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According to statistics from the Spanish Government:

  • Britons are the largest group of EU foreign residents in Spain, and Brits accounted for over a quarter of the total of non-national residents in Spain in 2004.
  • German is the next highest represented nationality, with the 68,812 Germans accounting for 16% of the total.
  • The highest concentration of British residents in Spain is in the autonomous communities of Andalusia (30%) and Valencia (28%), with populations mainly established in the provinces of Alicante and Malaga

For a lot of Brits, the dream of packing up life in the UK and starting afresh in sunny Spain is an ideal that holds a lot of currency. Unfortunately, in light of recent times of troubles, it’s that very financial uncertainty that casts doubts on any future emigration decisions.

Whenever I would think about moving to Spain, I would always get the lyrics from the popular 1981 song from English rock band The Clash stuck in my head:

…should I stay or should I go?

But I’m glad that I made the decision to move to Spain, although admittedly, I didn’t burn all my bridges to come here. Instead of deciding to sell my home, I’ve been renting it out, which always gives me the opportunity to return to the UK if it feels like a better life choice. At the time, I didn’t want to hassle with organising a private sale when I had so much else on my plate with finding a property in Spain, schools for my children, determining what I was entitled to in terms of public healthcare both in Spain and England, figuring out those taxing matters regarding all dual taxation, and also perfecting my Spanish.

If you’re thinking about making the move to sell your home and live in Spain, there are some big considerations that you must deal with before taking any action. Employment, language, health care and education are the primary points on which you must be certain that you’re taking the right step. Research, research, research, and take advantage of the abundance of online expat forums with helpful advice for prospective expats.