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Als John Flores und Michael Leitz nach einem Zuhause für den nächsten Lebensabschnitt suchten, stellten sie fest, dass ihr Wohnort in San Francisco zu teuer war.

Stattdessen begannen sie, weiter in die Ferne zu schauen – und kauften schließlich ein wunderschönes, 120 Jahre altes, dreistöckiges Haus im ländlichen Spanien für weniger als 50.000 US-Dollar.

Sowohl Flores als auch Leitz arbeiteten vor ihrer Pensionierung im Bildungswesen in den USA – Leitz war Geschichtslehrer an einer High School, während Flores Verwaltungsangestellter an der UCLA war.

Obwohl sie sagten, dass sie beide ihren Lebensstil in San Francisco genossen, erkannten sie, dass es unbezahlbar wäre, in einer Mietwohnung zu leben und deren Renten weit unter ihrem Gehalt lägen.

„Europa war für uns eine naheliegende Wahl“, sagte Leitz. „Ich bin teils Deutscher, teils Ire, daher hatte die Familie europäische Wurzeln. John ist zum Teil Mexikaner, was für eine spanische Verbindung sorgt, und er spricht auch fließend Spanisch.

„Der kalifornischen Lebensart kommt man in Europa am nächsten, man kann sie in Spanien finden, daher fiel uns die Wahl leicht.“

Gonzalo Azumendi/Stone RF/Getty Images

Das Paar begann seine Wohnungssuche in der spanischen Stadt Valencia, fand es aber zu teuer.

Leitz und Flores sind nicht allein. In den letzten Jahren sind immer mehr Amerikaner aus geschäftlichen Gründen und im Ruhestand nach Europa gezogen – wobei sich Spanien laut einem Bericht des Migrationsberatungsunternehmens Global Citizen Solutions zu einem Top-Reiseziel entwickelt hat.

Ein Teil der Attraktivität ist wahrscheinlich auf Spaniens ganzjährig mildes Klima und einen entspannten Lebensstil gepaart mit relativ günstigen Grundnahrungsmitteln, einschließlich hochwertiger Speisen und Weine, zurückzuführen.

Auch Visa- und Aufenthaltsbestimmungen wurden in den letzten Jahren deutlich erleichtert. Spanien möchte ausländische Staatsangehörige zum Leben und Arbeiten anlocken, um einem enormen Entvölkerungsproblem, insbesondere in ländlichen Gebieten, entgegenzuwirken, und heißt digitale Nomaden ebenso willkommen wie wohlhabende Privatpersonen, Rentner und Ferienhausbesitzer.

Den richtigen Ort zu finden und in ein anderes Land zu ziehen, war für Flores und Leitz keineswegs einfach.

„Wir waren uns bewusst, dass der Umzug nicht ohne Hindernisse verlief“, sagt Leitz. „Ich hatte noch nie ein solches Unterfangen unternommen, aber viele Jahre bevor ich ihn traf, hatte John etwas Ähnliches in Phoenix gemacht, deshalb hatte er mehr Ideen als ich.“

Bei dem Umzug musste das Paar zwangsläufig zahlreiche Herausforderungen meistern. Der Kauf und Verkauf von Immobilien in Europa unterscheidet sich stark von den USA. Der gesamte Prozess ist viel formeller und umfasst Notare, Grundbuchämter und Beamte wie vereidigte Übersetzer.

Und dann sind da noch die Sprachbarrieren und Kulturschocks. Als Rentner mussten sich Flores und Leitz keine Sorgen um Schulen und Bildung machen – ein wichtiger Aspekt für angehende Expats, die mit Kindern nach Europa ziehen.

Siestas und verschlafene Sonntage

Stefano Politi Markovina/Alamy Stock Foto

Schließlich ließen sie sich in der charmanten Marktstadt Xatavia nieder.

Da beide als Lehrer tätig waren, hatten sie reichlich Urlaub und nutzten diesen, um im Vorfeld ihres Umzugs Spanien und Europa zu erkunden.

Spanien ist ein riesiges Land mit vielen verschiedenen Regionen, von schneebedeckten Bergen im Norden bis zu den Stränden und Inseln des Mittelmeers. Es gibt ländliche Täler, kleine, romantische Dörfer und große Städte wie Madrid, Barcelona, ​​Sevilla und Malaga.

Flores und Leitz nahmen sich Zeit und reisten über mehrere Jahre hinweg überall hin, um kulturelle Veränderungen wie die langen Siestas in Spanien, zahlreiche Feiertage und die Tatsache, dass Geschäfte sonntags nicht geöffnet sind, einzuschätzen.

Nachdem sie sich für Spanien entschieden hatten und der Ruhestand noch einige Zeit entfernt war, begannen sie mit den Vorbereitungen, indem sie die Landessprache auffrischten – etwas, das sie bereits aus ihrem Leben in Kalifornien kannten.

„Mein Spanisch zu perfektionieren ist jetzt eigentlich meine Priorität, da alles andere geklärt ist“, sagt Leitz. „Für den Alltag ist es einfach so wichtig, mit den Arbeitern und den Einheimischen kommunizieren zu können.“

Als es um die Wohnungssuche ging, war ihre erste Station Valencia, eine wunderschöne Stadt und Hafenstadt am Mittelmeer im Südosten Spaniens.

Valencia – berühmt für Orangen, das Nationalgericht Paella, Architektur, Keramik und Kultur – wurde für drei Jahre ihre Heimat, da sie in Mietwohnungen lebten.

Michael Leitz

Das Paar beschloss, das Erdgeschoss seines neuen Zuhauses zu öffnen, um einen offenen und luftigen Raum zu schaffen.

Allerdings lag die Stadt außerhalb ihrer Preisspanne, wenn es um den Kauf einer Wohnung für ihre Renten ging. Sie waren auch auf der Suche nach einem ländlicheren Ort – am liebsten nach einem besseren Ort, den sie nach ihren Wünschen restaurieren konnten.

„Unsere Hobbys sind Geschichte und Kunst und wir wollten einen Ort, an dem beides sowie Natur und Wald vorhanden sind“, sagt Flores. „Eine weitere Überlegung waren öffentliche Verkehrsmittel und gute Zug- oder Busverbindungen in andere Teile Spaniens.“

Als sie die ländlichen Dörfer rund um Valencia erkundeten, entschieden sie sich schließlich für eine historische Kleinstadt namens Xativa, die über eine beeindruckende Burg und einen Wachturm sowie Museen, Kunstgalerien, Bars und Restaurants verfügt.

