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Articles: Property

Property developers:
What if your property developer goes bust?

In today's economy, more and more developers are seeking protection under the Spanish equivalent of Administrative Receivership (as in the UK) or Chapter 11 (in the US). But where does this leave you? More...

Who is looking after your interest?:
Professional advice is imperative

Most information services about the process of purchasing a property in Spain – or pretty much anywhere else in the free World - have one abiding theme. Their mantra is clear - make sure that you retain an independent professional advisor - most often a lawyer – from the start of your purchase process. If you take on board no other advice, please heed this basic pearl of wisdom. More...

Furniture & furnishings:
Furnishing your home in Spain

The kind of furniture (muebles) you buy for your Spanish home depends on a number of factors, including its style and size, whether it’s a permanent or holiday home, your budget, the local climate, and not least, your personal taste. More...

Building your own home:
Cost, architects, contracts and guarantees

If you want to be far from the madding crowd, you can buy a plot of land (parcela) and have an individual architect-designed house built to your own design and specifications or to a standard design provided by a builder. More...

Mortgages in Spain :
How to get a home loan for Spain

Mortgages or home loans (hipotecas) are available from most Spanish banks (for residents and non-residents), foreign banks in Spain, and overseas and offshore banks. In recent years, Spanish and foreign lenders have arranged a record number of mortgages, the average amount borrowed being around €120,000. More...

Property Pitfalls:
Top tips on avoiding legal complications

By Oscar Ricor (Ricor Abogados). In all markets there are people who play by the rules and those who break them. Both the rapid explosion in the Spanish property market over the last decade and the arrival of many foreign purchasers has attracted a fair amount of sharks. More...

Time for a change? :
2008 Spanish Property outlook

Firstly, a New Year’s resolution – repeat after me “I must not state the patently obvious”… oops here I go breaking that one – hope the one that involves a daily exercise regime and a detox last longer! The property market in Spain has changed. Is that totally correct or would it be right to say that the purchasers looking to buy in Spain have changed? Almost certainly. More...

Resale homes:
All you need to know when buying from a previous owner

The majority of homes for sale in Spain are ‘resale’ homes, i.e. any property which has been previously owned and occupied. There are essentially two types of resale home: a modern property, which has perhaps had only one or two owners, and an old property, which may be hundreds of years old. More...

Home security in Spain:
How to secure your property in Spain

Security is of paramount importance when buying a home in Spain, particularly if it will be left empty for long periods. Obtain advice from local security companies and neighbours. More...

Heating & air-conditioning in Spain:
Costs and alternatives

Central heating is essential in winter in northern and central Spain and is useful in some other areas – winters can be chilly everywhere with the exception of the Canaries. If you like a warm home in winter, you will almost certainly miss central heating, even on the Costa Blanca and Costa del Sol. More...

Letting in Spain:
How to make money of your property in Spain

Many people planning to buy a holiday home are interested in owning a property that will provide them with an income, e.g. from letting, to cover the running costs and help with the mortgage payments. Letting a home for a few weeks or months in the summer can more than recoup your running costs and pay for holidays. More...

Selling Your Home in Spain:
Price, presentation and estate agents

Although this site is primarily concerned with buying a home in Spain, you may wish to sell your home at some time in the future (or you may wish to sell a home in order to buy another). Before offering your Spanish home for sale it’s advisable to investigate the state of the property market. More...

Renovation & restoration:
Checks, permissions and builders in Spain

Many old country or village homes purchased by foreigners in Spain are in need of restoration, renovation or modernisation. Before buying a property requiring restoration or modernisation, you should consider the alternatives. More...

Swimming pools :
How to install a swimming pool in Spain

It’s common for foreign buyers to install a swimming pool at a home in Spain, which, if you’re letting, greatly increases your rental prospects and the rent you can charge. More...

Inspections & surveys:
A checklist for inspecting a property

When you’ve found a property that you like, you should make a close inspection of its condition. Obviously, this depends on whether it’s an old house in need of complete restoration, a property that has been partly or totally modernised, or a modern home. More...

Special property schemes:
Part-ownership, leaseback and timesharing

If you’re looking for a holiday home abroad, you may wish to investigate a scheme that provides sole occupancy of a property for a number of weeks each year rather than buying a property. More...

Retirement homes in Spain:
Buying a property for retiring in Spain

Retirement homes are generally purpose-built communities (or sheltered housing) and are becoming more common, particularly on the costas, although they’re still fairly rare. More...

Community properties in Spain:
Costs, fees, management and restrictions

Properties in Spain with common elements shared with other properties are owned outright through a system of part-ownership, similar to owning a condominium in the US. Community properties include apartments, townhouses, and single-family homes on a private estate with communal areas and facilities. More...

