Hondon Community – Page 13 – The Hondon Villas Blog

1 February 20199 December 2019

Tranquilo – Introducing the Hondon Valley

Video by Hondon Villas c2017
Enjoy the sunshine, the views and chill. This video is a short introduction to the glorious Hondon Valley inland to the Alicante Region, Costa Blanca South, Spain.

INTERESTED? CONTACT:
Email: property @ hondonvillas.net
Tel: OFFICE: (0034) 965 075 357

The Hondón Valley is a peaceful, friendly, warm place surrounded by mountainous scenic beauty

The main two villages of Hondon de las Nieves and Hondon de los Frailes nest in the beautiful Hondon Valley. The relatively newly built Urbansation of La Montanosa is sandwiched between these two Hondón villages.

For decades they have grown an abundance of agricultural delights such as Grapes, Almonds and Olives (the main economy).

Hondon is surrounded by an expanse of stunning mountain views and traditional arid Spanish countryside. These excellent vistas are a delight in all seasons! Take a walk or drive through the country roads and you will just marvel at the changing light, shadows and picturesque skies.

The Hondon Valley is well known for its mild climate and pleasant summer breezes, which is very welcoming in those hot summer months when temperatures rarely fall below 30 degrees. The region enjoys sunshine in excess of 310 days per year, where the air is very clean and the pace of life slow. Hondon offers a very peaceful and stress free life.

Come take a look at the Valley of the Vines, drink the local wine under the bluest of skies and feel the warmth of the Spanish sun on your face … and you’re hooked! We were! We love it!

WEBSITES & SOCIAL MEDIA:
UK Site: http://www.hondonvillas.net
NL/BE: http://www.hondonvillas.nl
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hondonvillas/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/hondonagent
Blog: http://www.villasinhondon.net/

29 January 201931 January 2019

Cien, One Hundred, Honderd, Cent

The Hondón Villas website has always been ahead of our local Real Estate competitors in design and speed. We regularly update, validate and code check the technical site of our sites and try to ensure it works for you and follows the latest and proper coding techniques such as HTML 5 and the European GDPR privacy rules. Our in-house expert (25+ years experience) codes and changes the site for best practises, security, privacy and in particular to make our site friendly for our mobile phone users.

So it’s great that we get regular feedback from Google Insights that our site is often graded 100/100 in terms of it’s speed, usability and 85/100 for it’s mobile friendly approach. Great! Hondon Villas were the first to offer a small screen alternative of our website for mobile and tablet users, which is around 60% of our visitors now. Our main competitor locally scores 5/100 for their mobile site. As far as we can ascertain no other website in our locality gets near 100/100. Proud!

It’s important because independent stat’s and research shows that most Internet users expect web sites to be fast, usable and mobile friendly or they simply move on … a lost chance to sell or inform.

So it is in our interest to get it right for our sellers and buyers marketing opportunities. We know we have had over 1.5 million site visits to our main hondonvillas.net site alone + 10,000’s more through property portals, sister websites and social media. WOW! (and you thought Hondon was a secret!)

Having had a Google Page#1 search position for 10 years or more is no accident. We have earned it through investing in technology, good W3C standards coding and regular content! But we cannot be complacent as Google does what Google wants and does de-rank sites for poor design or slow sites! So all websites owners like us are playing a cat & mouse game with Google to stay at the top. How you do that is no secret actually but it’s a constant process and takes up a lot or resources and time.

17 January 201920 January 2019

Hondon Villas, your local AIPP Property Agent

“Caring and serving you in the Hondon Valley”. Hondon Villas is owned and managed by Maureen Cook who has over 30 years experience in Real Estate (UK and Spain).

Maureen set-up her own profitable estate agency office in Leeds, UK over 30 years ago. That office is still trading today. Maureen has also successfully managed a string of profitable UK based estate agency offices including large branches for the Halifax, Manning Stainton, Your Move and Bairstow Eves – all main players in the UK property market.

Moving to Spain about 14 years ago, she joined Medsea Estate PLC as a Property sales Agent. Having completed 100’s of Inspection Trips along the Costa Blanca, she soon found herself the top female property sales agent with an average conversion rate of 70%. With the 2008 financial crash and subsequent fall in Spanish Property markets, she voluntarily left Medsea to then later start-up Hondon Villas, her local Spanish property market. She realised many Expats after the boom years now wanted to sell up to go home or relocate, but also that the post-boom cheaper property would attract a new generation of investors and buyers. There was also very few trained and experienced real estate agent services in the Hondón Valley then.

