Valencia Marina Apartments | Apartments in Valencia Marina

Valencia Marina Apartments We have a selection of Valencia Marina apartments for sale with up to 4 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms.
All Valencia Marina apartments have balconies with beach or marina views.

View more images of our Valencia Marina Apartments here.

Monserrat Villas | Villa in Monserrat, Valencia

Villa for sale in Monserrat, Valencia with 1250m/2 plot and 110m/2 built area with extra guest house.
This luxurious villa comprises a fitted kitchen, spacious lounge with offset dining area, 3 bedrooms and a bathroom, telephone with broadband and satellite TV.
The is also a separate guest villa comprising of bedroom and bathroom with hydro massage shower.
The villa is detached and has a gated entrance with ample parking for up to 5 cars, landscaped easily maintainable garden including lovely lawn area with automatic sprinkler system, 2 storage rooms, covered and sun terraces, aesthetic lighting for night time al fresco entertaining, picturesque swimming pool with outdoor shower and raised sun terrace to take in the breathtaking country views.
The villa is in excellent condition throughout, tastefully decorated, ready to be moved straight into and situated just 10 minutes walk from the town of Monserrat.

View more photos of this Villa for sale in Monserrat, Valencia.

Spain & Property signs up to professional industry standards

We are proud to announce that Spain & Property has been accepted as a Member of the Association of International Property Professionals (AIPP). In an effort to improve the professional standards of the international property market, Members of the AIPP have voluntarily committed themselves to industry regulation.

When you see that a company is a Member, it means:
· A company has been vetted and approved.
· A company has submitted to industry standard training.
· A company has agreed to follow the AIPP Code of Conduct, one established to help and reassure you, the buyer, by ensuring Members follow professional guidelines.

WHAT IS THE AIPP?
The AIPP has been set up to guide and to regulate the international property market and to provide quality assurance to consumers. Members have signed up to follow all aspects of the AIPP Code of Conduct. The work of the AIPP and that of its Members will improve the quality of the service and product delivered to the consumer when buying property overseas. It is a non-profit organisation.

In short, AIPP membership is the stamp of approval for international property companies. On our website and in all our literature, you will see the AIPP Member logo from now on. It’s a reminder to you at all times that we are following professional industry standards and working hard to deliver customer satisfaction through honesty, integrity and accountability.

You will see no difference to the quality of professional service we are already offering you. It’s good to know though that the company you are dealing with has met and will continue to meet industry standards of professionalism in the international property market.”

Read our article on AIPP membership here.

Spain top of the list

uSwitch.com have issued its latest quality of life survey bringing some long awaited good news for those hoping to make the move to Spain….

After examining major European nations to determine which offered its citizens the best quality of life, Spain came top of the list – “Overall, Spain fares well in most categories, with low taxation and cheaper essential goods such as petrol, energy and food. The quality of life in Spain is boosted further by higher than average life expectancy, the most hours of sunshine and a generous holiday allowance.” states uSwitch.com.

The UK and Ireland however, ranked a very poor 9th and 10th respectively, showing higher prices for fuel and other essential goods, shorter holidays, later retirement and below average government spending on health and education.

To read the full article on Spain topping the list of quality of life click here and to view property in Valencia, Spain click here.

Using Credit Cards Abroad

Credit Cards abroad – The dangers to be aware of!
Exerts from:
Patrick Collinson
The Guardian,
Saturday July 12 2008
Millions of British holidaymakers heading to Spain this summer will be mugged at the cash machine - by the banks, not robbers. Spanish banks are introducing confusing new messages on ATMs which will direct users into pressing "yes" for something called dynamic currency conversion, known as DCC, that will nearly always leave them out of pocket.
Guardian Money carried out a test in Barcelona. We used a Lloyds TSB card to withdraw cash from a Santander ATM. We took €70 out and pressed the no button. Back in the UK, the cost came out as £56.94. Then we withdrew €70 and pressed yes, knowing that as it was a Sunday, there would be no changes to the exchange rate.
This time, we were charged £57.11. We asked Lloyds TSB who took the additional money. "Santander made the additional revenue in this case. We always advise our customers not to convert their transactions into sterling. So, in this case we would advise our customer to press no," a spokesman says. "Our own analysis has shown, and as proven in this example, that using your card in this way is generally more beneficial, although we cannot guarantee this will always be the case."
So what should holidaymakers do?
· When using a chip and pin card, if the transaction is priced in sterling, ask for it to be changed into euros.
· If the assistant says they don't know how to override the DCC system, ask for the transaction to be voided.
· DCC is only one of the add-on charges at ATMs. Avoid other ATM charges by using a Nationwide Flex debit card or an Abbey Zero credit card, which have no foreign exchange fees.

