Second Or Maybe New Home

Discussion in 'The Hangout' started by Max rigger, Oct 4, 2021.

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  1. Max rigger

    Max rigger Master Survivalist
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    Had a call from my realtor/estate agent in Spain...........I got the house :)

    The sale actually went through last Thursday but his staff failed to tell me.

    So, what did I let myself in for? Well, its a fixer upper for sure

    'Finca' (Farmhouse), four bedrooms and outbuildings about 30 miles inland from Alicante in the hills, altitude around 600m. Good climate, temps go from around 15c through to 35c (60/95f). Small village nearby with basic shops, bars and cafe/restaurant with the nearest town of Alcoy a fifteen minute drive with more range of shops. Alicante is a major town with all I could need and is the nearest airport. The area has a very low crime rate.

    18,000 sqm about (4.5 acres) of land, nothing much growing there, some olive and lemon trees, looks like there was an olive grove at some point but they've been cut, lots of remaining stumps.

    Roof, windows and doors of main house were new around eight years ago, blocked guttering has led to water ingress in main bedroom.

    It needs:
    Rendering inside and out.
    Re-wiring.
    Heating system
    New fitted kitchen
    New bathrooms X2
    Complete redecoration throughout.


    It has no mains sewerage, septic tank in place (plastic, fitted about eight years ago)
    It has mains water but also has a capped well (which I'll be looking at)
    It has mains power but no mains gas so it'll be Propane.
    No telephone line but the local town fitted full FTTP boxes to all the homes the last couple of years so my internet will be a lot faster than the UK. When I was there 4g signal was very strong so no problem with mobile/cell phone coverage.
    No swimming pool but I'm not bothered about having one.

    Nothing apart from the gutters will get done this side of the new year then I have to decide how I'm going to do the renovation project. I think I'll end up being based there next year while the work is done, I can fly to work via Alicante. Based there I can do the donkey work, rip out the kitchens/bathrooms/wiring/rendering/painting and keep an eye on the builders when I'm there. The out buildings will be rendered/wired/painted but left at that, I'm not sure what Ill end up using them as, maybe tourist lets after conversion.

    This will be a major project but its a blank canvas from a preppers point of view. Great location for ham radio. I will be looking at solar power but not sure how much yet, doubt I'll be fully off grid. Plenty of room for polytunnels/greenhouses in the future.

    Initially this was a long term project but an inheritance means I've the cash to get it all done in one go; I need to do a lot of planing, I want to get Casa Max right from the start.

    Bit early for a celebration vodka and orange juice...I'll wait till noon ;)

    Wish me luck.
     
  2. lonewolf

    lonewolf Societal Collapse Survivalist. Staff Member
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    watch yourself Max, saw a report in the papers a few days ago that Spanish authorities are giving British expats the run around, especially anyone driving on UK plates.
    it said "expats are leaving in droves".
     
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  3. Max rigger

    Max rigger Master Survivalist
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    I'll hire a car LW. Car registration is very strict in Spain even with new Spanish vehicles, they love paperwork. Right hand drive cars and your asking to be stopped and checked. Some regions its illegal to carry out work on your own car, it must be done in a registered garage!!! They don't want old cars on the road and their MOT is a lot stricter than ours. Even taking a left hand drive car and trying to register it there is a nightmare. It won't pay me to own a car there until I live there full time. I think I can get the work on the house done in around four months if I base myself there when onshore. When the works done I'll base back in the UK and use the Spanish house as a holiday/vacation home until I retire in 13-15 years time when I'm around the 55 mark.

    I've been lurking on several expat forums (wheres expat come from, they're immigrants) and if your living there legit, you've followed the rules then life is still the same. It seems the ones leaving are the ones either too stupid to have used the four years they had to get themselves sorted or are the ones who were living and working there 'off the books' cash in hand work/not registered sort of think so no great loss to Spain or the brit immigrant communities out there.

