Clients ask us who we are: the Paddys Point people; the Dolphin Properties people or the Comaskey Properties people.
The answer is “yes”. Spanish Homes Online is owned by Adam Cook and Ian Comaskey.
The two directors have worked together for decades and we have more than 10,000 happy clients.
SHO, is the umbrella name for a few different companies. The ones we are going to discuss here are:
The Comaskey connection to La Zenia.
To begin, we must go back to 1998 when La Zenia and the entire Costa Blanca was a very different place to where it is now.
Bernie Comaskey, along with his wife Pamela opened the now landmark pub, Paddys Point in the La Zenia Commercial centre. This turned out to be more than “just” another business move.
Paddy’s Point Pub, located in the heart of La Zenia on the Orihuela Costa, has become an iconic Irish pub in the Costa Blanca region since its establishment in 1999. It was one of the first Irish bars to open on the southern Costa Blanca, founded by the Comaskey family who recognized the potential for a friendly, authentic pub experience in an area growing rapidly in popularity with expats, tourists, and locals alike. We introduced a Celtic FC supporters club, showed GAA on TV and quickly “paddys” was the centre for information on the Costa Blanca.
From the beginning, Paddy’s Point stood out for its warm, welcoming atmosphere, blending traditional Irish hospitality with the laid-back Mediterranean lifestyle. The pub quickly became a popular meeting point for both holidaymakers and residents, offering a place to relax with a pint of Guinness, enjoy live sports, and experience live music, often featuring Irish folk tunes.
Its location, just a short distance from the La Zenia beach, helped it grow into a hub for the growing Irish, British, and Northern European community on the Orihuela Costa. Beyond serving great food and drinks, Paddy’s Point became known for hosting lively events, from St. Patrick’s Day celebrations to live sports screenings, especially for rugby and football matches, which drew in large crowds of enthusiastic fans. We often meet people who tell us they remember the day when Westmenth won the Leinster title, Robbie Keane equalised against Germany or even the day Beckham scored “that” goal against Greece.
As word spread, the pub gained a loyal following, and its reputation for offering a genuine Irish pub experience in Spain made it a landmark. Paddy’s Point was more than just a place to grab a drink; We sold newspapers, gave out bus and mass timetables and even advised property buyers on the up and coming areas in the early days.
The Comaskeys offloaded the bar back in 2018 and even today, Paddy’s Point remains a beloved institution on the Costa Blanca.
How does that affect the history of Spanish Homes Online?
The Spanish Homes Online story continues.
Ian Comaskey worked in Paddys Point as the manager until 2002. Ian realsied the bar business was not for him, or he was not for the bar business, one or another.
People were already getting free Spanish Property advice, so a property related company was the obvious direction for Ian to go in.
Comaskey Properties, a well-established real estate agency, has played a pivotal role in the Costa Blanca property market for nearly two decades. The company was founded in the early 2000s, like the pub, by the Comaskey family. They recognized the growing demand for properties on Spain’s sun-soaked southeastern coast. Initially starting with a modest office in La Zenia, Orihuela Costa, Comaskey Properties quickly gained a reputation for offering personalised and transparent services to international clients, particularly from the UK, Ireland, and Northern Europe, who sought to buy holiday homes, investment properties, or relocate to Spain.
In its early years, Comaskey Properties focused primarily on helping expats navigate the complexities of Spanish property laws, becoming a trusted partner for those unfamiliar with the process of buying property abroad. Their deep local knowledge, coupled with a genuine commitment to customer satisfaction, allowed the company to thrive and expand, despite fluctuations in the global real estate market and the challenges posed by the 2008 financial crisis.
As the company grew, Comaskey Properties expanded its offerings beyond just property sales, incorporating a range of complementary services such as legal assistance, property management, and after-sales support. This holistic approach made them a one-stop solution for anyone looking to invest in the Costa Blanca region.
The company continued to innovate by leveraging technology, launching a user-friendly website that allowed potential buyers to explore listings online, thus reaching a global audience. They embraced modern marketing techniques, including virtual tours, which became especially important during the COVID-19 pandemic when travel restrictions limited physical property viewings.
Like the pub, the Comaskey Family offloaded the business Comaskey Properties back in 2018 so there is no connection whatsoever between the name and the family.
