Tenerife forum

[joanne]

Hi everyone, please help! I've been on the forum quite a few times and always get really good feedback so I need your help! We are supposed to be moving over next aug but recently we just seem to be coming up against loads of obstacles. We are only going to have a budget of £100,00 max but we really need 3 beds or a large 2 bed, but every estate agent etc we have spoke to recently has basically said we don't have a chance. We were thinking of costa silencio as theres schools nearby and its within reach of everthing but not slap bang in the middle, this didn't seem a problem a few months ago but now we don't know. If it was just me and my partner we would just take the risk but with children it's not that easy. Plus we have heard that my partner would struggle for work ( he's a roofer here ) and even if he gets any the pay is rubbish. I am really gutted and was just wondering if anyone has any views on this. Thanks

[jenny]

Hi Joanne,

I've just made a search on our property listings and come up with quite a few 3 bed apartments for under 150,000€. See results here: http://www.sun4free.com/property/listing_browse1.php?type=Apartment&town=&beds-min=6&beds-max=&price-min=&price-max=150000&golfproperty=&imagesOnly=no

There is one in Silencio for 141,000€, although I must say there are just not many 3 bedroom apartments in this area probably because it is a tourist area so people usually want 1 or 2 bedrooms.

Are you meaning to get a large mortgage? Is this why you don't want to spend more, due to high repayments? Would you also be working? Typical wage here is about 900€ per month. Max you want to spend is 100,000€ so even if it were 100% financed (which is unlikely) the mortgage repayments are about 500€ per month so if you both worked (even with you part time) you should not have a problem paying it. Do either of you speak Spanish? If not then you have a year to get going and learn a fair amount - this will definitely raise your chances of getting work here.

[joanne]

Thanks for the reply Jenny. We want to put £40,000 down on a property so we have a mortgage of about £60,000, we really don't want any higher than that as we don't want to be struggling.I am a nail technician so I was going to do that part time to fit in with school hours or even cleaning. To be honest we are open to suggestions on areas to live as we have only ever stayed in las americas/ los christianos.We have both done a years basic spanish course but they cancelled the next level so we are teaching ourselves. As long as we are near a school, beach, shops (say 20 mins walk) and in an area good for families with a mix of spanish and english we would be happy!

[jenny]

Other areas you could perhaps consider would be Buzanada, Valle San Lorenzo, La Camella, Cabo Blanco, Parque de la Reina, Las Chafiras. These are all within a short drive of Las Americas/Los Cristianos and prices are lower as they are not on the coast. You could also look at Amarilla Golf (Stripps lives there), Los Abrigos or Las Galletas. There are schools near or in most of these towns. How old are your children? I have a 4 year old in Las Galletas school.

Are there many Spaniards living in your area? It would help a lot if you could meet up to practice your Spanish - speaking and understanding what people are saying is a lot more important for survival here than reading and writing, although obviously you need the basics before you can try having a conversation!

[sunny]

Hi Jenny how did you learn your Spanish. Although I had a few lessons before coming here and am coping not to bad, even here in Palm Mar when I try to speak Spanish everyone replies in English, so frustrating. Can just about make myself understood to non English speaking Spanish but I want to learn more.

[joanne]

Thanks for all the info Jenny. I will look into the other areas you mentioned , you've cheared us up lots giving us some hope after all the negatives we've had recently. Our son is 5 nearly 6. We don't know of any spaniards in our area but we spend time each week speaking to our little boy in spanish and he picks it up better than us!

[jenny]

I think I read somehwere that you were married Sunny so my method won't work for you! I spoke about 4 words of Spanish when I came out here and within 2 months I found myself a lovely Spaniard (he is now my husband ) who remembered little of his school English so we communicated using a lot of our own sign language and a pocket dictionary. I made an effort not to make friends with Brits at the beginning so only had Spanish friends. This is the easiest way, as you are not embarrassed about making mistakes and they will correct you without feeling embarrassed.

Once you learn the basics, as long as you keep talking to Spanish people then it will come eventually. Obviously the more Spanish people you talk to the quicker you'll learn so get some Spanish friends. It really doesn't matter that your Spanish isn't perfect, as long as you try - most will really appreciate that and if you can make yourself understood and understand what they say, then you've got it sussed! It can be really hard to undestand different accents - you get used to one and then the next Spaniard you speak to is from somewhere else and speaks totally different

Animo, at least you're trying and this is what is important. Too many people don't even try

[sunny]

Thanks Jenny I will keep on trying, as I said not doing too bad but need more conversational Spanish. Cheers Sunny My hubby always says he has never really mastered English let alone Spanish. A lot of people struggle to understand him as he comes from Dorset with a very strong West Country accent, I love it, oooh arrrhhh

[strippersrus]

[jenny]

Joanne it's great that you speak to your son in Spanish. Maybe you could put a notice up in local supermarkets or Doctor's surgery, etc asking if any Spanish about to meet up for conversation. I know I keep stressing this but I think it's so important to understand spoken Spanish.

[rob]

[sunny]

Thanks Rob will try as you say, I think mylack of confidence at times does not help

[jenny]

And this occurs when you don't know the people (ie in shops, bars etc) hence why you should try to make some Spanish friends - you won't get so embarrassed then.

[sunny]

Trouble is Jenny we do know a lot of Spanish bar owners etc but they want to speak in English or try because of their business etc, although our local bar owner is really good with me, he lets me try and corrects me where needed, I need a few more people like Manolo. Where it is frustrating though for some reason a lot of the Spanish think I am Spanish and all have their little jokes with me, I understand a bit but then get lost. I have just got to get on with it I suppose. Did try some lessons here but the class was terrible it was just tourist Spanish ie the bill, a beer, how much, want more than that. I am determined to get there in the end

[jenny]

You sound like you are getting there. Keep at it.