Read the full article on Credit cards here

More Sailing in Valencia

The 10th – 13th of July 2008 marks the anniversary of the Trofeo SM La Reina, a regatta which was set up in 1988 as a tribute to the Spanish Navy, and specifically Admiral Sánchez-Barcaiztegui who worked to spread the word about the joys of sailing.

In the 10 year existence the trophy has gained strength and importance and is now one of the most important fixtures on the racing calendar.

The best crews will be coming together in the waters around Valencia for three days, giving a magnificent show for all fans of sailing. In the 2007 edition, over 140 boats from 12 countries unfurled their sails around the three racing grounds set up for the event, and also welcomed a new class to the race: GP 42.

In 2008, the organisers are expecting a good turnout once again as the world of international sailing turns its gaze to Valencia and its Royal Sailing Club.

GP2 Series, Formula BMW, Porsche Cup and Formula 3 Spanish Championship will support Formula 1 Grand Prix of Europe in Valencia
The Valencia Street Circuit will hold Formula 3 races twice, in July and in August.

Valencia (04/07/2008).- Formula 1 Grand Prix of Europe will arrive to Valencia Street Circuit from 22th to 24th of August. During the weekend, the circuit will hold other races such us GP2 Series, Formula BMW, Porsche Cup and Formula 3 Spanish Championship.

GP2 Series are the first step to participate in Formula 1 races and, combined Formula BMW and Porsche Cup, are the previous competitions in the F1 events. However, Formula 3 Spanish Championship is different because it will be in a Grand Prix program for the first time.

Formula and Tourisms
GP2 Series races are synonym of spectacle. Since 2005 this academy of gift young people has let drivers such as Lewis Hamilton, Timo Glock or Nelson Piquet participate in Formula 1, thanks to exhibitions which impress spectators. GP2 program includes Spanish drivers such as Javier Villa, Andy Soucek, Roldán Rodríguez and Adrián Vallés, this one from Alicante, as well as three Spanish teams: Racing Engineering, Campos Grand Prix and BCN Competition. GP2 events are divided in two races, one of them more long which will be celebrated on Saturday and the last one which will take place on Sunday, just before Formula 1 Grand Prix.

Formula BMW is a way to promote young drivers from the entire world. The last two years, BMW has chosen the Comunitat Valenciana Ricardo Tormo's Circuit in order to celebrate the world-wide finals where people could enjoy seeing the best races of BMW Formula from United States, Asia and Europe. The German driver Sebastian Vettel competed in these events. Since 1993 Porsche Cup has been racing together with Formula 1 grand prix. It is one of the most important cups in the world where drivers and teams compete with identical Porsche 911 GT3 with the same technical conditions. The 2008 program is composed by 11 races; 10 of them are celebrated with Formula 1 events.
You can read the full article and more about the European Formula 1 in Valencia and the Valencia Stree Circuit here.

Beautiful Villa in Catadau, Valencia

I would like to show you this lovely new build villa in Catadau, having lived just next door to this I can definately recommend the neighbourhood. The views are absolutely breathtaking, the best I have seen from any of our properties, in fact it was what made me buy my house there. You can see over 12 villages to the Sea at Cullera, the mountain range never looks the same with the changing light and haze, the sun and moon rise over them too making for spectacular mornings and nights. Any excuse for a firework display here in Valencia and the position of this villa is perfect to enjoy them all from the various villages. It is set above acres of orange groves and peach orchards making it a great area for walks and nature lovers. The neighbourhood are very friendly and welcoming, when I first moved in they all came and visited offering wares from their gardens and inviting me to their houses for paella with the family. A walk with the dog always ended in returning home laiden with bags of fresh produce the neighbours insist you take with you.

The village itself is also very welcoming, very traditional and with 2 other towns very close by the fiestas last for 3 weeks of summer!

The villa is set in a 850m/2 plot and has 220m/2 built area: spacious fitted kitchen of 35m/2 with island, lounge of 40m/2 with modern log burner and fireplace, 4 bedrooms with fitted wardrobes, 2 bathrooms 1 with hydromassage shower and sauna, terrace with magnificent views, garden, PVC double glazing, Ornate Roth Iron rejas on all windows. Mains water and Electricity. You can view more photos of this new construction villa in Catadau Valencia here.