As seen on A Place in the Sun Building up a rapport and reputation didn’t take long and her first office was open 8 years ago. Going from strength to strength Hondon Villas has moved to better premises to the Frailes Plaza with more staff, more foot traffic and better prospects. Her 2nd office opened in Nieves Plaza in the summer of 2018.

The Hondon Valley property market has bucked the trend and still remains a “secret” with British, Dutch and Belguique buyers and the Spanish economy has slowly recovered from the 2008 crash. Each year Hondon Villas have never been so busy! … and we can report a record year in 2018.

As well as this wealth of experience, Maureen is a confident, professional and extremely friendly person. Her positive attitude to customer service, is second to none. And it shows, as she is constantly recommended by her clients to others.

OFFICE: HONDON DE LAS FRAILES: (0034) 965 075 357
OFFICE: HONDON DE LOS NIEVES: (0034) 865 571 981
Website: WWW.HONDONVILLAS.NET

15 January 201920 January 2019

“We” are local Hondon Agents!

We are Hondon Villas. Hondon Villas have been a “WE” for at least 10 years in Spain starting with Maureen and her IT experienced husband. Maureen was professionlay trained in the UK as a mortgage broker and estate agent by the Halifax Building Society and has 30+ years in the business. Since then we have opened and staffed various offices in the two main Hondon Valley villages. So when we say WE, we mean WE.

Welcome to the NEW Hondon Villas office!

It’s been our observation that far too many sole agents in the area pretend to be “WE” but in reality work from a car or home office. Their posters, marketing and social media make out they are more than one. Why? For sure many of them, like us are diligent and work hard in a competitive market. And also we work with sole agents that give a great service. But it grates that they say “WE” a lot when they mean “I”. Just be honest!

As of Jan’ 2019 we have 7 full time & local employees over two offices and work with carefully chosen partners. If we don’t work with them it’s because they do not match our standards of work ethic or trust. period! And we truly believe that is why we continue to be successful and the top choice of agent in the Hondon Valley area.

WE have TWO real estate offices: one in the Frailes High Street and another in the Nieves Plaza. Above all, WE are local and experienced people.

We have excellent local ties with the Town Halls. We insist you get 100% local independent legal advice, we know bespoke builders and architects, know the best tradesmen, bars, restaurants and shops. One client said we are the 4th emergency service in Hondon !!

So be careful of other so called “we” agents – check if they really are a “we” – Importantly ask where they when they were trained, what they did before or how they got here, are they local? Often they are really an “I” or simply collaborate with other many 3rd party agents. Many agents operating in the Hondon Valley don’t even live anywhere near here or know the Hondon Valley at all.

Q. So ask yourself, can they advise you on a niche area like Hondon? – Answer is they often fall short of knowledge and experience! Some have never been trained and have just hopped on the Estate Agents Job Bus without a proper ticket!

20 December 201825 February 2019

Albatera, Alicante Region

Exciting Developments of Albatera Village by James Purefoy (Go Articles)

The village of Albatera is located in Vega Baja in Alicante province. Its population is barely 9,000 with many speaking Spanish and a little Catalan. Albatera is easily accessible from many Spanish towns and cities such as Alicante and Murcia.

Albatera offers many beautiful views from Sierra de Crevillent Mountains and River Segura. Its pleasant Mediterranean climate and little rainfall attract many tourists to this idyllic village.

Development from history

Albatera came under Alicante province in the year 1833; it indulged in agriculture with River Segura assisting in its irrigation needs. However, pig farming flourished and became a strong contributor to Albatera’s economy. » Albatera Villas for Sale

Today, more industries have been established and these overshadowed many of the traditional economies. However, there are numerous irrigation channels and canals available to water the village’s agricultural plots. Hence, vegetable produce such as dates and lemons grow healthily.

Albatera’s history is rich with the many artefacts uncovered. These findings confirmed the village’s pre-historic civilizations that stretched back to 3rd century BC. The Romans came and set up the village’s irrigation channels to cultivate the land. The Arabs came during the 5th century until Alfonso X re-conquered Albatera in 1266.

Church of Albatera

There is an ancient 1729 parochial church at the plaza centre in honour of the local saint, Apostle Santiago. The plaza also houses the town hall and old casino.
Modernization

Albatera continued to flourish naturally with palm trees along its streets amidst whitewashed houses which are typical of Mediterranean villas in Albatera. There is plenty of beauty nature around Albatera.

