Sarah Collins 
No one tells you this until you’re halfway through the mortgage paperwork, but a lot of Spanish banks will make life insurance part of the deal. Sometimes it’s “optional,” but with strings. Sometimes they won’t lend without it. And no — your UK life insurance policy doesn’t always cut it. Not always required. But often … Read more
Let’s start with the obvious — yes, you can get a mortgage in Spain as a British citizen. No, it’s not exactly easy. And no, you probably won’t get the same deal a Spanish resident would. But it’s doable. You just need to know what to expect. Foreign buyers pay more. End of. Residents in … Read more
If I had a euro for every Brit who said “It’s probably fine” two weeks before calling a lawyer in a panic, I’d have a villa. Not one of the good ones either — a rural mess with no paperwork and a goat in the swimming pool. You can get everything right and it still … Read more
Buying your dream place in Spain? Good. Now let’s talk about the bit that no one dreams about: the taxes. Spain has a very… let’s call it thorough tax system when it comes to property purchases. Brits moving over are often caught off-guard because it’s quite different from the UK system. Here’s your clear, practical … Read more
If you’re buying property in Spain as a British buyer, sooner or later, two figures will enter your world: the notario and the abogado. And unless you’ve been through it before, it can all feel slightly surreal. They’re both critical. They both wear suits. But they do very different things. And no, you can’t skip … Read more
If you’re a British expat renting in Spain for the first time, pause before you grab that pen. From slippery contract terms to missing kitchens (yes, really), the rental process here can surprise you. This isn’t London with tapas—it’s its own beast. Long-term rentals in Spain come with different laws, expectations, and red flags. To … Read more
The moment it hits you isn’t when you book the flight. It’s when you stare at some crumbly old villa on Idealista and think, huh, that’s less than a one-bed in Croydon. Then it begins: the spiral of fantasies. Terracotta tiles. Orange trees. Maybe a pool shaped like a guitar. And before you know it, … Read more
Whether you’ve just landed in Spain or you’ve been bouncing between empadronamiento appointments and NIE renewals, one thing’s for certain — you’ll need healthcare. And in Spain, that starts with the SIP card. This is your one-stop guide to registering for Spain’s public healthcare system — nationwide — and understanding what exactly is (and isn’t) … Read more
They say the first step to becoming an expat in Spain is falling in love with a plate of jamón. The second? Getting your NIE — the Número de Identidad de Extranjero. Which sounds kind of romantic. It’s not. It’s paperwork. With fluorescent lighting. Possibly a crying baby in the waiting room. But listen — … Read more
So, can Brits still buy in Spain? Yeah. Brexit didn’t change that. But stuff around it? That’s different. So if you’re looking to buy, live, or invest, it’s still doable. Just plan ahead. Best Places to Buy Depends on what you want. For Retiring For Investment Cheapest Areas How to Buy in Spain (Step-by-Step) Not … Read more
