Save 1000’s with the MoneyCorp Foreign Exchange

bnr-moneycorp-currency-calculator 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.

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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

Wot!? Are Drones allowed over Hondon?

Drone flying in the sunset

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?

Drone image over real estate

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.

For the latest news and rules on drone flying in Spain … see the EASA / AESA Page:
> https://www.seguridadaerea.gob.es/es/ambitos/drones

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.

Certificates to fly drones CAA (UK)
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.

For the latest news and rules on drone flying in Spain … see the EASA / AESA Page:
> https://www.seguridadaerea.gob.es/es/ambitos/drones

*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.

Free AIPP Property Buyer’s Guides

Excellent customer service is at the heart of our property service. As the longest serving AIPP member in the Hondón area and voted “Business of the Year” we commit to a professional and trust-worthy service.

The AIPP represents an “Estate Agent’s Honour and Service Quality”. The AIPP’s key aim is in improving standards of professionalism in the Overseas Property Market. In a largely unregulated industry, an approved AIPP Member voluntarily agrees to follow the AIPP professional Code of Conduct.

The AIPP also offer a series of FREE BUYER’S GUIDES to download now. A worthwhile read for what will be an important life’s decision.
Download a Guide Here

https://aipo.org.uk/downloads/

Save yourself time and trouble by picking the right people to guide you to successful choices.

AIPP trade members follow a professional code of conduct and clients of Business Members are covered by the leading UK Property Ombudsman. Members who fall short in delivering a great service to you can be disciplined by the AIPP. These benefits are not available through non-AIPP members.

Acquiring a foreign property often involves companies and processes unfamiliar to buyers in the UK. Take your time, do your research, access our free guides, advice and legal support. Choose your own AIPP property professional to guide and help you.
Planning & putting your ‘buying team’ together

You may be familiar with the phrase ‘buyers remorse’, often an unwelcome by-product of hasty and ill-considered decisions.

Hondon Villas are proud to add their properties for sale using the AIPO property portal.

So rather than just short-listing properties found online or in an agents window, take time beforehand to consider the specific lifestyle you seek, your likely pattern of property use and how easily you might sell-on the property one day, for example. This can often deliver surprising and welcome results!

Proper planning makes choosing an AIPP specialist agent, lawyer, currency and mortgage broker to discuss your initial ideas more likely to result in the happiest outcome for you. It may take several months to find your ideal property so building a good relationship with a great agent, in particular, will not only guide you to that goal but may bring lasting benefits in on-going local support for you and your property after your purchase.

Consider the likely impact of currency movements at the start. At worst, you may be unable to complete your purchase but this can be avoided if you take and act upon specialist currency advice.

Avoid the common pitfalls by using our Free Legal Advice service and get a ‘legal roadmap’ from an AIPP specialist lawyer, before you start. Always use a truly independent lawyer.

Even if you are in the fortunate position to buy a foreign property outright, for cash, you may be better-off taking a mortgage, long term.

Search AIPP member property listings only via the button or menu link at the top of this page (note: not all AIPP member agents are listed on this service) or search for an AIPP member in the country of your choice to help you directly.

Search AIPP Property Listings Here: https://aipo.org.uk/search-property/

S.L. Another Hondón Villas Milestone

Hondon Villas is dead … Long live Hondón Villas S.L.

Hondon Villas S.L. August 2019

That’s right, we are proud to announce that we are now (August 2019) a fully registered S.L. company ( Sociedad Limitada ) which is similar to a Limited company in the U.K. And more than that we are a family business as our daughter Kathryn joins us from the UK as the 3rd director and head of property sales having previously run her own successful business in Leeds, UK.

Progress, Growth & Commitment

If you follow our progress and success thus far you will be aware that we have grown steadily since 2009, beat our annual sales targets and expanded staff and office capacity year-on-year. And all in a difficult and competitive property market, particularly in this uncertain BREXIT climate.

“Becoming an S.L. clearly shows our commitment to keeping Hondón Villas a viable and legal local business for as long as we can, after all we have been part of the Hondón high-street for about 10 years now.” – Maureen Cook, Director.

Past, Present & Future

Thank you for supporting 30+ Years experience, 10+ years in the Hondón Valley & 5 Years AIPP Pro’ Standards.

As I write, we are currently supporting 6 members of staff, 3 cars, mobiles, offices, rates and E.U wide marketing budgets. Yes, we make it work but we don’t profiteer, we have real business costs and we certainly don’t run on a shoe-string from a bedroom for two minutes on a Tuesday or finish early on a Friday! It’s an expensive market to be in. Yet we are actually the cheapest Pro’ agent in the area! We have done and will continue to ensure our staff have legal contracts, pay their taxes and have public liability cover. Our office is passed by the Town Hall, we have a certified accountant and practice the AIPP service standards. Above all we value our customers as real people with real dreams to live in Spain or to sell through a professional service.

