We all know that selling insurance can be a lucrative business. But what should you do when your bank offers you a deal that you feel you can’t refuse? We give you some points to consider and explain some of the implications of changing your insurance company:

Many foreigners who have assets in Spain remain unaware that there is no automatic transfer of property when someone dies. This is one reason why it is important to make a Spanish will to help inheritors settle probate as smoothly as possible. In this YouTube video from our legal department you can find out more about the process and why it’s important to make preparations for the transfer of your property:

Would you like to buy property in Spain or are you ready to change your property – either upsizing or downsizing perhaps? In this article our customer service department explains the six steps you can expect once you find your ideal property:

It’s August and that means it’s time for the bi-annual publication of our AbacoClub Magazine. This issue is packed with ideas to help you enjoy Spain. We have articles about camping and caravanning; local bodegas and how to entertain the children and grandchildren when they’re with you in Spain. Find out more about the Spanish island of Menorca and how to dine out with visitors in Spain.

Remember you can keep an eye open for any up and coming events by logging in online or just liking our Facebook page:

If you have always dreamed of living in Spain and can finance yourself without establishing a business – you may be entitled to live here with a non-lucrative visa. There are conditions, as you would expect, and the process is not a straightforward one. In this article, David Ruiz explains who might be eligible, what a non-lucrative visa is and the pitfalls to avoid if you would like to take this route to a new life in Spain:

 
Is it Worth Overpaying Your Spanish Loan or Mortgage?

You might have heard people talking about the ‘digital certificate’ as a means of obtaining information about your legal affairs in Spain. During lockdowns it has been a particularly useful asset to enable you to carry out activities online rather than trying to arrange an appointment face-to-face. Having a digital certificate enables you to update your padrón certificate avoiding the queues and inconvenience of turning up in person. To find out more:

Digital Private Individual Certificate

Age in Spain has also published its own guide:

We’ve all been through some tough times and there’s no doubt that the pandemic has caused more than just physical illness. If you are finding it a little difficult to cope and need someone to talk to why not try the Samaritans in Spain.

You can call FREEPHONE 900 525 100 between 10am and 10pm to talk to a trained listener in complete confidence. You can also email pat@samaritansinspain.com. You can find out more about them and the services they offer from their website:

Film producers have often chosen Spain as the location for their films. With many different types of landscapes, some resembling desert locations, it’s always been a firm favourite. Now we know that some famous people have been spotted filming in Chinchón but exactly what the film is, is yet to be revealed:

If you’re interested in finding out more about Spain’s film making history then this article might be of interest. It points you in the direction of nine locations in Spain that have featured on the big screen. If you class yourself as a film buff, see if you had spotted these nine movie links with Spain:

 
Films and TV series filmed in Spain

If you are a ‘swallow’ (a long stay visitor to Spain) can you extend your stay if you are a British national? What are the possibilities for moving to Spain and living here under the new rules? This article from Spanish News Today is a comprehensive overview of the different visas that you might be able to apply for to extend your stay or move to Spain permanently:

It might seem like an odd mixture but poet Begoña Reuda continues to subsidise her poetry writing through working in a hospital laundry. Not a glamorous or well-recognised job, this has given her the insight to write some particularly poignant poems – ones that have won her admiration and bewilderment in almost equal proportions:

Blue whales are coming back to Spain’s Atlantic coast. Or so it seems. There is speculation as to the exact reason for their return but it could be that some collective memory has lured them to their old hunting ground:

You don’t need to be told that Spain is the home of Flamenco but do you know how this art form is continuing to appeal to young people across the globe? In this article we hear about how flamenco is still going strong both in its traditional and fusion forms:

Have you checked out the official tourism site for the Costa Blanca recently? It’s a useful source of ideas for tourist routes, sites of historic interest and enjoying the outstanding countryside around the Costa Blanca:

Have you got some pesetas hidden away somewhere? Perhaps they’re just in a purse from a holiday in the distant past. Or maybe they were loose change that you’ve stashed away? It seems that you are not on your own. It is estimated that around 262 billion pesetas worth (€1.6 billion) are still out there somewhere in spite of the deadline passing for their conversion:

We know that many of our readers enjoy a glass or two – but how much do you actually know about Spanish wine? This website provides some interesting information in their articles as well as some YouTube videos and on their Facebook page:

Simply Spanish Wine

And if you have some time to spare why not try completing this crossword they’ve devised about the Spanish Wine Regions:

We would welcome any suggestions for future themes you would like us to cover either in the newsletter or in an article on Spain Explained.

Please let us know by email at newsletter@abacoadvisers.com.

Thank you!