Weather is the main reason for Britons Overseas Home Buyers

Britain’s overseas property buyers are driven by a better lifestyle and more enjoyable weather that that experienced at home in the UK. Spain (including the Canary and Baleric Islands) and Australia were highest on the list for their international real estate purchase.

Bad weather is the top reason Brits want to emigrate from the UK and Australia is their preferred destination, according to new research from savings bank Alliance and Leicester International (ALI).

It was found that 60% of retired British expats rate good weather as the factor which sets their new country of residence apart from the UK, while a higher standard of living and better quality of life were ranked second and third place (48% and 44%) respectively.

People investing in overseas businesses also stated that the weather played a big part in their overall decision.

After weather, people who emigrated for family reasons felt that the better quality of life and feeling safer in their new country were important - rating them in second and third place (45% and 40%) respectively.

Responses by destination

Australia and Spain came out top as the countries which are home to the most satisfied expats. The overwhelming majority (86%) of those living Down Under voted weather as the best thing about the country, with 80% saying the standard of living and 73% quality of life were what they liked best about the country. However, a massive 87% said that the worst factor about living in Australia was that they were so far away from their family.

Spain also fared extremely well, with 92% putting weather at the top of the list, while 85% appreciated the slower pace of living as well as feeling safer in Spain than in the UK.

New Zealand also scored highly in the poll due to its favourable costs and high quality of life. Nearly two thirds (62%) said standard of living and quality of life were the best things about living abroad as opposed to the UK. In recent research by ALI, New Zealand topped the poll for both of these, as a result of its low costs for food, drink and fuel as well as a favourable tax regime.

Top ten reasons expats rate their new country over the UK.

1. Better weather (57%)

2. Better quality of life (56%)

3. Higher standard of living (53%)

4. Safer / lower crime rate (49%)

5. Slower pace of life (36%)

6. Higher income (30%)

7. Better food (28%)

8. The expat lifestyle (27%)

9. Mixing with the local people (26%)

10. A more social society (19%)

Most favoured reason for living in Spain

Weather Standard of living Quality of life Safer Slower pace Food

Australia 87% 80% 73% 47% 47% 33%

France 75% 50% 75% 75% 37.5% 75%

New Zlnd 62.5% 62.5% 62.5% 62.5% 50% 50%

Spain 92% 69% 69% 85% 85% 38%

Canada 25% 62.5% 50% 62.5% 37.5% 12.5%

UAE 60% 60% 60% 60% 10% 50%

USA 59% 27% 41% 14% 14% 18%


Source OPP

A Stunning Villa now at a Stunning Price in Fuerteventura

This unique and creatively designed 3 bedroom villa has been reduced to this exceptional price. The property is on a plot of 1232 sq m with fabulous views to the sea and Lanzarote and is situated in the tranquil and exclusive area of Villaverde. The village has all the facilities for daily life but the villa is situated just 10 minutes outside of the bustling town of Corralejo with its fabulous dunas beaches and the small fishing village of El Cotillo.

This lovely villa will make the perfect home or offer an ideal opportunity for rental investment.

Price 285,000 Euros

For further details call us today on 0034 928 535 044

The Canary Islands Have The Best Cheese In The World

A co-operative from the Spanish islands beats 2,400 other cheeses from around the globe to take crown
The Canary Islands has triumphed at the World Cheese Awards 2008. It was awarded the world champion crown for Queso Arico curado pimentón cheese. The award was very timely since the next World Cheese competition in 2009 is set to take place in the Canary Islands.
The champion cheese was chosen by a panel of 12 experts chaired by Nigel Barden and including celebrity chef Antony Worrall Thompson and Mark Hix.Queso Arico curado pimentón is one of several cheeses produced by the co-operative’s 21 employees, and is made using the milk of Canary Island goats and animal rennet, which is then pressed and regularly brushed with paprika and gofia, a powdered cereal unique to the islands, before being matured for around six months. The cheese has been made for generations, but until now, has rarely traveled outside of the islands and mainland Spain.
The canarians beat off the other finalists of Von Muhlenen Le Gruyère AOC, Fourme d’Ambert produced by Marin Père et Fils and a Canadian soft cow’s milk cheese Cendré de LuneCo-operative secretary, Antonio Gonzales Bravo, said: It’s a dream come true for our co-operative – we simply can’t believe it!”
The award was presented by Michelin-starred chef Richard Corrigan at the RDS Simmons court in Dublin.

