Estimates suggest that over 50,000 of us have bought there in the last 10 years, but for those hoping to buy there in the future, the process has just been made easier thanks to the arrival of Banco Halifax Hispania in Ireland.

Part of the HBOS group, Banco Halifax Hispania is offering its mortgages, current accounts, savings and insurance services to Irish consumers looking to live temporarily or permanently in Spain.

Based in Dublin's St Stephen's Green, one of the biggest benefits for customers is that they can carry out all their dealings with any branch of the bank or the call centre in Madrid, in English.

The dedicated customer service team in Dublin will also provide a helpline with information (but not advice) on the legal and finacial process of buying property in Spain, the requirements in the application stage, and will package all paperwork prior to sending to Banco Halifax Hispania underwriters in Madrid for formal approval. It also means that international telephone charges can be avoided.

"This is excellent news for people looking to buy property in Spain, " explained Ian Smith, Head of European Operations, Banco Halifax Hispania. "Banco Halifax Hispania aims to take the worry out of the Spanish house-buying process by supporting customers at every stage in the purchase. The whole process therefore becomes no more complex than buying a property in Ireland."

Banco Halifax Hispania has 19 branches located in popular expatriate areas of Spain, including Mallorca, Costa Calida and Cataluna. It has also compiled a list of qualified solicitors and surveyors in the popular Costa del Sol and Costa Blanca regions. These solicitors and surveyors have local knowledge and experience of acting for Irish customers.

For further information contact Halifax, St Stephens Green, Dublin 2, 1890 812 012.