Living in Spain
by Peter Wilson
Many people who have spent a lot of time in Costa Blanca, Barcelona, or Costa del Sol have fallen so in love with the location they consider moving to Spain. But this is not a decision to be taken on lightly.
Before you ever start to look for a place to live, you need to visit the country a number of times. Make sure to visit different locations on each visit to find out what areas best suit you and your lifestyle. Read up some abstracts on moving to Spain so that you are well aware of the customs and practices of the country before you move there.
Keep in mind when you move, you will likely have to support yourself for a while as you search for a job. Make sure you have enough money in the bank to get to Spain, set up your home, and keep yourself going for a few months while you look for a job in the area of your new home.
What You Need to Know Before Moving to Spain
You cannot necessarily just decide to pick up your life and move to Spain. There are government requirements to meet first. What paperwork and documentation you will need will depend on where you are coming from. You should contact your Spanish Consulate to know what is necessary. Also it may take a long time for all the documentation to processed so you should ask about the requirements as soon as possible.
Health insurance is a requirement in Spain. If you are transferring to a job in Spain, your employer may offer this coverage to you. If not, you will have to purchase your own health insurance coverage. As you research this requirement, you may want to call your current insurance company to find a doctor in the area of Spain where you are planning to move.
You will also need to research what it will take to get a driver's license. You can ask the consulate for this information. You will also need to find car insurance company in the area where you plan to live and sign up for a plan.
How are you going to get around once in Spain? Are you going to sell your car before you move or take it with you? If you are planning on getting a new car once you arrive, consider how you are going to do this. You may need to rent a car for a while, until you can find what you want, and that can be costly.
Living and Working in Spain
Unless you already have a job waiting, you need to start you job hunt as soon as possible. Check the internet for job openings before you even move and start sending in your resume.
If you are relocating with a company, ask them for help in relocation. This could save you some of the money you would otherwise spend to move. You also need to travel through the area a number of times to find out where you want to live, then contact a real estate agent to help you find the home you want to buy or rent.
Living the Dream
Living the Dream by Paul Smith
A couple who have made a new life for themselves in France share the secrets of their success with Paul Smith
For many of us, holidays are a time for indulging in the fantasy of upping sticks and moving to France.
But few are brave enough to make the dream come true. Nothing could have been further from the thoughts of Steve and Helen Humphrey just 18 months ago.
The couple, both in their early forties, had built successful careers in England. Steve was a sales director in the food industry handling major accounts like J Sainsbury and Tesco. Helen had worked in advertising in Covent Garden and, over the last 10 years, built up an interior design portfolio with hotel, restaurant and private clients. The couple had just moved to a village near Pershore where they were 'blissfully happy and content' when, in early August 2003, they decided to book a well-earned, late break. They wanted to return to a favourite haunt - the Domaine de Peyrecaty in the Dordogne - where they had already enjoyed three 'fab' holidays.
It's easy to understand the attraction of this charming property. With its original stone buildings, it was once a working farm and would have grown tobacco, walnuts and maize. Perhaps its former owners had supplemented their income selling cepes from the estate's extensive woodland, or even much sought after truffles. Imagine the Humphreys' dismay, then, when they discovered it was no longer available and was up for sale.
Helen takes up the story: "We were not looking to buy abroad at all, but after inquiring about the price we thought that maybe it was worth a view. We flew over to France the following weekend and made an offer. Why? Well, we like a challenge, so why not? We must have been plied with too much wine!"
The compromis de vente was signed in September and in November 2003 the proud new owners and their two fluffy, white Burman cats moved out to France.
There was much to be done, says Helen. "Like most of the English who come out to find their dreams here, we'd no past experience of running holiday properties, no bar or cooking experience and no French language.
"It has been lots and lots of hard work, decorating and getting the properties up to scratch - and then even more work when our guests arrived. But it's been tremendously rewarding, we've met wonderful people, learned lots and had an enormous amount of fun on the way and made some great friends."
Perched atop the hill after which it is named, 52-acre Peyrecaty enjoys breathtaking views in all directions. As well as acres of woodland, it boasts three walnut orchards and even the remains of a troglodyte cave. Accommodation consists of four old stone farmhouses which retain many of their original features, four modern architect-designed gites and a charming woodland lodge as well as the Humphreys' own living quarters.
