YOU FIRST READ IT HERE! EVENTS, NEWS AND VIEWS

Note: This information is copyright protected

A DAILY DIGEST OF INSIDER'S KNOWLEDGE

 COST OF LIVING GAP INCREASES The cost of living is rising much faster in the UK than anywhere else in the developed world so Spain for holidaymakers and residents is an even better deal. The cost of food in the UK has risen a heart-breaking 6% (Spain 3.2%) and energy by 7.9% yet Spain energy prices have actually dropped by 1.5%, (Source OECD. Daily Mail. 30th May).

 Each time we have booked car parking at Liverpool John Lennon Airport (through its official site) we have been overcharged and only with the utmost difficulty obtained a refund. Our advice, if you need to park; choose an independent operator, we use www.in2carparks.co.uk.

The view from Santa Barbara Castle in Alicante. One of the largest medieval fortresses in Europe

 CORVERA GOLF and COUNTRY CLUB Why such good value the Daily Telegraph asks? 'This scheme has a low build density (only 9% of the resort is built on) and it is reckoned the 18-hole par 72 PGA course will host the Ryder Cup one day.' Here at Southern Comfit we love it when our estates receive such accolades.

 THE THINGS PEOPLE SAY People sometimes wonder if Spain is getting too full of people. In size it is third only to Ukraine and France; five times the size of England with a population 1/3rd less. David Lean, Britain's greatest film producer (A Man For all Seasons, Bridge on the River Kwai, Lawrence of Arabia etc) when making Doctor Zhivago needed to create an awesome expression of space, as in Russian steppe. He chose Spain where most of the movie was made. Extras? The Russian armies were in fact the Spanish Army. And if you thought property shows a good return think on. It cost $15,000,000 to make Doctor Zhivago but it brought in $200,000,000. It won't surprise you that the critics at the time gave it the thumbs down. Bet they wouldn't see the investiment value of buying abroad either.  

 INVESTING IN THE FUTURE What have Torremolinos, Benalmadena, Fuengirola, Mijas, Calahonda, Estepona, Casares and Manilva got in common? Not so fast: we know they are all nice places on the Costa del Sol. The answer. The Government of Andalucia mindful of the influx of northern Europeans fleeing to the California of Europe are spending €335 million in the next 24-months to improve upon paradise. What does that tell the potential buyer?

 THE EXODUS CONTINUES 1,115 Britons are buying in Spain every week. The Office of National Statistics revealed that Spanish property is as popular as ever. One of the reasons is the upwardly mobile generation has been priced out of the UK home buying market. Buying in Spain or Cyprus, where work is available, is the attractive option for thousands.

 TOP TIP  Want to convert euros into pounds? Just go into google box and type in €136,000 in to pounds and there is your answer. The € symbol is found by pressing ctrl and alt at the same time and then the € key.

 WILL THE LAST PERSON TO LEAVE THE UK Nearly a quarter of a million non-Spanish are registered in Alicante Province according to the latest survey. Of these 58.7% are British.  

 FORMULA 1 Valencia is to stage a Formula 1 Grand Prix starting in 2008. The race will be called European Grand Prix - formerly run in Germany - and will take place Le Mans style around the port area.

 DAILY TELEGRAPH Our prediction that 2007 is the best time to buy abroad has been confirmed by the 'Properties Abroad' supplement of the Daily Telegraph: 'Britons thinking about buying properties abroad were told yesterday that the predicted collapse of the Spanish property market would create a golden opportunity to pick up a bargain." This excellent analysis pointed out that the only people to lose out would be the speculators who place first payments and sold on completion or those who just happened to be selling their property this year. So 5% of sellers are adversely effected but ALL buyers benefit. This could be just what the market needs. A gold-rush as buyers jump in to pick up bargain prices, better payment schedules, and freebies.

 CYPRUS IS ON €URO TARGET The Cypriot €conomy is is to benefit from a significant boost as its enters the €uro zone. The only western European countries not using the €uro are Denmak and the UK. Cyprus is rated the best place in the world to invest in property says A Place in the Sun magazine. MONARCH airlines has announced new routes from Luton aiport to Larnaca and Almeria and a new route from Manchester to Murcia. Good news for home buyers in these locations.

 SPOT THE SPANIARD The number of ex pats on the Costa Blanca continues to rise. Foreign residents now outnumber their Spanish neighbours in fifteen towns. No names - no pack drill as a Southern Comfit client is a relative of a nationally recognised television news reader. He returned from his viewing trip and exclaimed: 'They were all Spanish, Michael'. Obviously our friend hadn't been to Benitachell, Marina Alta, Lliber, Teulada, Calpe, or closer to Alicante, San Fulgencio where 3/4 of the population are not Spanish. Rojales boasts a 69% non-Spanish residencia followed by San Miguel de Salinas with 60%. Orihuela has a 40% non-Spanish residencia. There's over 100 nationalities living there. The ex-pats even have their own political parties that contest elections.

