buying an apartment in spain

[stevemcs]

Phil. said:

As for routes down to where we are, I took quite a bit of advice from regular travellers to the area. It's best to avoid Paris and the AP7 Barcelona/Valencia route. Apparently lots of thefts at service stations and people trying to get you to stop you car claiming to be police. We drove ET - Rouen - Tours - Bordeaux - Burgos - Madrid - Murcia. All the roads were great and fairly empty. Don't forget to buy a toll tag. They take about a week to arrive. I used Bip&Go.

Edited by Phil. on Monday 10th August 12:48

Does this still happen ?

[Phil.]

According to people who travel by car regularly and recently, yes. Check out the La Manga related FB pages/groups for more info.

[Phil.]

Shnozz said:

Yes, used amazon.es a huge amount since I arrived and nice that prime is also only €36 for the year so great value. Still have to have items d
On the bip n go - did you manage to get one delivered to a UK address? My understanding was that wasn't possible?

Edited by Shnozz on Monday 10th August 18:52

Yes, Bip&Go was delivered to my UK address in a week but they advise 10 days.

I’m really enjoying driving a RHD car in Spain so I wouldn’t be too quick to swap the Aston for a LHD Vette. Depreciation on the Vette is going to be more than the Aston and there is no comparison really in terms of brand and quality. Bring the Aston down and delay a decision on when to swap

PM me if you want to meet for a cuppa tomorrow, only caveat is I have a few work calls booked.

Edited by Phil. on Monday 10th August 23:33

[Shnozz]

Phil. said:

Yes, Bip&Go was delivered to my UK address in a week but they advise 10 days.

I’m really enjoying driving a RHD car in Spain so I wouldn’t be too quick to swap the Aston for a LHD Vette. Depreciation on the Vette is going to be more than the Aston and there is no comparison really in terms of brand and quality. Bring the Aston down and delay a decision on when to swap

PM me if you want to meet for a cuppa tomorrow, only caveat is I have a few work calls booked.

Edited by Phil. on Monday 10th August 23:33

Just realised it was Bip & Drive I tried - their response (copied)

Dear Customer,

We regret to inform you that it is not possible to ship the Bip&Drive device to the UK.

Sincerely,

Servicio de Atención al Cliente de Bip&Drive

Ah well, can order one seeing as I am here for a long while and then take it back with me to the UK. I have the emotiv tag already fitted in the Aston but bip would be better to cover both France and Spain rather than 2 devices and subscriptions.

My car dealership visit was with the Mrs' caveat we head to IKEA afterward and will be a late one as have to drop the inlaws to alicante airport about 4pm so will rain check a drink today mate but assuming the car is a go-er I will be revisiting the area v soon for collection hopefully so lets arrange a meet up.

[Chris Stott]

Shnozz said:

Also agree what you say about buying "right". As the early days of this thread showed, I was first tempted when I saw a few cheaper (£100k ish) properties that looked extremely good at that price point. However, the transactional costs are such that I knew I wanted to only buy once, with room to live in if needed, or to not desire a change if I was here in Spain more or less time etc. I decided to change my budget substantially to get what I really wanted and be done with it. Handing over a bankers draft for 10% stamp duty is painful, as well as an addition 6 - 7% on top for legals and various charges. All sunk money that I would not want to do again.

I think a lot of us have followed a similar process... have an interest in the 'life style', see 'cheap' properties on line, think 'we could buy that for cash'... then come out here and see the reality of what the 'cheaper' end of the market is like.

Although the situation in Spain has improved since 2010, the underlying issues are still here... the cheaper end of the market is property that was put up quickly in 2006-2008, at the height of the boom.

Buying property is fundamentally the same here as in the UK... location always most important.

[Simon-k41v9]

Chris Stott said:

I think a lot of us have followed a similar process... have an interest in the 'life style', see 'cheap' properties on line, think 'we could buy that for cash'... then come out here and see the reality of what the 'cheaper' end of the market is like.