The Festival of San Juan

The Festival of San Juan
The shortest night of the year in the Northern hemisphere, June 23rd, is celebrated in almost all of Spain – the arrival of the summer solstice.
The beach of Valencia and the whole coast as far as you can see becomes a huge party zone, bonfires making the centre piece of every group gathered to celebrate this triumph of light over dark. It is believed that the bonfire can cure diseases of the skin and cleanse the body and soul and if you jump over it 3 times it can turn a bad year into a good one! At midnight everyone enters the sea to wet their feet and wash away the sins of the year gone by, what a site to look back and see the beach full of burning fires and groups eating, drinking, making music, dancing and partying. Supermarket trolleys overflowing with food, drink and wood for the party that lasts until sunrise!
A walk along the promenade brings you to the live stages (last year 3!) with lights, music and live acts, as everyone enjoys these immense outdoor discos. And of course it wouldn´t be Valencia without a firework or two to add to the spectacle that is the Festival of San Juan, something that has to be seen to be believed.

Property in Valencia

Property in Valencia

The city of Valencia is fast becoming one of the most famous cities in Western Europe, being one of few cities that have tropical shores and beaches. The city of Valencia is a heaven for tourists all year round, benefitting in the winter months, when the northern hemisphere is covered with snow. There has been a expansion over the past three decades of the city of Valencia where it has developed from a small coastal town into Spain`s third largest city. In Property in Valencia is generally not as high as the other major cities, making it more favorable for large and small businesses alike, along with one of Europe`s most modern harbours with all the latest facilities, recently revamped for the 32nd Americas Cup. Result - people flocking into this magnificent city for many different reasons, to set up business centers, establish their company`s regional offices, as well as to reside or retire here. Among all the basic necessities required for settling in a foreign city like Property in Valencia is one aspect that has been thoroughly covered. In Property in Valencia is available for both commercial use as well as residential purposes in the city or in its many surrounding towns and villages. Property in Valencia is bought in the form of residential apartments, vacation homes as well as independent homes for full time occupation. Overall, the city of Valencia carries bright prospects of development as a modern economic center. Property in Valencia is playing a major factor in the further development of this wonderful city. This has been of great advantage to both Valencia and Spain.

Formula 3 in Valencia

To be used as a test of the Street Circuit in Valencia the Spanish Championship Formula 3, the International GT Open and the Regional Championship will all be held in July before the major European Grand Prix in August.

Valencia - July 26th and 27th will see the first races on the newly laid Valencia Street Circuit before the celebration of the Formula 1 Grand Prix of Europe 22nd, 23rd and 24th of august 2008. The Spanish Championship of Formula 3, the International GT Open and the Regional Championship, will be raced in order to guarantee that the Valencia Street Circuit is in perfect condition to hold the Grand Prix in August.

It is expected that around 20.000 people will attend these races with the tickets on sale from the 1st of July through El Corte Ingles and Servientrada Bancaja for a price between 20€ and 60€. The races will be shown in 54 countries and competed between 25 nationalities.

The Vice President of Valencia Government has empathized that "the big sports events carried out in the Comunidad Valenciana are a dynamic element of the economy". For him, "in this moment of economic crisis the events about sports, like the Formula One, have a good effect in the city of Valencia and in the Comunidad Valenciana".
He went on to say that "the celebration of this kind of big events has a direct repercussion of 6.000 millions of Euros and generates more than 140.000 employments in our Comunidad. And one of these events that will generate wealth for the Comunidad Valenciana will be the Formula One Grand Prix of Europe which will take place in the Valencia Street Circuit".
The President of Valmor Sports, (organisers of the Valencia Street Circuit) stated "these races will be a test for the asphalt, the tracks, the accesses, all the installations and for the organization, in general. Besides, he has added that the racers of Valencia will be the first in driving in the Valencia Street Circuit".
The President of GTSports, Jesús Pareja, sees that "the Valencia Street Circuit is going to be an emblem and a reference in the motor world". He also added that "never have I known such international expectation with a race. I am convinced that the Formula 1 Grand Prix of Europe is going to be a success because of its originality and characteristics".

Creating Lifestyles

March 2004, 16 years in the same job, (34 years old) off sick and feeling pretty fed up with things, watching all the programmes on telly… place in the sun, house hunters in the sun etc. I said “All those lucky people moving to Spain, and it’s so cheap, why can´t we be the next? There is nothing to stop us!”

3 months later in June 2004 we had sold up in glorious Devon and bought our dream home and business in the Sun!

The house sale went through; we bought our dream property in Valencia, we used a well established Spanish estate agent with English speaking staff, so nothing could go wrong, right? But, once the sale was over and we signed on the dotted line that was it, could we get any help or advice from them after that? Not a thing!. We muddled through the first year and were very fortunate that the Spanish neighbours were very welcoming and helpful. We soon settled into our new Spanish lifestyle. Unfortunately, after a while, the partnership fell apart and, being the smaller shareholder in the property, I found myself having to look for somewhere else to live - and an income.