Entscheidend ist, dass es auch eine Schnellzugverbindung nach Valencia und darüber hinaus gibt.

Was das Paar wirklich anzog, waren die engen Gassen mit vielen älteren Gebäuden, die dringend renoviert werden mussten – einige ziemlich heruntergekommen, andere in einem vernünftigen Zustand.

Auch die freundlichen Bewohner – Einheimische wie auch andere Expats, die sich dort bereits glücklich niedergelassen hatten – überzeugten sie. Sie sagten, sie hätten ein Gemeinschaftsgefühl gespürt, das sehr ansprechend sei.

Nachdem sie sich für einen Wohnort entschieden hatten, galt es nun, eine passende – und bezahlbare – Immobilie zu finden.

Anstatt zu einem Immobilienmakler zu gehen, wandten sie sich an Idealista, eine der beliebtesten Immobilienverkaufs-Websites in Spanien, und fanden fast sofort einen Ort, der ihnen zusagte.

Händeschütteln und Hürden

Michael Leitz

Sie haben auch eine überdachte Terrasse voller Pflanzen angelegt.

Es war ein dreistöckiges Steingebäude, groß genug für ihre Bedürfnisse und zu einem vernünftigen Preis angeboten. Sie sagten, sie seien überrascht, wie niedrig die Preise im Vergleich zu Valencia und anderen Orten in Spanien seien, die sie sich angesehen hatten – und natürlich im Vergleich zu den USA.

Es bestand aus mehreren kleinen Räumen im Erdgeschoss, nur einem Badezimmer und zwei Schlafzimmern. Sie konnten das Potenzial erkennen.

Der nächste Schritt waren Inspektionen, um sicherzustellen, dass das Haus baulich einwandfrei und wetterfest war.

Dann war da noch die rechtliche Seite des Kaufs – etwas kompliziert durch das Alter des Gebäudes – es ist etwa 120 Jahre alt. Wie so oft im ländlichen Spanien gingen im Laufe der Jahre viele Aufzeichnungen verloren. In früheren Zeiten wechselte Eigentum häufig per Handschlag den Besitzer.

Schließlich handelten sie mit dem Verkäufer einen Preis von 45.000 Euro inklusive Steuern aus. Es gelang ihnen, eine Hypothek aufzunehmen, was bedeutete, dass die Bank einen Teil des Papierkrams erledigte.

Nachdem der Kauf abgeschlossen war, begannen sie, Pläne zu schmieden. Sie beschlossen, die Innenwände im Erdgeschoss herauszureißen, um einen großen, hellen Raum zu schaffen. Das Obergeschoss würde ebenfalls umgestaltet, um ein weiteres Schlafzimmer und ein Badezimmer zu schaffen. Sie wollten auch eine Klimaanlage installieren, was angesichts der hohen Sommerhitze in Südspanien eine Notwendigkeit war.

Nachdem ein lokaler Architekt und Bauunternehmer gefunden wurde, der bereit war, die Arbeiten für 40.000 Euro (ca. 44.000 US-Dollar) zu übernehmen, begannen die Arbeiten im Erdgeschoss.

„Hier fanden wir die meisten Probleme“, sagt Flores.

Sehen Sie sich diesen interaktiven Inhalt auf CNN.com an

„Es gab vier kleine Zimmer und der Raum fühlte sich ziemlich eng an. Außerdem war die Decke ziemlich niedrig, also haben wir den Architekten gebeten, nachzusehen, ob darüber feste Balken vorhanden sind. Es gab welche, und keine davon erwies sich als faul. Dennoch sprühten die Arbeiter alles mit einer speziellen Lösung ein, um zu verhindern, dass Holzwürmer in die Balken gelangen.

„Nachdem die Trennwände entfernt worden waren, hatten wir einen großen, luftigen und sonnigen Raum und die Decke wurde um 3 bis 4 Fuß angehoben. Das machte den Unterschied.“

Darüber hinaus entfernte das Paar das eine Schlafzimmer im Erdgeschoss und erweiterte das Hauptschlafzimmer im zweiten Stock um einen begehbaren Kleiderschrank, ein Gästezimmer und ein weiteres Badezimmer mit Badewanne und Dusche.

Dann folgten die letzten Handgriffe. Es gab keinen Garten, sondern eine überdachte, geflieste Terrasse.

„Wir haben darüber nachgedacht, die Terrasse zum Himmel hin zu öffnen“, sagte Leitz. „Aber man muss den Einheimischen zuhören, die Bescheid wissen. Sie rieten uns dringend, die Terrasse geschlossen zu halten, da es manchmal zu starken Regenfällen kommt und das Haus überflutet werden könnte. Deshalb ist es jetzt mit einem transparenten Dach bedeckt, das viel Sonnenschein hereinlässt.“

Michael Leitz

Das Treppenhaus vor der Renovierung.

Sie verfügen nicht nur über eine Terrasse, sondern auch über eine Terrasse mit vielen Topfpflanzen. Um ihren künstlerischen Interessen nachzugehen, richteten sie im Dachgeschoss ein Atelier ein. Leitz sagt, dass er gerne malt, während Flores farbenfrohe Keramik herstellt. Ihre Werke sind im gesamten Anwesen ausgestellt.

Die Einrichtungsgegenstände sind eine Mischung aus aus den USA gelieferten Artikeln und lokalen Akquisitionen.

„Einige Dinge haben wir aus Kalifornien mitgebracht, darunter einen Perserteppich, der schon lange in Familienbesitz war, andere haben wir bei Ikea gekauft, aber unser bester Fund war ein Möbelgeschäft, das auf Immobilienverkäufe spezialisiert ist“, schwärmt Leitz. „Wir haben dort die schönsten antiken ländlichen spanischen Möbel gekauft.“

Die Renovierungsarbeiten am Haus dauerten etwa sechs Monate, doch es dauerte noch lange, bis die örtlichen Behörden eine Baugenehmigung erhielten.

Michael Leitz

Das neue, offene Treppenhaus.

Nachdem der Architekt Pläne, Anträge und andere Unterlagen eingereicht hatte, wurde das Paar bald mit dem Konzept von „mañana“ vertraut – ein Wort, das wörtlich „morgen“ bedeutet, in Spanien aber eigentlich jede Zeitspanne bedeuten kann.

„Das Schwierigste war das lange Warten auf die Genehmigung und der bürokratische Aufwand“, sagt Flores „Aber die Bauarbeiten selbst dauerten nur etwa sechs Monate und verliefen ohne größere Probleme, außer der Suche nach dem besten Platz für die Klimaanlagen.“

Nachdem die Arbeiten im Sommer 2022 abgeschlossen waren, konnten sie einziehen und sagen, dass sie nun vollständig in die Gemeinschaft integriert sind.

