El Castillo, mi casa nueva!
Sunday, 17th May 2015
I left my house of 40 years in North Wales on 27th January 2015: the home where I had raised my three daughters. It was a wrench but prospects in Spain looked so much better. I was tired of financial stress, high prices, busy roads and the unreliable weather.
The logistics of emptying a house full of clutter from three females, all hoarders; simultaneously selling and moving abroad seemed daunting. It proved to be worse than anticipated: manic, problematic and emotionally draining. But I did it! I could not have achieved my goal without help, for which I am eternally grateful to my friend, Bob who had bought and sold many houses and owns properties in France and Spain. His advice and help have been invaluable: I was a total novice.
Also, I was fortunate to be able to use Bob’s place in la Marina, San Fulgencio as a stepping-stone while I looked for my own dream villa or finca. To buy in haste or, even worse, without checking out the chosen region first to ensure it is going to be what you really want is a recipe for disaster.
I had spent some time looking at properties around Cocentaina in the summer, 2014. I had fallen in love with the mountains, valleys and vast swathes of fir forests, reminiscent to me of North Wales but decided this time to look further south in the Almeria region where, I had been told, there were more sunny days per year than in any other part of Spain.
I had done extensive research on the internet and had arranged to view a few properties with three different agents. Anyway, to cut a long story short, I saw and fell in love with El Castillo , only my third viewing, deciding there and then that it was the home for me. I moved in on Monday, 10th March. Fortunately the house came furnished with good quality stuff so I didn’t need to worry about the fact that my belongings wouldn’t be arriving for another two or three weeks. It was a BIG bonus!