Although the situation in Spain has improved since 2010, the underlying issues are still here... the cheaper end of the market is property that was put up quickly in 2006-2008, at the height of the boom.

Buying property is fundamentally the same here as in the UK... location always most important.

Couldnt agree more

when we first considered, it was too buy a 100k apartment somewhere but actually thats not the lifestyle we would have been happy with and ended up spending nearly 3 times the original budget, in a different location, with a different perspective altogether

Thats not to say you cant buy a property for 80-100k and be happy with it

[mart 63]

Chris Stott said:

Shnozz said:

Also agree what you say about buying "right". As the early days of this thread showed, I was first tempted when I saw a few cheaper (£100k ish) properties that looked extremely good at that price point. However, the transactional costs are such that I knew I wanted to only buy once, with room to live in if needed, or to not desire a change if I was here in Spain more or less time etc. I decided to change my budget substantially to get what I really wanted and be done with it. Handing over a bankers draft for 10% stamp duty is painful, as well as an addition 6 - 7% on top for legals and various charges. All sunk money that I would not want to do again.

I think a lot of us have followed a similar process... have an interest in the 'life style', see 'cheap' properties on line, think 'we could buy that for cash'... then come out here and see the reality of what the 'cheaper' end of the market is like.

We found this out a couple of years ago. Looked at a couple of properties online in Lo Crispin, looked like bargains, so we booked viewing. My dad took us to look around there the day before viewing, and we drove straight out, and cancelled viewings.
There are bargains in Spain, but you have to be quick to snap them up. We got a bargain i think, bought it on the same day as it went on the market. Luckily my dad was there to view it for us.

[Chris Stott]

Simon-k41v9 said:

Thats not to say you cant buy a property for 80-100k and be happy with it

Absolutely! We all have different visions of our 'ideal Spanish lifestyle'!

Just passing on my experience and the experience of multiple other posters (from following this thread for a couple of years)... there's a common theme!

[AB]

We've been toying with the idea of something similar, my business is in a position where I can disappear happy things will go smoothly and work from pretty much anywhere for a few weeks at a time. Wife doesn't work and daughter isn't in school yet, but even when she is we'd use it school holidays and I'd use it with mates for a golfing holiday.

Budget circa £150,000 around the Malaga area close to a golf course with some nice private outdoor space but a shared pool would be fine.

A couple of decent restaurants, bars and a half decent supermarket is all we'd need. I'm not fussed on the beach.

Any ideas where I should be looking? 2/3 bed, I guess 3 ideally.

[Chris Stott]

Do you know the area at all?

There’s so much choice between Malaga and Estapona... I’d recommend booking a couple of days with a local agent to show you some places... that’s what we did originally.

We used these... very helpful.

https://www.crystalshore-properties.com/

[Phil.]

Shnozz,

Good luck with the car buying today.

You mentioned earlier that the cost of your calls to the UK are expensive. You probably already know this but I'll mention it anyway for others who might not. I bought a second hand iphone in good condition and stuck a Spanish sim in it. I use Hits PAYG. I can call anywhere in the world for just a few cents a minute. It saved me a fortune when I was regularly calling Hong Kong and the US for work.

https://www.hitsmobile.es/es/web/guest/inicio?gcli...

[Shnozz]

Phil. said:

Shnozz,

Good luck with the car buying today.

You mentioned earlier that the cost of your calls to the UK are expensive. You probably already know this but I'll mention it anyway for others who might not. I bought a second hand iphone in good condition and stuck a Spanish sim in it. I use Hits PAYG. I can call anywhere in the world for just a few cents a minute. It saved me a fortune when I was regularly calling Hong Kong and the US for work.

https://www.hitsmobile.es/es/web/guest/inicio?gcli...

Hi Phil. Apologies for the tardy reply, been a busy time with work.

