Frequently Asked Question about Buying Property in Spain

Q. What is the attitude of the local Spanish population towards foreigners owning property and living on the Costa del Sol ?

A. The Spanish people are proud of their heritage and are friendly and welcoming to foreigners who respect their country and culture and who have brought prosperity through tourism and property ownership.

Q. Would I be eligible to benefit from State health and education facilities?

A. Yes. As a national of another European Union country you would have automatic access rights to these services which are of a high standard in this part of Spain.

Q. Should I buy a resale or new development property?

A. Both have their own advantages. When you tell us your particular intentions and requirements we will be able to advise you as to the most appropriate property for your needs. Our advice will be considered and impartial, as we are general estate agents and are not linked to, or representatives of, any developer or promoter.

Q. Is it usual to have a structural survey prior to purchase?

A. That depends on the type of property. If you are intending to buy a large, independent house then it could be advisable, depending on the age and apparent condition of the property. It is generally unnecessary to survey apartments within complexes. However, if you are planning to raise finance in Spain for your purchase, then the finance provider will arrange to have the property surveyed.

Q. If I buy a new property what guarantees would I have on quality and timing of construction and would my payments during construction be safeguarded?

A. Newly built properties have a 10 year building guarantee in Spain, rather like the NHBC guarantee in the UK. Your lawyer would ensure that your money would be protected by bank guarantee and would establish the penalty provisions in the contract should the construction run over the contracted date for completion.

Q. Would I be buying freehold or leasehold?

A. Virtually all residential property in Spain is sold freehold. Following your purchase the property would be registered in the land registry by your lawyer in your name, and you would receive the title deed or escritura.

Q. Will the legal contracts be in Spanish and if so will I be able to have them translated before I commit to the purchase?

A. Yes to both questions. All legal documents must be in the language of the country. Your English speaking lawyer will ensure they are correctly drafted and will translate them for you prior to signing.

Q. Will the purchase price be agreed in euros and if so how can I safeguard against exchange rate variations?

A. Yes, the price will be in euros and you can quite easily safeguard against exchange rate changes by using the services of a foreign exchange company to buy currency forward at today's rate. We can recommend one who will then advise you and make all the arrangements directly with you.

Q. How would it be best to bring the necessary reservation deposit to secure my chosen property?

A. The likely reservation deposit will be either 3000€ (£2000) or 6000€ (£4000) depending on the price of your selected property. The easiest and most secure way to pay this is by credit card. If this presents a problem we can advise on alternative methods.

Q. If I agree to come on your Property Inspection Programme, will I be committed to buying a property from you?

A. Most certainly not. You are in no way committed, although we obviously hope you will buy, if we are able to introduce you to just the property you are looking for.