Banks dumping their toxic real estate assets on the market at big discounts...

I thought it might be useful to provide a list of the bank repossession websites.  The banks are now the biggest estate agents in Spain, with many of them offering 100% mortgages just to get properties off their books.

Some of the banks have lopped 25-30% off their asking prices. Banesto seem to be one of the few banks with prices that are starting to look realistic. Here is the list:

- bbva servicios particulares (bbva): http://www.bbvaservicios.com/portal/particulares/
- procam (caixa catalunya): http://www.procam-inmobiliaria.com
- reser subastas (caja madrid): http://www.resersubastas.com
- quermes (cajasur): http://www.quermes.com/
- altamira santander real estate (banco santander): www.altamirasantander.com
- portal inmobiliario (caja canarias): http://portalinmobiliario.cajacanarias.es
- casaktua (banesto): http://www.casaktua.com
- servihabitat (la caixa): http://www.servihabitat.com
- oportunidades cam (cam): http://www.oportunidadescam.es
- aliseda gestión inmobiliaria (banco popular): http://www.gesaliseda.es
- solvia gestión inmobiliaria (banco sabadellCAM): http://www.solvia.es
- ahorro casa (ahorro corporación soluciones inmobiliarias): http://www.ahorrocasa.com
- revalua (Caixa Penedès) : http://www.revalua.es
- anida (bbva): http://www.anida.es

Procedure for registering a Spanish car:
We can put you in touch with a local company that specialises in this, for more information please send an email to: info@lamarina.info

D I Y: The first thing you will need is a contract in Spanish which is signed by both the seller and the purchaser. The stated price must be in Euro's.
The Trafico office in Alicante have samples of a typical contract if you need a template to work from. A Transmission form must also be signed, which provides the new owner's details, and a form 620 completed in order to pay the 4% transfer tax. The Permiso de Circulacion and Ficha Technica documents are required - these are the log book and MOT record equivalent for the vehicle. The Permiso de Circulacion should be completed and signed on the back by the seller, and, if the car is over 4 years' old, it must have a current ITV test (MOT) documentation, (the details of which should be stamped on the back of the Ficha Technica). The Road Tax must be up to date, so the latest Impuestos Vehiculos Certificate should be included with the paperwork. Trafico will require a photocopy of the seller's Residencia, or a photocopy of the passport and original NIE form if they do not hold a Residencia card. The buyer must provide their original Residencia, or their original passport and NIE form if they are not Residencia holders. Non resident purchasers must also prove their address, and the preferred method is to include a Certificate de Empadronamiento with the other documents. This can be obtained from your local Ayuntamiento (Town Hall). Alternatively, you can use your Escritura to show your address, but it has to be the original registered version; a copia simple will not be accepted.

All the above documents must be presented to the Trafico Office as soon as possible after the purchase has taken place. The Trafico office transfer fee is around 50 Euros. The transfer tax must also be paid and this can be anything from 29 Euros for an old car to up to 200 Euros for a car registered since the year 2000. It is quite a complicated procedure and to attempt this yourself can be very frustrating. It would advisable to enlist the assistance of someone who is conversant with these matters, a spanish Gestor is someone that specialises in this kind of work for a fee, an average amount for this service is 150 Euros.

To Register with a Doctor

Citizens living in the urbanisations of San Fulgencio must go the medical centre in calle Amsterdam in La Marina urbanisation. You will need to take copies of your Residencia certificate, the card you received from the INSS office, and, an up-to-date certificate of  Padrón. As with anything else in Spain it is advisable to take copies of all your official documents with you as they frequently change the goalposts. You will be issued with a temporary SIP card. Once you have received this take it to the medical centre where they will apply the name of the doctor and stamp it accordingly.It takes approximately 6 months for your official SIP card to arrive.

Health Cover:

The EHIC has replaced the old E111. From 1 January 2006, E111s are no longer valid. For more information, and for the quickest way to get an EHIC Click Here

FORM E106 - is to cover people lower than "PENSIONABLE AGE" who are going to stay in another EC country for a longer period of up to 2 years. The cover is similar to that of an E121, and has similar conditions except for age - and pharmaceutical expenditure that has to be paid for by yourself.

