PERELLÓ PROPERTIES DIRECT S.L. welcomes you to our home here in beautiful Catalunya, probably one of the last unspoilt paradises of Spain and Europe.

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We are a fully legally established and registered estate agents with over sixty years of working experience in the sale of land and houses. We specialise in finding building land, properties for restoration, town houses and villas for discerning customers who wish to live in this beautiful area. Our staff are fluent in English as well as Spanish and Catalan. We are fully conversant with all the necessary procedures for the purchase of a property and for all the essential permits for building and restoration. We are knowledgeable in all areas of Spanish property law and are experienced at matching your needs and wants to exactly the right property.

Having introduced our company, we would like to describe a little of the area. If stunning countryside and mountains, the Mediterranean and the Catalunya sunshine are of interest to you, then we suggest that you plan a visit very soon! Three thousand years of history and culture make it a very interesting place to live and with it`s superb cuisine and table wines, why wait any longer? Whether you are looking for a new style of living, a fresh start, a holiday home in the sun or that idyllic retirement location, we can help.

Our base is in El Perelló, a village bypassed by time yet having all facilities needed for everyday life, whether as a resident or as a holiday-maker. Our offices are situated just off the main square. Minutes from clean, quiet beaches and coves, the autopista (motorway) to Barcelona, Tarragona and Valencia, two international airports, excellent train connections to Barcelona and Madrid, the Ebro river valley and countless kilometres of fantastic countryside and mountains, just waiting to be explored. Modern life of the 21st century goes hand in hand with the romantic images of the past. The horse drawn cart on the way to the olive grove is still a way of life here which lives happily alongside the new computer shop where you can register for your internet connection ".es"

WHAT CAN WE DO FOR YOU?

What sort of house?

If you have replied to one of our advertisements or are a friend of a previous customer, presumably you are thinking about purchasing something in this area. But what?

Naturally, we specialise in finding building land, properties for restoration and villas including "urbanisations". New or old, sea-views or country and mountain location, town or countryside, we have what you are looking for. You tell us what you would like - business or pleasure, main home or for holidays. For those with very specialised needs we can discuss your particular requirements and carry out the necessary research before your visit.

What services do we offer?

Having found your plot of land or house, we can arrange for;

• an easy and trouble free purchase with professionals
• planning permission - the architects and surveyors
• full house design and landscaping
• all building / restoration quotes - including masonry, roofing, plumbing, electrics, wells, groundworks, solar energy, swimming pool etc. You need it -we do it!
• all paperwork concerning your purchase including the sale transaction and legal searches by the notary, naturally, guaranteeing free title.
• banking facilities, including mortgages
• guaranteed, secure money transfer and preferential exchange rates with
  Foreign Exchange (UK) or telephone 0208 722 4730 quoting ref; R -ppd
• residence permits, health, car and house insurance, car importation documents, business grants etc.

All our work is 100% guaranteed - nobody else offers that!

There are numerous checks and searches that need to be done to make sure that your property will be free of problems and debts! Remember, we offer an unrivalled service and we guarantee all our work. Your sale can be completed in 3 to 4 days or we can arrange for a second visit at a mutually agreed time. We use local notaries that are extremely reliable and offer an excellent service.

Some frequently asked questions about your purchase.

• How can I secure my purchase? By a simple deposit of about 10%, you can reserve your property until you return to complete the sale at a mutually agreed time. Gazumping doesn`t happen here you`ll be pleased to hear. The deposit can be paid in cash or by cheque. Alternatively, if you wish, your purchase can be totally completed in approximately three to four days.
• How much is Stamp duty? Notary fees and stamp duty come to some 10% of the purchase price of your property.
• What does the Notary do? He / She will act as an independent solicitor for both the seller and the buyer as well as the government`s tax collector. The notarial seal on your escritura (deeds) 100% guarantees free title of your property.
• Are "rates" likely to be expensive? For most properties, a decent lunch out (even at local prices) will be more than your rates for the year!
• Who pays the agents` fees? Don`t worry - the seller pays us!
• What about the health service? Whilst visiting, bring your E111 form (from Social Security offices and some Post Offices) with you for complete FREE and excellent cover. Our nearest hospitals are in Tortosa and Mora and there is an ambulance station and health centre here in Perelló. Many prescription drugs are available "over the counter" at chemists without a prescription and at half the normal cost.
• Can I bring the pets? Yes. If bringing a dog, cat, horse or other pet, there are excellent veterinary facilities close by.
• Is it easy for children to adapt? Spaniards love children. Don`t be surprised to see babies and children any and everywhere. They are part of the family and are always accepted and welcomed everywhere and at anytime. Here, children play in safety on the streets as they did a generation ago in Britain. Schools are happy to take on "foreigners". In Perelló, class sizes range from 15 to 20 in modern classrooms (3 to 16 years.) For the BAC (A-levels) most courses are covered in Tortosa and the pupils go daily by bus. You can happily expect integration within days and reasonable fluency in Catalan within ONE term.

Need accommodation whilst you are looking?

We can arrange for a stay in a rural Bed and Brakfast, located in the picturesque Burga Valley just 5km from El Perello. This B&B is family run and offers double rooms and family rooms, all ensuite. Included in the price is a full English or Continental breakfast and evening meals are available too. If you are looking to invest in this area staying here will give you the perfect taster for things to come. Very reasonable rates.

There are also three "pension" in El Perello which offer perfect accomodation at reasonable prices. These can all be booked by us in advance, so you can avoid the hassle of doing it yourself when you arrive.

How to get here?

