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@@jokkeowre3382 thanks! Your comment is really appreciated. There’s a pretty ‘epic’ video coming next month. To be followed by regular “tips and tricks” videos . So if you enjoyed this please subscribe! And if you want comprehensive advice about buying a property and moving to spain please check out my guide at www.spainunfiltered.com/chasing-the-sun Thanks again! James

Thanks Neil, glad you enjoyed the video! Anywhere on the mediterranean coast could be hit by a Gota Fria. When one is predicted the forecast it will normally say that it will hit a stretch of coast but they can't predict exactly where along that stretch, however for any given location the chances of a gota fria hitting are low. If I remember correctly in 2019 there was flooding at the southern end of LaTorre/El Mojon and the footbridge over the rambla at Mil Palmeras was damaged (and has since been replaced). And the motorway tunnel was flooded. One thing to point out is they don't have gutters and drains in spain like we do in the UK the roads in towns are designed with high curbs so that the water can run down the road like a big gutter in extreme circumstances, this can make things look worse then they are in videos when the the drainage is doing its job. It looks nothing like we would expect in the UK when the water is drained underground. I've seen videos of Pilar where the storm drains are doing their job, but it looks like armageddon has arrived. My point is that looking for a municipality that is immune to a gota fria is impossible but you will see some municipalities that have put greater care into managing run off. Pilar is one of the better locations in this aspect. The rambla (flood water course) through the town centre continues all the way to the sea and there is another natural rambla (starting in the rio seco) that continues all the way to mil palmeras. Whatever municipality you look in however, you should look at every property with flooding in mind. Some will be obviously safe but properties in a valley or on low land may be susceptible and you should make further enquiries about the property's history via the agent and asking around locally. In short though. the vast majority of la torre/pilar is fine, however I would be especially careful at the southern end of El Mojon, especially on the murcia side of the main road. You may find my new guide helpful with your planning. The digital version will be updated as changes happen in the law so will still be relevant as you get closer to a move but will help you with your planning straight away. Thanks! www.spainunfiltered.com/chasing-the-sun/

@@Spainunfiltered Kind of you to provide such a detailed reply James. Looks like Pilar is back on 🙂I will be checking out the guide 👍thanks again!

Thank you! You have to invest €500k in property (before tax) so that could be several properties or a single home. (there are options to invest in bonds and/or businesses). NB: The Spanish Government have announced that they will be ending the golden visa however no date has yet been set. There's loads more info on visas, the requirements and the process of applying in my buyers guide: www.spainunfiltered.com/chasing-the-sun/

@@hansdekkers5375 that’s just a question of perspective. If you’re watching this from outside of Spain, they’re ex-pats, from inside they’re immigrants. Thanks for your comment, I hope you enjoyed the video.

@@brigittemarchand3903 it’s a lovely place!

Thanks Yvonne! I'm glad you enjoy the videos. Thanks for the Sub! I'm sure you'll enjoy Campoverde, a bit of a change of pace from Villamartin and a lovely community. After so many years here I'm sure you don't need me to say this, but all the same, please be careful visiting the Rio Seco this time of year, it can get very hot down there!

Interesting to know. This video is a little old now and I will revise it later this year. Do you find you get a better response on other portals? It’s crazy that an agent would pay for advertising only to ignore enquiries, but it’s not unusual. Portfolios are often badly managed and it’s pretty common to find properties listed long after they come off the market. It may be that some of your enquires are being ignored because the property is no longer for sale. Just a thought but idealista has a lot of Spanish speaking agents on it and is automatically translated into English. Have you tried translating your enquires to Spanish?

That's great to hear. I was typing away when the notification of your comment popped up, It's most definitely on its way! It is worth adding you name to the list via my website as there may be some pre release offers going out to the mailing list before the full launch is announced 😎 www.spainunfiltered.com/chasing-the-sun Thanks!

In that case, in my opinion, you couldn't have chosen a better location!

@@Spainunfiltered I think so absolutely love it.

Thank you! Everything goes through phases and I really hope that in a few years I'll be able to make a new video about Torrevieja and, with the huge TM development planned by the Salt lakes and the improvements to the promenade at Playa de los locos it will have a very different feel. The good bits of Torrevieja (and the good bits are great) are spreading and overall it's definitely going in the right direction torrevieja.es/es/noticias/2023-04-03-presentado-proyecto-reorganizacion-paseo-playa-locos-avda-dr-mariano-ruiz

