Snowbirds...Florida is passe, Andalusia has it all, plus excellent investment potential! "Spread your tiny wings and fly away |
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The term Snowbird is used to describe Canadians who spend a large portion of winter in warmer locales such as Florida, Arizona or elsewhere along the sunbelt region of the southern United States.
Snowbirds are typically retirees, and business owners who can afford to be away from home for long periods of time or have a second home in a warmer location. It used to be that snowbirds were the wealthy few who maintained several seasonal residences and shifted residence with the seasons to avail themselves of the best time to be at each location; however, today the practice is common among all levels of society.
Today, the problem that faces many snowbirds in Florida [the winter perch of choice for Atlantic Canadians] is that they feel that they have worn out their welcome. Florida has become very commercial and has horrible traffic problems and the accompanying high levels of pollution. Most feel that the state is out to get every single dime they can from non residents, and the nine percent tourist tax is excessive. Florida has only four months or so to make their money from snowbirds and they do a good job. Crime and violence are also serious considerations in a State where just about everyone owns a gun and, on top of everything else, the cost of real estate has rocketed skyward faster than the space shuttle.
Here at Halifax Holidays we specialize in vacations, honeymoons and real estate sales in a spectacular part of Andalusia, Spain. About one hours driving on excellent roads to the southeast of Seville; straddling three provinces, Malaga, Cadiz and Sevilla, lays Lake Zahara and the Pueblos Blancos [The White Villages]. This is an area north of the historic city of Ronda blessed with the contrasting scenery of the Serriana's stark beauty against the tranquility of olive groves and village life; situated just an hour away from Granada, Seville and Malaga, or even Gibraltar.
Andalusia is a cost effective and significantly more beautiful alternative to the State of Florida! Prices of just about everything are significantly cheaper than in Canada, food, wine [an excellent bottle of Spanish wine for $6] and beer, restaurants [dinner for two, with wine $30], car rental and travel [you can take a fast, comfortable train from Ronda to Malaga for $16 or to Madrid, Spain's cosmopolitan capital, for $65]. Real estate is still, although perhaps not for too much longer given prices in other parts of Spain, a very good investment. This is particularly so for Canadian snowbirds because of the potential for them to rent their property during the peak European holiday months of May though September when they themselves are resident in Canada. Weekly rental rates vary depending on the property and location; however, € 200 to € 350 [$300 to $500] is realistic as a guide. Spanish banks are motivated to lend money for mortgages right now and the Eurobor [like Canada's prime rate] is attractive at 2.75% with mortgage rates marginally higher.
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