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Easter Time (Semana Santa Holy Week)

We hope you all have a great break and make the most of your time off with friends and family over the spring time break.We have to legally close for the national bank holidays but we’ll be out and about in the Hondon area and you can call our mobile number or email us if it is urgent.

Easter is a very important festival in Spain for obvious religious reasons. The event is well over a week, starting with Palm Sunday before the Good Friday and of course that whole weekend sees Spanish families get together to celebrate and worship.

» Find out What’s On Near You for Easter

So, Easter Eggs are a rarity here, but they do have chocolate treats along with the more serious church events. If you get a chance to attend a local parade or ceremony you should do, as the Spanish love to dress up (very glamorous) for Easter and the children are a big part of the festivities too.

» Learn About Semana Santa in Spain

Wikipedia says: Spain is known especially for its Holy Week traditions or Semana Santa. The celebration of Holy Week regarding popular piety relies almost exclusively on the processions of the brotherhoods or fraternities.

Check out YouTube for Easter Parades

https://youtube.com/watch?v=38HnLJgihfU%3Frel%3D0

These associations have their origins in the Middle Age, but a number of them were created during the Baroque Period, inspired by the Counterreformation and also during the 20th and 21st centuries. The membership is usually open to any Catholic person and family tradition is an important element to become a member or “brother” (hermano).  Some major differences between Spanish regions are noticeable in this event: Holy Week sees its most glamorous celebrations in the region of Andalusia, particularly in Málaga and Seville, while those of Castile and Leon see the more sombre and solemn processions, typified by Semana Santa at Zamora and Valladolid. This is a religious holiday.

A common feature in Spain is the almost general usage of the nazareno or penitential robe for some of the participants in the processions. This garment consists in a tunic, a hood with conical tip (capirote) used to conceal the face of the wearer, and sometimes a cloak. The exact colors and forms of these robes depend on the particular procession. The robes were widely used in the medieval period for penitents, who could demonstrate their penance while still masking their identity. These nazarenos carry processional candles or rough-hewn wooden crosses, may walk the city streets barefoot, and, in some places may carry shackles and chains on their feet as penance. In some areas, sections of the participants wear dress freely inspired by the uniforms of the Roman Legion.

The other common feature is that every brotherhood carries magnificent “Pasos” or floats with sculptures that depict different scenes from the gospels related to the Passion of Christ or the Sorrows of Virgin Mary. Many of these floats are art pieces created by Spanish artists such as Gregorio Fernandez, Juan de Mesa, Martínez Montañés or Mariano Benlliure. Brotherhoods have owned and preserved these “pasos” for centuries in some cases. Usually, the “pasos” are accompanied by Marching bands performing “Marchas procesionales” a specific type of compositions, devoted to the images and fraternities.

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Free Prize Draw Winners…

FREE PRIZE DRAW WINNERS : LANCE & GAIL
The Hondon Villas team are pleased to announce the winners of our Free Prize Draw. You’ll remember we recently opened our bigger office in the main plaza of Frailes. All those that attended were entered into a draw to win a prize.

Hondon Villas Priz eDraw 01

Congratulations to Lance & Gail on winning the Hondon Villas Free Prize Draw, a dinner for two at Restaurante 28, in Hondon de los Frailes, a dinner for two. Enjoy your meal guys!

Thank you to all those that attended, sorry you didn’t win! Remember we will be having more free prize draws so you can enter again. Keep checking and join the Hondon Villas FACEBOOK page for details

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So many unloved homes in Spain!

WOW! It is estimated (2015 survey) that well over 3 million Spanish homes / houses are unoccupied. There are many reasons for this: held for future investment, unfinished urbs, unpopular areas, occasional holiday homes, derelict or failed projects, illegal builds, land-grab, etc. Many of these are still unoccupied since the financial crash in 2008. Not all are for sale or rent of course but there is a massive glut of homes across Spain, especially on the Costas.

It does now mean lower property prices and indeed it is a buyer’s market right now. Many who want to sell their Spanish property are finding that offers are well below their desired asking price (-25% – 40%). And here at Hondon Villas we know first hand that very few sellers in the Hondon areas get a price they want. And further, with the passing of time and on-line knowledge, all modern buyer’s are much more savvy in making “cheeky” offers and negotiating. Unlike the pre-crash market when we had to fight to get our dream home in Spain!

Be realistic about Hondon house prices

So, as facts are, it is best to be realistic and to expect a lower offer, especially if you want to sell quickly. We have seen clients refusing to budge on price or have a house on the market too high for too long (years) to find that the inevitable has to be done: i.e. to lower the price and magically more people are interested.

You may think you have the most wonderful home, tendered with loving care and hard-earned money but it is the buyer’s market.  Of course we know people don’t want to give their homes away but the question is: Is it worth putting your life on hold?

