Living in San Francisco was very expensive for them, so they moved to Spain and bought a beautiful house for $50,000. Here is their story.

When John Flores and Michael Leitz began their search for a new onehousesfor the next stage of their life, they realized that their current life inSan Franciscotoo expensive. Deciding to look at more distant options, the couple eventually purchased a magnificent three-storyhouse120 years old in a picturesque rural areaSpainfor an amount of less than 50 thousand dollarsU.S.Both worked in education in the US until their retirement: Michael was a history teacher at a school, while John managed administrative affairs at UCLA. Despite enjoying life in San Francisco, they realized that the cost of housing would be unaffordable due to their modest pensions.“Europe was a natural choice for us.”, - notes Leitz.“I have German and Irish roots, so there’s a European connection in the family. And John is partially Mexican, so he speaks Spanish at a high level.”."The closest to the Californian lifestyle in Europe turned out to be"Spain"So the choice was obvious.".

Searching for a suitable place

Your hunt forhousethe couple started fromValenciaHowever, it turned out that housing prices there are too high. Data indicates that Flores and Leitz are not alone in their decision to move to Europe. In recent years, there has been a noticeable increase in the number of Americans relocating to Europe for various reasons, including work and retirement, with Spain becoming one of the most popular destinations, according to a report by the immigration company Global Citizen Solutions. This is partly explained by the mild climate and relaxed lifestyle, which are combined with affordable staples like quality food and wine. In recent years, visa and residency requirements have also been significantly simplified. Spain is eager to attract foreign citizens to live and work amid a serious population decline, especially in remote areas, opening its doors to digital nomads, wealthy retirees, and vacation home owners.

Why has this Southern European region become such an attractive place to live? The process of moving and finding the right place turned out to be quite challenging for Flores and Leitz.“We understood that moving could come with challenges.”", - says Leitz.“I have never done anything like this before, but many years ago John went through something similar in”Phoenix"So he had more experience than I did."It's clear that the couple had to face numerous challenges related to the move. The process of buying and selling...real estateIn Europe, the process is significantly different from that in the USA, as it takes into account formalities such as notaries, property registration, and translators. There are also language barriers and cultural differences. Since Flores and Leitz are retired, they didn't have to worry about education, which is quite important for expatriates with children.

Chinese siestas and leisurely Sundays

In the end, they settled on the charming town of Xàtiva. Working in the education sector, the couple had plenty of vacations, which they actively used to explore.Spainand other European countries in anticipation of their move. Spain is a large country with diverse regions, ranging from snowy mountains in the north to the beaches and islands of the Mediterranean Sea. There is something for everyone here: rural valleys, romantic villages, and large cities such asMadrid,BarcelonaSeville andMálagaFlores and Leitz were not in a hurry and traveled a lot, exploring cultural features such as long Spanish siestas, numerous holidays, and the fact that shops sometimes close on Sundays.

Having come to a final decision to move to Spain, they began preparing by getting acquainted with the local language, which they were already familiar with thanks to the time spent inCalifornia.“Improving my Spanish is my main goal now that the other issues have been resolved.”", - says Leitz.“The ability to communicate with locals and workers is very important for everyday life.”The first destination in the search for housing for the couple wasValencia- a wonderful city and port on the Mediterranean Sea in the southeast of Spain. Surrounded by nuts, paella, architecture, and culture, this city became their home for three years while they lived in a rented square. However, prices in Valencia turned out to be higher than the planned expenses. Moreover, theysearchedsomething more secluded, preferably an old house that could be restored to your liking.

• “Our passions are history and art, and we wanted both aspects to be represented, along with nature and forests.”, - shares Flores.
• “Other important factors were the availability of public transport and good connections with other regions of Spain.”.

Exploring the nearby settlements aroundValenciaThey finally decided to stop in the small historic town of Xàtiva, known for its impressive castle and historical buildings, as well as its museums and art galleries.barsand restaurants. The most important thing is that the city has convenient train connections to Valencia and other regions. The couple noted that they were attracted by the narrow streets filled with old buildings, some of which were in poor condition and needed restoration, while others remained in good shape. The friendly atmosphere among the locals and other expatriates drew them in: they felt a sense of friendliness and the possibility of building a community.

As soon as a final decision was made about the place of residence, the next step was to find a suitable and affordable option.real estateInstead of contacting a real estate agent, they turned to Idealista, one of the most popular property sale websites in Spain, and soon found a place that caught their interest almost instantly.

Gentle fastenings and barriers

It was an abandoned stone building with three floors, suitable for their needs and at a reasonable price.

The couple decided to combine the interior spaces of the first floor to create a large and bright hall. The upper floors were also reorganized to create another bedroom and bathroom. They also planned to install air conditioning, which was necessary due to the heat in southern Spain during the summer. After they found a local architect and contractor willing to complete the work for 40,000 euros (approximately 44,000 dollars), the work on the first floor began.“Here we faced many difficulties.”", - says Flores.“The place consisted of four small rooms, and there wasn't enough space.”Additionally, the ceiling was quite low, so we asked the architect to check for sturdy beams. They were there and showed no signs of rot. However, the builders treated the structures with a special solution to prevent deterioration.“After the removal of the partitions, we ended up with a large, spacious, and bright room, and the ceiling was raised by one and a half meters, which made a significant improvement.”They also removed the bedroom on the first floor and expanded the master bedroom on the second, adding a walk-in closet, a guest bedroom, and a bathroom with a tub and shower. After that, they focused on the finishing touches.

They didn't have a garden, but they had a tiled courtyard.“We were thinking about opening a courtyard to the sky.”", - says Leitz.“But it’s important to listen to the recommendations of the locals; they advised keeping it closed, as there can sometimes be heavy rains that may cause flooding.”Therefore, it is now covered with a transparent roof, allowing sunlight to come through.

Peaceful life

They have not only a courtyard but also a terrace filled with a large number of potted plants. To make room for their creative pursuits, they set up a studio in the attic. Leitz says he enjoys painting, while Flores works on ceramics in various colors. Their artwork occupies space throughout the...homeFurniture is a mix of items brought from the USA and local finds.“We brought some things from California, including a Persian rug that has been in the family for a long time, and others we…”bought"At Ikea, but our best purchase was at an antique shop, where we found the most beautiful vintage Spanish items."“with enthusiasm, Leitz shares.”

The house renovation took about six months, but we had to wait a long time to get the building permit from the local authorities.“After the architect provided the plans, applications, and other documentation, the couple quickly became familiar with the concept of ‘mañana,’ which may not seem alarming, but in Spain, it can mean any span of time.”.“The most difficult part for us was the long wait for permits and bureaucratic procedures.”, - Flores admits.“But the actual construction work only took six months and went quite smoothly, except for finding the best place for the air conditioners.”Having successfully completed all their work in the summer of 2022, the couple was able to move and is now fully integrated into the community. They have made many friends among both the locals and other expatriates, and they are happy with how they greet each other on the street.“Even our cat, who came with us from California, is happy with the new life.”“They are also accustomed to the measured pace of life in a small, quiet town where everything closes from two to five in the afternoon,” says Flores.“With age”, - concludes Leitz, -"We prefer a more peaceful life. We don't need clubs and..."bars“Although sometimes I miss concerts and theaters. But, after all, Valencia is not that far away.”.