Again, the story doesn't end there, so we must go back to 2004.
Demand for property services in LA Zenia went through the roof in 2003 and 2004 but the level of legal and taxation advice was poor. The next step for the Comaskey team was Spanish Solutions.
Legal and taxation advice for foreigners in La Zenia.
Spanish Solutions (SpanishSolutions.net) was established in the early 2000s to provide expert legal, administrative, and relocation services to the growing expat community in the Costa Blanca region of Spain. Founded by a team of professionals, including PEdro Molina Lawyer, and others with deep knowledge of Spanish bureaucracy and the unique challenges faced by foreigners moving to or buying property in Spain. Spanish Solutions was designed to be a part of the one-stop shop for expats navigating life in Spain.
In the beginning, the company focused on assisting British and Irish expatriates, as these communities were among the largest groups relocating to the southern coast of Spain. Many of these individuals found the Spanish legal and administrative systems daunting, especially when it came to property purchases, taxes, wills, and residency permits. Spanish Solutions aimed to bridge this gap, offering guidance in English and ensuring that their clients could access Spanish services with confidence and ease.
The company quickly gained a reputation for its professionalism and in-depth understanding of Spanish law, especially in areas such as property conveyancing, NIE numbers, inheritance law, and business setup. Their expertise and personalised service helped many expats successfully navigate the complex processes of buying homes, setting up businesses, and managing legal matters, making the transition to life in Spain much smoother.
Over time, Spanish Solutions expanded its services to include not just legal advice, but also a range of administrative support options. These included assistance with residency applications, driving licences, health insurance, and tax declarations. The company’s goal was to offer a comprehensive package of services to help foreigners integrate into Spanish life as smoothly as possible.
As the Costa Blanca region continued to grow as a popular destination for retirees, investors, and holiday homeowners, Spanish Solutions’ client base broadened to include not just British and Irish nationals but also other Northern Europeans seeking a foothold in Spain. Their multilingual staff, who could speak English, Spanish, and other European languages, allowed them to cater to an increasingly diverse clientele.
By the 2010s, SpanishSolutions.net had become a trusted name in the Costa Blanca area, known for its client-focused approach and ability to navigate the intricacies of Spanish bureaucracy with ease. The company’s website provided an accessible platform for clients to explore services and contact the team for personalised consultations, further enhancing their reach and reputation.
We still do this. Do you need to meet our barrister Pedro online? Just ask.
Fueled by the uncertainties surrounding Brexit and Covid, Spanish Solutions continued to grow by adapting its services to the evolving needs of expats. For instance, Brexit prompted many British nationals to seek legal advice on residency status, property ownership, and taxation, all of which Spanish Solutions was well-equipped to handle.
The company also embraced digital transformation, offering online consultations and expanding its website to include valuable resources, guides, and FAQs for potential clients, further solidifying its position as a key player in the expat support market.
Today, SpanishSolutions.net remains one of the most trusted and reliable service providers for expats in Spain, offering a wide range of legal and administrative solutions. With 20 years of experience, the team continues to help newcomers overcome the challenges of settling in Spain. They provide the peace of mind that comes from working with experts who understand both the local system and the needs of international clients.
If you are still reading, we are impressed.
Again, where does Spanish Homes Online fit into the story?
The above business moves were the foundations of Dolphin, Equity Release Spain and the high-end real estate division of Spanish Homes online. We can help you with rental properties in Simply Sales and Rentals. We can help you get off long medical waiting lists in Ireland through Surgery Now. Book a cruise through Yvonne in the top travel agents on the Costa Blanca, whatever you need we can assist you with.
We can help you with car hire, currency exchange and we even have a great relationship with the best builders, gardeners and tradespeople on the Costa Blanca.
Did we mention it is a one stop shop?
We built our business on the same values and attention to details that created the runaway success that was Paddy's Point, Comaskey Properties, Spanish Solutions and other businesses like Surgery Now, Worldwide Horizons and more.
If you are looking to deal with a team with more than 400 million euro worth of sales already completed, we are here for you. Equally, you might be impressed by the fact we have even survived this long in such a tough market.
Should you want to reach Adam Cook or Ian Comaskey you can get us here, just make sure you are actually dealing with the real Ian and Adam!
We are thrilled to continue to help you, maybe for another 20 years!