Sie haben viele Freunde gefunden, darunter Einheimische und andere Ausländer, und sagen, dass sie es lieben, wie sich alle auf der Straße begrüßen.

„Sogar unsere Katze, die mit uns aus Kalifornien kam, ist glücklich“ sagt Flores.

Sie haben sich auch an das Leben in einer kleinen, verschlafenen Stadt gewöhnt, in der zwischen 14 und 17 Uhr alles geschlossen ist

„Je älter wir werden“, sagt Leitz, „das ruhigere Leben passt zu uns.“ Wir brauchen keine Nachtclubs und Bars, obwohl wir manchmal Konzerte und Theater vermissen. Aber dann ist Valencia nicht mehr weit.“

The post San Francisco was too costly so that they moved to Spain and purchased a fantastic home for $50,000. Right here’s how they did it appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.

Eventually they settled on the charming market town of Xatavia.
(Stefano Politi Markovina/Alamy Stock Photo via CNN)

By Inka Piegsa-Quischotte | CNN

John Flores and Michael Leitz. (Michael Leitz via CNN) 

When John Flores and Michael Leitz were looking for a home in which to spend the next stage of their lives, they realized that where they lived in San Francisco was too expensive.

Instead, they began looking further afield – eventually buying a beautiful 120-year-old, three-story home in rural Spain for less than $50,000.

Both Flores and Leitz worked in education in the US before retiring – Leitz was a high school history teacher while Flores was an administrator at UCLA.

While they said they both enjoyed their San Francisco lifestyle, they realized that it would be unaffordable to live in rented property on pensions much lower than their salaries.

“Europe was an obvious choice for us,” said Leitz. “I am part German and part Irish, so there were European roots from the family.  John is part Mexican, which makes for the Spanish connection, and he is fluent in Spanish too.

“The closest you can come to the Californian way of life in Europe is in Spain, so the choice was an easy one for us.”

Finding the right place

The couple began their home hunt in the Spanish city of Valencia, but found it too expensive.(Gonzalo Azumendi/Stone RF/Getty Images) 

Leitz and Flores aren’t alone. In recent years an increasing number of Americans have moved to Europe for business and retirement – with Spain emerging as a top destination according to a report by migration consultancy Global Citizen Solutions.

Part of the appeal is likely down to Spain’s year-round mild climate and a laid-back lifestyle paired with relatively cheap essentials, including high-quality food and wine.

RELATED: What’s the Bay Area’s most competitive rental market?

Visa and residency requirements have also been made much easier in recent years. Spain wants to attract foreign nationals to live and work to help counter a huge depopulation problem, especially in rural areas, and welcomes digital nomads as well as wealthy individuals, retirees and vacation homeowners.

Finding the right place and relocating to another country was by no means easy for Flores and Leitz.

“We were well aware that the move was not without obstacles,” says Leitz. “I had never undertaken an enterprise like this but, many years before I met him, John had done something similar in Phoenix, therefore he had more ideas than I had.”

Inevitably, the couple needed to navigate numerous challenges in making the move. Buying and selling property in Europe is very different to in the US. The entire process is much more formal, involving notaries, land registries and officials like sworn-in translators.

And then there are the language barriers and culture shocks. As retirees, Flores and Leitz didn’t have to worry about schools and education – a major consideration for would-be expats moving to Europe with kids.

Siestas and sleepy Sundays

Eventually they settled on the charming market town of Xatavia.(Stefano Politi Markovina/Alamy Stock Photo via CNN) 

Since they both worked in the teaching profession, they had plenty of vacations and used them to go exploring Spain and Europe in anticipation of their move.

Spain is a huge country with many different regions, from snow-covered mountains in the north, to the beaches and islands of the Mediterranean. There are rural valleys, tiny, romantic villages and big cities like Madrid, Barcelona, Seville and Malaga.

Flores and Leitz took their time and traveled everywhere over several years, sizing up cultural changes like Spain’s long siestas, numerous public holidays and the fact that shops don’t open on Sundays.

Having decided on Spain and with retirement still some time away, they started preparations by brushing up on the local language – something they were already familiar with from living in California.

“Perfecting my Spanish is actually my priority now, that everything else has been resolved, “says Leitz. “It is just so important for everyday life to be able to communicate with workers and the locals.”

RELATED: California Exodus: Once growing rapidly, state population projected to remain the same through 2060

When it came to house hunting, their first stop was Valencia, a beautiful city and port on the Mediterranean in southeast Spain.

Valencia – famous for oranges, the national dish paella, architecture, ceramics and culture – became their home for three years as they lived in rented accommodation.

Fixer-upper

The couple decided to open up their new home’s ground floor to create an open and airy space.(Michael Leitz via CNN) 

The city was, however, out of their price range when it came to buying a place on their pensions. They were also looking for somewhere more rural – preferably a fixer-upper that they could restore to their liking.

“Our hobbies are history and art and we wanted a place where both were present, as well as nature and woods,” says Flores. “Another consideration was public transport and good train or bus connections to other parts of Spain.”

Exploring the rural villages around Valencia, they finally decided on an historic small town called Xativa, which has an impressive castle and watchtower as well as museums, art galleries, bars and restaurants.

Crucially, it also has a fast train connection to Valencia and beyond.

The couple says what really appealed was the narrow streets filled with plenty of older properties crying out for restoration – some quite rundown, others in reasonable shape.

They were also won over by friendly residents – locals as well as other expats who had already happily settled there. They said they sensed a feeling of community that was very appealing.

Having decided on a place to live, they now had to find a suitable – and affordable – property.

Instead of going to a realtor, they turned to Idealista, one of the most popular property vending websites in Spain, finding somewhere that appealed to them almost immediately.

Handshakes and hurdles

They also created a covered terrace filled with plants.(Michael Leitz via CNN) 

It was a three-story stone building, big enough for their needs and offered at a reasonable price. They said they were surprised how low prices were compared to Valencia and other places in Spain they’d looked at – and of course as compared to the US.

It consisted of several small rooms on the ground floor, just one bathroom and two bedrooms. They could see the potential.

The next step was inspections to confirm the house was structurally sound and weatherproof.

Then there was the legal side of the purchase – complicated slightly by the building’s age – approximately 120 years old. As is often the case in rural Spain, many records had been lost over the years. In times gone by, property frequently changed hands with a handshake.

Eventually, they negotiated with the vendor a price of 45,000 euros (about $48,000) including taxes. They managed to secure a mortgage, which meant that the bank took care of some of the paperwork.

