Our Journey To Spain
Our Moving To
Spain Timeline
Moving to another country doesn’t happen overnight — it’s a series of decisions, trips, conversations and research that builds over time. Our moving to Spain timeline documents our journey from the moment Spain first got serious for us to our planned departure from Portland in early 2027. The at-a-glance version gives you the broad strokes. The detailed version goes deeper into what each phase actually involved, what we learned and what surprised us. If you’re planning a similar move, we hope it gives you a realistic picture of what the process looks like end to end.
Detailed Timeline
October 2022 — When It Began
First visit to Alicante to visit Galgos del Sol, a galgo rescue we wanted to support. Stayed a couple of nights in the area and loved it immediately. This was the moment the Costa Blanca entered the picture as a serious place to live — before this, Italy and Portugal had been the front runners.
2022–2025 — Background Research
Over the following two and a half years, the idea kept coming back. We started doing background research on the Costa Blanca — browsing properties online to understand the market, reading expat blogs and forums. We looked at other areas too but kept coming back to this stretch of coastline. We knew Alicante itself was probably larger than what we wanted, and started looking at nearby towns — which is how Jávea and Dénia came onto the radar.
August 2025 — First Dedicated Trip
One week in Jávea and Dénia to validate the area in person — we knew from our research it would probably work and confirmed it within the first day or two. Spent the week driving both towns, exploring neighborhoods and getting a real feel for daily life.
Met with VillaLux, the real estate agency we had identified through more than a year of research as the right fit — family-owned, over 25 years in the business, consistently strong reviews and recommended by other expats. Viewed two properties just to understand the difference between new build and existing and get a sense of what the money buys.
Learned that August is the worst time to view properties — most listed homes were full of summer renters and many agents were on holiday. Stopped into the Pellicer & Heredia office in Jávea to introduce ourselves.
Full account of the August trip — neighborhoods explored, where we ate and what we took away — on our house search diary page.
September 2025 — First Lawyer Conversation
Video call with Pellicer & Heredia to understand their services and vet them as a potential long-term partner — not just for the visa and house purchase but for ongoing support once living in Spain. They came highly recommended by VillaLux and had strong online reviews. Decided to hold off on formally engaging them until after meeting with our US financial planners.
Research continued and got more granular: visa process details, cost of living, neighborhood deep dives, renovation costs, new build warranties, solar installation costs, health insurance options.
October 2025 — Financial Planning Check-In
Remote meeting with US-based financial planners. Key questions: what can we afford for a house, how to manage US funds while living in Europe, when can we stop working and is the early 2027 timeline actually feasible. The answer was yes — now it was up to us to find the right property.
November–December 2025 – Digging Deeper, Planning the Return
Continued research into December, going deeper on US domicile, expat tax implications, Spanish banking requirements and visa requirements. In November, decided to return to the area in February — allowed us to see the area in the winter and at a time when tourism is usually at it’s lowest.
January 2026 — Building the Site and Planning the Return
Started building us2es.com — both to document the journey for others going through the same process and to keep our own research organized in one place. Went back through everything we had learned and started memorializing it properly. Began mapping out a loose task timeline to stay on track for the early 2027 target.
Coordinated with VillaLux to set up property showings for February. Booked a short-term house rental in the La Mandarina neighborhood near the Jávea Arenal — the first of what became a deliberate strategy of renting in different neighborhoods each trip to experience living like a local.
February 2026 — Serious House Hunting Begins
Four days in the area, two dedicated to property viewings with VillaLux. Saw seven homes across various sizes, types and neighborhoods in both Jávea and Dénia.
The Montgó creates real microclimate differences — cooler on the north and east side, warmer on the south and west — which matters significantly for outdoor living and pool use year-round. We came away slightly favoring new build over existing homes, primarily because our goal is to travel extensively once settled, making a turnkey home far more practical.
The trip also gave us a much more realistic picture of what we’d need to spend for the house we want.
Jávea vs Dénia: came in slightly favoring Jávea, left feeling either would work. It comes down to the right house in the right neighborhood.Full account of the February trip — properties viewed, neighborhoods, what we learned from renting in La Mandarina and where we ate — on our house search diary page.
March 2026 — September Confirmed
Met again with US financial planners — tighter conversation now that February provided concrete data on property prices and realistic costs. Confirmed the September 2026 trip. Began planning the next iteration of this site with significantly more depth and structure.
April 2026 — Deep Dive With Pellicer & Heredia
Most substantive conversation with Pellicer & Heredia to date, again by video call. Covered their full role in the property purchase process — document review, transaction support and mortgage assistance. Discussed when to formally start the visa process, full scope of services and costs and what a long-term post-move relationship looks like.
Key decision confirmed: target move in early 2027 but deliberately avoid becoming Spanish tax residents until 2028. This means Spanish tax obligations don’t begin until 2029 — creating a window to resolve our US house sale and other financial matters without Spanish tax complications. Your move date and your tax residency date are not the same thing and the gap between them can matter significantly.
May 2026 — September Taking Shape
September trip fully in motion: flights being booked, house rental in Dénia confirmed to experience that side of the comparison. Appointments lined up for September with Pellicer & Heredia in person and Sabadell bank for an account opening — needed for property purchase and potential mortgage.
Researching whether NIE can be obtained during the September trip. Started thinking through what to ship versus buy new — leaning heavily toward buying new in Spain given EU voltage incompatibility with US appliances and the cost comparison of international shipping versus purchasing locally.
Updated this site to be more comprehensive.
June & July 2026 — Research, Research & More Research
This summer we’ve been putting a ton of time into research on a bunch of different fronts:
September 2026 — Planned: The Decisive Trip
One week in Dénia. Property viewings with VillaLux — serious candidates, potentially purchase-ready. In-person meeting with Pellicer & Heredia. Sabadell bank account. NIE if possible. Furniture store and bank research. If the right house comes up, we buy it.
Late 2026 / January 2027 — Contingency
If no purchase in September, we return in January after the Spanish holiday period clears. Christmas and New Year’s slow everything down — agents, lawyers and banks are all less available. January gives us a clean window. A January purchase would compress the visa and logistics timeline significantly but remains workable for a mid-2027 arrival if needed.
When We Make A House Purchase — The Chain Reaction
Address confirmed → health insurance research in earnest → visa document collection begins with Pellicer → apostilles and original documents tracked and coordinated carefully to avoid expiry → NLV application submitted at the Spanish consulate → departure timeline locked.
Early 2027 — Target Departure
Leave Portland, Oregon. Arrive in Jávea or Dénia as residents. Begin the next chapter.
2028 — Tax Residency
Formally become Spanish tax residents. Spanish tax obligations begin in 2029.
Before Moving
Everything you need to sort before you leave — visas, NIEs, finances and the hundred other things on your pre-move list.
After The Move
What you need to get sorted once you arrive — utilities, healthcare, paperwork and all the practicalities of your new life in Spain.
Property Guide
Here’s what to know about buying property in Spain as an American — from your first search to signing at the notary.
Resources
Checklists, glossaries and vetted websites to help you plan, prepare and hit the ground running in Spain.
Our Journey
Follow along as we document our move from Portland, Oregon to Jávea, Spain — the highs, the headaches and everything in between.
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