I actually think you have it the wrong way round. Residential Tourism is a key part of the economy in CBS whereas Hotels are more prevalent in the north take a look at this google search for example. tinyurl.com/4cn9dn8e There are now quite extensive regulations surrounding holiday rentals and they are applied differently in different areas. Areas where there is a strong hotel industry tend to be more restrictive on holiday lets in order to protect the hospitality industry (who can lobby more powerfully in bigger numbers). Altea council have, for example, just suspended all new licences. Look on Airbnb etc and you can see yourself where the rentals are prevent and where opportunities lie. Also there is a quite a lot that goes into getting a license so it is worth considering buying a property that is already set up and licenced for rental. You are more likely to find one in the SCB. There is a whole chapter dedicated to holiday rentals in my upcoming book which includes help with planning and compliance. It has just been proofread by someone who is in your position who had this to say: "I've read and re-read your chapter on the Spanish holiday lettings. The quality and quantity of the information in it is absolutely spot on. It's well written really easy to read. You must have put some hours into it and if the rest of the book is as useful and informative then you should be onto a winner. I'm going to be using your templates and business plan advice before I make a decision. I haven't really got any negatives and I would say if I had". You can pre order a copy here if you are interested: spainunfiltered.com/chasing-the-sun

Hi. I plan to cover the North Costa Blanca in the future however probably not until the Autumn as the earliest. Traditionally the North Costa Blanca has been seen as being more desirable than the South but a lot has changed in the last 20 years or so. The landscape is different, hillier with lots of places with stunning views and there are some more traditional towns like Altea and Guadalest. The winter climate is slightly better in the SCB and, when you take the number ease of access to the courses in Murcia (costa Calida) as well as the courses on the SCB, it's probably more attractive for golfers. Airport access is a little easier too. There are pros and cons to both areas but which is better is really down to to personal taste and circumstances.

@@Spainunfiltered Thanks so much for your excellent reply.

I give a lot of detail about taxes related to property purchase and ownership for EEA (European Economic Area) Citizens and an Non-EEA citizens (eg USA, UK). I also give a brief overview of what it means to be a Fiscal Resident. Tax advice is beyond my remit, however I do explain the roles of an "Asesor Financiero" (Financial Advisor), a "Contable" (Accountant) and a Fiscal representative and how to go about selecting the right people to work with.

Yes, one of those stories that sounds like an urban Myth but is entirely true! The road that runs along it is named after the Dr. Mariano Ruiz Cánovas, the doctor who ran the Hospital.

Thanks! It will be a while before I have time, but hopefully this summer… anything in particular you would like me to include in a video about that area?

Thank you so much, it really means a lot to me to read that. El Raso was a good choice. Nice and peaceful! (at least it was last time I visited a few years back!).

Thanks Tommy! I worked in San Pedro for a few years and got to know the Mar Menor area very well. It's on my list hopefully for later this year. Thanks for your message on the website. I'll get back to you during the week!

Thanks @tommytee8387. Thanks for your input! (this response is partly for you but also to expand a bit for anyone else who's reading!) It is an increasingly common problem. Heavy rainstorms have always been an issue on the med coast. I think it's to do with the difference in sea and air temperatures at particular times of year (I think, I'm not a meteorologist!). It's known as a"DANA" or a "Gota Fria" They are good at predicting that an event will happen somewhere on the coast on a given day but as the rain is very intense (200l/m2 or 9 inches of rain in 24 hours!) and very localised, it's difficult to predict exactly where it will hit. Any coastal area has always been at risk of a gota fria but, as you say, over the last few years they're getting more, frequent and more intense. Just by the law of averages areas that haven't seen floods for decades are more likely to see them now, but then they still might not see another for a very long time. The big issue to look out for is areas which have become pinch points through bad planning. Some parts of Torrevieja, or parts of the old town in los Alcazares for example. Here you will find far more frequent flooding because the Gota fria could hit anywhere in a relatively large catchment area and then funnel down to the problem area. As I say in the video, it's most likely to be a problem in coastal urban areas (on low ground). The good news is that the councils are waking up to the problem and improving defences. In Los Alcazares 10 of millions are being invested in tackling the problem - www.miteco.gob.es/es/agua/temas/gestion-de-los-riesgos-de-inundacion/planes-gestion-riesgos-inundacion/proyecto-proteccion-inundaciones-pescaderia-cartagena-fase2.html (in spanish but the pictures alone can give an idea of the scale of the work) Take a look at this bit of my video about Pilar de la Horadada and you can see the work that they have put into storm protection. ua-cam.com/video/QrZvEJD_AKU/v-deo.htmlsi=YFen7O4rfecO2XBF&t=138

Yep, some of it is. Some of it less so. There's a video on it's way that talks about this (although you'll have to wait a little while, as I say in the channel video I'm a bit preoccupied at the moment!).

Thanks for commenting! Most of the Veja Baja area is indeed very flat, but there are some lovely green areas to explore. Check out my video about Pilar de la Horadada for example, The salt lake nature reserves, the Palm forest at Elche or Nature reserves that surround Guardamar, or for less natural but nonetheless stunning greenery, Las Colinas, Campoamor, Lo Romero. The North Costa Blanca is indeed greener and the topography is hillier so you do get some lovely views and there are some well established towns to visit. There is also a measurable difference in the climate and that's what makes it green. I worked in the Almeria Province for a number of years, working out of Garrucha, near Mojacar and while it certainly has its charms it is home to the largest desert in Spain (Tabernas). In fact it's so arid that it was used as the location for the Spaghetti westerns, it certainly doesn't make the South Costa Blanca look barren or cheap in my opinion. It definitely doesn't have the amenities and convenience that the SCB has. 20 years ago I probably would have agreed with you entirely, and if I were to focus on the areas that are attractive just because of price then I'd probably still think the same, but I think the SCB has come on a long way.