After finalizing the purchase, they began to make plans. They decided to rip out internal walls on the ground floor to create one large, light space. Upstairs would also be reconfigured to produce another bedroom and bathroom. They also wanted to install AC, a necessity given southern Spain’s high summer heat.

RELATED: 841,065 left California. Where will you find them?

After finding a local architect and builder willing to take on the work for 40,000 euros (about $44,000), work began on the ground floor.

“This is where we found the most problems,” Flores says.

“There were four small rooms and the space felt rather cramped. Also the ceiling was quite low, so we had the architect look and see if there were any solid beams above. There were, and none of them turned out to be rotten. Nevertheless, the workers sprayed everything with a special solution to prevent woodworm getting into the beams.

“After the dividing walls were removed, we got one big, airy and sunny room and the ceiling was lifted by 3-4 feet. This made all the difference.”

In addition, the couple removed the one bedroom on the ground floor and extended the master bedroom on the second floor, adding a walk-in wardrobe, a guest bedroom and another bathroom with tub and shower.

Then came the final touches. There was no garden, but a covered tiled patio.

“We considered opening the patio up to the sky,” Leitz said. “But you have to listen to the locals in the know. They strongly advised us to keep the patio closed because there are sometimes strong rainfalls and the house could be flooded. So, it is now covered with a transparent roof which allows lots of sunshine.”

The quiet life

The staircase before the renovation.(Michael Leitz via CNN) 

Not only do they have a patio but also a terrace with plenty of potted plants. To indulge their artistic interests, they installed a studio in the attic. Leitz says he loves to paint while Flores makes some colorful ceramics. Their works are displayed throughout the property.

Furnishings are a mix of items shipped from the US and local acquisitions.

“Some things we brought back from California, among them a Persian rug that had been in the family for a long time, some we bought in Ikea, but our best find was a furniture shop that specializes in estate sales,” Leitz says enthusiastically. “We bought the most beautiful antique rural Spanish furniture there.”

Work to renovate the house took about six months, but that followed the considerable time taken to get building permission from local authorities.

The new, open plan staircase.(Michael Leitz via CNN) 

After the architect submitted plans, applications and other paperwork, the couple soon became familiar with the concept of “mañana” – a word that literally means “tomorrow,” but in Spain can actually mean any length of time.

“The most difficult part was the long wait for the permit and the red tape,” says Flores  “ But the building work as such took only about six months and went without major problems except to find the best place for the AC units.”

With work completed in summer 2022, they’ve been able to  move in and say they are now fully integrated in the community.

They have made many friends, including locals and other foreigners, and say they love how everyone greets each other in the street.

“Even our cat that came from California with us is happy,” says Flores.

They’ve also gotten used to life in a small, sleepy town where everything shuts between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m.

“As we get older, “ Leitz says, “the quieter life suits us. We don’t need nightclubs and bars although we sometimes miss concerts and theaters. But then, Valencia is not far away.”

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San Francisco criticized for slow and costly permitting process in new state report on housing

San Francisco criticized for slow and costly permitting process in new state report on housing

01:39

SAN FRANCISCO — A scathing new report from the state reveals the bureaucratic and costly permitting process builders face when it comes to constructing new housing in San Francisco.

The first-of-its-kind report issued Wednesday by the California Department of Housing and Community Development is calling out San Francisco for making things extremely difficult for people trying to create more housing.

“According to self-reported Annual Progress Report (APR) data and prior research from the University of California, Berkeley (UCB), San Francisco has the longest timelines in the state for advancing a housing project from submittal to construction,” the report said.

So far this year, San Francisco has permitted less than one home per day, leaving the city falling far short of its Regional Housing Needs Allocation goals for building new houses.

The report revealed it takes about 523 days for a developer to get a housing project approved compared to 385 days for the next slowest jurisdiction in the state.

After the approval process, its even worse. It takes San Francisco an average of 605 days to issue a building permit.
It takes 418 days for the next slowest jurisdiction.

The report also found that at least 18 city policies and practices are out of compliance with state law. The result is that many of the people who work in the city — including teachers, police officers and firefighters — can’t afford to live in San Francisco.  

State Senator Scott Weiner has been a huge proponent for affordable housing. He released a statement in response to the report. It said, in part, “This audit puts cities across California on notice: there will be no more leniency for illegally obstructing housing construction. San Francisco has added layer upon layer of unnecessary discretion and bureaucracy for decades.”

The mayor’s office says she agrees with the criticism. Mayor Breed claimed that proposed reforms at San Francisco City Hall have been met with “pushback and resistance.”

She is calling on the Board of Supervisors to work with her on changing legislation.  

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The post State report slams San Francisco for glacial and costly allowing course of for constructing homes appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.

SAN FRANCISCO — A scathing new report from the state reveals the bureaucratic and costly permitting process builders face when it comes to constructing new housing in San Francisco.

The first-of-its-kind report issued Wednesday by the California Department of Housing and Community Development is calling out San Francisco for making things extremely difficult for people trying to create more housing.

“According to self-reported Annual Progress Report (APR) data and prior research from the University of California, Berkeley (UCB), San Francisco has the longest timelines in the state for advancing a housing project from submittal to construction,” the report said.

So far this year, San Francisco has permitted less than one home per day, leaving the city falling far short of its Regional Housing Needs Allocation goals for building new houses.

The report revealed it takes about 523 days for a developer to get a housing project approved compared to 385 days for the next slowest jurisdiction in the state.

After the approval process, its even worse. It takes San Francisco an average of 605 days to issue a building permit.
It takes 418 days for the next slowest jurisdiction.

The report also found that at least 18 city policies and practices are out of compliance with state law. The result is that many of the people who work in the city — including teachers, police officers and firefighters — can’t afford to live in San Francisco.  

State Senator Scott Weiner has been a huge proponent for affordable housing. He released a statement in response to the report. It said, in part, “This audit puts cities across California on notice: there will be no more leniency for illegally obstructing housing construction. San Francisco has added layer upon layer of unnecessary discretion and bureaucracy for decades.”

The mayor’s office says she agrees with the criticism. Mayor Breed claimed that proposed reforms at San Francisco City Hall have been met with “pushback and resistance.”

She is calling on the Board of Supervisors to work with her on changing legislation.  

More from CBS News

Read More

The post State report slams San Francisco for glacial and costly allowing course of for constructing homes appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.

PHOENIX, Ariz. — People who get a lot of rain seem to appreciate a dry climate.