 CAPITAL GAINS TAX REDUCED  Gordon Brown's recanted? Of course not. The Spanish Government has reduced CGT for non-residents from 35% to just 18%. This means those who sell their Spanish homes make bigger profits and buyers get lower prices.

 WHAT ABOUT MUM AND DAD? UK pensions set against the high cost of living in the UK means mum and dad live in poverty compared with European friends. Why not divert your pension fun or equity into a property in Spain or Cyprus and let your parents retire there? As a 'Thank you for bringing us up.' retirement gift to your parents it cannot be beaten. Their pension is transferred FOC to their local bank and the cost of living is so low they won't need it all. Holiday there whenever you like; you have loving baby-sitters free of charge, and it is yours when mum and dad pass on.

 SPAIN AMONG GROWTH LEADERS "Countries in southern and central Europe have experienced the greatest increase in demand for property. The EU has predicted that 2007 will be a good year in terms of economic growth, with Spain and Poland proving to be the strongest growth economies." - Jet-to-Let. Spring 2007

 THE WRONG KIND LEAVING? The Government encouraged the older generation to move to Spain because they were at the age when they were least productive, paid little in tax, yet were a burden on the health service. They are now alarmed at the exodus of younger professionals. One of the reasons for their leaving is that homes are much cheaper abroad, mortgage interest rates lower; better lifestyle, and better work prospects.

 LAND GRAB  In Spain the confiscation of property illegally built only effects 1/200 purchasers. It doesn't effect urbanisations or apartments at all and applies only to properties for which no planning agreement was acquired, as happens in England. In the UK thousands also lose their homes to CPO (Compulsory Purchase Orders). Tens of thousands see their homes confiscated and sold by local authorities to pay for their residential care home arrangements.

  204,000 LEAVING THE UK The latest available figures indicate that in just one year 204,000 Britons left the UK for sunnier climes, lower taxes, better lifestyles, and job opportunities abroad.

 LANGUAGE DIFFICULTIES? People worry unnecessarily about language difficulties and health care in Spain yet the Costas are as much home to English speakers as to Spaniards. The two communities get on so well the British community was recently honoured by the Spanish Tourist Board for their contribution to the Costa Blanca's prosperity. Ironically it is the Spaniards who learn English so they can better serve the English-speakers. As one lady put it: "There isn't a need to speak Spanish anymore than you need to speak Welsh because you live in Wales."

 HEALTH CARE? In respect of healthcare there are few complaints. Private health insurance costs less than Britain and the care is far superior. Brits are covered by their European Health Insurance card and health care for the retired is free. A bit rich of TV to broadcast occasional whinges from Britain. The UK was ranked an abysmal 37th in terms of 'quality of life' (Spain is 11th). 

MONTHLY LIVING COSTS IN SPAIN (ex mortgage) PER COUPLE 

Food                                                      €300

Water                                                     €15

Electricity                                               €30

Community Charges/Rates                 €37

Gas                                                        €10

House Insurance                                  €16    TOTAL €408 ( £275)

 CORONATION STREET: GLAD TO BE OF ASSISTANCE
If you are a fan of the nation's favourite soap you will know that the Mike Baldwin storyline involved leaving a Spanish will. It was Southern Comfit's Roy Taylor who Granada Television approached when they wanted to get the story detail right.
Roy says, "A Granada researcher telephoned me in December to ask about Spanish wills and related subjects. It seems he couldn't get the information he needed elsewhere.In all we must have spoken for an hour over four separate phone calls.
"Most of the issues concerning Mike Baldwin and his Wills, and his family's reaction to them have derived directly from our conversations. We also discussed some of the scenes that are presently unfolding.
" . . . . there is nothing as satisfying as helping to construct the television plot we are now seeing on our screens, using the unique knowledge that I have pieced together as part of my business."

 LIVING SPAIN MAGAZINE in their SURF SPAIN survey (March/April 2006) praised the Southern Comfit website as being superior and an example to others.

 The Liverpool Chamber and Liverpool Business Associations The Liverpool Chamber of Commerce & Industry quarterly magazine publicised the professional way in which Southern Comfit International presents itself with its emphasis on commitment to excellent customer care. The LBC carries a glowing report on Southern Comfit. (June 2006). 
   

SOUTHERN COMFIT PRACTICAL NEWS, VIEWS AND INFORMATION

ELEVEN KEYS TO A BETTER LIFESTYLE
0151 727 1977

0800 695 8500