How We Finally Found an Apartment in Valencia (and Survived the Madness)
Six weeks, dozens of hurdles, and a few surprises—here’s what relocating abroad really looks like.
Hey Geo-Fire Crew,
A Spain Update for you.
So, we arrived in Valencia about six weeks ago (as of time of writing). A couple of days ago, we finally signed a rental contract for an apartment here in the city, in an area we love, near friends and just a stone’s throw from the park we adore. But getting here? Not exactly a walk in the park.
The area we were combing through.
Here’s a little overview of the struggles so far, lol.
For people like me with a Non Lucrativa Visa (Retirement Visa), there are a few things you need to sort out quickly after arriving in Spain:
Proof of accommodation (Minimum 7-month contract)
Empadronamiento (Registering with the local city hall)
TIE (Tarjeta de Identidad de Extranjero), basically your Spanish ID card
Sounds simple, right? Cue the complications.
It’s tough to find an apartment in most areas. You can’t book your empadronamiento without an address, and you can’t use a friend’s address either—each property can only be registered to one person or family. Not ashamed to say that I thought about this angle. You also can’t book your TIE appointment without your empadronamiento. So yeah… finding the apartment is the first domino that needs to fall. Until it does, you’re stuck in limbo, staring at your laptop and wondering if Valencia even wants you here.
Personally, finding an apartment has been the trickiest—and most stressful—part of our relocation. Apartments vanish in hours, and if you blink, they’re gone. And we made it harder on ourselves: Valencia has been voted the most livable city in the world several years running, and the neighborhood we wanted? Hot property. After six weeks of hunting, some near-meltdown moments, and a lot of caffeine, we finally signed a contract.
Our Agent getting the job done! Thank the heavens!
Could it have been easier elsewhere? Absolutely. But we wanted this. So, we buckled up and endured.
Here’s why renting in Spain can be… let’s say, interesting:
Squatters are a real problem, making landlords naturally cautious, especially with foreigners.
Without a Spanish work contract, you’ll likely need to pay rental insurance (Fianzas). While the law says landlords should cover it, in reality, renters often end up paying—and sometimes it’s more than a month’s rent.
Agencies often demand cash payments for their fees. Yes, cash. Welcome to 21st-century Spain.
Then there’s the “advanced rent roulette.” Depending on the landlord, we were asked for 3 months in advance, 8 months, even 12 months—on top of fianzas and agency fees. At the high end, that’s 15 months’ rent upfront.
Even when you navigate all that, the human factor can trip you up. We once found a dream apartment. The agent was excited. We met the owner—an older Spanish gentleman—and things started well. Then came the finance interrogation. I explained I live off passive income. He looked like I’d just spoken Klingon. Bank balance? Irrelevant. Stock portfolio? Options income each month? Meh. Still irrelevant. How can someone my age be retired and financially independent? His brain couldn’t compute it. After what felt like an eternity, he said he needed to consult his wife. The next day: no deal. Our dream apartment, gone. Cue disappointment.
If you don’t fit the Spanish “standard mold,” here’s what works:
Reach out to as many agents as possible
Be upfront about your visa and income
Ask if they have owners who are open to renting to foreigners
Offer to pay more rent upfront
Bring references from previous landlords
Join local FB groups and online communities
Rally friends and family to spread the word
Don’t look for an apartment during peak season (though in Spain it’s always hard).
Finding a home in Valencia is part strategy, part persistence, and part survival instinct. It can be frustrating, absurd, and exhausting—but when it finally clicks, it’s a high that makes all the headaches worth it.
After signing the contract!
This whole process—whilst very Spanish in nature—is exactly the kind of challenge you Geo-FIRE aficionados are going to come up against when you retire abroad. The requirements after you arrive, finding accommodation, learning which rules apply (and which technically don’t), and pushing through the frustrations and disappointments are all part of the journey. In the end, it’s about integrating, finding your rhythm, and actually living your dream life in your new home. No one said it would be easy, but it is absolutely worth it.
We’ve got plenty more stories from our Spanish adventure—next up, the other Spain bureaucratic To-Dos. Revetting stuff I know, stay tuned.
Cheers
Andy
Home in Valencia
A little “We have somewhere to live celebration” 🎉 🏡🇪🇸
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