Issue for me with the mobile idea is the reception here is dreadful. Tried PAYG SIMs from all the big carriers and still rarely get any signal inside the house. Frustrating as I get free calls to UK landlines and mobiles via GiffGaff and the same for my partner on Three, but with no reception I have to revert to my Spanish landline, which offers free calls to UK landlines but not mobiles - which for the most part my business calls are to!

Tried to get SIP all functioning as a normal line but to no avail.

I see from another thread you are heading back in a few weeks. Let me know if you fancy a coffee/beer before you head back and we can arrange something.

Car was purchased and so I finally am out of the hire car!

[Shnozz]

ooid said:

Hi Gents,

I'm suprised did not notice this thread before. I'm quite familiar with Spain, as I have family down there and we have a business in Barcelona. (Bakery). I'm also sort of familiar with house purchase legalities, as we were trying to buy a place for my parents a few years ago. I thought I've lost the bargain Barcelonatta studio flats back in 2008/09 with 50-60k euro prices, but it seems like there are some bargains to have around Murcia, like the example below?

https://www.idealista.com/en/inmueble/89547422/

I'm seriously considering a mini trip soon to check this area. We did not have much luck this year due to covid but, I really appreciate the value of just jumping to a cheap easyjet/rynair to Spain during depressing weather in U.K., and change of a scenery/culture or weather is quite different than our slowly decaying old blighty

So as per my offer, I went and had a look at the outside of this place as it was on my route.



Looks a nice little place for the money. As you can see, it’s one (of many) gated ‘through’ streets where the houses sit either side. Can’t get up close to it as a result but no bad thing from a security point of view.

From my own perspective, the issue I had/have with lo crispin is that it feels very much a holiday home community with few properties feeling a year round home. This has been perpetuated this year by the absence of tourists no doubt and I can say I didn’t see a person sat outside on that street or many other surrounding it. Lo Crispin also feels a bit cut off where it’s sat on its own with a commercial centre that never attracted businesses so is mainly closed up, and only two bars, only one of which was open this week but again no doubt down to the absence of visitors. In the one bar open I should imagine everyone knows everyone, which could be a good or bad thing depending on your viewpoint.

Best thing of course is to take a visit and see what’s right for you. As mentioned below, you might join many of us at starting looking at £100k ‘bargains’ whilst sat in the U.K., only to come here and find your budget suddenly doubles to get what you really want first time around!

Let me know if you do plan a visit and more than happy to meet for a few jars and offer any advice I can. Likewise let me know if there’s any other properties that catch your eye and more than happy to take a look of an evening.

[ooid]

Shnozz, you have been very kind and helpful, many thanks!

I've picked a few more properties in mostly La Manga, and hopefully will be visiting in sept-oct, depending on COVID19 regulations. Things have quickly speeded-up now, I'm heading to Bodrum/Turkey today as putting the summer flat there on the market. Actually there is already one potential buyer, so if things go faster, will sell the flat there and might act on Spain Purchase much quicker.

Hope to catch up soon than!

[dmahon]

I was on the thread last year and nearly bought in Estepona, then got cold feet.

With all that’s going on and the recent updates here, I’m planning a trip down to the region for a second look. An agent has sent a few cracking looking properties through at reasonable prices so hopefully prices are softening.

Maybe second time lucky!

[Phil.]

Shnozz said:

Hi Phil. Apologies for the tardy reply, been a busy time with work.

Issue for me with the mobile idea is the reception here is dreadful. Tried PAYG SIMs from all the big carriers and still rarely get any signal inside the house. Frustrating as I get free calls to UK landlines and mobiles via GiffGaff and the same for my partner on Three, but with no reception I have to revert to my Spanish landline, which offers free calls to UK landlines but not mobiles - which for the most part my business calls are to!

Tried to get SIP all functioning as a normal line but to no avail.

I see from another thread you are heading back in a few weeks. Let me know if you fancy a coffee/beer before you head back and we can arrange something.

