Inspection Trips for Property in Spain (Atlas International)

guestjim

The draw of a fairly cheap trip to Spain to look at properties proves again that the basis of all con tricks is greed! The visit I just completed with Atlas International was very poor. Despite being very specific before we arrived and when we got there about what we required (resale apartments near the sea/amenities) and being assured that they had plenty to show us we were shown something completely different (new house developments in the hills). We were shown almost exactly the same as everyone else it appears. Strange how everyone had identical requirements to us. Moreover, the properties are expensive relative to similar ones. Not surprising with the large commissions paid from the builders to Atlas having to be added to the bills. I was disappointed that there was a great deal of hard sell and our concerns dismissed with a sentence and no evidence. (When we raised the issue that there seemed to be evidence of a drug problem near one property in the town centre, we received the reply, “There are drugs in England.” True, but not obvious signs of it in my street.) Other disappointments were that the hotel and food was very poor, that there is evidence of widespread crime on many areas – such as break-ins to properties, that promises of when the property will be ready are very inaccurate, and there is data that prices are in decline. For example, we spoke to a couple who were very pleased at living in Spain, but whose home was 14 months later than promised. And that seems common. The salespeople kept us away from any independent advice whenever they could. One reason being that the price of resale properties is much less than the new properties, and in the estate agents there are widespread price reductions. My impression is those who moved out to Spain permanently are very pleased, but those who bought holiday homes are very dissatisfied. Buy second hand, so that you know exactly what you are getting, the properties are usually in better and established locations, and it is much cheaper, is my conclusion. Second best is to approach builders direct. By all means go out on an inspection trip, but don’t be pressurised into buying at the end of the trip. Or even after several trips with different agents. Look into other options to purchase, such as estate agents or individual sellers. Be prepared to decide that buying a property in that area of Spain is not for you. Other agents seem to provide better hotels and food, but also employ high pressure sales and sell expensive properties

jaymac_2

We drove past an Atlas Int. office on a recent trip to Spain. There was a fleet of BMW's parked outside. tht was enough to make me think twice about using them if I was a buyer.

Milky_Mocha

I'd be interested to hear more experiences from anyone who has been on this trip. My parents are about to go on one next week. They've already paid for their own arranged flights but the Atlas rep is persuading them to cancel if possible and take advantage of their deal.

i really want to ensure that they would have a good and informative time and hope that the experience posted here is a one-off.

Thx

siamese0109

Unfortunately I don't think it is a one off! I have a property in Spain that was bought as a re-sale 7 years ago. There is a hotel quite close to us that Atlas use to put up the guests on their viewing trips and we often hear the guests talking when we call in for a drink. The main complaints are as detailed above - lots of off-plan properties way back from the coast and little else on offer. they also seem to be with the 'guests' 24/7 so there is little chance to be off for a look on your own! I agree with the OP that re-sales are far cheaper - particularly if you can buy direct from the owner and suggest your parents pick up some of the local english language papers whilst they are there and they can get a feel for re-sale prices.

richardw

Don't bother with Agents, if you want to buy property in Spain search the internet for ads placed by owners and deal direct with them.

fudgem

I would advise anyone thinking of buying in Spain to rent a property and have a good look round. We've just come back from a six week visit to our holiday home, which we have had for 20 years, and resale prices are falling fast. I wouldn't touch a new development with a barge pole, just pick up one of the many free newspapers to find out the problems people are having with these, apart from the delay in actually taking possession, many find that a)the development is illegal, not having proper planning permission, b)services are not connected so they are getting water through a builders hosepipe, electric is iffy and phone not available at all, c) roads not made up and if you think it doesn't rain in Spain, try wading through the resulting mud.

As the OP mentioned, crime is rife and the burglars are using knives to threaten people into handing over their valuables, crashing into their cars to make them come to a halt, again there is a story like this weekly in the free press. Life is not all sun, sea and sangria over there

Milky_Mocha

richardw wrote: »

Don't bother with Agents, if you want to buy property in Spain search the internet for ads placed by owners and deal direct with them.

This is what we would like to do. Unfortunately memories of the elderly couple who were conned/robbed and killed by a so-called property owner abroad make us wary of making direct contact. I believe the couple found these people over the internet.

Milky_Mocha

fudgem wrote: »

I would advise anyone thinking of buying in Spain to rent a property and have a good look round. We've just come back from a six week visit to our holiday home, which we have had for 20 years, and resale prices are falling fast. I wouldn't touch a new development with a barge pole, just pick up one of the many free newspapers to find out the problems people are having with these, apart from the delay in actually taking possession, many find that a)the development is illegal, not having proper planning permission, b)services are not connected so they are getting water through a builders hosepipe, electric is iffy and phone not available at all, c) roads not made up and if you think it doesn't rain in Spain, try wading through the resulting mud.

As the OP mentioned, crime is rife and the burglars are using knives to threaten people into handing over their valuables, crashing into their cars to make them come to a halt, again there is a story like this weekly in the free press. Life is not all sun, sea and sangria over there

Thanks for info. We don't intend to buy new so if this is all Atlas have on offer then we are definitely not interested. One agent from Iberia Properties advised us to avoid Spain altogether because the market is saturated and profits have dwindled. He advises Cyprus or Turkey.

budgetflyer

Buy resale, what ever it says in the window, offer 25% less. The bank valuations are so inflated on offplan that although you will get a mortgage you are buying a burden-not a dream. Despite the salesmans promise, theres little rental market at some of these inland urbanisations, its going to be empty most of the year.
The same will happen in Bulgaria, Turkey and Dubai I reckon. All sold offplan with promises of 20%+ PA increases. If the only market is profit seeking overseas investors intending to flip, then its boom then bust.

For the likes of Atlas, Parador, Iberian etc, its a numbers game. Each trip costs around £1000 per couple. Ave 1 in 6 buy so 10% mark up easily covers costs

emmal_3

I dont know if I am allowed to do this .Can I give the info for avery reliable couple who would help you all the way with house buying in southern Spain.They will hold your hand all through the process and would be there for you afterwards as long as you wanted them.

madelaine

A word of warning if you do decide to buy a property in Spain, always get your own independent lawyer, never use the lawyers recommended by the agents, as we have experienced first hand, as they are usually in bed with the agents. A good independent lawyer will make buying a property relatively easy, and not the nightmare we have been going through for 2 years.

We now have an independent Spanish lawyer and hopefully we will succeed in getting our deposit refunded.