A recent Redfin study tracked more than 2 million people searching for new homes between April 2023 and June 2023. Those who looked at more than 10 homes, including one outside their city, were considered homebuyers who could relocate. The cities they searched in counted proportionally to the number of times they searched.

On the list of most popular cities for net newcomers (the number of people looking to come minus the number of people looking to leave), Phoenix showed wide popularity, finishing second only to Las Vegas where people from pricier West and East Coast cities are searching for homes.

All top 10 cities are in places with warm climates.

More homebuyers are leaving San Francisco, New York and Los Angeles than any other U.S. metro area, Redfin reports.

Retired on the road:Peek inside this retired couple’s semitrailer turned into a permanent home

What are home prices like in Arizona, California, Texas and Illinois’ biggest cities?

Despite a big jump in home prices during the past decade, metro Phoenix is still a deal for major metro U.S. areas. The median home price in the Seattle area was $793,000 at the end of this year’s second quarter, according to the National Association of Realtors. Metro Phoenix’s second-quarter median was $464,000.

San Jose’s median home price is almost four times as much as Phoenix’s at $1.8 million. A typical home in San Francisco is $1.335 million. San Diego’s median is $1.06 million, and the Los Angeles median is $789,000.

The median home price in Dallas is $389,000 and $348,000 in Houston. In Chicago, the median price is $363,000. So jobs, weather or lifestyle are likely drawing those residents and homebuyers to Arizona.

Most popular city among homebuyers who are relocating nationwide

The lure of Florida:What’s the most popular city to move to in the US? Chances are, it’s in Florida

Florida’s population boom in recent years has made it the fastest-growing state for the first time since 1957, according to the U.S. Census. On Redfin’s list, Orlando was ranked No. 4 after Tampa. North Port-Sarasota, Cape Coral and Miami also made the top 10.

Top states exporting new residents to the Phoenix area

Almost half of the 5,300 searchers on Redfin checking out Phoenix area houses during June and July were from Seattle, according to the real estate brokerage, but Washington state overall doesn’t top the relocation list, according to the Maricopa Association of Governments.

About 2% of homebuyers using Redfin searched to move to metro Phoenix from other U.S. metro areas, according to the recent survey. Among home searches done by people living in the Phoenix area, 29% involved potential homebuyers who wanted to move away. Dallas, Nashville and Miami were the top cities for people looking to leave Arizona’s Valley of the Sun.

California is the top state for new residents moving to the Phoenix area, according to the Maricopa Association of Governments. Texas is No. 2 and Illinois No. 3, and the state of Washington is No. 4 on the Maricopa Association of Governments list.

Maricopa County drew more new residents than any other county across the country last year. That boom helped the region’s housing market slow less than other areas despite higher interest rates keeping more homebuyers on the sideline.

Reach the reporter at catherine.reagor@arizonarepublic.com or 602-444-8040. Follow her on X, formerly Twitter: @CatherineReagor.

The post The place homebuyers in costly coastal US cities are transferring to essentially the most appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.

SKYROCKETING house prices and mortgage rates have forced residents to find alternative housing solutions across the US.

One person found a housing solution in a minivan – but warns it may not be for everyone.

A YouTuber said that he lives completely off-grid in a Nissan panel vanCredit: YouTube/Stories From a Van
The YouTuber, Evan, had several tips for van livingCredit: YouTube/Stories From a Van
Evan explained his lifestyle in several YouTube videosCredit: YouTube/Stories From a Van

In a YouTube series, Evan (@StoriesFromaVan) walked through how he converted a small Nissan NV200 panel van into a tiny home with running water and electricity.

The U.S. Sun found several used Nissan NV200s on sale for under $10,000.

The YouTuber calls the moveable home a “stealth van” and said that he parked in public lots and on residential streets at night.

The van helped him clear San Francisco and Santa Cruz, California, rent prices – both cities have some of the highest rental rates in the US.

The series goes through several explainers on how to live in each city without a permanent address.

Getting mail, finding a job, and saving money on food are particularly difficult in converted vans.

The YouTuber explained ways he was able to figure out the bureaucracy without a home.

TINY HOME TIPS

The YouTuber said he gets his mail through a P.O. box.

This way, his mail is collected at a specified postal center.

“My biggest design regret for my van was not including a dedicated cooking setup,” Evan said.

“I can cook out of my van, but to a limited capacity.”

He reported spending between $100 to $800 month on food alone.

Evan also reported that post-coronavirus-lockdown jobs have made the lifestyle easier.

He retrofitted the can with strong Wi-Fi and is able to work remote from the car.

Lastly, he said the van is susceptible to inclement weather.

Evan said that the van didn’t come with an auxiliary air conditioning system.

He relies on his built-in roof vent and fan to regulate the temperatures in the car at night.

He reported temperatures outside the car can get up to 100 degrees Fahrenheit in the summer.

INSIDE THE VAN

Evan designed the van to optimize storage and dual-purpose surfaces.

The van’s entire floor is a storage area, allowing him to stow personal belongings throughout the car.

Three foldable cushions lay on top of the flooring to make his bed at night.

The driver’s side of the car has one bar where his hung clothes sit on hangers.

An igloo cooler sits in front of the clothes for some food storage.

A sink is attached to the van’s back doors – the internal plumbing comes from a refillable jug that’s accessible from the other side of the door.

The sink has a cover that makes the surface a usable desk.

“Despite how small the Nissan NV200 is, I was able to have a decent amount of storage space, due to the fact that I sacrificed the entire floor space,” Evan wrote in a video caption.

Th U.S. Sun reports on other tiny homes – here is a $5,000 option on sale at Home Depot.

Also, this couple spent $40,000 to build their dream tiny home in their backyard.

The post I transformed a $10,000 van right into a tiny residence as a result of hire is simply too costly appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.

• Rising housing costs have helped push Americans into parts of the country more vulnerable to climate change. 
• US counties that have the most at-risk homes are all growing in population.
• The trend shows how the burden of climate change is falling disproportionately on less affluent people.

The skyrocketing cost of housing has pushed many Americans to trade their lives in big coastal cities like New York and San Francisco for more affordable ones in Sunbelt cities and Southern suburbs. 

But that move could cost more in the long-run. 

These more affordable regions of the country are also facing much more severe impacts of climate change, including extreme heat, wildfires, floods, and droughts. People are pouring into flood-prone Florida, moving into Houston not long after Hurricane Harvey devastated the city in 2017, and relocating to parts of the West and Southwest dealing with the worst droughts and wildfires in the country. 

