Hondon Villas were established in 2006 and the 1st English Speaking Agent selling property with a registered office in the Hondon Valley which includes the La Montanosa Urb. Since then we have steadily expanded and increased our office space. Come to our office for help to buy or sell your Hondon property.
Where is our Hondon Villas office is? We are in the main plaza of Hondon de los Frailes 03689, next to the 28 Restaurant… just look for our blue/green sign.
We are open Mon-Fri 10am – 5pm… Weekends & evenings by appointment. TEL: (0034) 965 075 357
Reasons to use Hondon Villas:
Voted Business of the Year – Safe Buy Confidence
Smashed 2 MILLION website visitors
AIPP member with Pro’ industry standard for 5 years
March 2020: Aerial photographs and videos are all the rage in Real Estate. These are usually taken with a drone (a remote controlled quad-copter) fitted with a camera. The drone is operated by a Drone Pilot within a few metres of the target property. They can show the property and its gardens or land in new exciting ways. Some are stunning when seen from the skies. Alas, there are also down sides and legal requirements when using drones for commercial purposes.
2021 Edit: As of December 31, 2020, the European UAS regulations now apply. All drone users have to register themselves and their drone before using + take training + a test. This rule affects all drones regardless of their use or size in Spain. You can find detailed information on these new rules here .
Hondon Villas rarely did/do drone videos. We have not offered drone videos on property since 2019. When we asked about the legalities of using our own drone, we were told by law enforcement to stop using drones or risk a fine until we could completely comply with the 2017 Spanish Law on RPAS devices (drones) and adhere to the Controlled Airspace rules for our area.
Also after the initial excitement, we were finding drones cumbersome to do, time consuming to edit, an added expense & a workflow headache on top of doing the usual DSLR video and photograph production for a typical Hondon property. In practise it would mean the sales agent going around to see the client, then a photographer/videographer and then a drone pilot… sometimes three visits if they could not all go together. And then of course if the client called other agents to list their house the visit count / inconvenience multiplied.
More recently though, the latest Spanish drone laws now come with massive fines for improper use. Fines that could ruin a business. Costly official training is needed to. This and the cost per flight commission finally poured water on any future strategy on using drones for real estate for each property we market.
In short we are not offering aerial productions in general right now. We may do in the future for properties that deserve to be shown off from the air but with due consideration to the cost and for the current laws. Other agents are still using them, some systematically and illegally. But maybe they should re-consider. Why? … first the history.
Spot the trend…
Hondón Villas were the first agents locally to employ a drone pilot 3.5 years ago as a test-bed for the future. Miguel was from Aspe and had qualified as a Drone Pilot with his license & training at an Alicante school approved by AESA. He had experience, full liability insurance and the best drone on the market at the time. He took care of the legal side and all clients gave us permission to film over their property.
We video tested a few select properties in the Hondon Valley but outside the nearby Alicante flight path to be safe. The clients loved them, we loved them and it all looked good. However as a new service, each raw video cost about €100 to commission. This price bumped up the cost of marketing a property. No drone videos can guarantee a house sale so we used them on our exclusive listings only to get more value from this price. But it needed some thought and assessment time before we stumped up more investment and pulled the trigger on this new tech’ full time.
Potential or Expensive Risk?
Even before that, we had an eye for the new technology but pro’ quality drones were then very expensive, bulky and the rules surrounding them confusing and strict. We blogged about it at the time. We sought advice from a lawyer who advised it would be unwise to use a drone for business as Spanish law was not fully formed then. So despite their excellent potential, ease of use and the stunning videos we saw, we decided then not to bother with drone video on the grounds of expense, the infancy in the technology, lack of support from manufacturers and the privacy / safety of people or buildings.
The Must-Have Bandwagon
But they became hard to ignore, as new drones improved, got cheaper and more accessible to small businesses and enthusiasts. Many estate agents were using them regardless of rules and some customers were asking for the service. By now they were then being used in top ranking films and TV documentaries. Drone cameras improved and could now shoot in high resolution 4K (broadcast quality) and in so doing, creating new markets and new uses. They were becoming affordable and Real Estate was a good match for this aerial view technology.