    One big issue for the older brits pre or post brexit is late life care, nursing homes are few and far between because out there the tradition is for the family to take in and care for older family members, this is a weak link in their care system which overall is very good these days. Even in a care home family is expected to come and wash their family in care, help feed them, dress them etc. Its not they would not be cared for its more whats expected from tradition and often a matter of family pride. This is a major problem for brit elderly retired people and from what I can gather a lot are packing up and heading back to the UK thinking its the same as it was when they left 30 years ago, get off the plane, get the keys to a nice council flat or move into a nice care home with social services paying the bill...things have changed in their time away.

    I phoned my lad and he's over the moon his head full of visions of cold beer and cocktails where my visions of him are up a ladder with a paint brush ;) House first Harvey Wallbangers after.

    Pressure off me now a bit, this purchase has been happening for quite a while so now I can chill out for a bit (easy to chill out where I'm working LOL)

    You can expect to be bored senseless in the coming months with updates :) Just delete them if I get too much.
     
  4. lonewolf

    lonewolf Societal Collapse Survivalist. Staff Member
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    good luck with it all.
     
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  5. Max rigger

    Max rigger Master Survivalist
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  6. Blitz

    Blitz Master Survivalist
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    Sounds great Max. What an adventure for you! I hope you will post some pics for us. Let us know how it progresses.
     
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  7. lonewolf

    lonewolf Societal Collapse Survivalist. Staff Member
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    yes I agree, photos please!!
     
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  8. Max rigger

    Max rigger Master Survivalist
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    At the moment there are over thirty photo's to be found online from when the property was for sale so no, I won't be posting those. Google reverse image search and you get the full location of the property and with a better digging you'd find 'me' too so sod that they ain't getting posted.

    I will be posting pictures when the work is complete; I will be doing 'how to' videos on smaller solar setups/partial off grid living, ham radio antennas, portable ham radio and possibly geothermal heating if I decide to install it there. I more than likely will go geothermal for heating (fireplaces/woodburnes for backup) depending on installation costs, I like the idea of running the heat exchanger via solar...early days on this one need to cost it all out. I need to lay new ground floor flooring so while the floor is dug up I may as well lay in heating pipes even if they don't get used for a year or two.

    You'll get a guided tour sometime in 2023 ;)
     
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  9. paul m

    paul m Expert Member
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    Good luck. I lived and worked in Spain for six months. A lovely country. I had the opportunity to buy into a business, but the UK voted ‘out’ of Europe that year, and I was not going to financially commit, as it was a leap into the unknown. The Spanish lifestyle and culture is superb. So is the sunshine.
     
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  10. Max rigger

    Max rigger Master Survivalist
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    I've worked all over the place Paul with my job and been based in countries, taken vacations in countries and I drew up a little list of places I'd be happy retiring early to, Spain, Cyprus and New Zealand came out as the top three for me and for various reasons I've opted for Spain.

    I was never bothered about a coastal spot, I don't much like beaches and I'm surrounded by water at work so decided to look inland. I love 4 season camping/hillwalking and the place I bought is in the hills and not a bad drive from the Sierra Nevada mountain range which means great hill walking and wild camping for all four seasons with plenty of snow up there. On top of that its in Europe with good airports and cheap flights.

    Combine that with very low property prices, welcoming people, great food/wine, weather (and very fast internet which surprised me a little) and a comparatively low cost of living overall it was a no brainer picking Spain. I'm not interested in living surrounded by half drunk expats so my spot is good, a few but not many i brit mmigrants in the area, some brits, some Germans but the Scandinavians are buying out there now, their economy is good and they have the cash plus they are good people.

    You never know, I might find myself a nice Spanish gal :)
     
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  11. Dalewick

    Dalewick Legendary Survivalist
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    Congrats Max, hope it's everything your wanting.

    short term for your boy you could put in a cattle trough for a swimming pool.
    Couldn't get the picture to load.