Rather than leaving areas at high risk of natural disasters and other climate issues, more Americans are moving into them. US counties that have the most at-risk homes are all growing in population, while those with the fewest at-risk homes are almost all losing residents, according to a 2021 Redfin analysis.

The pandemic exacerbated this trend. There’s been a recent spike in people moving from more expensive cities to lower-cost, smaller places farther from large metros and closer to natural amenities, in part due to the rise in remote work. These locations – like Bend, Oregon, which is vulnerable to wildfires — tend to be more at risk of natural disasters. The number of loan applications for homes in high-risk areas rose from 90,462 in February 2020 to 187,669 in February 2022, Freddie Mac reported.

In the longer-term, this trend will put many more Americans at risk of losing their homes to wildfires and floods, or being hurt or killed by extreme heat, or suffering from a lack of water. Rich people are already better able to protect themselves from natural disasters and other climate impacts, whether by fleeing, hiring private firefighters, or retrofitting their homes. But if lower-risk cities continue to price people out, the burden of climate change will fall even more disproportionately on less affluent communities. 

Experts say there are ways that local, state, and federal governments can help to reverse this dangerous trend. 

A recent Brookings Institution report recommended several ways that policymakers can encourage Americans to seek climate safety. First, the researchers say that Congress and the the Federal Housing Finance Agency should work with mortgage lenders and property insurers to factor climate risk into their rates, charging homeowners more based on how much risk they’re taking on.

Often, homebuyers don’t know what kinds of climate risks their property faces, so state and local governments should develop rules about what information needs to be disclosed to a potential homebuyer and then impose higher taxes on riskier property. 

“Higher fees in risky areas serve two purposes: they encourage price-sensitive households to choose safer locations, and they also provide local governments with more revenue to upgrade the climate resilience of infrastructure,” Jenny Schuetz and Julia Gill of Brookings write.

Zoning and other land-use regulations, they argue, should be reformed to encourage more dense development in safer places and less sprawl into particularly climate-impacted areas. 

Homeowners and landlords in riskier places also need to do more to retrofit homes to make them more fire and wind proof and more energy efficient. The researchers recommend that local policymakers think more carefully about where to invest infrastructure — including roads, schools, and water and sewage capacity — in climate-impacted areas to either discourage or encourage people to move to certain areas. 

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A powder room may be small in size, but that does not mean it cannot make a mighty impact with its design. 

Typically containing a toilet and a sink, and located on the ground floor of the home, a powder room is the perfect place to go all out with a stand-out, creative design that you may not have been brave enough to try in some of the other larger rooms in your home. 

With some help from a collection of interior designers, we’re here to show you how you can transform a simple powder room into a luxurious, impactful and utterly unique space – who says bathrooms should ever be boring?

How to create an expensive-looking powder room

From stunning sanitaryware to creating a layer of luxury through thoughtful finishing touches, ensure to make the most out of your small bathroom with our inspiring design ideas and expert advice.

1. Use an elegant mix of materials

(Image credit: Megan Evan Interiors)

Enriching a powder room with an elegant mix of materials will create a design that appears more visually appealing, stimulating and of course, wonderfully inviting.

‘Layered details are the key to making your powder room look expensive,’ says interior designer, Kelly Stone. ‘Start with interesting flooring, and then layer on different textures patterns, materials and lighting. Add dimension to the base of the room by incorporating traditional wainscoting or board and batten. Above you can splash your personality atop with unique wallpaper – and don’t be afraid to be bold! A powder room is your opportunity to step outside of your comfort level and stand out from the rest of your home by making it memorable.’

Brooke Spreckman, founder and principal designer at Design Hutch also suggests, ‘finishing the wall with as many materials that feel beautiful to the touch, have texture, and provide a nice color story for what they may experience in a lesser amount through the home, are a good way to look at designing a powder bathroom. I always tell my clients that you will want to feel fully ‘designed’ in certain areas, so covering all of the walls will make the entire room feel completely finished.’

Kelly Stone

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Interior Designer & founder of Kelly Stone Interiors

Interior designer Kelly Stone designs homes and businesses in the Las Vegas area and occasionally around the country. Recently named one of Las Vegas’ Top 15 Interior Designers by Vegas Entrepreneur Magazine, and a new star of HGTV’s Flip the Strip, Kelly’s designs have also been featured by West Elm, Lulu & Georgia, and more.

Brooke Spreckman

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Interior Designer & Founder of Design Hutch Interior Design

Principal and Owner of Design Hutch Interior Design, Brooke Spreckman has been practicing Interior Design since 2013 in Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York and beyond; and has a diverse background in residential and commercial design.

2. Create a beautiful color scheme

(Image credit: Gray Walker Interiors)

A small space such as a powder room provides the perfect opportunity to be creative with bathroom color ideas.

When many of us approach a small room design, we are usually drawn to lighter and brighter room color ideas. Of course, if simple neutrals are more your thing, that is completely fine, but do not be afraid to lean into the dark side and embrace more dramatic, cocooning shades – especially for modern powder room ideas, as these more impactful, richer color palettes can work wonders in making a powder room look and feel more elegant, expensive and individual. 

We explore classic mistakes made with powder room color schemes in our dedicated piece on powder room design mistakes to avoid.

As interior designer Artem Kropovinsky explains, ‘colors have the power to transform a room from bland to grand. Darker hues, such as navy or charcoal, when contrasted with shiny brass or gold fixtures, can bring in an unexpected dash of luxury. For those favoring a more classic touch, sticking to more neutral room ideas with a mix of whites, creams, and beiges can also create a timeless elegance.’

Interior Stone Kelly Stone also advises, ‘when sticking with lighter or neutral room palettes, it’s even more important to incorporate additional layers, textures and patterns into the powder room. With moodier color schemes, sticking with rich shades and bold patterns is going to set a lovely luxe tone.’

Artem Kropovinsky

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Interior designer and founder, Arsight

Founder of NYC-based interior design firm, Arsight, Artem Kropovinsky has a decade of extensive global design experience, connecting a cohesive, collaborative team of passionate professionals, who work on interior projects in the U.S. and worldwide. 

3. Incorporate plenty of layered lighting

(Image credit: Megan Evans Interiors)

Small bathroom lighting ideas should always focus on a smart blend of the stylish and the practical.

Sophisticated wall lights and pretty pendants can provide functional lighting as well as enhance a bathroom design with beautiful decoration – in a small space such as a powder room, multi-functional design is always key.

In this bathroom, designed by Megan Evans Interiors, a pair of eye-catching wall lights perfectly frame the large mirror, and elevate the powder room design with a sense of subtle grandeur and ornamental design.

