Wall - A Spanish Life

2012-10-17 19:53:41 UTC by LPG Spain in Frigiliana

90 days remaining to save 6% on a new property purchase in Spain

The VAT on the purchase of a new property will rise from the present 4% to 10% on the 1st January 2013.

This tax was originally reduced in 2011 from 8% to 4% by the former socialist Spanish government. This was extended on January 1st 2012 through to the end of this year by the current conservative government. However, VAT in Spain was increased across the board on September 1st and the former 8% VAT has increased to 10%. So the increase jumps from 4%, at present, to 10% next year.

In order to save paying this increase you must complete the purchase of a new property by signing the title deed before a notary prior to 31st December 2012.

What is a new property?

A new property is one that has never been registered to a first owner i.e. that from a developer, builder or even a re-possession from a bank as long as it has come from one of the above situations.

The saving can also be made in such a situation where you are paying for a property in stage payments and where the final payment falls into 2013, by paying all VAT payments (at 4%) in advance and before the end of this year.

Spanish Property Prices have fallen 40% since the Peak

A report out this month by Tinsa, a leading independent appraisal company, shows that property prices in Spain have fallen 40% since December 2007.

This figure contrasts to the official estimate of 24%, provided by the Official Spanish House Price index, which is regularly criticised for its inaccuracy from both inside and outside of Spain, and which gives a false impression to would-be-buyers abroad as they think that prices are over inflated and should drop further. Here at LPG Spain, we would prefer to believe the former as being more accurate.

Tinsa goes on to report that the drop varies depending on the region or area of Spain. Average prices on the Mediterranean coastline have fallen the most with a 39.5% drop. Capital cities have fallen by 35.6% whilst metropolitan areas, by 31.4%.

The question is: Will prices continue to fall?

Read the full article:
http://www.leadingpropertygroupspain.com/en/2012/09/spanish-property-prices-have-fallen-40-since-the-peak/

2012-09-17 18:17:27 UTC by LPG Spain in Frigiliana

http://www.leadingpropertygroupspain.com/en/2012/09/feria-time-in-velez-malaga-torrox-and-nerja/

It’s Feria time in Vélez-Málaga, Torrox and Nerja – 2012

It’s fiesta time again with three back-to-back annual Ferias coming up in Vélez-Málaga, Torrox Costa and Nerja.

These popular, sometimes week long celebrations occur all over Spain, from the smallest village to the largest city. It’s an opportunity for the locals and tourists alike to switch off, let their hair down and enjoy the festivities on hand, with fair grounds and attractions, live music, make shift bars and restaurants (casetas), the election of the town’s Miss and Mister, sporting events, bull fighting (in the bigger towns and cities) plus anything and everything that adds to the show.

Annual Fairs run from spring to autumn across the country with the final ones celebrating in October each year.

The Feria “season” comes to an end with three local towns celebrating their annual “extravaganza” at the end of September and the beginning of October.

Feria de San Miguel – Vélez-Málaga

From the 25th – 30th September 2012.

Feria de Torrox & Torrox Costa

From 4th – 7th October 2012.

Feria de Nerja

From 7th – 10th October 2012.

2012-09-16 09:20:06 UTC by LPG Spain in Frigiliana

Buying a Property in Spain, through LPG Spain.

Over the years, trends and technology have changed making us think differently how we buy a property abroad.

In Spain, in the eighties, we had the 3 or 4 day inspection week-end where clients were wined and dined, shown property and signed up before catching the plane home.

In the nineties, we experienced the previous crisis which lasted till around 1997/98 when Spain still had the Peseta, a huge amount of black money under the mattress and the up and coming entry into the Euro in 2001. Property was very cheap, Internet had been invented, developers were booming – building and selling new complexes all over Spain and the “off-plan” syndrome was at its height as never seen before in Spain.

Today, we’re into the fifth year of recession, property prices in Spain have been falling constantly since 2007, unemployment is one of the highest in Europe, their economy is in tatters and they don’t have the Peseta to devalue.

Read the full article...
http://www.leadingpropertygroupspain.com/en/2012/09/buying-a-property-in-spain-through-lpg-spain/

2012-09-08 15:35:29 UTC by LPG Spain in Frigiliana

Spanish La Liga football results – 2nd September 2012

Real Madrid gets their first win of the season after three games, beating Granada 3-0, with 2 goals from Ronaldo.

Barcelona takes their third win, beating Valencia 1-0 at home. Malaga continued their winning streak after classifying for the Champions League earlier in the week, beating Real Zaragoza 0-1 away. That’s 2 victories and 1 draw from 3 games.

There is now a two week break in European league football as International fixtures take place including friendlies and qualifying games for the next FIFA World Cup.