Factor in relative prices or differing exchange rates

It might help your reasoning if you can factor in that if you want to re-buy in Spain then the national % reductions will also be relative to your next house purchase. So if your home to sell is about 25% lower than when you bought then a new home in Spain may be similar or more.

And, if you are returning to a non-Euro country like the UK perhaps the low Euro is now in your favour as opposed to when you bought years ago. E.G. The low Euro to the pound  can mean significant difference when returning to the UK.

2006 : £200,000 sterling @ 1.46 would buy €292,000
2017 :  €292,000 Euro @ 1.19 would now buy £245,000

As a basic example (not withstanding fees) and of course depends on the exact rates you bought at / sold at. And factor in the price reduction and just maybe there is still some profit or at least a reasonable break-even.

Need help selling your Hondon Villa or Hondon Valley Home?

If you wish to discuss your property situation or get a free valuation then please call into our Frailes office (in the Plaza)
or call our team Monday to Friday : (0034) 965 075 357.
» www.hondonvillas.net

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Hondon Villas in the Top 1000 Euro’ Agents

Great News for Hondon Villas… we just climbed 92 places to #138 in the “European Property Most Influential Professionals League Table” run by RISE and European Property .Com .*

Hondon Agent in the EuroTop 1000 Agents

*This top 1000 leader board for Europe’s most influential real estate agents as is scored by Klout & a unique algorithm. The scoring system is calculated by taking into consideration a number of factors including blogging in Twitter and Facebook, quality of content, the amount of new followers and amount of public engagement. The leader board is managed by independent third party Rise Global.

Who are Hondon Villas:
Hondon Villas are a local, experienced, multi-lingual and dedicated real estate team. We predominantly help our multi-national clients (British, Dutch, Spanish, French, etc) to buy, sell or rent properties in the Hondon Valley area of Alicante, Spain. With over 30+ years experience in real estate (UK and Spain) we can offer a professional and caring service to all our clients. No other agent in the area can match our experience, service and knowledge of the Hondon Valley region… yes we even know where to buy milk at 11pm! We actually live here and employ the services of a vast network of experts in legal matters, currency, finance/mortgages, banks, planning and local tradesman. We also have excellent linkage with the local mayors and town halls.

We know by the regular comments and praise we receive that we go beyond the call of duty and engage in excellent customer care. We aim to have every client feel they have a friendly and trust-worthy team at Hondon Villas. A good 60% of clients come from recommendations.

Having been established in the Hondon Valley area for over six years we have surpassed our own expectations of property sales, homes and better still, our reputation… We love Hondon!

We feel that Hondon Villas is already by far the top agent in the Hondon Valley for that personal service. And we look forward to looking after your property needs.

Call or visit us at our office in Hondon de los Frailes. Keep happy, keep healthy!

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New Year, New Hondon Office!

After a very successful 2016, Hondon Villas are pleased to announce we have recently taken possession of new and bigger offices in Hondon de los Frailes. We are still in the main Plaza but just a few metres down the street, near the 28 Restaurant. Look for our signs!

This is our 3rd expansion and office move in five years. It is due to increased demand for Hondon area villas and apartments… we just need BIGGER offices! So we take this opportunity to thank all our clients, sellers, partners and purchasers.

We have also taken on more staff, increased our property portfolio, upped our advertising budget and sold more houses in the area than any other agent.

We smashed our sales target… demand surprised us and kept us extremely busy.
As I write the team and I are very confident that 2017 will be an even better year.

It is particularly pleasing that the local people support our real estate business and that many Europeans are still buying and selling property in the Hondon Valley area. That’s despite the predicted downturn in Spanish Real Estate and of course the Brexit vote.

The Hondon Valley is still an inland secret that attracts a discerning, peace loving and friendly mix of nationalities. Of course we all now live in uncertain times but the indications are that there are still an abundance of foreign property investors wanting to buy and live in Spain. Spanish property is such great value right now.

Long may it reign! Here’s to the future and please call into our local office in the Frailes Plaza if you wish to buy or sell your Hondon area property. We are always happy to help.

My best wishes to all our clients… see you soon!
Maureen

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Hondon Villas wins the Business of the Year

We womn the Business of the Year!WOwweeeeeeeee !! Well, we only went and won the “Business of the Year Award 2015” at the Pride of Spain event. 

Hondon Villas want to thank all our customers, supporters and friends in nominating/voting for us. Special thanks to Costa Blanca People (the #1 regional newspaper) for a great night at the La Marquesa Clubhouse, Quesada.

This annual event was well supported again, well presented by the CBP staff and really nice to see some very caring, selfless and deserving people get public recognition.So many people who just help in the community for the sheer joy and satisfaction of doing it.