4. Prioritize your plumbing fixtures

(Image credit: Barlow & Barlow)

When designing a luxurious powder room, make your plumbing fixtures into a feature. Unlike a standard bathroom, a powder bathroom really has one place to shine in regards to plumbing,’ says interior designer, Victoria Holly.

‘A gorgeous wall-mount faucet, for example, can act like a work of art. We also love incorporating a floating all-marble vanity with a custom marble sink fabricated out of the sample material. You can really see the attention to detail and sophistication.’ 

Your toilet and sink are going to take up the most space in your powder room, and, let’s face it, are the central focus of the space, so in order to make the room look expensive, it’s worth choosing beautiful (as well as practical) plumbing fixtures and powder room vanity ideas that can act as elegant design features within the space.

Victoria Holly

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Interior Designer & Founder of Victoria Holly Interiors

Victoria Holly Interiors is led by experienced designer Victoria Holly, who boasts an impressive reputation in the field of interior design. With over a decade of experience, Victoria Holly is known for her artistic skill, meticulous attention to detail, and exceptional talent for curation.

5. Dress the space in wonderful wallpaper

(Image credit: Knight Varga Interiors )

‘Wallcoverings that pack a punch – whether in texture or bold pattern – are perfect for a small dose space like a powder room. We love doing chinoiserie or block printed papers in these rooms because they won’t seem as busy in such a small space’ advises interior designer, Ariel Okin.

There is no better place to embrace bathroom wallpaper ideas than in a petite powder room. As these spaces are often so small, a powder room can be a great place to start experimenting with wallpaper ideas if you’ve never used wallpaper in the home before. 

Statement wallpaper will always work wonders in transforming a simple room into a more elegant space bursting with character, color and eye-catching visual interest.

Ariel Okin

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Interior Design & Founder of Ariel Okin Interior Design

Ariel Okin is the founder of her eponymous firm, Ariel Okin Interiors, a New York based, full-service interior design firm founded in 2006 specializing in luxury residential, commercial, and hospitality projects across the country.

6. Incorporate a magnificent mirror

(Image credit: Samantha Todhunter Design/Jonathan Bond Photography)

What’s a bathroom without a mirror? After your sink and your toilet, your bathroom mirror ideas are going to have the next biggest impact in the small room.

Decorating with mirrors not only provides a place for you to check your reflection, but it can also help to make a room feel bigger and brighter and can introduce stylish decoration for powder room wall decor.

Madison Popper, founder of Chill Casa says, ‘the biggest statement I see in powder rooms are the vanities, lighting and especially wall mirrors. Utilizing a large or unique wall mirror design can drastically change the vibe and feel of the small room. Not only will a mirror visually stick out to you the most, but it will also help to define the room and can add the perfect finishing touch to the overall room design.’

Madison Popper

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Interior Designer & Founder of Chill Casa Home

Based in Miami Beach, Florida, Madison Popper is the founder of Chill Casa Home, a leading interior design studio focusing on luxury residential design.

7. From artwork to hardware, don’t forget the decorative details

(Image credit: Liz Caan/Eric Roth)

The final flourish of decorative accessories and ornaments, such as artwork, plants and vases, and design details such as stylish hardware and fixtures and fittings, are often the small touches that can tie a whole scheme together – and they will make the powder room feel more personal, unique and more than just a small bathroom.

Interior designer Artem Kropovinsky says, ‘accessories can significantly elevate the ambiance of a powder room. Using high-quality towels, stylish soap dispensers, or an artistic mirror can infuse a sense of luxury and lavishness. Remember, less is more; try to avoid clutter and carefully choose items that add value to the overall design.’

Our powder room product picks

A frosted orb and gold leaf finish offer a touch of brilliance to the graceful lines of this sconce. The damp-rated design is perfect for layering light in a glamorous bathroom or powder room.

Undulating lines bring a warming, whimsical touch to this versatile piece, perfect for establishing an eye-catching focal point and design feature in a powder room.

Blue Dried Echinops Globe Thistles

Harvested by hand on a small, sustainable flower farm in Washington, these natural, dried globe thistles bring the feeling of nature into any home

FAQs

How can you make a small powder room look bigger?

As well as exploring how to make a small powder room look expensive, many of us would also like to know how to make these bijou bathrooms look bigger. 

Embracing lighter, more neutral color palettes can often work to make small spaces feel more fresh, open and bright, but that doesn’t mean you should always shy away from color. 

Choosing a more dramatic, colorful design can actually work to distract the eye from the size of a space, so no matter your style, both light and dark schemes can help to alter the perception of the size of a small powder room. 

Remember to choose your plumbing and furniture wisely, you don’t want to take up valuable space with oversized, awkward fixtures and furniture. Choose pieces that can fit snugly into the room and complement the wider proportions of the space. 

Also, be considered when it comes to your decoration and accessories – ensure the small space doesn’t become overwhelmed with unnecessary clutter, as this will only serve to make the space feel small and claustrophobic.

For further insight, we explore how to make a small room look bigger in our dedicated feature.

‘The key to luxurious design lies in intentional minimalism. For a powder room to look expensive, every item must serve a purpose and evoke sophistication. This does not mean every item must be pricey, rather, it’s about curating a feeling of richness through thoughtful selection,’ says interior designer, Artem Kropovinsky.

A powder room should never be underestimated. These small spaces provide a creative canvas for a whole host of decorating ideas, and by making even the smallest rooms look and feel more expensive and luxurious, you can help to set an overall tone of luxury throughout your whole home.

The post How can I make my powder room look costly? | appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.

By Inka Piegsa-Quischotte, CNN

(CNN) — When John Flores and Michael Leitz were looking for a home in which to spend the next stage of their lives, they realized that where they lived in San Francisco was too expensive.

Instead, they began looking further afield – eventually buying a beautiful 120-year-old, three-story home in rural Spain for less than $50,000.

Both Flores and Leitz worked in education in the US before retiring – Leitz was a high school history teacher while Flores was an administrator at UCLA.

While they said they both enjoyed their San Francisco lifestyle, they realized that it would be unaffordable to live in rented property on pensions much lower than their salaries.

“Europe was an obvious choice for us,” said Leitz. “I am part German and part Irish, so there were European roots from the family.  John is part Mexican, which makes for the Spanish connection, and he is fluent in Spanish too.

“The closest you can come to the Californian way of life in Europe is in Spain, so the choice was an easy one for us.”

Finding the right place

Leitz and Flores aren’t alone. In recent years an increasing number of Americans have moved to Europe for business and retirement – with Spain emerging as a top destination according to a report by migration consultancy Global Citizen Solutions.