Car was purchased and so I finally am out of the hire car!

Car looks great! You’ll get more top-down use here than in the UK

The phone issue is a right PITA! We have Three sims and as you say, the UK deal is good. I recollect that Three have a VOIP function for areas with poor reception but haven’t used it myself.

I think we’re going to pass on meeting up this time. We’re not socialising at the moment, just keeping things low risk while over here. I don’t want to have to test the extra insurance cover if possible. We‘ll visiting again and hopefully this nonsense will be all over by then

[Phil.]

ooid said:

Shnozz, you have been very kind and helpful, many thanks!

I've picked a few more properties in mostly La Manga, and hopefully will be visiting in sept-oct, depending on COVID19 regulations. Things have quickly speeded-up now, I'm heading to Bodrum/Turkey today as putting the summer flat there on the market. Actually there is already one potential buyer, so if things go faster, will sell the flat there and might act on Spain Purchase much quicker.

Hope to catch up soon than!

I’m in La Manga now. If there is anything close by you are looking at I’d be happy to take a look and report back..

[ooid]

Thank you for your super kind offer too, Phil. It's a great but dangerous thread

I'll take your offer than, are you familiar with this area? It is of course impossible to decide without visiting but the location, views and condition do not look too bad I guess?

https://www.idealista.com/en/inmueble/81168198/

https://www.idealista.com/en/inmueble/39049711/

[Yetski]

11 years ago I bought a place in Duquesa as a holiday home, which as I messed about with it eventually became my full time (when not working) home, but the same as obviously a few people on this thread, once you start looking about, the bug gets you that you need something possibly bigger, maybe more amenities, better location, and it ends up being an itch you have to scratch.
Just under a year ago I saw the perfect place for me just down the road, I made a daft offer which was rejected and eventually the place sold, which at the time wasn't a problem until this bloody virus struck, I've been stuck abroad with work since January 5th with loads of great properties to browse over on the net dreaming my life away.
Anyway out of the blue a couple of months ago I got a call from the agent who was dealing with the property I had previously made an offer on informing me the deal had fell through due to the buyer having health problems, and was now staying in the UK.
With them pulling out the seller had gained a deposit, so now was my time for another daft offer, this time accepted, everything submitted, flights booked for 2 weeks time, to go and sign on the dotted line, cannot wait.

Sorry it was a bit long to get to the point.

[Phil.]

ooid said:

Thank you for your super kind offer too, Phil. It's a great but dangerous thread

I'll take your offer than, are you familiar with this area? It is of course impossible to decide without visiting but the location, views and condition do not look too bad I guess?

https://www.idealista.com/en/inmueble/81168198/

https://www.idealista.com/en/inmueble/39049711/

Hi Ooid,

It's difficult to comment on the individual properties but I can comment on their location and offer some alternative suggestions. Both properties are 8 or so miles up the La Manga strip, which is mostly single track road and very busy in the summer. It could easily take you 30 mins just to drive off the strip to the nearest large supermarket in Cabo de Palos, and it's another 20 mins to the nearest large shopping area with white goods and DIY shops that as a new owner you are going to need access to Don't forget to add that extra 30 mins to each airport journey and the issue of its unpredictability in the summer.

Just along from Cabo de Palos, with great views of the strip, are Playa Honda and Mar de Crystal. Both lovely holiday areas with great beaches, water sports etc. and right next to one of the biggest go-cart tracks in the area! Prices there are very reasonable to and comparable with those on the strip.

I'm on the La Manga Club (LMC) and there are properties here within the budget you are looking at. Below are a couple of the local agencies and remember all the prices are negotiable However, check the annual fees because they are higher at LMC due to all the facilities and excellent security.

Feel free to bombard me with questions if you want while I'm on holiday

https://www.marenamurrayproperty.com/search.html?s...

https://www.resortsalesandmanagement.com/en/gbp/pr...

http://www.elysiumproperties.com/la-manga-properti...