Albatera has plenty of plains, wetlands, mountains and parks. The village’s park is called Park of Orchards; it spans 30,000 square meters and houses beautiful trees and plants in the midst a lake and a fountain. There are plenty of designated walking routes in and around Albatera.

Albatera has developed a modern resort for golf and sports such as shooting, tennis and riding. The village has also built many excellent Spanish schools as part of its modernization to education although the village folks maintain its steep traditions and good Spanish values.

Many fiestas and festivals continued to be celebrated as with most Spanish towns and villages on fiestas. One of the more exciting fiestas celebrated in Albatera is the July St. James festival. It is a combination of Moorish and Christian traditions which is celebrated over a week long where there are many brave young local men trying their hand in bull running and bull fighting.

Source: Go Articles. Spain offers numerous opportunities and select for all popular regional vacations: ferienwohnung spanien, casa costa brava, and the most beautiful destinations i.e barcelona ferienhaus in Spain.

11 December 201817 April 2021

BREXIT? What to do next?

We recently attended and made notes at a local meeting in Hondón de los Frailes about BREXIT. This was organised by the British Consulate, Alicante division. Our notes are below which may help some of you.

BREXIT for Expats in Spain

Yes, the situation as we write (Nov’ 2018) is still very fluid and subject to change and as yet there is no deal/ a deal is agreed between the UK and EU.

However, with time running out Brits abroad are worrying what they should do!

Of course Hondon Villas are no experts on what actually will happen, nor are we privy to any more information than anyone else. But we try to keep an eye on what could happen to protect our business and help new and existing clients.

With that in mind here are the things we picked out from the talk…

AIM of the Talk: For British citizens living in Spain to be ready for Brexit.

Citizens rights:
Brits that are over living here ‘legally’ can continue to do so as normal.
To be ‘legal’ you must hold a residencia. You can have lived here for less than 5 years but you still need a residencia.

Health Care:
If you have health care already in Spain via a S1 (pensioners) then you can continue to do so. If you have healthcare in Spain through any other means i.e S I P card then this continues also. The European health card ( EHIC) should not be used if you are living here permanently.

Time frames:
To achieve legal status (residencia) before December 2020 (if a deal is reached). To achieve legal status (residencia) before March 31st (if a deal is not reached).

Part time residents:
Maybe difficult for them to do 6 months Spain/UK. This group may have to choose which country they want to be resident in! Nothing has been agreed in the negotiations so far but may mean that if you are not resident legally in Spain there could be restrictions on the period of time they can reside per year.

Driving License:
Should not be driving on a UK driving license if living in Spain. You need a Spanish Driving license.

False info/scaremongering:
Anything written on any platform other than the Gov.UK site is not true.

Voting rights:
This was not included in the Brexit negotiations. However Spain and the British consulate are in discussions so hopefully Brits legally living in Spain will be able to vote in the local Spanish elections soon.

Spain/difficulties in registering:
This can be described as a bureaucratic country with regards getting your documents especially your residencia. However, this in the long term is good thing as it gives you a good footprint in Spain.

Gestores:
Due to the difficult nature/red tape of some of the paperwork needed to obtain some documents, the Spanish tend to use a Gestor who can, for a cost, sort out everything that is needed. Recommended, especially if yout Spanish is poor.

Other info
– Facebook page ‘Brits in Spain’

– Citizens Advice Spain – a voluntary website to help foreigners in Spain.

– Brexpats– Formed to assist the Brits during Brexit. Not for/against Brexit just works with the consulate to help get info out to Brits in Spain. Brexpats is a legal and regulated association in Spain with 5,500 members to date. They also work with international lawyers and are hopeful that they can achieve the voters rights for Brits in Spain to vote in local elections.
Join : More members needed to increase their voice!

The message clearly was to make sure you are a legal British citizen in Spain before Brexit….the only way to achieve this is to have all your documentation but most importantly your residencia.

As we do not know as yet whether there is going to be a deal…I guess it would be sensible to recommend that we all get our paperwork sorted before March 31st 2019.

I hope this is helpful to you. Please consult official channels and not the local bar-room chitter. You can share your experiences on the Hondon Villas Facebook page…

Thank you

The Hondón Villas team
Office Numbers: +34 622 314 244
OFFICE: Central Plaza, Hondon de los Frailes