You might have heard of the Spanish Schengen Visa but feel a little bit confused about what it actually is. In this article Ábaco explains about the visa and who needs it:

A mini guide about Spanish Schengen visa

Difficulties with Spanish bureaucracy are well-documented. Everyone, at some time or another, has struggled to obtain or renew their paperwork. With the arrival of the digital certificate, there was an opportunity to be able to avoid those frustrating appointments and keep in touch with your social security, pensions and tax information. However, understanding how they work can also be a little complicated. In this article we explain what it can be used for and how we can help you to obtain one:

Applying for a Spanish mortgage is an option if the property you have in mind is a little above your current means. But how do you go about applying for one? In this article we take you through the process, explaining what you need, what the steps are and the additional costs that you will have to pay:

It might be August but Ábaco Club is still out and about and finding cool places to meet. Our latest trip was to La Taberna Törnberg where Jonas and Carina treated us to a lovely brunch. Ábaco Club members enjoyed healthy fruit juices, yogurts and delicious baguettes. There was plenty of opportunity to wash it down with some fine coffee too! Situated in Avenida de California & Calle Nazaries, Orihuela, La Taberna has just released their new lunch menu created by their chef Ralf Brinck. Why not come along and give it a try?

If you are a member of Ábaco Club then we are asking for your suggestions for new places to meet and activities to do. Our club was set up to enable people to get together and make friends. It’s very much your club and we want to make sure that we are meeting your expectations. Please submit your ideas as we roll into the quieter and cooler months of the year. We love to hear from you!

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Located in the province of Alicante, Daya Nueva is an increasingly popular place to set up home in Spain. Admired for its picturesque landscape, it has all the features that make traditional Spain so appealing. David Ruiz explains what types of property you can buy there and tells us about price ranges and market value. Although this isn’t a seaside location, beaches are easily accessible and for many this provides just the right combination of inland culture with opportunities for coastal relaxation:

The Canary Islands are well known for maintaining a pleasant heat throughout the year. Gran Canaria is one of the largest of the islands and David Ruiz tells us more about its history, geography and what it’s like to live there. Even though you can expect good weather whichever part of the island you choose, there are variations with the northern part of the island being more humid. To find out more, read his article:

If you are a little confused about what is and isn’t required and who it applies to, this explanation from Gov.Uk is worth taking a look at. It explains about the importance of keeping your passport valid (just relying on the expiry date is not enough!) and how the new entry requirements, to be applied in October, might work:

Entry requirements

If you are a non-EU property owner who rents out their property in Spain then this new court ruling could mean that you are entitled to claim the expenses for maintaining your property against the income you receive. Until now this right had been reserved for EU residents only:

Community of owners will now have a say on whether you can rent out your property or not. In this article, Spanish News Today looks at the pros and cans of allowing rentals in your community:

If your Spanish property remains unoccupied for lengthy periods of time then it is important that you ensure that neighbours keep an eye on it and can alert you to any worrying interest in it from strangers. In this article, Spanish Property Insight describes one of the latest tricks that potential squatters are using to access properties:

Have you been tempted to stick a notice in your car window and put it up ‘informally’ for sale? You do see cars on the road and stationery with signs indicating that the owner wishes to sell. In this article from Euro Weekly, they explain how this practice is in fact illegal and could lead to substantial fines:

We all know that scammers are on the rise and we can feel that we are immune to their tricks. However, these thieves are becoming more and more skilled in finding ways of gaining our confidence and discovering our banking details. This article from Euro Weekly provides some very good advice, specifically about a more recent scam but also that can be applied generally:

The majority of urbanisations and housing complexes are overseen by the community of owners. This collective is charged with ensuring that communal areas are kept tidy and clean and that refurbishments match local regulations. It’s a way of maintaining shared areas that generally works well to everyone’s benefit. This article from ‘Think Spain’ provides a good overview of what you can expect from your community of owners, what the fees that you pay cover and how they are organised and operate:

What is a community of owners in Spain, and how does it work?

This article from Think Spain provides an overview of how the market is doing in different parts of Spain:

If you would like to experience a traditional fiesta next month then you might want to pass by Cartagena. The festivities last for 10 days and the itinerary can be found in Murcia Today:

During the summer months some people will suffer from swollen ankles which can be uncomfortable as well as indicating other health problems. This article from HealthPlan Magazine provides some detailed information about the reasons why it happens, who can be affected and how to deal with it if it happens to you:

Which do you prefer to use – cash or card? Many businesses in Spain prefer you to pay in cash. This can be confusing for consumers from other countries where perhaps almost everything is paid by card. In this article, Euro Weekly looks at the rules around businesses refusing your cash. Although there are restrictions on how much you can pay in cash, every business must allow you the option for smaller amounts. Read this to find out what the rules are:

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!