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Your Ultimate Spanish Property Che
September 01st, 2016

Author: Simon
Birch
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Your Ultimate Spanish Property Checklist: BuyYour Dream Place in the Sun
(Without Getting Burned)
Thinking of buying a Spanish property? Spain is back on Ernst & Young’s top ten list of countries for real estate investment
and seeing record tourist arrivals, too. With this trusty checklist you can shop for the best properties and purchase your dream
house in Spain like a seasoned pro.
This expert insight protects you from the blunders that many of the 600,000 British buyers made in the last decade. This is the
best buyers’ market you may ever see, but prices are rising, making this an excellent time to book your property shopping trip
in sensational, sunny Spain.
When Looking for Your Dream Property
The Five Foundations of Spanish Property:
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• Have agreements written and translated
• Be certain land has infrastructure permission
• Don’t sign anything without your lawyer present
• Don’t trust your estate agent
2 Key Tips to Know
Spanish property is either built on Urbanizo land, is Fully Urbanizo with all infrastructure permission or is Rural (agricultural)
land. And do remember that your estate agent is getting up to 18% commission, so you can’t trust them for advice or
inspections.
Ideal properties tick these boxes:
• Within two minutes of a village
• Less than 15 minutes from a major town
• Under an hour from an international airport
• Not more than a 20-minute drive from the sea
Your best value property for re-sale and rental potential is close to a community, services and amenities.
Marbella: Spain’s Gold Standard Properties
Malaga’s Golden Mile and nearby areas steadily attract luxury buyers, proving resilient even during the six years of economic
downturn. Home to the best golf courses and prime beachside luxury developments, you can expect a good return on
investment in this prime region.
Check out similar property at better prices in:
• Sotogrande (cooler in winter than Marbella, it doesn’t enjoy the same micro-climate)
• Estepona
• The Costa Tropical between La Herradura and Salobreña.
Buy your holiday home as if it were a permanent one that will one day be sold at a profit.
Ask yourself three questions:
• Will someone else want to live here in ten years?

• If I have to sell quickly, can I make a profit based on the price?
• Will it be in demand if market conditions change?
Don’t Waste Your Time with:
• Busy roads
• Steep hillside plots
• Empty lots nearby where a new build could ruin the view
(ignore assurances that it’s a green zone)
• Lots of stairs
• Fewer than three bedrooms
• Too much noise from nearby tourist meccas
• No sun in winter months
• Lack of privacy
• Too many foreigners (local and international buyers will be put off)
• Mobile Masts or Electric Pylons spoiling views
Run from Rock Bottom Prices!
Although there are legitimate bargains, be highly skeptical of those at the very bottom of the price list. There are an estimated
600,000 unsold new properties built since 2008; a quarter of them are deemed unsellable, so these come very cheaply due to
their locations as well as other issues that are best avoided.
Consider the Advantages of Buying a Re-sale over a Newly Built Property:
• Superior location
• Lower price
• Bigger property
When You’ve Found your Dream Property
Mind the following important points as you proceed toward signing your contract.
Insist on a building surveyor, although few do:

During the building boom many properties weren’t well inspected. Since the seller is responsible for putting the property
right, be certain it is carefully inspected.
• Hire a UK qualified inspector with valid Spanish insurance coverage
They should put your mind at ease regarding:
• Land registered as Fully Urbanizo
• Hidden structural faults
• Mains water
• Electricity
• Telephone lines
Would you believe it? Debts Transfer with Property in Spain!
Make certain your trusty lawyer has seen to it that no debts are attached to the property otherwise you’ll have the joy of
paying someone else’s mortgage, unpaid property taxes and tenant’s association payments.
Other Important Bits:
If you’ll need a mortgage, put a clause in your preliminary contract that lets you opt out if you can’t get one.
Sign the contract before a notary
Budget for fees of 8-15% of property value
Be sure to use a currency exchange company to transfer your funds into your Spanish account as they will save you a great
deal of money over your bank. Their services protect you from currency fluctuation risks and they can set up regular payments
for you, too.
Also Be Aware That: If the seller asks you to document a lower price lower than the actual one, it’s so they can avoid paying
capital gains taxes- just say no thank you as it will make your own capital gains taxes higher in future when you sell your
property for a profit.

Good Luck on your quest to find your beautiful new home in Spain
Your efforts will soon enough reward you with your dream property in the perfect location and you’ll have avoided the pitfalls
by being well prepared. A list of Spanish lawyers is available to you here. And a useful guide to assist Britons living in Spain is
here.
Let us know how you’re getting on with your search, tell us what tips saved you from getting burned and share the lessons you
learned while shopping for your dream property in Spain.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/spain-list-of-lawyers.
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/living-in-spain

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About the Author
Simon Birch
Head of Online Marketing

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