We had to be fast to bag our villa!

“As soon as we saw it we rang HomeEspaña,” said Ernst, a 59-year-old business consultant. “They agreed to take the property off the market for three days in return for a small deposit. This gave Bernadette enough time to fly out to Valencia and do a viewing. She called me to say she wanted it and we made a successful offer of €210,000! I didn’t see it for the first time until December!”

Even before the viewing, the Kramers were quietly confident that their property would be perfect for them, thanks to the video tour they had watched on HomeEspaña’s website. They had in fact first enquired about it in early 2021, only to be told the Spanish vendors had just accepted an offer.

“But the first buyers had problems getting a mortgage,” continued Ernst, who has two adult sons. “So in October it went back on the market and fortunately we saw it. We were determined not to lose out a second time. We had owned a holiday home in rural Valencia a few years ago, so we already knew we liked the area and the video showed the property just as it was. So it was the only property we needed to view with HomeEspaña.”

The Kramers, who lived around 30 kilometres from Amsterdam, were grateful to HomeEspaña for their assistance throughout the transaction. “They helped get the deal done quickly,” said Ernst. “The sales people were very efficient and they did everything they promised. The after sales team were very good too. They suggested a lawyer to us, who did a great job, and they helped us find an insurance company and sort out bits with the services.”

Moving into their villa marks the end of the Kramers’ four-year journey to start a new life in the sun. Bernadette, aged 48, has already found a new job in Valencia, while Ernst is commuting back to Holland to do meetings with clients.

Their new home includes a single-storey villa, which has three bedrooms, two bathrooms and open-plan living and dining area, as well as separate guest accommodation. It sits on a 2,000 sq metre plot with a swimming pool, large terrace and landscaped garden with palm trees. There is also a garage, carport and lots of parking space. The property came unfurnished.

The location suits their preference to be amongst mountainous countryside, where they can enjoy walking and cycling, but still be within easy reach of amenities. Located very close to the Turia Natural Park, they are surrounded by pine forests with views of a vineyard at the front of the house.

“We’re in a small cul-de-sac of around eight properties just three kilometres from the centre of Vilamarxant,” said Ernst. “It’s a typical Spanish town with a central plaza with good restaurants, which we like to visit, and supermarkets. The town of Cheste isn’t far either.”