We've always dreamed of buying property and embracing a new way of life. After two trips and our second hike on El Camino de Santiago, we realized that a place along this historic pilgrimage route was where we wanted to bring our dreams to life.
In the summer of 2019, we set off on a journey through Spain, exploring the quaint towns and villages along El Camino in search of a place to call home. By Christmas 2019, we had found our dream property in the charming Maragatería, just five minutes outside of Astorga.
We fell in love with the traditions of Spain—the rich wine culture, the delectable food, the leisurely siestas, and the overall good life that this beautiful country offers. Our desire to live outside of the US became a reality as we immersed ourselves in this enchanting corner of the world.
We're excited to share our journey and offer resources to help you make your own move to this enchanting corner of the world.
Our Journey to Spain: A Dream Turned Reality
The decision to move to Spain was born from a dream—a longing for a slower pace of life, rich cultural experiences, and the opportunity to truly embrace a different way of living. Like many, our journey began with curiosity and countless hours of research, but nothing could have prepared us for the transformative experience of making this dream a reality.
Finding Our Place
We’d fallen in love with the Camino de Santiago years ago. Something about the peace of the trails, the charm of the little villages, and the incredible history of the region kept pulling us back. So when we decided to make the move, we knew we wanted to be near that magic. After a lot of searching, we landed in a tiny village near the Teleno Mountains, where life feels like it’s moving at just the right speed.
House hunting here was, well, an experience. We saw places that were picture-perfect but too small, others that needed so much work it was almost scary. When we found the one, though, we just knew. It was an old stone house with loads of character and way too much work to do, but we were up for the challenge.
The house-hunting process in Spain isn’t quite like what you might expect, especially if you’re coming from the U.S. Here are some key things we learned that might help you:
Understand the Buying Process
While hiring a lawyer isn’t a requirement for purchasing property in Spain, we can’t recommend it enough. Our lawyer has been instrumental in navigating the logistics of buying a home, including setting up payments for property taxes, registering our home with the local ayuntamiento (town hall), and guiding us through the intricacies of Spanish property laws. Another difference to note is that a notary is required for property transactions in Spain. Their role is to officially witness and certify the signing of documents, ensuring the legalities are in order—something we don’t have in the U.S.
A Seamless Renovation Journey with Incredible Support
Renovating an old house in Spain might sound daunting, but for us, the process has been surprisingly smooth—and we owe so much of that to the incredible people who’ve helped us along the way. We started by finding an amazing architect on Houzz, and after meeting him, we knew he was the right fit. He’s been an invaluable guide throughout the entire process, connecting us with thoughtful and skilled contractors who truly understand what we want for our home.
But the real heroes of this story have been our friends here, who have become like family to us. They’ve been through a similar journey, having renovated a ruin themselves, so they’ve been a treasure trove of knowledge. Whether it’s meeting with our contractor, helping us weigh the pros and cons of decisions, or just sharing their own renovation experiences, their support has been invaluable.
Our priority was making the house livable while keeping its original charm. Since winters here can get pretty chilly, we decided on underfloor heating powered by aerothermia. It’s an energy-efficient system that uses air to generate heat, and it’s been a total game-changer. Not only does it keep the house cozy, but it’s also eco-friendly—something that really mattered to us.
After getting the main house sorted, we turned our attention to the barn. The idea is to turn it into a multipurpose space for hanging out, hosting friends, and maybe even doing yoga or movie nights. The outdoor kitchen is coming along too—it’s perfect for enjoying Spain’s sunny days. We’re also dreaming up plans for a garden and a pool, but those are still in the works.
The incredible work detail required for a stone home renovation is a testament to the enduring craftsmanship of the past and the dedication of those who strive to preserve it for future generations to enjoy.
Take Your Time with Renovations
One of the biggest decisions we made was to take our time with the renovations. This approach has allowed us to save money along the way and pay for everything slowly without the need for loans. It’s been a rewarding process to carefully plan and prioritize what we want, ensuring we can manage the costs as we go. This also meant we could make thoughtful decisions without feeling rushed.
Consider the Region Carefully
We knew from the start that we wanted to buy a home on the Camino de Santiago. To make sure we found the right location, we used Idealista, a Spanish real estate website, to search for properties along the Camino. We viewed homes in different areas, and we did all of our viewings in July. That helped us eliminate areas in the northern parts of Spain that have high humidity, which wasn’t ideal for us. We also knew we didn’t want to be in southern Spain, where the summers are extremely hot. After seeing homes in the summer, we found our perfect spot, where the climate and surroundings are exactly what we were looking for.