E121 - is for a person who receives a UK state pension. (Although pensionable age comes into it, it really depends on whether you have paid enough NI contributions on employment to receive a UK state pension. So receipt of a state pension is the criterion that defines whether an E121 can be issued.) If one spouse can qualify for an E121 then no matter the age or pensionable affairs of the other half, he/she can also obtain an E121 as a dependant. (It used to be that they would be added to their partner's E121 but this has now changed and they should get their own separate E121).

STROKE RECOGNITION: Remember The 1st Three Letters.... S.T.R.

It only takes a minute to read this...
A neurologist says that if he can get to a stroke victim within 3 hours he can totally reverse the effects of a stroke... totally. He said the trick was getting a stroke recognized, diagnosed, and then getting the patient medical treatment within 3 hours.

Remember the 3 steps, S.T.R.... Read and Learn!
Sometimes symptoms of a stroke are difficult to identify. Unfortunately, the lack of awareness spells disaster. The stroke victim may suffer severe brain damage when people nearby fail to recognize the symptoms of a stroke . 

It is said that anyone can recognize a stroke by asking three simple questions:
S - Ask the individual to SMILE.
T - Ask the person to TALK and SPEAK A SIMPLE SENTENCE  (i.e. It is sunny out there today)
R - Ask him or her to RAISE BOTH ARMS.
If he or she has trouble with ANY ONE of these tasks, take them to hospital or call for an ambulance.

Another indication of a possible Stroke -------- Ask the person to stick out  their tongue, if the tongue is 'crooked', or if it goes to one side, this is also an indication of a stroke. 

Costa Blanca - one of the healthiest climates in the world.

WHO (World Health Organisation) has described the Costa Blanca as the area with the healthiest climate in Europe and one of the healthiest living environments in the world with an average 320 days of sunshine a year.
Summers are hot and sunny, but not normally uncomfortable with average temperatures 32ºC in July and August with gentle offshore breezes.
Winters are exceptionally mild, protected by surrounding mountains to the north and west with average temperatures of 17ºC even in January.

The northern part of the region with a curtain of mountains that runs parallel to the sea is relatively green and peppered with groves of orange and olive trees along with colourful orchards of almonds and cherries.
The southern end of the Costa is much flatter and drier and famous for having the biggest palm gardens and salt flats in the whole of Europe. Beaches with sand dunes and backdrops of beautiful palm, pine and eucalyptus trees.

REFERENCE:

You and the Law in Spain by David Searl, Santana Books, 84-89954-22-4
This book is important reading for anyone thinking about moving to Spain, essential reading if you live here. It is revised almost every year and is the most accurate and up to date book available. The latest edition even covers the new traffic laws introduced in 2002.
Living and Working in Spain by David Hampshire, Survival Books.
This book also covers the legal side but is much better for the nitty-gritty of living in Spain. For instance it even explains the format of a Bullfight and describes all the major lotteries!

Buying a Home in Spain by David Hampshire, Survival Books.
Buying a Home in Spain is essential reading for anyone planning to purchase property in Spain and is the most comprehensive and up-to-date source of information available.

The Complete Guide to Buying a Property in Spain by Anthony I Foster,
Property Search Spain.
Written by an Englishman who has lived in Spain for 19 years and worked in the Spanish Estate Agency business. This book explains the mechanics of buying or building a property in Spain in detail and on what should be included in any contract you sign. For those wishing to build their property or even extend their existing one it covers building licences and even gives the fines for non-compliance!

GARDENING
Practical Gardening on the Costa Blanca by “Greenfingers”. ISBN 9-788460-728276
Mediterranean Gardening – A waterwise approach by Heidi Gildemeister, Editorial Moll, 84-273-0749-7 An excellent book with good photos. It concentrates on which  plants are suited for which conditions, particularly those that require little water.

Gardening in Spain by Marcelle Pitt, Lookout Publications
A basic “How to do it” guide – drawings rather than photos but well priced.

The novel which won the first ever Premio De Novela Ciudad de Torrevieja:
Javier Reverte “La Noche Detenida” ISBN 84-01-32913-2
These books should be available from Bargain Books in Torrevieja.