bluewind
12/25/2016 12:08 EST
I am a single, 66 year old retired teacher from the USA. I am considering moving permanently to Spain. I am from Hispanic heritage so feel Spain might be a good fit for me. How difficult for an older person like myself to immigrate to Spain? My income would be around $2300 usd a month. Would this be enough to live a comfortable life? Obviously at my age, I am not into partying and am looking for a simple and quiet life. Considering all the turmoil in the world; are Americans accepted by people in Spain? Thanks for reading this post and I hope people are willing to take the time to respond.
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prigotkulow47
12/25/2016 14:07 EST
My husband and I are in our late 60's and have just retired and moved to Spain.. We are currently living in Madrid planning on stay here until May then moving on to Barcelona and then South. Madrid is a bit expensive and we hear Barcelona is more expensive. We love it here--I would advise a mid-length visit before deciding to move forever:)
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mishakaro
12/26/2016 10:27 EST
I will be retiring to Spain in a few years from Canada. Spaniards are wonderful people with no particular grudge towards North Americans (I'm from Canada). Just keep in mind that there are over a million expats living in Spain, particularly in the Costa del Sol area, who have set up a bit of an alternative Spain within Spain, so it's always easy to find people that you relate to who are doing what you want to do.
I've also been coming to Spain every year for the past five. It sounds like you would have enough money to retire without much effort to be cautious with your finances. It does seem that you are better to rent, play it by ear for a few years, rather than buy.
If you are looking for quiet, than probably stay away from Costa del Sol, unless to head for the hills to live, which is cheaper. I can't say much about places not on the coast but there are quite a few places on the sea, near the sea or a far distance from the sea that are definitely quiet but usually without many ex-pats living there. But since you probably speak Spanish, that shouldn't be an issue to communicate. The area between Malaga and Valencia offers some great communities that are beautiful, cheaper, and quiet. I attached a link that you may want to explore to see what is out there to rent or buy. There are so many more links that you could just google "real estate rent spain" and just take your pick of web links.
http://www.spainhouses.net/en/rent-properties-costa-del-sol-malaga.html
Happy hunting
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kwelbi
12/28/2016 14:46 EST
Hi,you can find out about financial requirements from your local Spanish consulate but they quote an income of 25560Euros p.a. for a non lucrative retirement visa, so you are in the ballpark. As it has been pointed out the area between Malaga and Valencia is a good place to start looking although Almeria in particular is still a very affordable area which is not over run with expats. Spaniards are not really racist especially regarding North Americans but they often refer to people as ' de fuera' if they are not from their particular town or village even if they are also Spaniards. Try to figure that out.
Since you are of Hispanic heritage presumably you have some kind or even advanced Spanish skills so slipping into the local culture shouldn't be too difficult.There is a link below to the San Francisco Consul but the conditions will apply at whatever one you apply too.
Happy travels.
http://www.exteriores.gob.es/Consulados/SANFRANCISCO/en/ConsularServices/Documents/visas/RetirementVisa.pdf
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dawnstarr
12/29/2016 12:14 EST
Look up the requirements for a Spanish retirement/non-lucrative visa based on the area in which you live. If you also have citizenship in a former Spanish colony like Mexico, visa requirements are much easier. I am renewing my visa and they require 2103.04 euros a month, so you would need to have your documentation from dollars to euros. I have found most people, Spanish and ex-pats friendly.
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editgrl
1/9/2017 10:38 EST
similar to these posts, my question is: what town in spain is now home to the greatest number of US expats? thanks so much!
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editgrl
1/9/2017 17:39 EST
i want to know what area in spain - preferably which specific town - now hosts the greatest number of US expats. thanks.
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OldPro
1/12/2017 15:26 EST
Do you want to know why someone might ask whether you want to be near other expats or avoid them?
Personally, having lived in various countries over the last 25+ years and met a great many 'expats', my preference is always to avoid them as much as possible. Retiree 'expats' are not like your typical immigrant looking for a better life and future for their children.
Retiree expats who you find in typical retiree 'paradises' are not all great people to know.
In fact, a great many of them are people you will not want to know. Only it will be too late when you discover that.
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editgrl
1/12/2017 20:02 EST
thanks for your note. am just seeking initial data for a possible article, and see much re British et al expats but little re US.... hence the query. interesting view though and in contrast to most so may seek a quote later : ) thanks!
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OldPro
1/13/2017 11:38 EST
On what evidence do you base your comment that my view is 'in contrast to most' editgrl?
You may see a lot of people posting in expat forums asking where they can meet expats. Those posts will not be by people who have experience of living in other countries however.
Most who have experience of living in other countries do not in fact post in forums. That is where you could say I am in 'contrast to most'.
Most expat forum posters are wannabes (never left home yet) or newbies (only 1 or 2 years in to a new place). In 10 posters you will be lucky to find 1 with more than 5 years of living in the given country. So what you perceive as 'in contrast to most' is based on that reality.
If you write, then I am sure you know the maxim, 'write about what you know about'. You are apparently thinking of writing about what you don't know about. Nothing new in that, it's done every day. But almost always, what is then written is done from a pre-conceived viewpoint and not from experience of the topic. You have already demonstrated a pre-conceived viewpoint.
Expats fall into categories just like any other group of people will do. Only 1 of those categories is 'people I'd like to know and are worth listening to.'
There is the drinker category. In the bar every day and a waste of space. They will however by happy to let you buy them a drink.
There is what I call the 're-invented' category. A move to a new country means they can re-invent their past.and it is usually all bullcrap. They were a CEO of a major corporation back home but are living in a shack in Costa Rica. Yeah right.
When I lived in Greece, I met more Brits who had 'owned a pub' back home than there are pubs in Britain and that's a lot! If it wasn't a pub, it was their own construction company.
There are the 'complainers' and 'comparers'. Arguably one category rather than two since they seem to go together. 'The way this system works in this country is ridiculous, it works far better back home.'
Even the term 'expat' can make me grit my teeth. It implies maintaining a separation rather than integrating. If you move to another country intending it to be a permanent move, you are in fact an immigrant. But the word 'immigrant' for many people has negative connotations and they do not want to refer to themselves as such.
Someone who goes to work in the oilfields of Saudi Arabia or Venezuela on a 2 year contract is an expat in the original meaning of the word. But the word has been changed to mean something different these days based on 'immigrant' being an undesirable term to use when referring to yourself. An 'immigrant, me? No, no, I'm an expat.'
The 'expat' I want to meet is the guy or gal who lives in a village where s/he is one of only a handful of 'foreigners'. The one who speaks the local language and spends the vast majority of their time mixing with other villagers.
The ones I want to avoid like the plague are those who live in 'expat enclaves' or 'gated communities' of fellow expats, etc.
And no, you can't quote me. I get paid to write. LOL
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editgrl
1/13/2017 15:11 EST
thanks again for your views. always good to see a range of perspectives. best to you -
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