Very fortunately I had made a lot of friends in the village and they were all very supportive. I was invited to rent a room in a beach apartment in Valencia with Spanish friends and a local farmer mentioned that a friend, Conor Wilde, who owns the estate agency Spain and Property, was opening a new office in the neighbouring village of Monserrat and I should give him a call.

I had met Conor and his Spanish wife Susi only briefly on one other occasion, but calling him this time, it was as if we were great friends. “Come on over to the office and see us, we´ll see what we can come up with” he said. I had absolutely no experience in estate agency but knew my 16 years in hotel management and experience with computers could come in useful with office work and customer relations.

So it was that, in February 2006, I started part time at the estate agency Spain and Property. Business took off and within 3 weeks I was needed full time. I was worried about becoming an estate agent, you hear so many horror stories, and although I was desperate for work, I was not willing to compromise my honesty and beliefs for anything. It was, however, very obvious, very quickly, that Conor and Susi were professionals; they knew what they were talking about when it came to selling property in Valencia. I heard them advising clients about the difference between rustic and urban land, something I didn´t have a clue about - I had bought without anyone advising me of this. It turns out my house was “urbanisable”, which meant one day I could end up having to pay out to have proper roads and sewerage put in. They also advised about “black money”, something that my Spanish agent told me I had to pay. I now discover I had probably paid too much and the sale of the house could get very tricky with me ending up paying a fortune in taxes.

I remember an English builder telling me “Out here you just go ahead and build what you want, if they catch up with you just pay the fine!” I now know from Susi, a Valencian, that it is up to the Town Council to decide whether to fine you or make you knock it down. Why take the risk? We wouldn´t dream of building in the UK without permissions, so why do it here.

The honesty and integrity I see from Conor and Susi has earned them an excellent reputation; we have clients coming to us saying they have been let down by other agents, and even though most houses here are on the market with all agents, it is us who the owners tend to come to for help and advice. 60% of our clients, sellers and buyers, are via word of mouth and recommendations. Spain and Property also offer an after sales service, having an office base means we are here to help with the settling in process, doctors, residency, schooling, insurances, taxes etc. - again something that I could have really done with back in those early days.

2 years on I am still loving the work, I am learning all the time and it is great to pass on my experiences and new knowledge to help other people have a great life here and buy property in Valencia correctly. I am now living by the beach, I work long hours during the week but every weekend I am on holiday in Spain; I am a local in the bars where I live and lead a very Spanish lifestyle, nearly fluent in the lingo with a great circle of friends. Now that I have my money through from my share in the house I am looking to buy an apartment in Valencia and this might sound biased but I know who I will be using to look after my next purchase of property in Valencia!

Property in Valencia for sale

Villa in Montroy with 2650m2 plot and 150m2 built area: fitted kitchen with white goods, large lounge with feature fireplace and log burner, sun lounge/conservatory, separate dining room, study, 2 double bedrooms (master with en suite including a jacuzzi bath), 2 bathrooms, separate guest annex with double bedroom, lounge area and bathroom with luxury hydro massage shower, hot and cold air conditioning units in most rooms, double glazing with mosquito nets, sky satelite, solar power water heater with emersion back up, access is via 2 electric gates into the ample parking area in front of the villa, low maintenance landscaped garden with large area suitable for a orchard with a selection of fruit trees already in place all with irrigation system, several terraces including a roof terrace from which to enjoy the magnificent country views, barbecue area, 2 storage sheds, swimming pool with filter. WIFI broadband with Skype. A beautiful villa in excellent condition throughout and only 4 years old, this is an excellent opportunity only 1.5kms from the town. Being sold with most of the furniture making it ready to be moved straight into. Price: 258.700€ Check out photos here

Americas Cup in Valencia

Never having been a big fan of sailing (despite coming from a sailing town in England!) when I first heard that the 32nd Americas Cup was being held in Valencia it didn´t really hit big with me. But living just 10 minutes away from the purposely built Port Americas Cup it didn´t take me long to get hooked! The atmosphere was magic, the situation spectacular and the competition exciting. So when Alinghi reclaimed the title in what has been acclaimed as the "greatest ever" Americas Cup in history (considering the competition is the oldest and richest sporting competition) you can imagine my joy at the prospects of the 33rd Americas Cup returning to Valencia in 2009. But unfortunatley is hasn´t all been plain sailing - Read my full article here. You can also see all the latest information regarding the 33rd Americas Cup in Valencia at the official website.

Formula 1 Grand Prix Valencia 2008

The European Formula 1 Grand Prix is coming to Valencia in August 2008. I am living just 10 minutes away from the urban street circuit that is being constructed around the harbour area of Valencia. Read my full article here.
Every day I drive over the newly laid tarmac which will form part of the urban street track for the European Formula 1 in Valencia in August 2008. Watch this space for more updated information as it happens.