Growth meant more legal obligations & regulations
However, back in 2017 as drone sales grew, Spain had to introduce very strict “emergency” legislation on the use of drones as their government was politically fragmented and in the throws of cross-party unrest. It was easier for them to ignore the potential of drones and so make them hard to use with life-changing fines if misused.
This thwarted commercial markets and made Spain an outcast in European Drone use. It also meant many people ignored the rules and added to the danger of the skies. Since then the drone industry and their use in Real Estate is smoother and now established to high degree across the globe. Spain has embraced them too for public services like the police or traffic control.
We took training and obtained a RPAS drone licence via the Civil Aviation Authority (UK) in the belief that it would be valid in Europe / Spain but were subsequently told Spain would not recognise a UK drone license and to do so would need to be tested by EU law !!! Hardly a level EU playing field then? But rightly so, we do have drone rules, guidelines and laws on drone use to stop a dangerous free-for-all in the skies. However, a drone pilot in Spain (as of writing, we understand) needs AESA approved training and tests / flight permissions submitted in Spanish.
Training Certs Date: 2017
Law and guideline changes again… and again!
Good news cometh: In 2020 the Spanish drone laws became more relaxed and a “Drone Code” created. Commercial users still need a certified course, license, etc and these new laws were still a stricter than other EU members. So this fragmented approach across the Union resulted in a push by the EU to have a common framework of Europe-wide rules that each member country can use as the basis of their drone laws.
Up-to-date: A new EU / EASA set of regulatory framework for drone usage is meant to be introduced soon in 2021 (if Covid doesn’t delay them). If they are, then in theory any EU based Drone Pilot can fly his/her drone legally in any member state with the same (or very similar) qualifications. At the moment (2020) you might be an accredited drone pilot in Denmark but not in France as laws differ. The new EU-wide idea sounds great but we are not there yet! Also it is said that existing pilot may still need to retake a test. If a pilot is not registered yet then they WILL have to get qualified at their own cost. It is also unclear if a UK based pilot will need to retest in the EU after BREXIT. We await this new evolution and rollout.
Strict Rules on Commercial Use
Our research showed us that since 2017 the Spanish Laws are very clear about who can fly a drone for commercial purposes (business / for profit use) and that of a hobby pilot. As we understand it, the latest laws on drones 2020 for commercial use specify drone size /weight limits, official AESA approved training including flight maps, airspace zones, need insurance, registration plates, a medical certificate (i.e you are fit to fly a craft), operational manuals and standards on skyward height restrictions and line-of-sight distances from pilot to drone. They also state skies where drones are not allowed to fly or need Traffic Control permission, like Alicante flight paths, natural parks, airports, prisons, urbanisations, beaches, the privacy of people. The weather has to be taken into account as does any unusual 3rd party flights at the time known as NOTAMs … and indeed most of the this and the Op’s Manual has to be done in Spanish. The courses / tests are usually in Spanish too.
(As of writing 2020) It is required that all commercial pilots train for their license with at least a week of hours for study at an approved school, show competence in practical flight tests and pass a multi-choice questionnaire on their studies. Each drone has to have a fire-proof plate of their pilot reg’ number attached to the drone.
Safety and Privacy
As you can see the rules and laws are quite prohibitive / awkward but necessary for safety and privacy. They may seem to be overkill in such a quiet rural area as the Hondon Valley but we are in a fly zone. We also appreciate people’s right to a safe and private sky and that pilots should be covered by insurance and follow the rules. Alas, we have been warned the law is the law and ignorance is no defence!
But, after due consideration & research, we decided that the fines are not worth it doing this illegally or bypassing some of the fly zone requirements. Nor would it look good for our reputation as an AIPP Real Estate member.
There is no hard evidence as yet that drone footage helps to sell more houses anyway. They help filter the buyer’s choice either way. E.G. Seeing the local area could put people off or conversely attract them. This can lead to selective editing by the estate agent (i.e. miss out the scruffy dog kennels to the west side !!). Drones can used for the sake of it too. As a tool they can be used to show the good, bad and the ugly. Agents want to show the good of course.
So we are always considering the future on using drones or new tech at Hondon Villas and watching the industry closely. For sure though, as we write, very few local pilots /agents have the above accreditations, get permission to fly and disregard for the law. We could not fnd any local agents on the AESA Pilot’s register either as at the time of writing. Most likely they are all flying illegally.
