BEFORE BUYING PROPERTY IN SPAIN

Location: In which part of Spain would you like to buy your Spanish villa?

Before buying property in Spain, you have to consider, fist of all, two questions:

1- Do you want to integrate into the Spanish life and learn Spanish language or do you need to be understood in English (e.g. for work) and/or require English friends and activities?

2- Are you buying property in spain because you are planning to retire, move over to work or buy/set-up a business? Depending of your objective, the location of your future Spanish villa will be different.

To buy property in Spain, choose a place, town, village or hillside where you will want to spend a lot of time or live permanently. We recommend you to spend a long period in the area of your choice before making the final decision on your Spanish villa. There are many factors that might help you make the decision about where to buy property in Spain, like knowledge from previous vacations or you might have friends or relatives that own a Spanish property. Prior to buying property in Spain, it is also a good idea to think whether you would be able to find a job, if you like the area all year round, the climate, and other factors like health care, schools (if you have children), travel times and connexions to different places, kind of services the area offers.

Questions to help you decide where to buy Spanish villas.Would you like your Spanish property:

• In a town or country?
• Inland or coast?
• Private Spanish property or urbanisation?
• How far is the beach?
• How far is your work place?
• What kind of sports installations there are?
• Are your neighbours close or far away?
• How far are the shops and restaurants?
• Is the public transport close to your future property?

Type of property: Before buying property in Spain, look at the different available options in different areas to know the market value.

Questions to ask yourself when buying property in Spain:

• Size, space, number of rooms, bathrooms, swimming pool (yes or no, private or communal), garden, view, lift (if your are buying an apartment or flat), neighbours…
• Available budget (capital available or mortgage you require)
• Properties off plan/new build: buy a Spanish villa on development plan. The advantage is that you can choose the style, construction materials, or change small things in the property, but an initial deposit is required and you must ensure that you can wait some time until the Spanish property is built. Search the future urbanization plan for the area, to avoid surprises, as new buildings may ruin the view that, perhaps initially, motivated your decision to buy property in Spain.
• Resale Properties/second hand: Check out if it is necessary to make reforms or replace something. Also check that the electric installation is OK (if the villa is very old).

Contact with Spanish Estate Agents

When buying property in Spain, be sure that the Spanish estate agent you choose have enough experience and knowledge of the Spanish property market. The estate agent will help you buying property in Spain, comparing different prices and types of Spanish properties. He/She will also inform you about the applicable taxes to maintain the property, such as community fees water and electricity charges, rubbish collection and IBI.

Before buying property in Spain, make a personal inspection trip

Check the villa of your choice: Does the property have connections to telephone, electricity, mains water and sewage?

Look out for structural defects. A builder or architect may do it for you, however for complete peace of mind you should use a Qualified Evaluator or Buildings Engineer. Try to speak to neighbours about the area (ask about neighbour and neighbourhood problems) and also if they know anything about the property itself.

Visit the Spanish property several times, if it is possible, at various times of day and/or on different days (morning, during working hours and at night-time, week-day and weekend).

 
Seek for legal advice: Lawyer

Before buying property in Spain, (sign anything or hand over any money) find a lawyer to advice and assist you during the legal process and cost involved in the Spanish property you have decided on. He helps you to check out if there are debts on the property.

 
Have you decided to buy a Spanish villa?

 At this point, your offer has to include the price for the Spanish property, the declared price on the Escitura Pública, payment method, furniture (if it exists and it is suitable for acquisition ), who pays which taxes (The buyer pays : IVA or ITP, Notary fees and Property Registration fees. The seller pays: Capital Gains tax and Plusvalia)