Hondón Villas are consultants to A Place in the Sun. We have been for the last 10 years. It’s always a pleasure to get involved with what is probably the most popular Property Show in the UK. How many years has this been going? We are pleased that “APITS” as we call it, have been to the Hondón Valley areas just about every year for 10 years. Here you can see us recently working with Laura Hamilton & Jasmine Harman, popular presenters of this UK Property Show.
We have assisted them and other TV Property programs quite a few times now, most years in fact. Having met many of the presenters we have to say they are very professional, charming and always happy to do a few publicity shots in-between shooting the program.
Of course as Hondón’s most experienced 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 Office: 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 :-)
UPDATE JUNE 21: The Hondón Area is now in a “new” normal, post Covid lock-down and residents and visitors are now out and about. Thankfully the shops, bars and restaurants are bringing the place alive again (still taking precautions of course).
The Hondón Villas office is open from Mon-Fri for appointments and walk-ins. Please observe the social distance rules and hygiene rules to protect others. HONDON VILLAS REAL ESTATE SERVICES. ++ We can now offer VIEWINGS and VALUATIONS by STRICT APPOINTMENT & CONSENT ONLY. We will be following all hygiene & social distancing rules as directed by the Spanish Government.
You call us, email or message us for an appointment (see contact details below).
++ SAFETY FOR ALL: We INSIST that all parties involved (vendors, agent, buyers) must be using suitable masks, gloves & sanitizer and to keep a safe distance from each other. We cannot allow appointments without this protection.
Hondon Villas have a small supply of masks and will, subject to availability, be happy to provide for any clients who cannot obtain their own (recommended).
++ CARS / TRAVEL: It is also required that all clients to use their OWN VEHICLES to attend an appointment, as we are unable to have any clients in our company cars at the moment.
++ IT’S OPTIONAL: We are aware that NOT all clients will want to risk viewings or valuations and of course we will respect this.
++ OFFICE VISITS: The office is open for walk-ins but ideally by appointment and adhering to social distancing / hygiene will be necessary. We have thoroughly cleaned and adapted our Frailes office to make sure it is safer for you and our staff.
CONTACT US: You can make appointments, call us, send messages and emails if you need to ask us a question or are concerned about your property in any way. Here are our main points of contact. WEBSITE: WWW.HONDONVILLAS.NET OFFICE: +34 622 314 244 EMAIL: agent@hondonvillas.net FACEBOOK: facebook.com/hondonvillas/
IMPORTANT: Please bear in mind that making appointments for house viewings or new property listings will need to adhere to safety and hygiene rules during COVID-19 crisis. And our ability to serve you as we would normally like is affected. Our website, marketing, social media and property advertising continues as normal.
After the Covid 19 crisis (March / April 2020) we want to get back to working in & around the beautiful Hondon Valley helping buyers and sellers of real estate, their villas and homes. Real Estate can be hard, stressful work at times but at least our “office” and the satisfaction of making dreams come true compensates for the long hours…. here’s a glimpse of the area we work in.
Having lived and worked in the Hondon Valley for about 15 years we know the area quite well and the best bit of being in Real Estate you get to see more of the geography than most!
Here we can only give you a very short glimpse of the countryside and towns but we hope you understand why we love the outdoor lifestyle here. Yes, we have two offices in the villages but the Hondon Valley is also one of our offices (well the best one really!)
ABOUT HONDÓN VILLAS: As a local AIPP registered based business of 15 years, we at Hondon Villas try to ensure the people who buy or sell property through us are happy and content at all stages. After all they will be part of the Hondon community. We aim to make sure they are comfortable with their life-changing decision. You’ll get no pressure from us. Take your time…
Search Google “Hondon Villas” or visit our property website www.hondonvillas.net, portals or call into our high street office in Hondón de las Frailes, 03689. Spanish Real Estate. TEL: +34 622 314 244
Thanks to Dino T. on Facebook for the following article / a quick guide to managing this crisis, for workers, business owners and residents during this CoronaVirus 19 Lockdown in Spain. #keepsafe #stayathome #coronavirus
No. #1 Be positive – we know how hard it is to be positive at the moment, but the law of attraction means that the more positive we are, the better things start to turn out. Life will go on, we will make a success out of the changes, however long things may take.
