Places to live located within 60 mins drive from Gibraltar.

wlally07 wrote on Mon Oct 17, 2022 10:20pm:

Hi All

Sorry in advance if someone has already posted something similar….

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We are selling our house in the UK so that we can move over next year.  We have not yet decided on an area, but we know it needs to be located within 60 mins drive from Gibraltar.

We’re looking for an area with a great family vibe and a decent mix of Expats and locals, ideally near a decent school for our 13-year-old son.

We are over in Spain next week and we’ve hired a car to explore a few areas.

Any advice would be gratefully received.

Thanks

Wes

Kerri wrote on Sun Oct 23, 2022 8:52am:

Hi Wes,

I hope that you have spoken to an accountant about what time of the year it is best to sell your house and whether there are any tax liabilities.  Its best not to expect the tax/healthcare system to be the same in each country.  

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The advice that is usually given from expats is to rent and try it for a year.  Perhaps that is the best advice but not one I took.  Maybe I just got lucky and the stars lined up for me but I had no teenage child to deal with.  Is your teenager on board with this move?

I was 14 when I moved from Canada to the UK and it was very difficult.  Thrust into another language at that age is also not so easy.  Yes it is tremendous to learn a second language but at 13 maybe not so easy and if the teenager is unhappy everything you do will be more difficult.

As far a good 'family vibe' remember that this is Spain and the vibes are more difficult to plug into if you are a foreigner in this Country.

My suggestion would be to find the type of 'home' and close neighborhood (Urbanization or Village or Town) you like based on the home itself (view of the sea, mountains, top floor apartment/ground floor with a yard for a pet, on a golf course, villa, townhouse - all based on your financial ability) close location school for your child so they can make friends more easily close to home, activities that are close by (sports center or mountains, water etc.) So that no matter what is really happening around you in the bigger sphere, you will have a bubble of your own to slowly adapt to a very huge difference in culture.

For me, I fell in love with my townhouse online and when I saw it in person I fell in love with the views and the small size of the community (with a mix of Spanish and Expats).  With these important elements for me I could find my feet in a larger and larger area around but my home was and still is, my bubble when I need it.

I hope these thoughts are helpful.  I have not found the government so difficult actually but the language is a constant issue.  I have found many people around that help.  Highly recommend getting your Certificate set up on your computer soon as possible and then dealing with the Government is alot easier.

Fiona1960 wrote on Sun Oct 23, 2022 1:02pm:

Alozaina is a lovely market town 30 mins inland from Marbella and approx 1 hr from Gib border 

wlally07 wrote on Sun Oct 23, 2022 12:34pm:

Hi Kerri. Thanks for the response.

Yes, my son is on board with the move, like us he's sick of the UK weather and the constant rain. We are travelling over on Monday for a week and I've hired a car to look at a few different areas.

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We're currently taking Spanish lessons, so hopefully, by the time we get over next August (ish), we should be able to string a sentence or two, together. 

How long have you been in Spain now? Are you working / Retired?  - I would like to start my own business. 

Thanks

Wes

wlally07 wrote on Mon Oct 17, 2022 10:20pm:

Hi All

Sorry in advance if someone has already posted something similar….

Read more...

We are selling our house in the UK so that we can move over next year.  We have not yet decided on an area, but we know it needs to be located within 60 mins drive from Gibraltar.

We’re looking for an area with a great family vibe and a decent mix of Expats and locals, ideally near a decent school for our 13-year-old son.

We are over in Spain next week and we’ve hired a car to explore a few areas.

Any advice would be gratefully received.

Thanks

Wes

Kerri wrote on Sun Oct 23, 2022 2:36pm:

Hi Wes,

Great your son is on board!! Cannot hold it against you later if he changes his mind.  LOL  

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Whatever ends up happening one thing everyone would agree on (I think) is that moving here is an experience that you cannot have with a 2 week holiday.  It wakes you up to ideas and culture that you only get living somewhere and here the possibilities are endless.

I live overlooking Casares Pueblo - so 15 minutes up from the Coast to the mountains.  Its about 30 minutes from Estepona and 40 minutes to Gib.  There are alot of towns all along the coast and it so depends I think on the home you want to live in.  There are pros and cons to all.  Personally I am glad that I live a little further from the beach and I love to drive down toward the sea and then up again into the mountains whenever I want to go outside Village life.  

I work for myself - software.  We do not sell in Spain.

Alot of people will say its tough to find work here but its also tough to find people to do things.  For example its nearly impossible to find an electrician and forget calling anyone in the air con business certain times of the year.  Its impossible to find a really good bakery (IMHO) and pretty much impossible to find a Vegan cafe.  The list of things that are missing here go on and on in my mind but then I have been spoiled living in the places I have lived before.  Couple of guys in our Village just opened a ladies clothing shop, a cafe/restaurant and are opening a flower shop. Lots going on.

You don't say what type of business you wish to open.

Suzee99 wrote on Mon Oct 24, 2022 10:50am:

Hi Wes,

We bought a large apartment with outside terrace, overlooking a vineyard here in Manilva/Duquesa about 4 years ago.  We come over for long periods and love it.  We’re in a gated community (about 100 properties), with a mixture of English, Belgian, Spanish, Swedish & American resid...

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...ents, situated very close to the sea/beach 5-10 mins walk),  supermarkets on our doorstep, with bars and restaurants close by in La Duquesa.  The town of Sabinillis is a 5 min journey by car, Estepona and Marbella are all close by and Malaga airport is about 50-60 mins by car.  We’re about 45 mins away from Gibraltar.  All in all, a great location for us.  Sorry can’t advise you on schools but understand local schools are v good.  Our urbanisation is quiet but we’re not remote as like to walk everywhere if we can.  There are some lovely walks nearby and you can cycle lots too.  We looked at over 30 properties before making our mind up but the location sold it to us.  Good luck and hope you eventually find what you’re looking for.  You won’t regret it.  ps our neighbours next door are selling so you might find this link helpful too.

https://castlesestateagency.com/property/vinedos-del-mar-apartment-2681/