    Dale
     
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  12. Max rigger

    Max rigger Master Survivalist
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    Cheers Dale, the lad is all for moving out there if he can work online from home but I told him living somewhere full time is very different from a two week vacation in the sun lol. If he can work from home full time I guess he could try it for a few weeks but we need to get the house fixed first...some of his mates are already planning their trips out there but I've told them not to hold their breath until I give permission for that trip because it won't be coming anytime soon.
     
    Last edited: Oct 17, 2021
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  13. lonewolf

    lonewolf Societal Collapse Survivalist. Staff Member
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    can you speak Spanish ?
    can you read Spanish(official documents etc.)?
     
  14. Max rigger

    Max rigger Master Survivalist
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    I picked up bits of Spanish from work but I'm working through a language course plus I'm talking to Spanish radio hams as often as I can, they are very helpful.

    https://english.elpais.com/ I look at daily to try and keep up with whats happening out there.

    No I cannot read Spanish yet which is why I employed a specialist English speaking Gestor and solicitor to look after the house sale and other legal processes
    https://www.idealista.com/en/news/l...s-a-gestor-in-spain-and-how-they-can-help-you

    My French is OK, Norwegien not bad, my German is good. How are you with languages?
     
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  15. lonewolf

    lonewolf Societal Collapse Survivalist. Staff Member
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    English and Devonian is what I speak, never needed anything more :D
     
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  16. Max rigger

    Max rigger Master Survivalist
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    Shame you never traveled LW it really does open you up in many ways when you experience first hand different cultures, food, music, places and people; it fills your mind with mostly wonderful memories (not healthy to dwell on the bad ones); I've been incredibly lucky to have seen so much of this lump of rock we live on.
     
  17. lonewolf

    lonewolf Societal Collapse Survivalist. Staff Member
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    I've been to Canada(would have moved there if I could have), Brittany and Paris.
     
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  18. TMT Tactical

    TMT Tactical The Great Lizard ! Staff Member
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    I have lived in or passed through every state in America, excluding Alaska. I have lived in foreign countries and traveled through foreign countries. I don't need or want to do any more traveling. Japan was the only foreign country that I enjoyed as far as their culture but I would never want to live there. It has been my experience if you don't read, write and speak the language fluently, you will always be a considered a foreigner by the natives. Of course if your physical appearance in different (like mine was in Japan) then you will always be the outsider. Being the outsider during a major shtf event will not be a good thing. Being what the locals may perceive as being a rich or well off outsider during said shtf event is even worse. Nordic folks don't blend in well in South Africa.
     
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    1. Old Geezer
      "Being the outsider during a major shtf event will not be a good thing."
      There's the core point. When things go sour, the finger-pointing begins -- and it sure does not have to have any logic whatsoever behind it. "You're not from around here, are you?! Here's an idea, go back to where you came from." Even if you have the skills they need, still, you are an outsider. They may keep physicians, maybe.
       
      Old Geezer, Oct 18, 2021
  19. lonewolf

    lonewolf Societal Collapse Survivalist. Staff Member
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    looking like I do, think ZZ Top!, I will never blend in anywhere.
     
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  20. Max rigger

    Max rigger Master Survivalist
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    Bit like a Mexican living in the USA then ;) If I was ten or fifteen years younger and know what I know now I'd be on the next plane to New Zealand without a doubt and at that age I'd be moving to build a new working future. My move to Spain is for early retirement not work as such. I'm young enough to still move there but the set up costs are much higher and I'd end up needing to work until I hit 60 maybe older. My property/land in Spain would cost in excess of $NZ3m/$US2.2m/£1.5m in NewZealand, in Spain it will end up costing me about £400k/£US550k so a move to NZ now would mean I get a hell of a lot less than I've got coming and if it really did hit the fan I'm a 2.5 hour flight from the UK not 24++ hours via different countries.
     
  21. Old Geezer

    Old Geezer Legendary Survivalist
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    When it hits the fan, one of the first enterprises to shut down will be the airports.
     