The the icing on the cake for ” Hondon Villas, Buy or Sell ” is we won the Business of the year.   Feeling very proud. Happy Days!

“#1 Property Agent in the Hondon Valley, Costa Blanca South”
» LA MONTANOSA URB. VILLAS in Hondon

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Top 1000 European Estate Agents

Top 100 European Estate AgentsGreat! For the 6th month running Hondon Villas made the “Top 1000 European Estate Agents
by Europeanproperty.com”.

As we write we are 229th which considering there are 10’s of thousands of real estate agents across European we are pleased. It’s mainly based on on-line activity, social media and generally making a (nice) nuisance of our selves across the web. Although, the badge says “influential”, that might be going a little far, but it’s always nice to get some recognition!  Here’s a tweet … join us on Twitter @hondonagent

Twitter Hondon Villas

But the main point is that Hondon Villas use the web to present our seller’s properties to potential buyers across many Europe based mediums, portals, blogs and social media ensuring more exposure than our competitors. You know, as we do, that it’s critical as either a buyer or seller of Spanish property in this high tech’ world!

But CRITICALLY, we also know that service and local knowledge is our number one strength. We sell the most houses in the Hondon Area direct through our legally employed agents, our local office in Frailes Plaza and collaborate ONLY through trusted agents. If we don’t work with them they simply are not good enough!

It’s always a good time to remind you that Hondon Villas have over 30+ years in the Real Estate industry, we are AIPP registered (service standards) and promise NEVER to PRESSURE or MISS SELL YOU into buying a property.

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The Special Hondon Valley

[Copyright HV2014] The Hondon Valley is a special place to the people who live and holiday here. And it’s not hard to see why… with miles and miles of fertile land growing juicy grapes, tasty almonds, salty olives, spring onions and a mega selection of vegetables and fruit. The locals have relied on the land for their living. And of course many visitors and residents love to drive or walk through the valley and admire the panoramic mountain views. Add to that, the guaranteed 310+ days of glorious sunshine and the combination is a winner!

Grape Bagging in Hondon

Hondon is one of those ‘in-the-know’ secrets that brings a small influx of like-minded people to the area. Those that relish the simple al fresco lifestyle, small typical Spanish villages, the slow pace (no Sunday opening here, thanks) and the friendly community minded culture. It’s a great place to chill. Many foreigners retire here.

The summer is alive in the valley with Fiestas, concerts, special events and markets. The fiestas in particular are legendary. It would be a crime not to attend a few fiestas each year. It’s what makes the Spanish happy and brings out their family and religious values. Every village, town or city in the Hondon area has a program of events throughout the year to bring the community together. I have not tried to, but I suspect it would be possible to attend a fiesta or special event every week of the year over the Costs Blanca if you cared to!

» Check the Euro Tour Guide for this month’s events

Despite its very rural location, the Hondon Valley affords all the amenities you will need within 15 /30 minutes drive. Yes we have the usual village shops, bakers, butchers, wine merchants and supermarkets in the villages you will also find gyms, sports centres, spas, shopping malls, DIY shops, electrical goods, cinema, superstores, football stadiums, bull rings, theme parks, water parks, chocolate factory, riding schools, museums, etc… within easy driving range. You will not miss much here.

A warm welcome from a Hondon Agent

Over the last 10 years the Valencian Government has encouraged foreign investment in property. This is much needed in a region that relies heavily of tourism. This in turn leads to many foreigners, mainly northern Europeans looking for the Spanish sun, living here permanently. Hondon has also been touched by foreign investment. It is said that the area needed this in order to grow and build the mainly farmer / builder community, it’s infrastructure and develop urban land.

So now we have a quite diverse ‘goody bag’ of nationalities in the Hondon Valley… including Brits, Dutch, Belgium, French, Russian, German and Scandinavian… I think I spotted a few Italians and an Australian couple too! All these people came to live because they saw something special. We like to call it peace and quiet (but with a few rowdy nights) but on the whole the life here is pretty stress free, easy and healthy if you care to embrace it. Most do, thankfully.

Yes Spain in these austere times have many problems with funding, unemployment and social unrest but you’d be hard to spot this in the Valley where life here meanders on and lets face it, it’s too hot to be getting upset with things. Just chill on the terrace with your favourite tipple (mine’s a G&T thanks) and listen to the chirp of the birds, the wind swooning through the trees or just be hypnotised by the ‘quiet’. Or go pick a lemon off your own tree or visit the local Taparia …

Smile your in valley. So yes take it easy in the Hondon Valley… it’s not going anywhere fast. What’s the rush? Everyday can be like a holiday if you want it to be … and the washing?  As the Spanish say “Manaña, Manaña”.

Cheers or as they say in this part of the world “Salud”