Facilities include a swimming pool, top quality tennis court, purpose-built volleyball court, licensed bar, dining terrace and large library which doubles as a conference room and wedding venue.
Such surroundings complement a wide range of leisure activities and Helen and Steve are keen to build on the programme offered during 2004, when they were lucky enough to attract the services of a Savoy-trained chef. He will be opening a guest restaurant at Peyrecaty this year and hosting cookery schools during selected weeks (excluding July and August). There are also plans for wine-tasting and gastronomic courses with visits to local vineyards and restaurants. Helen and Steve are the first to admit it has been a steep learning curve and not always plain sailing: She says: "The worst experience was when the local farmer came with his tractor to cut our grass late one evening. It was dark, but he looked very industrious working by tractor lights.
"The next thing we knew, the farmer was explaining that he had a 'petite probleme.' His tractor was sinking! It transpired that our main water pipe to the entire site had ruptured, the day before all our guests were due to arrive! At midnight Steve and our two helpers Mark and Pete were digging deep trenches in the field by torchlight trying to find the pipe in order to fix it. We eventually located and repaired the pipe at 4am. A truly humbling experience."
But being accepted with open arms by the locals, combined with a successful first season, has more than made up for all the hard work. "We love France with its culture, people and simplicity of life and would recommend it to others," says Helen.
What advice would she give to people starting out down the same route? "If you don't speak or understand the language when you first arrive in France, don't think you will be able to learn as you make your way through translating documents. Running a gite complex, especially one of our size, comes with enormous amounts of paperwork. "My advice would be to employ someone, say one morning a week, until you have mastered the language yourself. The money you pay them will save you lots in the long run. If you have a query with a bill, don't put it to one side until a fine comes through. Employ someone who can phone up on your behalf, argue your point and get results."
The Domaine de Peyrecaty is featured in the 2005 Chez Nousdirectory.
Scottsdale, Arizona, Where The Living Is Easy
by Gary Kiernan
Scottsdale Arizona, is internationally renowned as a major resort destination despite barely squeaking into the top 100 of U.S. cities in terms of population. No Virginia, size is not everything.
Although its nickname is "the West's Most Western Town" I have to say that really is a misnomer. In fact, construction of new horse corrals was all but banned back in the 70's. Call me old fashioned but to be "Western" I think horses should factor into the equation somewhere. The only re-shoeing going on in Scottsdale today is a trophy-wife exchanging her Blahnicks for Jimmy Choos!
That being said, Scottsdale truly is a treasure. It has been written that in terms of entertainment and culture, Scottsdale ranks at #3 behind Los Angeles and New York. As someone who has lived, at length, in all three places, I have to say that Scottsdale is most definitely on the ascendancy; indeed it may already have surpassed L.A., in this humble scribe's opinion. Certainly, theatre, dining and entertainment are L.A.'s equal, but housing costs are much lower, and the traffic here in Scottsdale is a breeze compared to the grid-lock that L.A. has become.
It is also the reason that many wealthy people, and in fact several celebrities, have chose Scottsdale for their second home. Spectacular estate homes in Scottsdale are available for a fraction of the cost of comparable homes in LaLa land. Of course, many are of new construction with all the attendant modern conveniences that would be expensive retrofits in Los Angeles. Plus we still have abundant land available here in Scottsdale, a situation not available in L.A. for many years.
Scottsdale is also well served by its own airport as well as Phoenix International Sky Harbor Airport just minutes away. Of course, the northernmost boundary of Scottsdale abuts Carefree,(which also has its own airport) even so it is still a scant 30 minute drive to downtown Phoenix.
Believe it or not, when the town of Scottsdale was incorporated in 1951 it was just one square mile. Today, it covers around 184 square miles.
As testament to its status as one of the premier golf and tourist destinations in the world, Scottsdale is home to the annual FBR Open Golf Tour, the most attended PGA event on the tour.
It is also home to the world famous Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Auction, plus a host of lesser auctions staged at the same time, such as Russo and Steele and Kruse.
While it is true that it can be an expensive place to live, it should be remembered that the older parts are quite affordable and are enjoying something of a renaissance. One of the benefits of the cooling real estate market, is that for some who felt the ship had sailed forever in 2004 and 2005, there is a second chance to grab a piece of the dream.
Whether your interest is cars, horses, museums, art, theatre, entertainment, shopping, nightlife or golf, there is something for everyone in Scottsdale, Arizona.
