Living at La Torre

I don't know the area very well but  if I were you I would not sell up in the UK yet and rent in Spain for around 6 months (the maximum you can stay without becoming resident) including the Winter months. That way you will get a good idea of what it's like. The other option that lots of people seem to prefer these days is renting their UK house out to pay for long term rental in Spain. If you really love it there you can then decide whether to sell up in the UK and live permanently and you will have made an informed decision.

Everyone is different and also it's really not possible to know what a place is like in Spain until you spend the winter there or longer.

If you do decide to go to live there I would keep a base in the UK, even just a small flat,  as circumstances change and I know a number of Expats who wish they had done that. Some people go back for July and August as they find it too hot, some go back Dec /Jan as they find the nights in the Spanish properties too cold. Houses in the UK are built for the cold and are cozy...Spanish properties are generally not.

Just a few of my thoughts. I am lucky to have a holiday home out there (on the Costa Blanca) and love it but only go there in the Spring, Summer and early Autumn. 

Jan

Hi Jan

Many thanks for your reply.  We have had a lot of advice to rent initially which is what we've decided to do.  Even though we have visited and stayed in the costa calida area for many years to actually live there will be completely different and do have the fear if we sell up and it's not what we expected then we would be stuck with nothing to return too. 

Once again many thanks for your reply.  It helps so much hearing from people who do live out in Spain who can give an honest opinion on what life is like.

Regards 

Caroline

I also meant to say that the Spanish (we have a number of very nice Spanish neighbours) tend to be used to the cold houses as historically many have lived in unheated (as we know it!) stone houses, which keep them cool in Summer but are cold in Winter - You will see the whole family wrapped up in warm clothes like fleeces inside their houses (log burners and oil heaters can keep the houses relatively warm but not as we know it, as the houses are not insulated or carpeted). We are not used to that in the UK as we are used to our warm cozy houses in Winter...it can come as a shock to us!

Central heating is slowly coming to Spain but the heat loss from the CH in the type of houses in Spain will be tremendous, making it expensive to run, in my opinion. 

Jan

PS. Our British neighbours who do live permanently there have got used to the cold evenings in Winter - They say it's only a couple of months and then back to warm again but it's just something to be prepared for. 

Thanks Jan, all good to know.  We live in Scotland so are used to the cold winters however can imagine living in Spain and having such hot summers it would still be a shock to the system when the temperature does drop in the winter especially as the Spanish properties are not built for the cold.

Still in the early stages of planning our move so it's really good to get helpful information.  As we are still a few years away from retirement, both my husband and I are 53, we also have to take into account living costs, healthcare etc as we won't receive a pension for a good few years.  My husband has his own business here in the UK and would initially be going back and forward until it's wound diwnso also looking at the tax implications of him working in the UK and residing in Spain.  There are so many factors to take into account but hopefully we will get there in the end.

Thanks again

Caroline

Hi Caroline, 

We bought a frontline townhouse at La Torre in May this year (2016) - adore it, but why wouldn't we it ticks every box for us.  Would I recommend it, YES MOST DEFINITELY.  I can hear the other comments from people who don't own at La Torre of looking to rent first, but hey ho, we saw it on  Place in the Sun, visited, offered on a place and it was as easy as that. 

We are normally very cautious people, but this was the most instinctive & the best house purchase we have ever done.  We are still black & blue from all the pinching of ourselves as we can't believe it's ours, lol. 

We used the solicitor on Resort and she was and continues to be fab, she set all our utilities up on direct debits & if we have a query on anything we don't understand we know we can just pop in her office & clarify - such a reassurance. 

Not only is La Torre a great place to own/live/visit it has a great community feel, well managed, informative Forum/Website & things are on the up. So pleased with our purchase - it's the best thing we ever did. 

We had the best Christmas period we have ever had, New Year the most delightful dinner party/disco on Resort in a tasteful fun environment with the nicest of people.  

We cannot fault it at all. 

All the very best wished on what ever you decide.  

Kindest regards, Monica 

Hi Monica

Thank you for your reply re living at La Torre.  We have been looking at many resorts in the Costa Calida area and La Torre caught our eye however had read so many negative comments we were having doubts.  It's reassuring to hear from someone with positive comments.  We were planning on renting before we buy however if the right property came along we, like yourselves, we would be tempted just to buy.

Can I ask, do you now live there permanently?  A lot of people I have spoken to only seem to live there for  part of the year.  Our plan is to completely sell up here in the UK and live full time in Spain.  Also, how have you found the general cost of living in Spain compared to the UK.

Regards

Caroline 

Hi Again Caroline, 

Part Spain/part UK.  On comparison we think living costs in Spain are far cheaper.  Plus UK at Christmas 6 degrees & we were sunning ourselves 14/17 degrees with Chrustmas day our terrace was 19, bonus! So heating costs hugely down.  

I think you always hear the negatives from people - the Brits love to whinge! lol.  But truly I hesitated responding to your query as our experience has been positive & thought yes I will reply to give a balance so chances are the positive people are out enjoying themselves, so you might not hear from them ha ha.  

Now going out ourselves, but any other queries please feel free to send me a personal message & I should be able to reply tomorrow. 

Kind regards, Monica 

Thanks again Monica for your reply and I think you're spot on about Brits love to have a whinge!!!  

Will definitely be in touch if I have any more queries.

Regards

Caroline

Hi Caroline

Myself and my husband bought a town house in La Torre overlooking the golf course early 2016.

We used the solicitors on site and they were very good.  It all went through quickly and smoothly.

We are not living over there permanently yet, but plan to do so when I retire from work. We will keep the house in England and rent it out.  My husband is already semi-retired so spends more time than me there.

As to La Torre, it is fairly quiet, but that is what we like.  I have been told that it is quite sociable, especially if you are living there permanently.

I find La Torre very clean, tidy and organised.  There is a local shop on site which comes in handy.  I have been told that the hotel on site is going to be refurbished and should be opening some time this year.  This will help in that hopefully more of the restaurants will then open.

I do find that when we go over there I find it very relaxing.  We chose to buy in La Torre as its 15 mins drive from the airport and also only about 15 mins drive to the local beaches, which are lovely.

Good luck with whatever you decide to do.  We certainly don't regret the decision to buy in La Torre.

Katrina