UK voted worst place to live in Europe for quality of life whilst Spain is the second best place to live

May 22, 2012 – 9:41 am

The UK has been voted the worst place to live in Europe for quality of life, according to uSwitch. The high cost of living, later retirement age and lack of holidays have pushed the UK into bottom place, behind Poland, Germany, Ireland and Sweden.

Top of the list for the third year running is France, second place goes to Spain while Italy falls into third.

Although the average net income in the UK is one of the highest in Europe, everyday living costs are far greater with the price of unleaded petrol, alcohol and cigarettes way above the European average.

The study was conducted by looking at 16 different factors, including income and the cost of essential goods along, with lifestyle factors such as hours of sunshine, life expectancy, working hours and holiday entitlement.

Today just 5% of us are happy living in the UK, while 12% admit to wanting to emigrate. When asked what the worst thing about living in the UK was, 59% said it was Britain’s broken society, while 49% blamed the cost of living and 47% cited crime and violence.

Ann Robinson, spokesperson for uSwitch.com, says: “We may still be enjoying the fourth-highest household income in Europe, but the high cost of living means that we’re living to work. When coupled with many of the issues facing households in the UK today it’s not surprising that one in ten of us have contemplated starting a new life abroad.

“For those of us who decide to stay put and ride out the storm, there will be no choice but to batten down the hatches. Cutting back where possible to help combat our high living costs will go some way to improving our quality of life.”

Rank Countries VAT Working hours per week Number of holiday days per year Retirement age Cost of fuel (per litre) Food prices (GBP)
1 France 19.6% 38.0 36 60 £1.31 £120.78
2 Spain 18% 38.6 39 62.3 £1.15 £124.54
3 Italy 20% 37.8 31 60.1 £1.33 £125.22
4 Holland 19% 30.6 31 63.5 £1.43 £122.51
5 Germany 19% 35.7 29 62.2 £1.33 £123.88
6 Denmark 25% 33.5 36 62.3 £1.40 £130.09
7 Poland 23% 40.6 38 59.3 £1.10 £137.72
8 Sweden 23% 36.5 38 61.4 £1.35 £126.78
9 Ireland 21% 35.0 29 64.1 £1.28 £112.62
10 UK 20% 36.4 28 63 £1.33 £145.30
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More wealthy Brits expected to move overseas

April 20, 2012 – 10:03 am

Wealthy Brits moving to Spain and Tenerife?

The volume of wealthy Britons who move overseas is expected to rise in the next two years, according to a new Lloyds TSB International Wealth survey. The study shows that 19% of people with savings and investments worth more than £250,000 are considering moving abroad, up from 17% six months ago and 14% a year ago. The new figure suggests that over half a million people with that level of personal wealth may flee overseas by 2014 in search of a better, more affordable lifestyle. Many of those seeking to leave the UK say that they would reconsider if Briton lowered taxes, cut regulatory red tape for businesses and improved public services such as healthcare, education and the police. Any hike in in the number of Brits moving overseas would undoubtedly fuel greater demand for homes abroad, with Spain, France, Portugal, Australia, and the USA often high on the agenda. Nicholas Boys Smith, director at Lloyds TSB International Wealth, said the number of people expected to leave the UK includes a “large number of successful, affluent individuals who play an important role in powering the UK economy”. He said: “While the figures strongly suggest we won’t see a mass exodus, it is clear that a significant and growing minority see opportunity and a better quality of life overseas.”

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Crucial year for Spanish real estate

February 9, 2012 – 4:37 pm

Crucial year for property in Tenerife and Spain

Property prices in the prime locations of Barcelona remained resilient throughout 2011 but it remains possible to purchase properties at discounts of up to 30% on 2007 prices, according to market analysis for Q3 and Q4 2011 by estate agents Lucas Fox. Having analysed the property markets in Barcelona, Mallorca, Ibiza and Costa Brava property markets, the company predicts that foreign property investment will rise in 2012. Alex Vaughan, Director at Lucas Fox International, says that his firm is still receiving strong interest from buyers looking to buy homes in some parts of the country, many of whom are keen to take advantage of the discounted prices that are possible. But the picture is less positive in other regions of Spain, with agents in some parts of the country such as Murcia and Alicante reporting on large amounts of property stock on the market and a very low volume of transactions. “In these worse affected areas 2012 looks set to be another crucial year for sellers and agents alike,” said Vaughan. “There are, however some positive signs in the market as a whole. Last year the Spanish government lowered the purchase tax payable on new build property which stimulated transactions in the last quarter and the new PP Government have announced that this measure will be continued through 2012.” 

