Advice on where to buy in Spain

Francophile

There was an article in yesterday's Times about buying property in Spain. It made very scary reading. By all accounts no one can be trusted from Estate Agents to Solicitors and Government Officials. It seems to indicate that no matter how much research you do you could stilled be conned. We really do want to buy in Spain but this is very unnerving.

seven-day-weekend

Yes, Francophile, Spain is full of corruption and also even if there is no corruption intended, no-body knows and/or applies the rules. We were very lucky inasmuch as we bought an old house (no problems with planning permission) with no land (so no arguments over boundaries and rights of way) and no debts on it (which run with the property and not the person).

However, we do know people who've been told that of course they can have a bathroom extension/electricity/water storage/and of course there are no debts on it, only to find when they get here that regardless of what the EA or lawyer said (and it may actually have been accurate what they said), in the end everything comes down to the mayor, and whatever the rules, what the mayor says is what will or won't happen.

We have found that if you buy a place in Spain, be aware that all you are buying with certainty is what you can see. Whether or not you will be able to get an extension, or build, or bring electricity to the property depends on how the mayor feels at the time and whether he likes you or not.

Some friends of ours bought a place and found after they had bought it that the previous owner had not paid any rates for years. Consequently our friends now owe around 5000 euros. Now their solicitor should have found this out before they bought, but didn't. Not corruption, just incompetence.

Some other friends of ours who have employed an expensive international lawyer are now having problems with the extension they wanted, because there is some disagreement that their property is even classed as a dwelling! The mayor says it is a 'nave', an agricultural building which should only be used for storage and consequently cannot have any extensions. Our friends haven't helped their case by putting his back up with their attitude. It shouldn't actually make any difference, but it does.

So it is a minefield really, but we have to remember that it was only aroubnd fifty years ago that Spain was like a Third World country. I think you are much safer if you buy an older property in a village than one halfway up a mountain with its own land, or a new build. Just check for debts.

missile

Francophile wrote: »

There was an article in yesterday's Times about buying property in Spain. It made very scary reading. By all accounts no one can be trusted from Estate Agents to Solicitors and Government Officials. It seems to indicate that no matter how much research you do you could stilled be conned. We really do want to buy in Spain but this is very unnerving.

I don't think this is true. There are millions of Brits who have bought second homes abroad and most of those in spain. Journalists are prone to exageration. I certainly do not believe everything I read - even in the Times. There is one school of thought which lays a lot of the blame for the NR fiasco onto the media for talking a problem into a panic.

Does the following prove that all British politicians are all corrupt see http://www.channel4.com/news/articles/politics/domestic_politics/new+labour+donations+row/1315947
The UK legal profesion has it's fair share of crooked solicitors and I would not put a lot of store by anything any estate agent told me.:rotfl:

I am not suggesting that there is not a significant number who have genuine problems, but I do not believe this is as widespread as the media or gossip might suggest. I find it farcical that the same pundits who once talked up the value of buying in spain are now talking down spain and promoting Bulgaria and Morroco. Let's not forget there are many who have problems buying houses in UK.

hartcjhart

well put Missile,millions of non Spanish have bought property in Spain with no problems at all,including myself,the real problem is that people come over get the vino tinted glasses on and fall for the charm of the EAs(mostly brit)and part with their money,

they use a solicitor that the EA or builder suggests without question.

the recent demolition in Vera has now shown that there were long known problems with PP and licences

ALWAYS ALWAYS use a good(not cheap) lawyer preferably 1 that is not linked with any other business.

as in an Earlier post if anyone is thinking of buying in Andalucia/Almeria I would advise you to use Angela Morales based in Mojacar,

I have used her as have hundreds of other people and had no problems

missile

Thanks h
I would agree, it is the Brits one has to be very careful of trusting. He is a builders labourer / she is a hairdresser in Manchester one week and master builder / estate agent in Malaga the next. Nothing against people bettering themselves, but let the buyer beware.

seven-day-weekend

Yes, I too agree with that missile and hart, very often (but not always) it is Brits ripping off other Brits.

MissKJ

I can tell you you that I have bought a property in Spain,not far from Javea, and i can't believe how smooth it all went. If any-one wants details of my fabulous bi-lingual solicitor in Murcia feel free to PM me. He has promised to come over for drinks in our lovely spanish home in a few weeks, and I would recommend him to any-one. Every question I thought of, he had already taken care of. Service was second to none. And all this media scaremongering is just that. so long as you are not out to make a quick buck, you will be OK, just like here.

Francophile

Thanks MissKJ, that's sounds more re-assuring. We are about to book flights, hotel etc to go over in April to have a look around the area of Javea/Moraira as recommended on here. Anyone know of any reliable EA's?

Pottermuss

I have friends who recently bought in the Costa De la Luz not far from the Portuguese border, an excellent spot, very Spanish within an hour’s drive of Seville & Faro and quite reasonable.

seven-day-weekend

I'm sorry if I appear to be negative.

Of course most people buy their properties with no problem (we did).

I was just pointing out some of the things that could go wrong to Francophile, as it is better to be aware of these things than not.

The examples I quoted are genuine and what I said about the mayor having the final say is true. At least it is here in rural Spain - maybe it is different in larger towns.

I can only say what I know and hope it hasn't been too dispiriting.

If Francophile wants to buy in Spain it is surely better to be knowledgeable about what could go wrong, imho.