AIPP Badge 5 Years for Hondo Villas, Spain

And we are glad to say we are still the top selling agent in the area, no contest! Despite many requests, we are very particular who we collaborate or “share” our business with, our customer service is very important and we would not want to risk anyone else spoiling that. But, thankfully we hold our own due to a positive reputation, local high-street offices, multi-level marketing, a friendly and knowledgeable personnel and of course our hand-holding work ethic.

Our extensive online presence and technical investment pays off as we have continually added to our video equipment and social media strategy. We help promote the local area, events and culture with videos, guides and blogs. We think it’s as important to sell the area as it is to sell the houses in the Hondón Valley.

Of course whilst we a confident of our future we have no crystal ball and we know post-crash Spain and the local economy is still far away from the dizzy “boom” heights of 2004/5… so we have to tread carefully.

Offices and Investment

Our main office will continue to be in the Frailes Plaza. We are looking to improve this facility over the next 6 months. Now, having test-run a second office in Nieves for a year’s low-rent lease we have struggled to staff this new office as we would have liked due to being so busy in-the-field, holiday cover and illness. We now feel the resources and marketing budget is better spent improving the Hondón Frailes office as it is by far the most buoyant plaza of the two villages. Our Nieves landlord requires the premises for another service provider which we have agreed to. So the Nieves office will close at the end of August. But we are also looking to recruit a new member of staff to cover Admin’ tasks and busy times.

HV Property in the Hondon Valley

So all-in-all we are looking forward to more success but a challenging year ahead. BREXIT looming may well be our biggest challenge yet but the last three years would suggest the Brits still want to buy in Spain. If the sales cake does get smaller we will endeavour to get more than our fair share. After all, my 30+ years in Real Estate has shown that hard-work, resilience, flexibility and experience can overcome most business challenges. Please, SUPPORT LOCAL BUSINESS, as without it the local economy and its vibrant culture will diminish and that of course will affect the property market for sure.

Regards and happiness to you all,
Maureen Cook and the Hondón Villas S.L. Team

EMAIL: property @ hondonvillas.net / TEL: +34 965 075 357
HONDON VILLAS S.L. [ NIF B42662981 ]
Calle Juan Carlos I, #24
Centro Plaza Hondón de los Frailes
Alicante 03689
Spain

We’re Celebrating 5 Years in the AIPP

AIPP Badge 5 Years for Hondo Villas, Spain

We at Hondón Villas (the #1 local Hondon Valley Real Estate agent) are celebrating 5 years in the Association of International property Professionals (AIPP).

We were the first Hondón Agent to apply and be accepted by the AIPP due to our long international experience in real estate. Maureen Cook (Director) saw the benefits of the AIPP long before any other local agent did because the AIPP pretty much echoes Maureen’s own attitude to professional service standards. Indeed, she believes she goes beyond the AIPP’s service recommendations.

Professional Customer Care is our Top Priority
Hondón Villas have 5 years of AIPP membership and fully support their ethos. Plus, with our 10 years in the Hondón high street and 20+ years in the UK Realty industry, we are the ONLY LOCAL AGENT that have and do consistently strive for pro’ standards! The other agents are still catching up… well we welcome that they all now want a AIPP Members Badge which should raise the standard of services in the area.

Porfessional Real Estate Agent

Of course actually practising the AIPP standards is different to just displaying the badge online and is no substitute for our passion, knowledge and experience. We’ve proved time and again that it’s safer to buy through Hondon Villas than any other local agent, most of who work from a car, have no office, have few credentials or pedigree, with limited experience, no corporate liability insurance or a local network. We are the safe way to buy your dream home in the Hondón Valley, Spain.

Ultimately we love selling home in the Hondón Valley and we hope that shows when you meet us! We look forward to looking after all your property needs. Call +34 965 075 357 or visit us at our offices in Hondon the Hondón Valley.

A Place in the Sun are also AIPP members.

About the AIPP – The industry standard
The AIPP, set up in London 2006, is now a well established non-profit body of estate agents and related professionals looking to improve the work and business standards of the international real estate industry. They do not sell property but with over 380 members and growing they do help promote, train and educate the industry and buyers to ensure a smoother and stress-fee property buy/sell experience. AIPP is also a Trustee of the IESC – International Ethics & Standards Coalition . Learn more about the AIPP here.

So we take this opportunity to thank you for supporting a local, passionate and experienced business who invests in the local high-street, it’s people and community services. Buy LOCAL as it keeps the community ticking over.
To find out more about Hondon Villas and our real estate services (buy or sell) then visit our extensive website www.hondonvillas.net. or visit the AIPP website to verify our membership.

