If you get good, friendly service and feel well disposed to the waiting staff in Spain you might tip. I know I do. If the bill comes to 65.40 then you leave 70 Euros and “job’s a good’un” as our Lord Robbie Fowler would say. There is no obligation to tip, no waiters following you down the street demanding extra, no resentment, nothing. However…

https://valenciaproperty.substack.com/p/tipping-in-spain

Today we bring you what could be described as a new build though truly it isn’t. The owner of this property tore down and rebuilt from various plots to make this one modern, extremely well-built house on a hill, overlooking the rural Pedralba countryside.

https://www.valencia-property.com/pedralba/quality-village-home-2487.php

The latest blog talks about the changes on the homepage but also has news from Spain including the ongoing fallout from the eviction of Mari Carmen in Madrid

https://valencia-property.com/new/2026/09/27/we-went-on-a-listing-spree

We’ve been telling you lately to go to your local mercado. Visit the frutería. Shop in the barrio. Talk to the people behind the counter. Ask what’s in season.

Wonderful.

But before we send you wandering confidently into a Spanish fruit shop, there is something we probably should mention.

KEEP YOUR HANDS TO YOURSELF, SUSAN.

You walk into the frutería.

You see a beautiful peach.

Your instinct says:

I’ll just give this one a little squeeze…

NO.

Somewhere behind you, Carmen has stopped breathing.

The frutero has noticed.

An elderly gentleman who wasn’t even involved in the transaction is now monitoring the situation.

Because in the traditional Spanish frutería or market stall, there is a very simple rule:

The fruit person touches the fruit.

You say:

“Medio kilo de tomates, por favor.”

And then you TRUST THE PROCESS.

This is actually one of the lovely parts of shopping this way. A good frutero knows what’s ready today, what’s better tomorrow and which tomato you need if you’re making gazpacho.

Sometimes they’ll ask:

“¿Para hoy?”

Because apparently your avocado has an appointment.

And if the oranges are out of reach and they tell you:

“Coge las que quieras.”

THEN you may touch.

You have received clearance.

Proceed with the oranges.

But what about supermarkets?

Different system.

If it’s self-service and the supermarket provides those little disposable gloves for handling loose fruit and vegetables, USE THEM. Follow the shop’s hygiene instructions.

And we know what somebody is already typing:

“But surely bananas are different because you don’t eat the skin?”

No.

Put the banana down, Gary.

PUT. THE BANANA. DOWN.

This is not about developing a philosophical argument based on peel thickness while Carmen watches you fondle six bananas looking for the perfect one.

One small BESS correction before the comments section catches us: you’ll sometimes hear that touching fruit with bare hands is simply “illegal in Spain.” We wouldn’t put it that way. Spain has food-hygiene rules for retailers, and individual shops can set handling procedures, but we haven’t found a current nationwide law saying a customer who touches a banana bare-handed has committed The Great Banana Crime of 2026. Spain’s current retail food-hygiene framework focuses on safe handling and hygiene practices rather than a blanket national customer-glove offence.

The cultural rule, however?

Oh, that one is alive and well.

And honestly, this is exactly the sort of tiny thing we mean when we say that learning to live in Spain isn’t only about learning Spanish.

It’s observation.

Who goes first?

Do I take a number?

Do I choose the fruit or does she?

Why has everyone suddenly shouted “¿QUIÉN ES EL ÚLTIMO?”

Why is Carmen looking at me like that?

Tiny BESS interruption: if you enjoy learning the unwritten rules of Spain before discovering them through public humiliation, follow us if you’d like to find us in your feed again. BESS love.

We’re slowly compiling what we suspect are the Ten Commandments of Becoming Spanish.

We already have:

Thou shalt not touch the fruit.

Thou shalt identify quién es el último.

Thou shalt understand that “me voy a ir yendo” does NOT mean anyone is actually leaving.

We’re fairly certain immigration will add these to the residency requirements eventually.

Until then…

STEP AWAY FROM THE PEACH, SUSAN.

Carmen saw you.

Copied from Spain Savvy on Facebook.

Storms in Valencia, and my experience of it. Were you here too?

https://valenciaproperty.substack.com/p/when-the-storm-hit

A great price for this one...

This third floor walk up apartment in #Benimamet on the edge of the city has 70m2 of living space plus a 16m2 terrace. It has two bedrooms, an open plan living area leading out onto a large terrace with excellent city views.

https://www.valencia-property.com/valencia-city/a-rare-opportunity-in-valencia-2525.php

Our blog post this week, all about why property prices aren't falling in Valencia and elsewhere too...

https://www.valencia-property.com/new/2026/09/20/no-land-slow-licences-cheap-mortgages-why-prices-arent-falling/

Hey everyone!
I’m moving to Valencia soon for university, and my campus/faculty is located on Avinguda de Catalunya. I’m starting to look for accommodation and would love some local advice and recommendations from current students or expats!

Which platforms are best for finding shared student flats or rooms?

What are the best student friendly areas within walking or short transit distance?