New, Villa for sale in Fuerteventura, Canary Islands

This is the latest edition to the Goldacre Property portfolio. A fabulous 4 bedroom well designed villa situated in a village just outside Corralejo. This villa has been very tastefully upgraded & will make a very comfortable home. Includes a seperate high quality kitchen, private parking, roller mosquito nets and shutters on all windows, and much more.

Price 210,000 Euros

The villa is situated just a few minutes outside of Corralejo and just 10 minutes from the fabulous dunas beaches.

New Ryanair Flights From Liverpool John Lennon Airport

Budget airline Ryanair has announced six new routes that will be operating from Liverpool John Lennon Airport to European destinations such as Gdansk, Szczecin, Faro, Knock, Tenerife, Fuerteventura and the Canary Islands. A seventh route will begin on the 3rd of November and will be operating to Paris Beauvais. Commenting on the new routes was Deputy CEO Neil Pakey who said; "We’re pleased to announce the seven new routes from JLA with Ryanair to a great range of destinations which will no doubt appeal to many passengers throughout the North West, especially the sunny Canary Islands for some winter sun."

The news coincides with the start of 14 brand-new services from Birmingham Airport on the 28th October - to Malaga, Alicante, Murcia, Palma, Katowice, Krakow, Frankfurt (Hahn), Fuerteventura, Prague, Szczecin, Derry, Dusseldorf (Weeze), Kaunas and Bologna, and from Stanstead eight new routes - to Malaga, Ibiza, Madrid, Fuerteventura, Tenerife South, Katowice, Bologna and Zweibrucken. Ryanair’s Sales and Marketing UK Executive Laura McCormack said: “We are delighted to introduce these fantastic new routes from Birmingham Airport today. There is a great demand for low-cost travel in Birmingham. While other airlines are pulling flights and reducing frequencies, Ryanair is committed to growth”.

To celebrate, Ryanair are offering flights from Birmingham across their network from an amazing £1 one way including airport taxes and charges.

We are still in love with Spain

Despite the fact that the Spanish property market is suffering a drought in terms of buyer activity at the moment, don’t be fooled for a second into thinking that we Brits have fallen out of love with Spain. For one thing, there has to be more to Spain than its property market to have attracted something in the region of 760,000 Brits to relocate here.
The allure of Spain is far more than the weather as well, and it’s an evergreen destination – i.e., no matter how many slings and arrows of outrageous fortune fall on Spain, we cannot help loving it enough to holiday or relocate there.
Spain has it everything, all regions of the nation are accessible from all parts of the UK and usually for a fair price. Not only that, but the climate is fantastic with Spain averaging 137 days of sunshine compared to just the 52 that we have each year in the UK, in fact the Canary Islands have a 52 weeks of sunshine. The culture is rich and diverse in Spain, the cuisine is thoroughly appealing, the wine is delicious, the history of the nation is fascinating, and then to cap it all off, the scenery in Spain is breathtakingly magnificent
If you’re not yet convinced however, consider the fact that the nation is also vast, and because of Spain’s landmass you have such diversity, therefore there is a part of Spain that appeals to each and every one of us. For those who prefer a more temperate climate, Northern Spain is cooler for example, and for those who want as much sunshine as possible, the Costas are ideal. Alternatively, if you’re a winter sports enthusiast or a lover of the great outdoors, what about the Pyrenees or the Sierra Nevada, and if you prefer island living then there are the Spanish Balearic and Canary Islands of course. And there is even a property type and a property price for everyone nowadays.
As the underlying appeal of Spain has not been damaged by the falling property prices, many Britons are taking advantage of the fact that you can now finally find truly good value for money in the Spanish real estate marketplace. If you’re seriously contemplating a move then as a buyer you’re best placed to be the one doing the negotiating. In fact, it could be that there has never been a better time to buy in!
And finally, the lifestyle that relocating Britons find in Spain could not be further removed from what we are used to in the UK. For example, there is far more emphasis on the family and on relaxing and enjoying life in Spain than there is in the UK. Brits quickly adapt to this change in culture and realise what they have been missing out on by constantly being on the go in the UK and living to work rather than just working enough to live
There is so much in Spain’s favour that we Brits cannot do anything about the love and passion we feel for this nation. It appeals to us on all levels, and now that Spanish house prices are falling and it is therefore becoming easier to buy in to the inimitably enjoyable and good lifestyle that Spain offers, so those Brits already living the dream in Spain can soon expect to be joined by a whole host of new British neighbours!