If coming from Britain, the three principal ways to get here are;

1. Fly to Barcelona and hire a car. Flights include;
Easy Jet: Tel; 0870 6 000 000 or www.easyjet.com
British Airways: Tel; 0345 222 111

2. Fly to Reus, just 30 minutes drive away, companies that fly to Reus include Ryanair and Easyjet.

3. Take an overnight cruise/ferry to;
Bilbao with P+O; Tel; 0870 24 24 999
Santander with Britanny Ferries; Tel; 0870 901 0500

4. Drive down through France, approximately 950 miles and 14 hours from Calais going via Paris and Lyon.

What to see and do in the area?

The area is rich in so much. Whether you are after a lazy beach holiday or an energetic time on a mountain bike, Catalunya has got it. From the pre-Roman Iberian settlements, to the major Roman centres and monuments of Tarragona, to the Moors and Knights Templar of the Crusades right up to the modern influences of Picasso, Gaudi and Franco, the area is rich in history. For the outdoor types, all kinds of water sports, river and sea fishing, walking, climbing, off-roading with cars and bikes, horse riding, bird-watching, photography and even the latest Universal Studios theme park at Salou (Port Aventura) are all part and parcel of life here.

Shopping and eating out, also very important aspects of holidaying or living here, are not without interest. Dining out is fun. Take a phrase book with you - the Menu del Dia (lunchtime menu of the day) will be excellent value for about 6€ starting around 1.00 to 3.00 p.m. - four courses with wine, water and coffee. Don't rush it, enjoy it! Nothing will be open until 4.30 to 5.00 anyway so where are you going? For gastronomic delights try the seafood restaurants of the Delta or on the coast only a short drive away - the baby eels are exceptional!

El Perelló has all the essential shops for your daily needs but for those "big" shopping centres, Tortosa, L`Amposta, Reus and Tarragona all have Hypermarkets, shopping malls, DIY stores and the like - all from 30 to 45 minutes away. Most towns have good weekly markets. We can advise you on when and where they are.

Guides.

In conjunction with our local tourist office, we have a collection of brochures for would be residents (part or full time). Details include;

Barcelona - the capital of Catalunya, home to a wealth of museums, markets, shops of all kinds, the Ramblas, Gothic and modern cathedrals, architectural masterpieces of the famous Gaudi, (Gaudy) and most important of all on a Sunday afternoon, "Barça", the No. 1 football team in the world!?!

Tarragona - a major trading post since Roman times, it boasts an amphitheatre, an excellent aqueduct, museums and a walled city.

Reus - only a few kilometres from the administrative town of Tarragona, it is much more a cultural and shopping centre. Numerous streets are filled with shops, boutiques and stalls of all kinds.

Salou - a major tourist resort, now famous for Port Aventura, an excellent theme park for the whole family.

Tortosa - the local capital and home to a settlement on the Ebro River since the Moors established their fortress in the mediaeval times. There is a great weekly market and a large indoor market every day. This very cultured town is a maze of intriguing passageways.

Miravet - take the two-car ferry across the Ebro to the tiny village, dominated by the castle, built by the Knights Templar as a safe haven on route to the Holy Land during the Crusades. Enjoy the figs from the trees in the Village Square as you relax with a glass of wine from the famous wine area of Gandesa, just a few minutes to the north.

L`Ametlla - an old sea port, still with a very active harbour. Buy your fish, prawns and lobsters for the evening barbeque from the boats! The town is full of restaurants and tourist shops. It has a mainline train station to Barcelona. There are some excellent beaches nearby.

Tivissa - dating from the pre-Roman times, the Iber tribe originally established their base in this area. The small town is perched on top of a hill and is dominated by local mountains that are just waiting to be explored, either by car, bike or on foot.

El Perelló - Apart from being our base, there are lots of quiet unspoilt beaches only minutes away. The Iberian caves and their paintings in the Burga valley on the way to Rasquera are well worth a visit.

Properties on offer.

We always have over one hundred properties on our books. They range from small caravan plots to farms of all sizes, villas, building plots, businesses, urbanisation houses ….. etc.

All of our rural properties have olive, almond and carob trees and invariably have lots of rosemary, thyme, sage, lavender, asparagus and wild garlic.

Whilst town and urbanisation properties enjoy the niceties of the usual mains services - electricity, water, sewerage, phone and cable T.V., the same can not be said for the countryside. However, do not be deterred since here are most of the answers. By adapting to the local ways, you can still enjoy all of your home comforts.

Electricity No more bills - set yourself up with a combination of solar panels, wind turbine and / or a generator. Independent Power Systems will help you decide on your system requirements and install the system for you.

Water Build a simple cisterna which is a water reservoir fed from the roof of your property or from a natural slope on the land. This will give you all you need for showers, baths, washing machines, toilets and the garden - and for free from rain water. It may be necessary to top up with "bought" water occasionally in the summer but water is cheap! Alternatively, sink a borehole and you can even sell some water to the neighbours.

Sewage A simple septic tank and soakaway can be built.

Telephone Whilst the mobile network coverage is excellent and inexpensive, Telefonica offer a microwave linked phone which can be installed anywhere with 220volt electricity. The costs and quality are the same as for a standard land line. It also works in most areas for faxes and computer links.

Television You have the choice of six terrestrial channels in most areas (four Spanish and two Catalan). With modern Spanish televisions, there is an option on many programs to have the audio in English or Spanish. Otherwise, there is the choice of Sky or Canal+ via a digital satellite system.
Satellite TV installation

When you come into our office in Perelló, we will do all we can to help you find your ideal property - it will just be a starting point for your Spanish adventure but possibly, just possibly, the adventure of your lifetime!