Protect your future business – before closing down, consider using ERTEs to be able to temporarily lay off staff, you can then take them back on again when business gets back to normal. Claim your one-off benefit from the state and register for the social security moratorium. Stay in touch with your Gestoria about what else you could do. Contact your customers to re-assure them that you will be back soon. How can you strengthen your business in the future? Who can you collaborate with? What opportunities will all these changes bring? How can your business help other local businesses?
Mortgage break – Most banks are now offering a Government backed scheme to have a moratorium of up to 6 months, that could give you the space you need to get back on your feet. You may need help filling in the forms from your bank or Gestoria.
Sort your rent out – pay it if you are able, look into what help might be available, ask your landlord for a payment break. Do not bury your head in the sands, landlords will be more flexible if you stay in touch with them.
Make sure your paperwork is up to date – register when you can on the “padron” at the town hall, check that your residencia is still valid, make sure your tenancy contract is up to date. Without these things, you may struggle to get help from authorities.
Don’t worry if the ITV inspection of your car is overdue – the centres are closed, so you won´t be fined. But remember to book it in as soon as they re-open and don’t drive your car if it is not roadworthy or insured.
Look after your physical and mental health and those around you – eating a balanced healthy diet, control your drinking, get some exercise, sing in the shower, share your problems, do deep breathing exercises, take up yoga, sleep regular timetables, leave your mobiles before bed, spend time with your children or pets.
Don’t worry about things that are out of your control. Read the news, but don’t obsess about it. Don’t get ill – things will seem worse if you get infected. Stay home unless essential. Don’t take risks with your health and those living in your household. When you do go out, use gloves and hand sanitizer, stay 2 metres away from people.
Check what benefits might be available – some new benefits are becoming available for those who don’t have the right to “paro” (unemployment). Find help if you don’t understand what you are reading. Consider what other employment or self- employment options may exist after the return.
Talk to Citizens Advice Bureau Spain about your problems and read their regular posts about benefits, tax, residency, etc… don’t ask on general sites because people may not know and inadvertently give you incorrect advice. Here is their excellent website.
Respect the workers – don’t get mad with health workers, town hall employees, supermarket workers, police. Instead thank them for their work and do everything you can to make their work easier and safer.
Focus on priorities – make an action plan and do something positive every day. Don’t ignore anything, be aware of what you need to do and when.
Prepare for the future you want – consider what kind of future you want, what would be your ideal work / business? Use the lockdown time to research your plans, making plans for the future will make you feel stronger.
Consider releasing monies that are tied up in savings plans and private pensions, but check if there are any penalties or tax disadvantages in doing so Consider renting out a room in your home to share expenses.
Share your experiences – how did you cope? Did you manage to get help from Social Security or the Tax Office? Share your experiences and help others. We are all in this together.
Show you care – call your closest friends, listen to their problems too, they are also suffering, remember that ¨a problem shared is a problem halved¨. Do something kind for friends and neighbours, it will also make you feel better.
Sell your stuff – when the lockdown ends, could you sell some of your valuable belongings? Maybe trade down your car for a cheaper model.
Consider going home – if you have exhausted all your options, be open to the idea of returning to your home country, especially if employment or business options will be brighter there. It is not failure, it is recognising when the time is right to do something different and moving on.
This article was first written and published b Dino Trubbianelli c2020 on Facebook. Please support his website “Visit Albir”.
Until 1 January 2021, (POST BREXIT) you can continue to travel to Europe with your UK passport until it expires. New rules will apply for travel to Europe from 1 January 2021. See the GOV UK website.
Post Brexit Passports and Old EU Passport
If your passport is burgundy or has ‘European Union’ on the cover, you can continue to use it until it expires.
You’ll need to have at least 6 months left on an adult or child passport to travel to most countries in Europe (not including Ireland).
If you renewed your current passport before the previous one expired, extra months may have been added to its expiry date. Any extra months on your passport over 10 years may not count towards the 6 months needed.
