Buying in Spain

PURCHASE COSTS IN SPAIN.

When buying in Spain, on top of the purchase price you should allow an additional 15% (approx) to cover your purchase fees (or 17% if you require a Spanish mortgage due to the mortgage set up fees). The 15% covers the costs of your solicitor, government taxes (which account for 10% of the costs), NIE application, notary fees and land registry fees.

THE PAYMENT STRUCTURES….

OFF PLAN NEW BUILD PROPERTIES

You must pay a 3000 € deposit to secure your property. Stage payments (varies dependent on the builder) for the duration of the build time with the balance on completion.

KEY READY NEW BUILDS / RESALE

Pay a 3000 € deposit to secure your property. If a quick completion is planned (e.g. less than 21 days) the balance can normally be paid on completion at the notary. If completion time is 4-10 weeks the seller may request a further 10% interim deposit before the balance is paid on completion.

Please note that in Spain you must pay a holding deposit of 3000 € in order to reserve a property. Until a deposit is paid the seller will not remove the property from the open market. Sweet Home Properties recommend that you pay the deposit direct to your solicitor whilst the paperwork is being checked. Once the paperwork has been checked and everything is in order, the deposit can be transferred to the builder or private seller.

LOCATION / TYPE OF PROPERTY.

Apart from the obvious decision of the region you wish to buy in Spain, the main question you must consider is the type of location and environment in which you wish to buy in…

Do you want to immerse yourself into a Spanish lifestyle, by mixing with locals and learning the language? Is the beach and meeting people of your own nationality not of great importance to you? Are you looking for an idyllic and quiet lifestyle where you can have a lot of your own space and enjoy stunning countryside views?

If the answer is yes to the above, then you should seriously consider a country property where you will be able to buy much more for your money compared to the busier coastal areas. Large modern 3 bedroom villas with 3 acres of land (approx. 10.000m2) start from under 220.000 Euros in the countryside areas!! These inland areas are still within easy reach of Alicante city, beaches and airport (max 50mins drive) however you will find all amenities and services close by, normally within 5mins drive of the property.

Do you want a 2^nd home where you can easily escape the harsher weather conditions in Northern Europe in Winter and instead enjoy blue flag sandy beaches or numerous panoramic golf courses that the Costa Blanca or Costa Calida can offer? Maybe you are buying for investment or rental purposes? Do you like the idea of being part of an international community of residents where you could look for work or retire in an area where the cost of living is much less than many parts of Europe. Maybe you prefer an area where you can meet new people and easily settle in without prior knowledge of the Spanish language and where children can easily attend English speaking schools?

If your answer to one of the above is yes you may be better to consider a coastal property the majority of which are less than 10mins drive to numerous blue flag beaches and all amenities including schools and hospitals.

PROPERTY REQUIRMENTS:

Regardless of the location, you need to seriously consider which factors are important to you when selecting a property. Questions to consider are…..

Property - do you want an apartment, townhouse or villa, how many bedrooms/bathrooms, is a swimming pool important, do you want a garden, roof terrace etc?
Budget - how much can you comfortably invest in a property or is a mortgage needed.
New build properties - you can buy either ´key ready´ or ´off plan´. The advantage with `off plan´ is that sometimes you can choose the style, construction materials, or change small things in the property. A deposit will be required and construction could take up to 18months which may suit your plans. If however you are ready to move now it will be better to buy ´key ready´ where you can step inside the property today and the purchase can go through as quick as 2 weeks.
Resale Properties/second hand: This can range from a new property being sold by the first owner that has never been used to an old finca that needs total reform. Completion time can be agreed between the buyer and seller with typical timescale being 4-10 weeks.