Paul got the keys to his villa in the Costa Blanca at the start of December 2015, using Smart Currency Exchange to transfer the necessary funds from the UK to complete the purchase. This meant he benefited from both competitive exchange rates and a first-class, one-on-one service.

“In total, I exchanged and transferred £165,000 to my euro account in Spain to cover the purchase,” said Paul. “First, I transferred the required amount of euros for the deposit, then I fixed an exchange rate with Smart Currency Exchange for half of the outstanding amount needed to complete, buying the remaining half with a spot rate on the day of completion.”

Paul agreed a purchase price of €170,000 for his three-bedroom villa, excluding fees and taxes, and planned to move in once his furniture arrived from the UK in December. He found the property during a viewing trip in September.

“I arranged to view six properties with a local agent,” said Paul. “It was actually my first time ever in this part of Spain! The second property I viewed was a villa in Orba, which I’d already spotted on the Internet. I decided I wanted it as soon as I viewed it. Not long after, the sale of my three bedroom semi in Warwickshire went through, so everything fell into place for my move to Spain.”

Situated on a small urbanisation, Paul’s villa has two upstairs bedrooms, while the third bedroom is part of a self-contained apartment. It has a private pool and lovely mountain views.

“It’s in a great location,” added Paul. “Orba is a bit more traditional than a resort on the coast, surrounded by greenery and mountains. The beach is still only 15-20 minutes’ drive away and there’s a bus to Dénia. My place is less than five minutes’ walk from the centre of town, and I have a bar at the end of my road.”

Now a resident in Spain, Paul is continuing to use Smart Currency Exchange for his ongoing payments. “I use them to transfer my monthly income from the UK to Spain,” he said. “They’re always very helpful.”

With currency markets currently fluctuating dramatically in response to global economic events, it’s even more important to keep an eye on the exchange rate movements and plan these into your overseas purchase. If, like Paul, you want to realise your dream of moving to or buying property in Spain, contact Smart Currency Exchange today to get the latest rates and to plan the right currency buying strategy for you.

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