You’ll need to renew your passport before travelling if you do not have enough time left on your passport.
Need More Information? The UK GOV website has lots of help and you can apply for documents online. You need to Sign up for email updates on GOV.UK.
The Catholic Church of Santa María in Novelda (about 25 minutes from the Hondóns) is a wonderful piece of “fantasy” architecture, based on the great Gaudi style of Barcelona. It’s well worth a visit. As it sits on a hill overlooking the town it also has great views and is wonderfully peaceful. It is classes as a national historic monument.
It is still used as a real church for worship and religious events and boasts an incredible marble (local stone) piped organ which sounds awesome!
Map Location / Coordinates : Google Map Diocese: Orihuela-Alicante Architecture: Built 1918 – 1946 Architect: José Sala Sala Architectonic style Valencian Modernism (Gaudi) The Sanctuary of Santa María Magdalena is a religious building located in Novelda ( Alicante ), Valencian Community , Spain .
Its construction, began in 1918 and required three phases to terminate the work in 1946. It was built from a project designed by the Noveldense engineer José Sala Sala. The building bears a distant resemblance to the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona by Antonio Gaudí . It is shaped like a jug, symbolizing the jug that the Holy brought from balm to Jesus . This original form is also unique in the world. Subsequently the construction was carried out by the masters of works Ceferí Escolano and Antoni Amorós. It is a very unique and outstanding work.
On the main facade, two 25 m side towers stand out. high culminated by a stone cross, which is also in the dome and on the upper arches of the facade. The decorative motifs have antecedents in medieval, baroque styles and in nature itself.
The interior of the sanctuary is composed of a rectangular central nave with two attached side spaces; at the bottom, in the apse , is the dressing room of Santa María Magdalena , patron of Novelda, and behind the altar you can admire a beautiful painting attributed to Gastón Castelló . In the late 1900’s it underwent the incorporation of an magnificent organ built entirely in local marble , the work of the innovative organizer and artist Iván Larrea, who will become the only one in the world of these characteristics.
The Sanctuary of Santa María Magdalena de Novelda is the place that many couples choose to marry and baptize their children. It is a place with a lot of history for the Noveldenses since the election of grapes that will accompany Santa María Magdalena in the procession of July 22, patron day, is also celebrated here. It is also interesting to note that, for several years, the Dominican sisters lived in a building next to the Sanctuary. Three years ago they marched to another region of Spain. In the place where they lived a hostel and a theme centre are being set up.
We at Hondon Villas are no green fingered experts but you can’t help but notice that Spring (Primavera) in the Hondon Valley is quite wonderful in the gardens and countryside.
After the winter harvest of grapes, clementines, oranges and lemons, February & March sees the valley full of pink and purple almond blossom. Which with the late winter winds fall like snow flakes to make way for March/April when the grape vines are starting to bud with vibrant green leaves.
The pomegranate trees show the bright red flower to later turn to fruit. The thyme and rosemary herbs are in abundance with a small purple / blue flower and just smell delightful.
It’s our favourite time of year in the Hondon Valley as the temperature is more conducive to working or outdoor leisure activities. Yes the nights can still be a little chilly with the valley wind and the rain we get this time of year but it’s more favourable to the searing heat of July and August.
If you are using a foreign currency, like Sterling or Dollars to buy or pay for your Spanish property / mortgage or just need to transfer some larger sums of money to or from Spain then you SHOULD be using a Currency Exchange Service.
IT CAN LITERALLY SAVE YOU 1000’s ON FEES AND POORER BANK RATES.
Incredibly even a small percentage fluctuation in the rates can make a massive difference in what you get back.
IN FACT if you TIME IT RIGHT you can literally save 1000’s on an exchange deal when paying off your house purchase.
So it is ALWAYS WORTH using a reliable and trusted foreign exchange service, like MoneyCorp as their rates and service are much better than a typical bank or Bureau de Change service.
At Hondon Villas we use and recommend MoneyCorp for your foreign payments. Alan can advise you on the BEST ROUTE fro your needs, he is so helpful. Here is a quick link to » OPEN AN ACCOUNT TODAY, IT’S EASY
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
