Safe to Buy Property in Spain?

There has been a disproportionate amount of bad press relating to property purchase on the costas, seemingly neglecting to point out that you can have problems in any country including the UK, if you don’t use safeguards

Don’t Leave Your Brains on the Plane

This is more common than you think. Buyers who when in the UK will get a full survey, employ a solicitor and consider the best areas they can afford to live in, often throw all that away and buy blind and unadvised, when they feel the sun on their backs.

Do It Right!

As in any country, if you do your homework and use professionals to safeguard your interests, you will end up as one of the 99% of ex-pats who end up with a house that isn’t falling down, isn’t going to be demolished or isn’t illegal or problematical.

Horse to Water

Some even take advice, then promptly ignore it when they find their “dream home,” offered to them by some unscrupulous agent.

The Old and The New

Details of legality, size of plots and heating matters are glossed over by agents in the case of the older properties, but you could buy “off plan” if you are lusting after a brand new spanking home.

Looks Good On Paper

These residences are often, at the time of signing up, just a bare plot in the desert or up the side of a mountain, complete with glowing, simulated pictures to entince. The tree lined boulevard on the publicity often ends up as piles of rocks with the odd washing machine, literally thrown in. They don’t tell you that your apartment block is going to be overshadowed by another apartment block, or that the small country house in front of you is being demolished, to make way for a three storey edifice, which will be the view from your lounge window.You may not actually get in the house on time, especially as things are relatively static, market wise, and they like to sell them all before completing to avoid paying taxes themselves.

When You Move In

If you do get in on time, chances are you won’t be able to get a phone for a while and some even move in (illegally) with a makeshift “builder’s supply” for electricity and water.

Now For the Good News!

All this need not happen. You need to sort the wheat from the chaff. You have decided to move to Spain to escape bad weather, bad politics and a country that is seemingly going down the nick. If you take the right moves, like in the UK, problems like these can be avoided.

Ten Simple Steps

Stick to this list and you have the best chance of success:

Find out about fiscal numbers, taxes, removals, pets, residencia, currency, healthcare, cars and available facilities.

10) Try to be objective and don’t let your heart rule your head

You could of course get help from a “one stop” company like mine who know good professionals, who look after your interests, who negotiate on your behalf to get the best deal and in the end, save you large amounts of money and heartaches…………

Mike Pick Homesearch Costa Blanca

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