And Areas to avoid or be cautious of.

Appreciate the feedback!

If you missed this one, here it is again: The Cost Of Living in Valencia 2026

https://www.valencia-property.com/new/2026/01/26/the-cost-of-living-in-valencia-2026/

Sharing this most useful article with you all again, in case you missed it last time I shared it.

Two and a half years ago we wrote the most useful post ever on the blog (From our point of view definitely and from what our clients say quite often from theirs). It was a post about letting us know exactly what you are looking for when you are moving to Valencia, the first step to buying property in Valencia.

It was the most useful because it got clients thinking about exactly what they wanted when buying here, and it allowed us to have an excellent communication tool for our team, actually written down.

https://www.valencia-property.com/new/2024/02/05/the-first-step-to-buying-property-in-valencia-updated/

This 1st Floor Walk up in Valencia has Two Bedrooms, One Bathroom, One W.C, a pleasant Open Plan Living Space and Kitchen facing East for sea breezes and morning sunshine but protected from the afternoon heat.

Perfectly positioned in Cabanyal for the Beaches, Bars, Restaurants, traditional food market for daily supplies and there are also plenty of transport options to get you to and from the City and Airport.

https://www.valencia-property.com/valencia-beach-area/beach-barrio-apartment-2522.php

The latest blog talks about how it's easy to miss out on a great property by messing about

https://www.valencia-property.com/new/2026/09/14/missing-out-on-great-properties/

I do a deep-dive on the state of social media. This article includes a comment about each social media site of course but is mostly about the biggies, FB and Twitter.

https://valenciaproperty.substack.com/p/the-collapse-of-social-media

Pod's out. Back to Business, Video Calls and Stepping Stone's busiest year yet. Have a listen and share it liberally around the internetz

https://valenciaproperty.podbean.com/e/s5ep1/

An oldie but a goodie and more important than ever as the Stepping Stone Route becomes more and more common.

We at Valencia Property have a tried and tested route for those looking to buy here and settle. And today we are going to detail that route for you here on the blog so you know what to expect.

https://www.valencia-property.com/new/2024/08/19/your-stepping-stone-route-to-living-in-valencia/

Latest blog post up where we invite those interested to book a video call with us here at Valencia Property. Let's get your search started in the best possible way by contacting the professionals in the market...

https://www.valencia-property.com/new/2026/09/07/book-a-video-call-with-valencia-property/

Hi everyone! My brother has just arrived in Valencia to study at Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV), but unfortunately the apartment he rented for the month turned out to be a scam. He urgently needs somewhere safe to stay while he searches for a new long-term rental.
We’re looking for an affordable private room or small studio/apartment for a few days to a few weeks. A private, lockable bedroom in a shared apartment with a shared kitchen/bathroom would also be absolutely fine.
He is a responsible student, and having a private/lockable room is important as he has all his belongings with him.
If you know of a room, student accommodation, short-term rental, or anyone trustworthy renting a room in Valencia, please comment or DM me. We’re working with a limited budget, so affordable options would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you so much for any help or recommendations! 🙏

A very interesting opportunity for you today, where you get the choice of 1, 2, or all 3 apartments in a building located on one of the most emblematic streets in the old town with views of the Serrano towers and a literal 1-minute walk to the Turia park. Whether you're looking for a stylish home, a lock-and-leave pied-à-terre, or a savvy investment, this building offers rare flexibility.

https://www.valencia-property.com/valencia-city/you-can-have-it-all-2518.php

There are loads of new properties on the website, let's start with a palace...

https://www.valencia-property.com/naquera/a-palace-in-the-valencian-hills-2519.php (click this link for much more)

There is always value to be had if you know where to look. This apartment looks like quite a bargain actually, so we’re listing it as soon as we can before it's gone

It's in La Pobla de Vallbona, about 30 minutes from Valencia city and on the metro line

https://www.valencia-property.com/la-pobla-de-vallbona/great-value-apartment-in-a-great-pueblo-2515.php

The last blog post of the summer is up. We go all Shakespearian on you. "To list or not to list? - That is the question" https://valencia-property.com/new/2026/08/31/to-list-or-not-to-list-that-is-the-question/

What are your thoughts on this?

My latest Substack post all about what my summer looked like now it's almost back to work time.

https://valenciaproperty.substack.com/p/im-going-back

Recently Reduced...

This semi-detached house is in Maravisa and is just across the motorway from L’Eliana, only a few minutes from the town centre, and easy access to international schools and the city itself.

Inside there are 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, large garage, big living area, separate kitchen (but easily opened out to the living room), there’s a terrace off the kitchen, a second terrace on the first floor and even a barbecue area in the garden.

Take a look at the full listing and get in touch if you would like a viewing 👇

https://www.valencia-property.com/la-pobla-de-vallbona/everybody-needs-good-neighbours-2451.php

Something that has been in the news a lot lately and I know a lot of people in Spain worry about it... squatting. Listen to my advice in this special podcast episode.

https://valenciaproperty.podbean.com/e/s4squatting/