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No, I have a hard time but I do not consider a Toyota Camry with leather seats to be luxurious either. I think many Europeans and Americans got different opinions of what is considered luxury. For example: A luxury car in Europe is a S-Class or 7 Series.
I don't consider a Toyota Camry luxurious either. To be brutally honest, I wouldn't own one. I have, however, owned several luxury vehicles by your standards.
I've been rich and I've been poor. I've traveled and lived throughout the world, and seen and experienced luxury and poverty and everything in between. Like I said, I'm not bragging - just giving some perspective. I know what luxury is - and I made it clear I wasn't talking about Vanderbilt luxury. Of course.
I'll put it this way - we have some wealthy European friends who live in Belgium. They have a lovely home and garden area - much nicer than most of their neighbors. They are in the upper bracket of wage earners in Belgium. That being said, our home is much more "luxurious" than theirs (not that we're in any competition with them). They have visited us as well and have absolutely marveled at what their money could buy over here. We've had very honest discussions about home prices, including what our own home cost and they are absolutely flabbergasted at the disparity. One of their favorite things to do is get on realtor.com and then drive around and look at homes and neighborhoods here. When I was in real estate, I would take them inside the homes and they were amazed at the low cost of luxury in this area.
Their home would be about $200,000 here - and ours would be about $600,000 there. From what I understand, they paid about $450,000 for their home in a smallish town in Belgium.
According to your description of your home earlier, you would indeed probably have to pay more for that in Europe. Then again, if it is inland, it would be cheaper here as well. Beach proximity can easily double the price.
I think Spain is most similar to Texas, but I have no idea what homes cost there.
I would not even want such a huge house, sounds like a nightmare to heat in the winter, and to keep clean
I have heard before that Spain is most similar to Texas when it comes to property values so you may be right.
My home is fairly new construction (three years old). It's well insulated and like I said, nice finishes throughout. This makes maintenance very easy. My heating bills usually run about $70 a month in the winter. However - my cooling bills in the summer can be over $300! So it's a trade off!
It's really not considered a huge house at all in Texas - or the US. In fact, in 2007 the average size of a home in the US was 2500 square feet. It's dropped a bit since then but is still close to that figure.
But that's what I mean - to many Europeans, a 2500 square foot home would be considered huge. To us, it's just normal. For the record, it's a custom home, not a cookie cutter "McMansion."
Just for interest and fun. House prices in Spain are really affordable at the moment. That was only one house I took on random, took 10 seconds to google it.
It's a few miles from Marbella, so I can't guarantee that the area is to your liking. For me it ain't at least. But the climate is excellent.
In my city, for $275k you get a wooden house built in 1941, 5 rooms, 1610 sq ft, plumbing from the 90's, heating and roof from the 80's... OR, a brand new apartment with 4 rooms, but you have to settle for 860 sq ft. But the location is excellent, 2000 ft from the coast.
So, the variation is incredible both between areas in different countries and between European countries. In Moscow you'll probably get nothing for $275k. A studio perhaps.
Good job Ireland, gotta live life in the fast lane.
Yes 70mph is far far too slow.
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OR, a brand new apartment with 4 rooms, but you have to settle for 860 sq ft. But the location is excellent, 2000 ft from the coast.