Organising your currency transfers nice and early brings peace of mind when you buy abroad. Just ask this couple who bought a home in Spain…
Article written by The Overseas Guides Company
For Annabel and Chris Johnson, opening an account and speaking with Smart Currency Exchange a few weeks before completing their Spanish property purchase helped them to secure their preferred exchange rate and made the buying process plain sailing.
The Johnsons, both in their forties and from Leeds, used Smart Currency Exchange to exchange and transfer euros to Spain to pay for their two-bedroom penthouse in Murcia. The couple have teenage twin daughters, with whom they now enjoy regular holidays at their Spanish holiday home.
“We opened an account with Smart well in advance of buying,” said Annabel. “We spoke to our trader there, who was really helpful and agreed to contact us when a certain exchange rate was achievable. Sure enough, we got the rate we wanted and had our euros ready for completion day. Our property cost €87,000 but in total we transferred €100,000 to Spain, as we needed to spend a bit on the apartment. Really, Smart couldn’t have made the process any easier for us.”
The couple continue to make payments to Spain through Smart Currency Exchange, on average €300-€400 a month, to pay for the upkeep of their apartment and have some spending money for when they are there. FCA-authorised Smart Currency Exchange consistently offers better exchange rates than high street banks for international currency transfers, while its team of account managers ensures a high level of personal service and efficiency.
Located in the traditional beach resort of Puerto de Mazarrón, the Johnsons’ apartment has mountain and sea views, and is just a couple of minutes’ walk from the communal pool and amenities. The family stay there five to six times a year, flying direct from Leeds Bradford airport to Murcia San Javier airport, which is just a 45-minute transfer.
Continued Annabel: “Holidays for us are about relaxing, which is what we do when we visit our Spanish home. We have no problem with going to the same place each time – we know we can really wind down there. One of the things we like about Puerto de Mazarrón is that it’s a got a Spanish feel to it and isn’t just all expats.”
It is thanks to friends and a well-known overseas property TV show that the Johnsons chose to buy in Murcia: “We have friends with apartments on golf resorts there who recommended it,” continued Annabel. “I stayed at one of their places once. And then I saw Murcia in an episode of A Place in the Sun and saw what good value it was, so we decided to go and take a look. The rest is history. Ideally, in the future we’d like to spend longer stints out there, but for now we’re too busy working.”
Puerto Mazarrón has become a favourite spot with British buyers who prefer beach resorts with a Spanish feel. Typical prices there, due to the proximity of the sea, tend to be higher than on inland urbanisations. The smaller villages of Isla Plana and La Azohía, just east of Puerto de Mazarrón are also popular.
Alternative options in Murcia could be the resorts along the shores of the Mar Menor lagoon, near Murcia San Javier airport. These include Los Alcázares, Santiago de la Ribera and the beach area of Lo Pagán in San Pedro del Pinatar.
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For more information on buying property in Spain successfully, download the Overseas Guides Company’s free Spain Buying Guide, or for other destinations download the France Buying Guide, Italy Buying Guide, Portugal Buying Guide or USA Buying Guide – and start receiving free news updates by email.
If you are considering an overseas property purchase in 2017, whether for lifestyle or investment, opening a no-obligation account with FCA-authorised Smart Currency Exchange will enable you to benefit from their competitive exchange rates and specialist currency knowledge, ultimately saving you money and time. For more information, download Smart Currency Exchange’s free report or visit the Currency Zone.