Clean up in Spain; place in the sun Linda sells her laundry firm to move to ideal Costas house.Byline: Laura Davidson Most women want a cake or maybe a new handbag for their birthday but Linda Dunn made a wish for a new life in the sun. The laundry Laundry can be:
Before industrialization business owner promised herself that by the time she turned 45, she would be leaving Scotland behind for a warmer climate. Her big birthday is next week - and her plan is right on track. Linda has bought a gorgeous three-bedroom home in Villamartin, near Torrevieja on Spain's Costa Blanca. She picked up the keys for the villa in June and she's tying up her business in Scotland so she can make a full-time move to Spain. She said: "I'm so pleased it's all going according to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. plan. I knew it would be a tall order moving lock stock to Spain but now I have a house there, that's the main thing. "I have a friend with a house in Villamartin and every time I went to visit I would find it harder and harder to come back to Scotland. "I put down the deposit on my home last June when it was at the building stage and it was ready in June this year as promised. "I've been over to furnish fur·nish tr.v. fur·nished, fur·nish·ing, fur·nish·es 1. To equip with what is needed, especially to provide furniture for. 2. it and it's looking great. I really can't wait to move. "Until I have everything tied up in Scotland, I'll be going there for holidays. But I can't wait for the day it becomes my proper home." Linda reckons she'll be ready to move by next spring or summer. In the meantime Adv. 1. in the meantime - during the intervening time; "meanwhile I will not think about the problem"; "meantime he was attentive to his other interests"; "in the meantime the police were notified" meantime, meanwhile , she has sold her laundry business in Cardonald, Glasgow, and she's selling her property in Scotland. As well as putting her main house in Moscow, Ayrshire, up for sale, she has two rental flats in Glasgow. She plans to sell one and keep the other one to use as a base when she comes back to Scotland. Linda hooked up with Scottishbased firm Properties Spain when she started house-hunting. Owners Harry and Margaret Woolfries, previously featured in Right at Home, moved full-time to Spain a few years ago. Linda found the advice they gave based on personal experience to be invaluable. She said: "It's always good to speak to people who've been in the same boat as you. "Harry and Margaret knew exactly where I was coming from and what I was looking for. "I wanted something bigger than just an apartment because it was going to be my main home. "I've ended up with a great detached de·tached adj. 1. Separated; disconnected. 2. Standing apart from others; separate. house in a fantastic little development. "There are only 16 properties and we share a pool - the back door of each house opens on to the pool so it's lovely. The living accommodation is a good size. "I have a lovely side garden and there's a massive terrace which opens off two of the bedrooms. It's exactly what I was looking for." Linda paid 252,000 euros (pounds 199,000) for her house, putting down half the cost from savings and taking out a mortgage for the balance. She plans to use the money from the sale of her business in Scotland to start a new laundry business in Spain. Her partner Dave Windsor, 46, an electrician, is making the move with her and is hoping to find work in Spain too. Linda, who has three grown-up grown-up adj. 1. Of, characteristic of, or intended for adults: grown-up movies; a grown-up discussion. 2. children, said: "We're excited about it and, now the house is ready, it feels like it's really happening. "The business is sold and when the house in Scotland is also sold, we'll be ready to go. "I think at our age we're still young enough to enjoy the prospect of a new life abroad and Scotland isn't too far away when I want to come back to visit family. "I think we're going to have the best of both worlds." FACTFILE Many experts say this is a good time to buy in Spain as house prices have dropped on average by 20 per cent. Use an established estate agency and always hire a recommended lawyer. New laws New Laws: see Las Casas, Bartolomé de. in Spain require builders to seek planning permission planning permission Noun formal permission granted by a local authority for the construction, alteration, or change of use of a building planning permission n → licencia de obras before construction starts, reducing risk of buying illegally erected houses. Have your finances in place. Mostly you will have to pay 3000 euros to hold a property then pay a 20 to 30 per cent deposit in a month or two, followed by the balance when signing. Most banks offer mortgages of between 70 and 80 per cent of full price. For more, ring Properties Spain on 0141 637 3636 or see www.properties-spain.co.uk CAPTION(S): She plans to sell Ayrshire property; House has a lovely side garden; Linda has already chosen furniture; New villa has spacious living room; Large terrace off two of the bedrooms leads to the swimming pool |
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