Buying a home or moving to Spain - 'Understand Spain, Malaga, Costa del Sol, before you buy'. (Check out Malaga Feria Video)
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There are two parts of the Costa del Sol, 'where the Spanish live' and where tourists seek to buy & rent homes, (Tourist areas often have an over supply of property and many lay empty and can attract squatters), in good Spanish residential locations you will hardly find any apartments empty, this includes those places with a sea view, generally, the nearer the coast milder in winder and less hot in mid summer. One rule worth bearing in mind, just like restaurants, 'if full of Spanish people a really good one' they also know the nicest 'communities' to live and unlike UK people do not question 'noisy neighbours' ? Spanish communities always have some noise, be it the 'sound of children' music or motor bikes, people do not tiptoe around, that's part of the 'wonderful vibe'. Many Brits who move to Spain want, Highcliffe On Sea in the sun, or a sleepy English village, where folks use baby sitters & leave the kids at home for their evening meal. 'The real heart of Spain is the people', in particular in Towns & Cities, to really understand the culture folks should check out 'Old Town Malaga' and where Antonio Banderas has his idyllic penthouse on the 6th floor, above a restaurant, just a stone's throw from the historic city monuments of Alcazaba, Moorish fortress and the Roman Theatre, his balcony has views of the Picasso Museum. That's the 'real Spain' and where the magic is, however, many Brits never even go into this magnificent city, they leave the airport & head down the coast and never see the real treasure of Malaga. 'My advice explore and understand Spain before you buy'. If you walk and love the streets of Old Town Malaga, Spain and Andalucía is for you.
Be warned, once you move here you become a 'fiscal resident' & bear in mind UK is like a 'tax-haven' compared to Spain, with no age cap on 'social security payments' so check carefully with a 'Spanish accountant' the real costs on income and pensions from the UK,. Without a 'Golden Visa' you must become a fiscal tax resident, although if fortunate to be a retired 'Civil Servant' your pension tax deductions remain in the UK..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F4VaNwunxR0