*AESA: The Spanish Aviation Safety and Security Agency is the national aviation authority for Spain. The agency is based in Madrid, where it currently occupies offices in the AZCA district, pending the refurbishment of a building on the Paseo de la Castellana.
Question: If an agent is not local how can they give you the best advice on local property rules, building regulations, about the area or tell you where the doctor is, the plumber, the shop times, the best bars or social groups? Answer:THEY CAN’T !! … Why? read below
Buying a house is not just “buying a house”. It is about location, services, facilities, the people and the local “vibe”.
Hondon Villas are a local “WE” agent…When we say WE we are more than one. Other agents are one and operate from a mobile and car. We have a real office.
We employ local people and We have an office in the Frailes High Street. We don’t collaborate unless We can give you the high level of local service you deserve when investing in the area. We try to use local tradespeople where possible to help the local economy.
Above all, We are local people with training and experience (over 30 years actually in Real Estate). We have excellent local ties with the Town Hall and translators. We offer you 100% independent legal advice through trusted partners. We know the best bespoke builders and architects here. We know the best tradesmen, bars, restaurants and shops. We can help you with your utilities and bank accounts …. the KNOWLEDGE list is longer.
So Hondon Villas don’t just sell you a house, never to be seen again … WE ACTUALLY CARE and WE GIVE YOU TIME!
And PRESSURE SALES? What pressure… if you are not comfortable with your current agent … come to see us… there is NO comparison as we just don’t do pressure!
So be careful of other agents and their spiel who speak as “We”. Often he/she is “I”. Always check their credentials, ask if they are trained in real Estate and experienced as often they are not. Often they collaborate with other 3rd party agents and pass your data from pillar to post. They run their one-man businesses from a car and a mobile phone… Most don’t even live anywhere near here or know the Hondon Valley.
Hondón Linen and Luxury Goods held a winter fashion show in Frailes. Billie, Stella and Pete turned their village shop (in Calle Virgen de la Salud) into fashion venue complete with catwalk. They raised money for RBL Poppy appeal and the Hondón Branch of the Legion. Great ! More on Hondon Linen and Luxury on their Facebook Page or visit the RBL page.
The Royal British Legion Magazine Spain North Published on Feb 11, 2020
We asked via our Facebook Group to finish the sentence “I like the Hondon Valley because… “. Here are a few replies we got!
Kathryn : “I love the laid back attitude along with the peace and quiet of a small Spanish village. Being surrounded by mountains is my favourite thing, it is so relaxing.
Joan : It’s our little piece of Heaven on Earth – our little bit of Paradise ❤❤❤
Mia : Nice people, nice places around, good entertainment. I hope to live there soon.
Pamela : I luv living there. No regrets!
Janni : The weather is sublime. The Spanish are so welcoming and kind. The mountains are stunning and we have Hondon de los Frailes nearby with fab restaurants and a wonderful community of Brits, Dutch and other nationalities. There are many social activities and the coast is not far away. We feel lucky to have found the Hondon Valley.
Christopher : Yes a nice place with nice people. But the Indians in the hill are a pain when coming over the mountains, their arrows took out 2 of my tyres last week lol !!
Toni : It’s my little piece of paradise!
Sabrina : I love living in Hondon because it’s a tight community, friendly and beautiful. I am so glad I get to raise my children here! (And that’s from someone who didn’t want to move here! ) .
Contact Details
TELEPHONE NUMBERS : FRAILES +34 622 314 244
EMAIL US: property @ hondonvillas.net
Relax … we are here to help. Just enjoy the sunshine, the views and chill. Our “Tranquilo” video is a short introduction to the glorious Hondon Valley inland to the Alicante Region, Costa Blanca South, Spain.
The Hondón Valley is a peaceful, friendly and typically warm Spanish countryside 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.
As foreign buyers or sellers of Spanish property you may need to pay careful attention to exchange rates. In fact you really should if you want to make your money work for you. Just a few cents in the rates can make substantial differences to your selling/buying power.
Sadly, many people in our experience,particularly the Brits, in the Hondon Valley areas do not factor currency exchange into their buy/sell goals.
