It’s Marta here—welcome to the very first blog entry of “Moving East”! If you’ve read our About Us page, you already know the gist: we’re trading Devon drizzle for Costa Blanca sunshine. Well, for some of the year anyway. Every great journey starts somewhere. Ours began with a chat over a mediocre bottle of Rioja. Don’t judge us; it was on sale.
Let’s rewind to a typical soggy Wednesday evening in Ashburton. Bryan had just come home from work, his shoes caked in Dartmoor mud, and I was scrolling through pictures of Denia on my phone. The kids were engrossed in their homework—or possibly Minecraft—and I couldn’t resist showing Bryan a villa that popped up on my feed. “Look at this one,” I said, shoving my phone under his nose. It had terracotta tiles, a pool that shimmered in the sun, and a view of the sea that could make an artist weep.
Bryan squinted, then shrugged. “It’s alright,” he said in that understated British way that drives me mad. “But what about… taxes? Maintenance? A good curry house nearby?”
And just like that, our adventure had its first obstacle: the classic overthinking husband versus the impulsive wife. Spoiler alert: I won. (It helped that his uncle’s inheritance was burning a hole in his pocket.)
Why Denia?
Out of all the places in Spain, why did we choose Denia? Simple: it’s got everything. Picture a town where history, nature, and great food collide in the most magical way. There’s the castle perched on a hill, the bustling marina where yachts bob lazily, and a stretch of sandy beaches that seem to go on forever. Plus, it’s close enough to my family to make visits easy but far enough to maintain a bit of breathing room. (Love you, Mum, but boundaries matter.)
Bryan fell in love with Denia’s hiking trails. He’s a bit of an amateur photographer, and Montgó—the mountain that looms over the town—is his new muse. Meanwhile, I’m all about the food. Denia is a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy, which is a fancy way of saying they take their paella and tapas very seriously. And let’s not forget the weather. Sunshine? Yes, please.
The Plan (Kind Of)
Once we decided on Denia, we had to face the reality of buying a property abroad. I’d like to say we had a solid plan, but the truth is we’re learning as we go. First on the list? Figuring out what we want. Bryan insists on four bedrooms—“One for each kid, one for us, and a spare for guests,” he says. I’m lobbying hard for a pool. Anna and Luke, meanwhile, are only concerned about whether there’s Wi-Fi. Priorities, right?
Then there’s the budget. Bryan’s inheritance is generous, but we’re not exactly rolling in euros. We’ve set a cap and agreed to be “realistic”—though if I find my dream villa just a tiny bit over budget, all bets are off.
The Search Begins
Our first step was online research. Armed with coffee (me) and tea (Bryan), we spent hours trawling property websites. Some of the listings were promising; others were… not. Let’s just say there are a lot of places where “sea view” means you can glimpse a sliver of blue if you stand on the roof and squint.
The kids got involved too. Anna declared she wanted a house with “character,” while Luke was adamant about a games room. I’m pretty sure he’s expecting a mansion. Bless his optimism.
By the time we narrowed down our options to five contenders, we felt like seasoned pros. But nothing prepared us for the whirlwind of actually booking viewings. One agent emailed back in five minutes; another took five days. Welcome to Spanish time.
A Reality Check
Our first viewing was… educational. The photos made it look like a Mediterranean palace, but in person, it was more “rustic chic meets DIY disaster.” Bryan’s face said it all as he tapped a suspiciously hollow wall. The pool, which had sparkled in the pictures, was a murky shade of green. And the “spacious garden”? Let’s just say it needed a machete.
Still, we’re not discouraged. Every misstep is a step closer to finding the right place—or so I keep telling Bryan. (He muttered something about my “eternal optimism” being “exhausting,” but I’ll take that as a compliment.)
What’s Next?
The next few weeks are packed with more viewings, a crash course in Spanish property law, and—if Bryan has his way—a spreadsheet to track pros and cons. I’ll admit, it’s a bit overwhelming, but it’s also very exciting. Every villa we see, and every road we drive down, brings us closer to our dream of moving east.
So that’s where we are: navigating the highs and lows of property hunting with a mix of enthusiasm, caffeine, and a pinch of humour. I’ll keep you updated every step of the way. Who knows? By the next entry, we might just find “the one.”
Thanks for joining us on this journey. Here’s to sunshine, sangria, and the adventure ahead. ¡Hasta luego!