Part of the appeal is likely down to Spain’s year-round mild climate and a laid-back lifestyle paired with relatively cheap essentials, including high-quality food and wine.

Visa and residency requirements have also been made much easier in recent years. Spain wants to attract foreign nationals to live and work to help counter a huge depopulation problem, especially in rural areas, and welcomes digital nomads as well as wealthy individuals, retirees and vacation homeowners.

Finding the right place and relocating to another country was by no means easy for Flores and Leitz.

“We were well aware that the move was not without obstacles,” says Leitz. “I had never undertaken an enterprise like this but, many years before I met him, John had done something similar in Phoenix, therefore he had more ideas than I had.”

Inevitably, the couple needed to navigate numerous challenges in making the move. Buying and selling property in Europe is very different to in the US. The entire process is much more formal, involving notaries, land registries and officials like sworn-in translators.

And then there are the language barriers and culture shocks. As retirees, Flores and Leitz didn’t have to worry about schools and education – a major consideration for would-be expats moving to Europe with kids.

Siestas and sleepy Sundays

Since they both worked in the teaching profession, they had plenty of vacations and used them to go exploring Spain and Europe in anticipation of their move.

Spain is a huge country with many different regions, from snow-covered mountains in the north, to the beaches and islands of the Mediterranean. There are rural valleys, tiny, romantic villages and big cities like Madrid, Barcelona, Seville and Malaga.

Flores and Leitz took their time and traveled everywhere over several years, sizing up cultural changes like Spain’s long siestas, numerous public holidays and the fact that shops don’t open on Sundays.

Having decided on Spain and with retirement still some time away, they started preparations by brushing up on the local language – something they were already familiar with from living in California.

“Perfecting my Spanish is actually my priority now, that everything else has been resolved, “says Leitz. “It is just so important for everyday life to be able to communicate with workers and the locals.”

When it came to house hunting, their first stop was Valencia, a beautiful city and port on the Mediterranean in southeast Spain.

Valencia – famous for oranges, the national dish paella, architecture, ceramics and culture – became their home for three years as they lived in rented accommodation.

Fixer-upper

The city was, however, out of their price range when it came to buying a place on their pensions. They were also looking for somewhere more rural – preferably a fixer-upper that they could restore to their liking.

“Our hobbies are history and art and we wanted a place where both were present, as well as nature and woods,” says Flores. “Another consideration was public transport and good train or bus connections to other parts of Spain.”

Exploring the rural villages around Valencia, they finally decided on an historic small town called Xativa, which has an impressive castle and watchtower as well as museums, art galleries, bars and restaurants.

Crucially, it also has a fast train connection to Valencia and beyond.

The couple says what really appealed was the narrow streets filled with plenty of older properties crying out for restoration – some quite rundown, others in reasonable shape.

They were also won over by friendly residents – locals as well as other expats who had already happily settled there. They said they sensed a feeling of community that was very appealing.

Having decided on a place to live, they now had to find a suitable – and affordable – property.

Instead of going to a realtor, they turned to Idealista, one of the most popular property vending websites in Spain, finding somewhere that appealed to them almost immediately.

Handshakes and hurdles

It was a three-story stone building, big enough for their needs and offered at a reasonable price. They said they were surprised how low prices were compared to Valencia and other places in Spain they’d looked at – and of course as compared to the US.

It consisted of several small rooms on the ground floor, just one bathroom and two bedrooms. They could see the potential.

The next step was inspections to confirm the house was structurally sound and weatherproof.

Then there was the legal side of the purchase – complicated slightly by the building’s age – approximately 120 years old. As is often the case in rural Spain, many records had been lost over the years. In times gone by, property frequently changed hands with a handshake.

Eventually, they negotiated with the vendor a price of 45,000 euros (about $48,000) including taxes. They managed to secure a mortgage, which meant that the bank took care of some of the paperwork.

After finalizing the purchase, they began to make plans. They decided to rip out internal walls on the ground floor to create one large, light space. Upstairs would also be reconfigured to produce another bedroom and bathroom. They also wanted to install AC, a necessity given southern Spain’s high summer heat.

After finding a local architect and builder willing to take on the work for 40,000 euros (about $44,000), work began on the ground floor.

“This is where we found the most problems,” Flores says.

“There were four small rooms and the space felt rather cramped. Also the ceiling was quite low, so we had the architect look and see if there were any solid beams above. There were, and none of them turned out to be rotten. Nevertheless, the workers sprayed everything with a special solution to prevent woodworm getting into the beams.

“After the dividing walls were removed, we got one big, airy and sunny room and the ceiling was lifted by 3-4 feet. This made all the difference.”

In addition, the couple removed the one bedroom on the ground floor and extended the master bedroom on the second floor, adding a walk-in wardrobe, a guest bedroom and another bathroom with tub and shower.

Then came the final touches. There was no garden, but a covered tiled patio.

“We considered opening the patio up to the sky,” Leitz said. “But you have to listen to the locals in the know. They strongly advised us to keep the patio closed because there are sometimes strong rainfalls and the house could be flooded. So, it is now covered with a transparent roof which allows lots of sunshine.”

The quiet life

Not only do they have a patio but also a terrace with plenty of potted plants. To indulge their artistic interests, they installed a studio in the attic. Leitz says he loves to paint while Flores makes some colorful ceramics. Their works are displayed throughout the property.

Furnishings are a mix of items shipped from the US and local acquisitions.

“Some things we brought back from California, among them a Persian rug that had been in the family for a long time, some we bought in Ikea, but our best find was a furniture shop that specializes in estate sales,” Leitz says enthusiastically. “We bought the most beautiful antique rural Spanish furniture there.”

Work to renovate the house took about six months, but that followed the considerable time taken to get building permission from local authorities.

After the architect submitted plans, applications and other paperwork, the couple soon became familiar with the concept of “mañana” – a word that literally means “tomorrow,” but in Spain can actually mean any length of time.

“The most difficult part was the long wait for the permit and the red tape,” says Flores  “ But the building work as such took only about six months and went without major problems except to find the best place for the AC units.”

With work completed in summer 2022, they’ve been able to  move in and say they are now fully integrated in the community.

They have made many friends, including locals and other foreigners, and say they love how everyone greets each other in the street.

“Even our cat that came from California with us is happy,” says Flores.

They’ve also gotten used to life in a small, sleepy town where everything shuts between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m.

“As we get older, “ Leitz says, “the quieter life suits us. We don’t need nightclubs and bars although we sometimes miss concerts and theaters. But then, Valencia is not far away.”

The-CNN-Wire
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