The point being that Costa Esuri, rather than being an outstanding example of  a Spanish urbanisation, has been financed to a very large extent by expat money.   Some Spanish even call it the ‘village built for the foreigners’!  It was going to be yet another of those fantastic opportunities to make money by buying off-plan, or renting out for half the year etc. etc.   You will have heard the story a million times.  Unfortunately, not only did the economic crisis finally bare it gnarly teeth, for the English investors there was the added torment of the plummeting currency exchange.  Suddenly, the affordable mortgage on the Spanish property became very expensive indeed.

Which brings us back to my visit to Costa Esuri where I was shocked when my friend pointed out an apartment that was on the market for just €80,000.   A ‘new’ three-bedroom apartment that would probably have originally been selling for approximately €160,000 or thereabouts.   Ten of thousands of euros gifted away to the lucky buyer just so that the owners can get rid of the burden.

What saddens me is that this is a story that is repeated over and over again throughout Spain, not just in Huelva.  When I wrote my book, Spain: The Expat Survival Guide, I was accused of being pessimistic because I pointed out how hard it could be to move to Spain.  Turns out I was not so far off the mark.

My Guide

Spain continues to rank as the most popular expat destination with hundreds of thousands of us living or owning property here and thousands more pursuing the Spanish dream each year. Yet, despite huge numbers choosing to relocate here, only a handful of expats are really successful in the long term. The rest give up on their dreams and retreat back home…poorer, disillusioned and defeated. These ex-expats found out the hard way that moving to Spain, buying property or even buying a car here can become a bureaucratic nightmare filled with struggle, frustration and unforseen costs. The good news is you can avoid the problems that catch most expats out by learning from someone who’s already experienced them first-hand.

Inside, Yolanda shares…

* Culture Shock – prepare for some of the big changes you will be faced with and why it doesn’t pay to be too polite!

* Bureaucracy – avoid expensive mistakes and safely navigate your way through the minefield of Spanish bureaucracy involved in everything from paying a simple bill to buying a house.

* Employment – find out why you may well be unable to find a job in Spain and the costs and steps involved in starting a business here.

* Property – ensure it doesn’t become a financial black hole into which a seemingly never ending supply of money is lost for ever.

* Resources – get hundreds of useful links along with case-studies and tips to help save you time and money. Whether you’re considering moving to Spain, have just landed or are already an expat in Spain, this book will make your life easier giving you more time to enjoy it!