Thanks Thom, I appreciate the support. Sorry for taking a while to reply but I needed to get this video out first: ua-cam.com/video/VeGex2hX-4Q/v-deo.html There will be a bit of a delay to the location videos, but hopefully, if everything goes to plan then, there should be some coming at the end of July/August! Most of the content is filmed, I just need to focus my time elsewhere for a little while. Hope you can wait!

One of my favourite times of year to be honest. It’s hot enough to make good use of the beaches and swimming pools, but not as hot as the peak of summer (which can get very hot). Busy enough but not as busy as it is during the school holidays. Definitely a good time to visit.

Thanks Mick, you choose a lovely place to make home!

Thank you!

Thanks so much! I do appreciate it :)

Thank you! I do appreciate it. New video coming in a couple of days time that I expect you’ll be interested in!

It really is!

Glad you liked it!

Thank you! Please do keep an eye on the channel as there is lots to come in 2024!

That depends on the lifestyle you want to lead but a minimum of €1000 for a frugal lifestyle. If you are not an EU citizen then there are minimum income requirements for a visa. The details for that are on my website www.spainunfiltered.com/moving-to-spain-guides/

1000 IS little ,you need 2000 euros to live comfortable,1500 would be the Minimum

For a family of 3 I calculated we'd need about 3000 a month, given you have your house paid off already.

Hi Frank, Thanks for the support, it's appreciated. I'm not sure that I'd say that Alicante has lost it's charm (it's a bit of a subjective take so would require a longer conversation!) but the coastal area certainly has changed enormously from the area I remember as a kid in the 80's. Many of the most popular residential areas simply didn't exist then. To be honest, there was a time that I thought the property boom had ruined the south CB, but when I was having a good drive around to film for this video (and some that are to come) I changed my take. A lot of the areas that I last looked at closely when they were either under construction or brand new, have how matured and now that infrastructure and amenities have (largely) caught up with population, it is now an area that has plenty to offer; all be it unrecognisable from the area it once was. In the 80's I remember Ex-pats communicating by CB radio as there were no phone lines, and banding together to build a makeshift ambulance so I guess that what has been lost has been replaced in a different way - its down to the individual to decided if that's positive or negative. I've got some videos coming about locations in the CBS which should help give you a better idea. I would say that the biggest difference between the Costa Del Sol and South Costa Blanca - aside from the landscape (the South Costa Blanca is mostly flat) is that the back in the 50's the CdS was already an established tourist destination. The areas you ask about existed then and have been developed upon so at their core they are much more established and have a stronger sense of identity. Also, what attracted people to the South Costa Blanca, rather than the CdS, during the boom years was primarily price, and your money still goes further. There's not much in the area that can compete with the luxury destinations on the CDS, especially the Golden Mile, however, there are some really impressive coastal properties in some areas, like Campoamor and Cabo Roig and resorts such as Las Colinas are aimed at a high end luxury market (it's not La Zageleta, but it is very luxurious). I hope this helps. while considering a lawyer please do take a look at this page, using them help support this channel! spainunfiltered.com/costa-luz-lawyers/

@@Spainunfiltered Thanks James. One last question is there any noticeable climate difference between Alicante and Marbella that you know of?. We are primarily looking at this as an escape from Canadian winters, not as full year round retirement. Having grown up Costa Brava I honestly want no part of Spain in August. Fun as a kid and a teenager not so much as an older adult imo.

@@Frank-wo3qm No Problem! In terms of temperature, the difference between the Costa del Sol and the and the South Costa Blanca is marginal (and I stress the South Costa Blanca as the climate is noticeably colder to the north of Alicante) If anything it will be a little warmer, in CDS but not drastically. The main difference is rainfall. You will get considerably more rain on the Costa del Sol.

Hi Frank, After I responded to you yesterday, I thought that your question would actually make the basis for a good blog post so... here you go! spainunfiltered.com/costa-del-sol-vs-costa-blanca-weather-a-detailed-comparison/

@@Spainunfiltered Great article James, thanks. We are going to Costa del Sol this winter to get a feel for the place during winter. We will probably do the same next year with CB. It will probably just come down to what municipalities we like best and what tennis clubs are around.

Thank you! Videos for areas north of this on will be coming, but not for quite a while. What area are you interested in? I might be able to help with some info!

Or, Asturias 😊 that'd be brilliant!😊

Thanks!

Thank You!

Cheers Clive (when I was a kid I used to call it the mini Grand Canyon!)

I still do 😆@@Spainunfiltered

It really is, full credit to the local town hall and volunteers who have worked hard over the last few decades to protect and enhance the area.

Thanks Guy. Working on new content as we speak!