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If the idea of sitting on your terrace watching the sun go down with a glass of "vino" in your hand appeals to you then this is the ideal time to buy a house in Spain. Whether you are looking to retire in the sun or simply have a holiday home to escape to you are sure to find what you are looking for, and, since the prices are depressed at the moment there are plenty of bargains available. So how do you go about doing it?
Where to Buy
Initially it is recommended that you visit the various regions of Spain and work out where would suit you best. You may want a seaside resort or a mountain retreat, you may like it hot or prefer a snowy ski resort. Some areas of Spain are well known for their heavy rainfall while others have severe bouts of drought. On the Costa Blanca we consider ourselves to be fortunate in that we have approximately 10 months of sunshine with around 60 days of rain (albeit quite heavy at times) throughout the year. The temperature rarely sinks below 6°C in the Winter or rises above 40°C in the Summer. Also within just 20 minutes of the beaches you can be relaxing among almond blossom in the valleys or striding along a mountain trail. Other considerations:
You may want a property near a good school or hospital facility. Do you need to rely upon public transport in which case you need a town that has a regular bus or train service. Given the drink/driving policy in Spain you may want to look at properties within walking distance of the local bars/restaurants. What Type of Property to Buy
There are many things to consider not least of which is how much maintenance you want to be responsible for yourself. Apartments and some urbanisations for example have annual maintenance contracts which cover the general maintenance of the communal areas, i.e. painting external walls, keeping the pool clean, weeding the gardens, repairing the roof or retiling the terrace. Do you need a garage or additional storage? This may be considered an essential if you intend to live here but less important if you are looking for a holiday home. Do you need ease of access? That house on the hill may have fabulous views but are you are going to have to carry your luggage and shopping up all those steps to get to your front door? If you are thinking of having a villa built in a remote area don’t forget to factor in that you may not be able to get mains electricity, a telephone line or even drinkable water. Also check out the building restrictions, many plots have to be over 10,000 m2 for any building work to be allowed and even then it may be restricted. Another thing to consider is that if you want to let the property you may find it easy to if it is either within walking distance of the beach or has access to a pool. Estate Agents
It is important that you build a relationship of trust with your estate agent. You want one that is going to hold your hand every step of the way rather than simply getting you to sign the contract and walk away. You should be able to ask him any questions relating to the purchase of your property and he should be able to introduce you to a good, English speaking, lawyer. The better estate agents will discuss with you what sort of property you want, any restrictions you have and what your budget is. They will then compile a viewing list for you, tailor made to suit your requirements. You are not likely to be here very long so you don’t want to waste your time looking at properties that are not suitable or simply too expensive. Costs Incurred
These may vary dependant upon the area in which you buy, the purchase price and whether it is new build or resale. As a general rule of thumb you should allow 10% of the purchase price to pay: - IVA (the Spanish equivalent to VAT)
- Stamp Duty
- Notary and Legal Fees
- Land Registry
If you would like to discuss your requirements or arrange a viewing visit please call Hornblow International from the UK on 0843 207 8930 or visit our website to see a selection of some of the properties we currently have available. This article was supplied courtesy of Hornblow International
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