Hondon Villas wear the AIPP Badge

Real Estate Code of ConductHondon Villas are the only AIPP agent who have TWO local daily offices in the Hondon Valley. We are actually in the central plaza of Hondón de los Frailes and Nieves
( here is the Google map ) .

We are delighted to be part of and perform to the Real Estate standards of the AIPP (Assoc’ of International property Professionals). It’s a fact, no other local agent has the experience or level of service we can offer.

Thank you Len Ridgway: “We would like just like to say and let it be known that credit where credit is due! Mo (Maureen) and Saff of Hondon Villas have given us excellent service and been the most helpful and professional agents to us and we know many many other people as well. They have always gone the extra mile for us and its most appreciated. We would still and have recommended them to lots of people :-) … Said it before but if you want to sell your property professionally then go with Maureen, she’s the best :-)”.

And we live here, know the people, know the facilities and have helped 100’s of people buy homes or settle here. We are “Hondon Villas” and we sell Villas in Hondon.

Our professional perseverance is paying off… we are on a roll as we have sold another 2 properties this week. Watch our on line channels (such as Facebook / Twitter / Google+) for updates.

Hondon Villas concentrate our estate services in the Hondon Valley and the surrounding villages. Everyday we deal with Hondon buyers, sellers and renters. We prefer not deal on the coast as we want to look after our special local community.

Please visit or contact our office for more Information:
Frailes Oficina Tel: 965075357
Nieves Oficina Tel: 865 571 981

Here are some nearby towns and villages close to the Hondon Valley: Albatera, Algorfa, Algueña, Almoradí, Aspe, Balones, Benejúzar, Benferri, Benijófar, Benissa, Callosa de Segura, Cañada del Trigo, Catral, Cox, Crevillente, Dolores, Elche, Elda, Elx, Hondón de las Nieves, Hondón de los Frailes, Hondon Valley, La Romana, La Montanosa Urb Villas, Monforte del Cid, Monóvar, Novelda, Orihuela, Pinoso, Rojales, San Isidro, Santa Pola, Sax. All of them little jewels in the Hondon Valley Crown!

Deal or No Deal? Brexit Update

Well at least the Noel Edmonds TV quiz of the same name was entertaining and understandable! As for Brexit? Well we are still nervously waiting to fully know how Brexit will affect us Expats in Spain. Although a lot of positive bulletins have been confirmed, all we can do now is watch the news and keep as up-to-date as possible.

Live Podcast Jan 2019 on Brexit

Yesterday Jan 31st 2019 they broadcast live via Facebook on the latest Brexit news and answered many questions from concerned people. it was very informative and well presented, albeit an hour long. Well worth a watch as it should answer common concerns or point you on to further information. Login to Facebook to see this here: https://www.facebook.com/BritsInSpain/

Living In Spain Information

The British Embassy are also making a lot of information available to Expats in Spain via their “Living In Spain” series of articles on the UK Gov website: www.gov.uk/guidance/living-in-spain . This includes useful information about residency, driving, healthcare, tax and working and so much more. You really should read and bookmark this site if you are already or wanting to be an Expat in Spain.

So check out the official information British people moving to and living in Spain need to know.

Don’t get Ripped-off in Hondon

We know Estate Agents and Builders don’t in general have a great reputation in Spain and with good reason during those boom years!

Maureen, owner and manager of HondonVillasUnfortunately, there are signs it still happens, even in this quaint old valley. That saddens us greatly at Hondon Villas because it is a too wide a brush stroke that hurts the ones trying to work damn hard to ensure buyers and sellers get a good deal with the minimum of fuss and hassle.

We know of a few “outside” agents visiting Hondon Valley with their clients who might follow that old shady path – in the UK we would call it a “rip-off” (and we have many instances of concrete and anecdotal evidence). These shady characters can be hard to spot if you are inexperienced and you put your trust in every word they utter. Don’t get mugged by double glazing sales tactics or untrained agents!

Or best advice is to be a little wary, slow down, don’t be rushed into anything, or give away your money quickly or sign something you don’t understand… but better still CALL Hondon Villas – we are local, experienced and AIPP trusted here.

“Rip-off” is NOT something we entertain or condone.

So if you are uncomfortable with the actions, language, pressure sales or promises from other estate agents… just call us – WE WILL HELP YOU 100% – we want to be the model of quality service that other agents envy!

At Hondon Villas we firmly believe the cream rises to the top. The shady ones will curdle it for you and that bad taste may cost you more than you bargained for now and in years to come.

Thank you, from the Hondon Villas Team in the beautiful and peaceful Hondon Valley, Costa Blanca South.

CALL our HV Office: +34 965 075 357