December 2010 TINSA index

The December Tinsa Spanish property price index report estimates that prices are falling at an inter annual rate of 3.6%.

This is the 36th consecutive month that TINSA have opined that residential property in Spain has fallen in value, with the Balearic Isles and the Mediterranean coast falling by the highest margins.

TINSA's index implies that prices aren't falling as steeply as before. Oversupply, massive unemployment and weak demand continue to drive down prices.

The market analytsts, Fitch, have estimated that the down turn in prices will continue throughout 2011.

The rate of decline has been slowing since a early 2009, a simple extrapolation of the change in rate indicates that the market should bottom late 2011. However other factors may come into play, forcing prices down further. The withdrawl of extra unemployment benefit in February and the repricing of Spanish properties held by the banks is likely to depress prices further.

This means that those wishing to move to Spain should probably consider renting rather than purchasing at this stage. It's a buyers market so take your time and start by making a low offer.

The TINSA index is based on the opinion of valuers, rather than actual sale price data. The word on the street is that there are some great bargains out there, but there is a lot of property over-priced on the market.

Original article Spanish Property Magazine

Smoking Ban in Spain

Spain will ban smoking in public areas on the 2nd of January 2011.

The legislation has been pushed on Spain by the EU. It's a slippery slope and an affront to democracy and personal liberty.

I agree that smokers should be considerate, especially around children, diners and flammable flora. I hate seeing cigarette butts in the sand.

I don't see the need for governments to tell us what to do. It's a slippery slope. If you leave it up to the government, you remove the responsibility from the citizens. Good respectful and careful behaviour becomes enforced by the state rather than society.

At least in Spain you don't have to standing outside in the rain.

There should be smoking bars, not out right bans. Cigarettes go well with coffee and drinks. Some people enjoy it. It's also quite social.

The science behind the ban is flimsy at best. Of the 92 peer review scientific journal articles on passive smoking, none conclusively show that passive smoking causes disease.

The smoking bans have been introduced largely because of lobbyists such as ASH

The diffusion gradient of cigarette smoke from the smoker to the passive smoker is such that it's impossible to accumulate toxins at a level that causes cancer. Anti-smokers may find it unpleasant, but it's not as much of a health hazard as walking next to a line of traffic.

For more information on the history of the anti-smoking movement visit www.velvetgloveironfist.com