So, you want to sell your house? Well, you need it to stand out from the crowd.

You could borrow a friend’s dog; have it snuggled up on the sofa to demonstrate the warm and welcoming environment that is your home. Or, if you’d rather portray yourself as a dynamic and successful money making entrepreneur, how about leaving your boss’s sports car outside for the estate agent to photograph? Continue reading »

Nordica’s choice of top local restaurants in Nueva Andalucia and Marbella

Nermans Restaurant
Located within the luxurious Los Naranjos Golf Club urbanisation, Nermans restaurant and bistro bar has become a modern cuisine favourite along the coast. Indulge in the wide selection of dishes from the international menu, whilst simultaneously enjoying the stylish interior or a summer night on the outside terrace. Continue reading »

The transaction costs when buying a property in Spain consist of lawyer and notary fees, land registry costs, transfer tax and a mortgage tax. A rate adjustment coming into effect this year sees a number of small but important changes in the make-up of these property purchase costs.

Lawyers’ fees, which are approximately equal to 1% of the purchase price plus VAT, will most likely remain the same, as will Notary fees (dependent upon the price of the property and the length and complexity of the purchase contract), and Land Registry costs, which vary according to the purchase price and what needs to be registered. Continue reading »

When foreign nationals own property or start living part or fulltime in Spain there will always be legal ramifications. Citizens from countries in Northern Europe, be it the UK, the Netherlands, Germany or Scandinavia, will continue to be subject to the legislation, legal codes and tax laws of their homeland, yet if they own assets in Spain, and/or work and live here, they will also fall under Spanish jurisdiction.

Most of us have enough trouble coming to grips with the regulations, bureaucracy and legal language of our own countries, so adding a whole new set of laws in a different cultural, political and business environment can make things rather confusing, quite apart from language issues. This is why many of the larger law firms in areas like Marbella also employ lawyers trained in other parts of Europe, and why there are specialist legal firms catering to specific expat populations. Continue reading »

Even if you have made the decision to sell your house in order to relocate to Spain, you might feel that selling the trusty family car is one step too far! If, like many before you, you decide to bring your car, it will be necessary to re-register it to use it permanently in Spain.

Non-residents may only register cars on temporary tourist plates, which are valid for only six months in every year and must be renewed annually. On becoming fully resident, the payment of the Impuesto Especial must be made; this charge is equivalent to 12 per cent of the value of the car. Continue reading »

Aldea Blanca is a well maintained development consisting of apartments in a rustic andalucian style, the urbanization offers 4 pools and mature gardens. This complex reminds you a little of the white villages in the mountains with its white buildings and wooden terrace pillars. Being only approximately 1km from Puerto Banús, you are within walking distance to all amenities, the harbor, the beach and all shops, which makes it ideal for families.

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Naturally, as with all European countries, opening a bank account here in Spain is not a complicated process. What you will have to bear in mind that there are two types of account: the cuenta para residentes (for those with a Spanish permanent residence document) and the cuenta para no residentes (for clients without an NIE or permanent residence permit). Continue reading »

Settling in Spain is a comparatively easy process, but there are a few things that you will need to do on arrival to make sure that your new life runs as smoothly as possible.

In order to help you to undertake these tasks with as little stress as possible, we present a series of articles listing all the information that you will need to kick-start things.

The NIE Number

As a foreign resident living in Spain and paying taxes here, or even a non-resident property owner, you will need to obtain an NIE number. Fortunately the application process is very straightforward and once you have your NIE number you will find it very useful, since it can be quoted in all manner of bureaucratic situations. Continue reading »