In particular British sellers looking to return to their homeland have not worked out what they may sell for in relation to what they bough for (Euro to Sterling £). Often, they simply want to make a profit based on their original purchase price + added feature costs (like a pool, patio, etc). When we point out that as they bought in the boom years at about 146+ € to the pound they are currently in a great relative position, exchange wise if they take money back to the UK. And it CAN BE THOUSANDS DIFFERENCE!
And for the British buyers in particular you can save thousands on the purchase price by being proactive in checking the exchange rates, buying Euros when the rate is good. Many banks now offer currency accounts.
Maybe not so easy for British sellers who sell when they can so are subject to the rate at the time… But there are still things you can do whilst your property is on the market.
So get wise with your money, make it work for you… Of course it always depends on your personal circumstances, your property goals and target budget. Hondon Villas can advise you but we do partner MoneyCorp who know the way to play this game a lot better than we do and have an enviable pedigree in exchange. They literally could save you literally 1000’s.
TYPICAL EXAMPLE: In early Nov 2019 the rate was 116€ to the £. As I write (mid Dec, pre-Brexit) it’s gained to 119€ to the pound. So for an average 200,000 property in the Hondon Valley this 3 cent margin could be 6,000 €uros difference! Amazing! So you’ll agree this is a significant amount and worth punting for if you can.
Of course you don’t have to wait until you buy or sell to play the currency or take advantage of the rates in your favour but MOST people don’t and as in the example above you can see that inertia could cost you dearly. Get wise, get a currency account ASAP!
And the daft thing is it isn’t hard to do with the help of a currency exchange account, like MoneyCorp.
As we enter BREXIT/ELECTIONS in the UK the future is uncertain and this usually affects the exchange rates. So get proactive NOW whether you are buying or selling. It may be wise to open a MoneyCorp account now if you don’t already have one.
Ask us for more details… so we can get the Rep to chat it over with you. The advice is FREE, so what have you got to lose?
For Sale Two Storey Detached Villa + Private Swimming Pool This property is situated on the lovely urbanisation La Montanosa which is situated between the popular Spanish villages of Hondon De Los Frailes and Hondon De Las Nieves and all the amenities there are on offer.
Key Property Points: Detached Villa • 3 Bedrooms • 2 Bathrooms • Private Swimming Pool • Balcony • Air Conditioning • Log Burner • Insect Screens •
A PLACE IN THE SUN 2019 ::: Hondón Villas have been consultants to A Place in the Sun again in 2019. We just finished helping them …. read on! This year we met Laura Hamilton (see picture) who was so lovely and gave us a few PR tips which should come in handy later.
It’s always a great pleasure to get involved with what is probably the most popular Property Show in the UK. How many years has this been going?
So we are pleased that APITS as we call it, have been to the Hondón Valley areas just about every year for 10 years. And we all think it’s our little secret place, well people do know it exists and still, thankfully, want to come to the area. Which of course, is good for the property market and our sellers.
We have assisted APITS and other TV Property programs quite a few times now, most years in fact, including “Escape to the Continent” and ” A New Life in the Sun”.
Having met many of the APITS presenters we have to say they are all very professional, charming and always happy to do a few publicity shots in-between shooting the program. As we stand watching the program being made, they make it look so easy and slick. They are great at putting the potential buyers at ease as I am sure the cameras can be a little intimidating… Interesting stuff.
Of course as Hondón’s premier real estate agent we are always happy to show you the area and help you find your dream Spanish villa or apartment in this traditional area of Spain.
Contacts: www.hondonvillas.net / sales @ hondonvillas.net / +34 965 075 357 We also have a large office in the Hondón de los Frailes central plaza… look for our green/navy logo! Hope to see you soon :-)
Hola! thank you for your visit.
If you are looking to buy or sell property in the Hondón Valley area, please consider Hondón Villas, a local family business for 15 years. We are passionate about property and can advise & hold your hand throughout the process. Our office is in the main Frailes plaza, open Mon-Fri 10.00-17-00 and by appointment at evenings and weekends, WEBSITE : WWW.HONDONVILLAS.NET
And PRESSURE SALES? What pressure… if you are not comfortable with your current agent … come to see us… there is NO comparison as we just don’t do pressure!
