices in the UK are falling at a rate of £120 every day - equivalent to over £43,000 in a full year - acording to Britain's biggest property website Rightmove.
The asking price of an average home has fallen from £241,642 in October 2007 to £230,428 in January 2008 - a fall of £11,214.
This points up the necessity for people considering a move to retirement property in Spain to act as soon as possible if they need to sell in the UK to buy in Spain
where prices, though not increasing, are not falling at the same rate as in Britain.
SPAIN IS A TOP DESTINATION FOR BRITISH PEOPLE SEEKING A NEW LIFE ABROAD
Spain and Australia are the two top destinations for British people seeking a new life abroad, according to statistics just released (August 2007) by the Office For National Statistics.
The figures show that 196,000 people left the UK last year to make their homes permanently abroad.
The figure contrasted with an influx of 574,000 immigrants to the UK in the same period.
The reasons for choosing Spain (top choice for a sunshine retirement) are easy to understand: a better, healthier clmate, cheaper property prices, excellent free healthcare, lower cost of living and a more easygoing lifestyle.
But there are other factors for the retired including the feeling that Britain today is no longer the country they grew up in, that it is overcrowded, expensive and pressured. The fear of crime and yobbism are also other factors.
The development of purpose-built retirement developments where personal security is paramount and good healthcare is both available and free makes Spain an ideal retirement choice.
Want to know more? Contact the specialists WPML on 0845 430 9337 (low cost call) or email info@wpml.co.uk.
SPAIN'S CAPITAL GAINS TAX CUT MEANS IT'S AN EVEN BETTER LONGTERM INVESTMENT
For people seeking a sunny retirement but with an eye on their financial future, Spain's decision earlier this year to cut capital gains tax for non-residents from 35% to 18% is welcome news.
Why hesitate? You can retire to the sun, enjoy top-class free healthcare, live a lot cheaper than in the UK and see the health benefits of a relaxed, worry-free lifestyle.
CONTACT WPML NOW FOR DETAILS OF YOUR GATEWAY TO A HASSLE-FREE RETIREMENT.
SPANISH PROPERTY MARKET SLOWING TO BENEFIT OF NEW BUYERS
The Spanish property market is slowing down but there is no crash imminent - that's the view of the influential Spanish Property Insight website.
Reporting that the market is heading for a soft landing, the website says that the property boom is over but that means it is currently a buyer's market.
It also reveals that Spanish government statistics show that nationally, prices are still rising - a rise of 5.8% to the end of June 2007.
This means that it is not a good idea to "wait till next year" if you are considering buying, particularly if you seek a retirement property.
In the case of purpose-built retirement schemes under construction, such as Santa Polas Life Resort and Villamartin Hills, now is the best time to buy, to get the benefit of off-plan prices. Once these developments are finished, with all landscaping completed and support facilities such as medical centres and restaurants fully operational, prices will inevitably increase.
Incidentally, the Insight also reports that, in a recent survey, 70% of Spaniards do not believe that property prices will fall.
SPANISH "LAND GRAB" NOT A PROBLEM DESPITE TV SCARE STORIES
British TV has run a number of stories about land and
property being "grabbed" by unscrupulous developers in Spain.
The impression they have given is that all Spanish property bought by Brits is in danger of being taken from the rightful owners.
The truth of the matter is rather different to this. Some properties have been taken and for those owners it is a tragedy. However, the situation - in Valencia province only - is now the subject of investigation by the European Union's European law experts.
With regard to purpose-built retirement developments such as WPML represents, they are built with full planning permission and licences from the relevant local authority and cannot be "grabbed" by anyone.
You can buy at one of these developments with the knowledge that you are perfectly safe from this unfair and despicable practice.
AVOID BRITAIN’S SKY HIGH PROPERTY TAXES
Spain is five times cheaper
Britain’s property taxes are five times that of Spain, according to a league table compiled by the prestigious Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
Britain’s property taxes – including council tax, stamp duty and inheritance tax – hit older taxpayers particularly hard as many are on fixed pension and investment income.
The OECD league table shows that in Britain 3.35% of Gross Domestic Product (the nation’s wealth) goes in such property taxes.
By comparison, the percentage of GDP spent on property taxes in Spain is just O.67%.
Council tax has risen more than 70% under the Labour Government, rising from £9 billion in 1995 to £20 billion in 2004.
Stamp duty receipts have more than tripled since Labour came to power and reached over £12 billion last year.
Soaring inheritance tax is also hitting many people who are by no means wealthy and has almost doubled under Labour to £3.3 billion.
Shadow Chancellor George Osborne claimed that Labour has deliberately targeted homeowners with stealth taxes.
The answer seems clear, at least for older people – seriously consider a move to Spain where the weather is highly beneficial, health services are excellent and you will not be hit by the extortionate property taxes levied in the UK.
Contact WPML. We can help. Today.
UK RETIRED PREFER SPAIN
Almost 60,000 people are drawing their UK pension in Spain, according to new research by Spanish property developers Blauverd.
Spain is the number one destination of British people buying abroad and the company estimate that 75% of Brits buying in Spain are buying a retirement home.
ALMERIA'S THE PLACE SAYS 'PLACE'
Almeria is growing in popularity with the Brits, says prestigious magazine A Place In the Sun.
Covering the province in depth, it says: "Although the Spanish have been holidaying here for years, Almeria is a relatively unspoilt part of the coastline.
"The region avoided the over-development suffered by certain other parts of Spain in the 1960s and 1970s. Development is gradually increasing but there is still a distinct absence of ugly high-rise buildings."
The magazine goes on to say: "Excellent motorways and local roads offer good access to all the beach resorts from the existing airport at Almeria.
"Property values are increasing as a result of improving infrastructure and amenities although the region remains one of the cheaper coastal areas of Spain."
The magazine tips Los Terreros on the northern Almeria coast as a property Hot Spot. It calls it "a very attractive fishing which has been developed and is continuing to be developed."
|