Property prices in Spain:
What you should know

Since the last property recession, which ended in 1997, property prices have risen at a steady rate annually and from 2000 to 2004 soared throughout the country with yearly increases of over 20 per cent in many areas. Since 2004 the property market has stablised somewhat and annual rises in 2004 and 2005 were 15.5 per cent and 12.6 per cent respectively. More...

Buying a new home in Spain:
Advantages & disadvantages

Spain has experienced a building boom in the last decade or so, during which the amount of developed land has increased by over 30 per cent and, according to figures published by the consultancy group Euroconstruct, around one-third of all new homes in Europe have been built in Spain in recent years. More...

Renting before buying in Spain:
All you need to consider

If you’re uncertain about exactly what sort of home you want and where you wish to live, it’s advisable to rent a furnished property for a period in order to reduce the chances of making a costly error, particularly when you’re planning to buy in an unfamiliar area. More...

Utilities in Spain:
Electricy, gas and water

Electricity, gas and water connections and supplies are covered in this section. Immediately after buying or renting a property (unless utilities are included in the rent), you should arrange for the meter to be read, the contract (e.g. electricity, gas or water) to be registered in your name and the service switched on. More...

Spanish resort property:
The rise in celebrity golf courses

The game: the first traces of a golf like game seems to have come from the Netherlands, in around 1297, where a Dutch game was played with a stick and a leather ball. The player who hit the ball into a target several hundreds metres away, the most number of times was deemed the winner. The word golf itself has its origins in the Dutch word “kolf” meaning stick, club and bat. More...

Buying property in Spain:
Spain as second home

Spain is the most popular country to spend the holidays for most English and Dutchmen. Therefore it is not surprising that hundreds of thousands have bought a property in Spain and consider Spain their “second home”. More...

Mortgage in Spain:
What is important to the bank?

As an independent buy-side real estate agent we have experienced that people from northern Europe are usually not aware of mortgage possibilities and impossibilities in Spain. Some have simply never given it any thought, and most think they can easily get 100% loan to value on the Spanish property. More...

A second home in Spain:
A growing number of Europeans own one

Over the last few years, Spain has proven an attractive location for buying a second home. Its climate, culture and of course beautiful sunny beaches appeal to many. The large coastline has attracted many construction companies to build homes to the specific needs and wants of foreign buyers. More...

Power of Attorney:
What you need it for

Are you not able to attend the notary? Will you be instructing someone to sign on your behalf? This may be a relative, friend or solicitor. Then a Power of Attorney is drawn up. In Spanish it’s called Poder. More...

The Discovery with Finance:
What you should know

Finance is obviously no discovery, however when you have finance on a property you are either about to buy or release capital from a lot may be discovered. More...

Are you about to buy an illegal property?:
What to look out for

Spain is a wonderful country. The sun shines most days and good food and drink is plentiful. It is a wonderful country to have a holiday home or to live. More...

Sign on the dotted line:
How to avoid making a mistake

Have you just seen your dream home? Are you about to sign a purchase contract? Are you sure the property you are buying is all legal? Are you sure the vendor is the rightful owner? Will you get your deposit back in case there is something the matter? More...

Equity Release:
What is equity release?

It’s a term commonly used to indicate release of capital in some shape or form. More...

Is it worth paying a Broker Fee?:
What a broker can do for you

Only 3 years ago there were about 3 local mortgage brokers offering to assist with the arrangement of mortgages in Spain. Today dozens have sprung up, some serious some frighteningly unprofessional and occasionally dishonest. More...

Life in a Traditional Spanish Town House:
Everybody's Dream?

Maybe you have seen them on Spanish property websites; you certainly know them from travel documentaries and photographs of Spanish old towns, the traditional town or village property: very pretty, with little balconies and flower pots with trailing geraniums, and possibly some planted pots outside the wooden front door. More...

What is snagging?:
A beginner’s guide

As a building settles on its foundations, there can be significant knock-on effects to its structure and finish. Problems can range from major shifts of the building’s structure, to a cupboard sticking or drains not working. Identifying faults and getting them rectified before you complete a property purchase is called ‘snagging’. More...

Completing a new property purchase:
Snagging makes this safer

The process of completing a new home purchase usually starts when the builder or developer gives you a completion date. Depending on the agreement you have already made, there may be some tight deadlines for you to complete and penalties if you do not do so without good cause. More...

DIY snagging:
Some pointers on how to ‘Do-It-Yourself’

You might have experience in the construction industry, personal DIY experience or a very good eye for details. If you are completing a purchase make sure you approach the inspection seriously or you could end up with a lot of hassle later. More...

Snagging horror stories:
What’s behind the plastering?

My name is Roy Howitt. I brought a home on the Orihuela Costa many years ago. This was a bad experience that taught me a lot. This was the reason I founded InspectaHomeSpain, a company which helps people buy new properties that have been properly inspected. More...

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