The signs for 2012 are positive with a much larger amount of enquiries from international buyers  than we normally experience at this time of year.” Many prospective buyers who have been observing the Spanish property market for the last few years have now decided that it is the right time to show their hand and start negotiating on their ideal property, according to Stijn Teeuwen, director of Lucas Fox International Properties. He said: “For those clients that get it right there are possibilities to buy prime properties in the best locations at major discounts on the prices that there were being sold at prior to 2007 / 2008.” Tom Maidment, director at Lucas Fox Costa Brava, added: “There are still plenty of opportunities to purchase well-located, quality properties at interesting prices

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Spain heading for top spot as a tourist destination once more

November 3, 2011 – 3:16 pm

Spain top destination once more with Brits

Spain is heading for a return to tourism domination as the 2011 visitor figures soar towards a record 57 million, boosted by higher numbers of independent travellers staying in rented accommodation along their favourite Costas.

80% of tourists now book their own flights and accommodation. Average stay in owned apartments or rented villas is now 15 days , twice that of hotels, who have had record occupancy in 2011. Average stay rose two percent and more came people from the UK than any other country.

There are now 370,000 Brits living full-time officially in Spain, drawn by the California climate, cheap food and drink, fiesta lifestyle and above average life expectancy. 1,000s more are planning to join them after Britain came bottom in a survey to find the best place to live. The summer city riots have influenced 1,00s more to quit the UK.

A Lloyds TSB survey found 67% of Brits living in Spain “had no plans to return to Britain” and 74% claimed quality of life was better. The survey found 87% of Brits felt safer in Spain “which is a better place to bring up kids”.

Source: PropertyinSpain.net

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More expats planning to stay abroad

October 27, 2011 – 2:24 pm

In February, Lloyds TBS International released a survey that suggested 67 per cent of expats had no plans to return to Britain – compared to just 56 per cent when the same survey was conducted six months before.

Now, research by the company has revealed that even more people (69 per cent) are planning to stay abroad permanently, with 15 per cent saying they have cancelled plans to return in just the past year.

A combination of improved financial prospects and the belief that quality of life is higher overseas seemed to be the main motivation behind expats’ decision to stay. Despite the financial hardship that many expats, particularly those in Europe, have suffered due to adverse currency fluctuations since the beginning of the economic crisis, 64 per cent said they were still financially better-off abroad, with only a quarter saying that the cost of living was higher.

Nearly three-quarters (74 per cent) per cent said their quality of life was higher, with 51 per cent agreeing that their new home was a better place to bring up children. Many expats also felt safer abroad, with just 13 per cent saying that their neighbourhoods in Britain had been less dangerous.

Source: Telegraph.co.uk

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Luxury property and prime real estate is bouncing back world wide

September 22, 2011 – 9:22 am

Luxury property in Tenerife and Spain on the rise again

International luxury real estate activity is bouncing back, according to a new report from property network Christie’s International Real Estate.

Over two-thirds of respondents to Christie’s State of the Market survey reported an increase in buyer activity for the first eight months of 2011.

And although 62.5% said that sellers are still unrealistic about pricing, the figure has fallen considerable since last year.

However chief executive Neil Palmer warned that lending challenges and a lack of quality housing in some areas is hamstringing further growth. Tenerife’s prime property is a prime example of the  way the sector is bouncing back.

Source: OPP.org.uk

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Spain’s high quality property in demand

March 18, 2011 – 3:09 pm

Quality property in Spain, Tenerife and the Islands is always in demand

The UK has London, France has Paris and now, it seems, Spain has its own elite property market that’s surging ahead of the rest of the country. Whilst recovery in the national property market after the 2008 collapse remains slow, the Balearic Islands of Ibiza, Majorca, Minorca and Formentera are a different story, with sales increasing by 14% in 2010 and expected to keep growing as tourism booms this year. 

A total of 10,860 homes were sold in the islands last year according to government statistics which, when compared to the 491,000 properties sold nationally, made up quite a large percentage of total sales figures in Spain. And that percentage is growing at speed – whilst home sales in the Spanish market as a whole only grew 5.9% from 2009′s numbers, sales in the Balearics were up 14.5% compared with figures for the previous year.