See full results...
http://www.leadingpropertygroupspain.com/en/2012/09/spanish-la-liga-football-results-2nd-september-2012/

2012-09-02 22:22:13 UTC by LPG Spain in Frigiliana

Nerja Tourist Day 2012

The annual Nerja Tourist Day takes place this year on 5th September, starting at 12.00 noon at the Nerja town hall, where the singer of this year’s Spanish’s Eurovision entry, Pastora Soler, will be presented as guest of honour.

At 1.00 pm an exhibition titled “Icons, where time does not exist” will be inaugurated at the Nerja Museum in conjunction with the Nerja Caves Foundation.

At 8.00 pm on the Balcony of Europe, a performance by the Elena Dance School, followed by the Cuban Band “Yamila y los locos de la Habana”.

The day will finish off with a fireworks display.

2012-09-01 13:04:30 UTC by LPG Spain in Frigiliana

Malaga draw Milan, Anderlecht and Zenit in the Champions League

The draw for the Group stage of the Champions League, 2012/13, took place this afternoon in Monaco.

32 teams were drawn from 4 pots including 4 teams from Spain – Real Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, and for the first time in their history, Malaga.

The matches of the first phase will be played 18-19 September, 2-3 October, 23-24 October, 6-7 November, 20-21 November and 4-5 December.

The final will be played in Wembley stadium on 25th May 2013, which coincides with the 150th anniversary of the English Football Association’s (FA) foundation.

RESULT OF THE DRAW...
http://www.leadingpropertygroupspain.com/en/2012/08/malaga-draw-milan-anderlecht-and-zenit-in-the-champions-league/

2012-08-30 16:59:21 UTC by LPG Spain in Frigiliana

Do you rent in Spain? Whether a tenant or a landlord, read this!

The new law of “Promoting the Housing Rental Market” in Spain, which the Spanish government has given the green light to on Friday 24th August, includes a series of legislative changes designed to ease the fears of many owners who rent their properties.

The changes (a date as yet unknown by when the new legislation will take effect) remove many of the rights that previously guaranteed the protection of the tenants against landlords, which naturally has raised many questions among those owners who rely on renting for a living.

(Please note that the following Q&A’s refer to the general laws of renting in Spain. This article does not cover the circumstances surrounding “temporary” contracts found in many coastal regions of Spain, more popularly known as 11 month contracts. We will publish soon a separate article on this matter.)

Read full article:
http://www.leadingpropertygroupspain.com/en/2012/08/do-you-rent-in-spain-whether-a-tenant-or-a-landlord-read-this/

2012-08-24 18:58:42 UTC by LPG Spain in Frigiliana

Spain Football Results – 21st August 2012

Spain’s La Liga kicked off at the week-end with games over three days, marked by certain controversy as some games were played at 11.00 pm, to suit TV schedules.

This move was not popular with players or fans and will only be repeated once more next week-end, thereafter returning to normal playing times ( at least, for Spain!)

Málaga played the first game of the season, winning 0-1 away, the goal scored by the youngest player ever to do so in the league and also on his debut for Málaga, the Cameroon player, 16-year-old Fabrice Olinga.

Barcelona got off to a great start with their new coach, winning 5-1 against Real Sociedad. On the other hand, Real Madrid let slip a victory at home, only being able to draw 1-1 with Valencia.

There was a cracker of an opening game in Bilbao where the home side went down 3-5 to Betis.

RESULTS

Celta de Vigo 0 – 1 Málaga
Sevilla 2 – 1 Getafe
Mallorca 2 – 1 Espanyol
Athletic Club 3 – 5 Real Betis
Real Madrid 1 – 1 Valencia
Barcelona 5 – 1 Real Sociedad
Levante 1 – 1 Atlético Madrid
Deportivo La Coruña 2 – 0 Osasuna
Rayo Vallecano 1 – 0 Granada
Real Zaragoza 0 – 1 Real Valladolid

TABLE

1 Barcelona 3
2 Betis 3
3 Deportivo 3
4 Mallorca 3
5 Sevilla 3
6 Málaga 3
7 R.Vallecano 3
8 Valladolid 3
9 At.Madrid 1
10 Levante 1
11 R.Madrid 1
12 Valencia 1
13 Espanyol 0
14 Getafe 0
15 Celta Vigo 0
16 Granada 0
17 Zaragoza 0
18 Athletic 0
19 Osasuna 0
20 R.Sociedad 0

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

Tomorrow sees Málaga play their first leg qualifying Champions game against Panathinaikos at home in the Rosaleda stadium, kick-off at 20.00.

2012-08-21 17:53:59 UTC by LPG Spain in Frigiliana