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  22. TMT Tactical

    TMT Tactical The Great Lizard ! Staff Member
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    If you are not in complete control of your transportation, then your movements will be at the whim of the PTB / Government. Just ask the Australians who cannot fly out, drive out or leave via any other normal means of transportation. Living in Spain and expecting to leave Spain and return to the U.K. if it hits the fans may not work out too well. A state of emergency declaration and all forms of travel could be locked down. Any existing rights granted to foreigners by the government, can just as easily be removed from the foreigners. If a nation is in deep financial trouble, do you think the native citizens are going to object if a new tax increase is imposed on the foreigners? How about a new redistribution income tax on all foreigners, say 90% of their income. Does anybody see the citizens of Spain fighting to stop that type of tax if the money collected is going to help unemployed Spaniards or be used to feed poor Spanish families? When nations get into serious trouble, the PTB start looking for powerless scape goats and small groups of foreigners will certainly look like easy picking. Hitler had the Jews, Gypsies and mental defects. What is Spain or any other nation going to have for an easy target group? History has proven that during times of serious trouble, it is not good to be part of any potential target group.
     
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  23. lonewolf

    lonewolf Societal Collapse Survivalist. Staff Member
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    I would not want to be a foreigner living in a foreign land when a crisis erupts, never mind WTSHTF.
    at least in my own country I can tell what people are saying and moreover I know by personal experience how they will behave, I cant do this in some foreign land no matter how close it is to the UK, anyone not born there will always be an outsider and a target in bad times.
     
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    1. Old Geezer
      Yep. Human nature is human nature. Otherwise friendly people become unfriendly when push comes to shove. Just how people are.
      When the poo-poo REALLY hits the fan, almost EVERYONE will be very afraid and angry.
       
      Old Geezer, Oct 19, 2021
  24. Max rigger

    Max rigger Master Survivalist
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    An event that will cause collapse at a societal level will build up steam, won't be instant, hopefully your good judgement will tell you when its time to get out of Dodge city and head 'home'.

    If its an instant event like a nuclear exchange it won't make a lot of difference where your living, you can kiss your ass goodbye.

    I won't let the fear of potential events impact on my life to the point where it controls where I live. Prepping is Preperation for possible future events and not a choke hold on how you live your life in the the 'here and now', the real world or certainly shouldn't be.

    I've made preps in the UK and will in Spain, my personal skills travel with me wherever I go. I have chosen a path in my life I intend to enjoy and hope you all enjoy your journeys and lets hope we can all jump any hurdles we encounter.
     
  25. Old Geezer

    Old Geezer Legendary Survivalist
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    Here in the U.S. and in certain areas of the Mediterranean, there are going to happen some earthquakes and/or volcanoes that are going to kick economies into major downward spirals. The U.S. is heading into a terminal debt spiral; same thing for Italy, Spain, and Greece.

    [​IMG]

    Here in the U.S. we are sooooooooooo overdue for a killer mega-quake that it is miraculous that one hasn't already hit. We could print billions/trillions of fake dollars to cover it, however we are far too far in debt for more hell and damnation.

    Some SHTF events that we know could happen will happen very quickly. Consider that we do not know what other disasters that might occur. By definition, an unforeseen event is unforeseen. And if one thinks that humans know everything that could go wrong, then that person is well past the term "fool".

    To not pay attention is preparing to fail. These are the days when we are on at least Yellow Alert. We likely should be on Condition Orange.
    .
     
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  26. Dalewick

    Dalewick Legendary Survivalist
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    My French is OK, Norwegien not bad, my German is good. How are you with languages?[/QUOTE]

    LOL! I learned enough of several languages to get feed, drunk and slapped in several countries. LOL!

    Dale
     
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  27. lonewolf

    lonewolf Societal Collapse Survivalist. Staff Member
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    I'm not so sure an event wont be instant, many people wont see it coming and it will take them by surprise, thats the ones that wont make it, because they arent looking and arent prepared.
    prepping dosent take my every waking hour but its there at the back of my mind in everything I do.
     
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