“Over the last 12 months we have seen buyer interest in the Balearic Islands, especially Majorca, rise steadily”, said Ignacio Osle, sales director of the nation’s largest homebuilder, Taylor Wimpey Espana. An enduringly popular tourist destination amongst Brits in particular, the Spanish Tourist Board estimates holiday visits from UK customers to the Balearics has grown 13% so far this year.

This trend is expected to continue into the peak summer season, as a result of both holidaymakers changing their destinations from Tunisia and Egypt to Spain and the Canary Isles, and last-minute holiday bookings for the Royal Wedding holiday period. UK-based tour operator Thomas Cook reported a 30 per cent surge in enquiries for Balearics packages over the April break, whilst charter airline Monarch has extended its services from the UK to Majorca to cope with growing demand.

Osle recommended Majorca particularly as a hotspot for property investment. With plans currently in the works to construct a Formula 1 track near the island’s transport hub of Palma, long-term tourism prospects look good, and continuing foreign interest has ensured prices retain their value compared to the rest of the Spanish market.  “The local property market remains buoyant, with foreign buyers keen to get a slice of island life by purchasing high quality, well located properties”, said Osle.

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“Happiness” is being an expat

March 17, 2011 – 2:31 pm

Expats are happy with life in Tenerife and Spain

The “Happiness Index” survey carried out by Post Office International Payments suggested that 70 per cent of expats regard themselves as very happy with their new life, although almost two thirds admit to feeling pressure on their personal finances. 60 per cent of those who responded said they feel a greater sense of community in their new country compared to the UK.

Using Survey Monkey, the Post Office questioned 710 Post Office International Payments customers with properties abroad, of whom 233 were expats living permanently abroad. The survey showed that people from London and the South East are the most likely to emigrate – 39 per cent of all expats questioned were from this region. The most popular countries for those surveyed to emigrate to were France, Spain and the Canary Islands.

Reasons given for leaving included searching for a better quality of life, finding a place to retire or gaining new “life experiences”. Sarah Munro from Post Office International Payments said: “Though the vast majority of people who relocated abroad are much happier in their adoptive countries, even just moving across the Channel can feel like worlds apart from your old life in the UK.”

Source: Telegraph Online

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Tenerife to cash in on latest survey?

October 12, 2009 – 4:26 pm
Tenerife could cash in on the latest gloomy British survey

Tenerife could cash in on the latest gloomy British survey

Britain is the worst place to live in Europe, according to a study.

Although Britons earn high incomes that money is cancelled out by long working hours, poor annual leave, rising food and fuel bills and a lack of sunshine. Britons have  the highest after-tax household income of £35,730-a-year, more than £10,000 above the European average.

But most of it goes on keeping a “roof over our heads, food on the table and our homes warm”, according to the uswitch.com European Quality of Life Index.

Ann Robinson of uSwitch.com, said: “There is more to good living than money – and this report shows why so many Brits are giving up on the UK and heading to France and Spain.”  Perhaps now is the time to think of renting out your Tenerife property or even selling via an estate agent as winter approaches in the UK and thoughts turn to sunshine!

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Spanish property tours to visit England

September 11, 2009 – 4:05 pm
Spanish property exhibitions to visit England

Spanish property exhibitions to visit England

Taylor Woodrow will mark its 50th anniversary by touring England with a series of Spanish property exhibitions throughout September.

The exhibitions will offer people looking to buy property in Spain information on Spanish homes and locations, plus Spanish properties that have been reduced in price by up to 41 per cent, to reflect the recent slump in the Spain property market.

Victor Sague, Marketing Director of Taylor Woodrow de Espana, said, ” From talking with our estate agency partners in the UK, we expect there to be significant interest in these offers from both investors and second home hunters.”

Experts will be on hand to advice house hunters at each of the exhibitions, which will be held around England from Sunday 13-23 September.

There are many homes available in seaside and golfing locations throughout Mallorca, Costa Blanca, Gibraltar and Marbella,  Tenerife and the Canary Islands. A  high number of homes will be sold throughout the couple of weeks of exhibitions as it will provide house hunters one last chance to buy a quality home at a fantastic price. It really is now or never for people to take advantage of these top quality homes as these discounts will not be around for long.

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