Buying property in Spain. Is it a risky experience? 

I bought two properties in Spain, country which I love, and I would like to give this advice: buy something smaller, but in the historical center, historical building (they were constructed better) renovated inside, by doing this you avoid two problems: 1) the risk to buy a property which is not completely legal 2) the risk of having increased the cost for the construction...and if you change your mind later on... is always easier to sell it.

Never buy off plan and never eat yellow snow!!

Good advice in this video. Wherever you may choose to buy a house and in whatever country, it's always wise to do your homework beforehand. If you have friends or perhaps a family member that's been through the buying process then it may be good to take their advice and recommendations too.

Thank you for your honesty about the housing.😊

I really liked this video, very frank. My partner and I, as of last sept 2018, bought our casita for a steal in the tranquil and verdant Lecrin Valley outside of the Granada. The process and recommendations of the estate agent and lawyers were excellent, professional, prompt and approachable. Their fee, costing no more than 1500 euros, included obtaining the surveying, deeds and power of attorney to claim an NIE and bear witness to signing along with the seller etc. I can't speak for urbanisations and off plan, but this place is so wonderful and we couldn't have had a better experience. I'm hesitant to mention the Valley because it's so pretty and unspoilt, but do visit because it is truly spectacular!

Could you do a more indept video on buying property in spain and on the running costs, and say more about buying an existing property, thanks very much

Loving your blogs, and so glad I've found you, especially regarding the daily virus updates. One point I'd like to make, however, is that friends of mine did all the research and employed all the right people, only to find that the local mayor and solicitor had falsified permissions and documents, and the property was on illegal land. The problem was compounded by the lack of interest shown by the higher courts and authorities. Still not resolved to this day! It doesn't seem fair that the buyer's did everything humanly possible, but were let down by the system.

I have a Motorcycle in Spain and I have to pay "mandatory Insurance" even though it has been broken down and off the road for 2 years, apparently it is the Law- not like the UK where you can SORN it. sorry for being off subject -- just a heads up

Great video, and very good advise 👍

I think you offer some good advise. I am not looking though for a new flat, but to buy an existing village house and have looked at numerous options in Andalucia, Murcia, Valencia, and Catalunya,. I speak Spanish, but am not aware of the nuances of property and title in Spain. What particular suggestions do you have for existing and in some cases, older houses in smaller places. Thanks.

Also beware of squatters!!! They have more rights than homeowners You can end up losing your home .. Beware!!!

I did my research thoroughly for a year before making an offer on a property in the Almeria province last November. We needed a mortgage but could still have signed everything within a couple of months or so. I only extended it because I already had flights booked and it suited the buyers who live in Barcelona. I had a thoroughly recommended independent solicitor (not linked to the estate agent) and it couldn't have been smoother. Better than my son who bought his first UK flat around the same time, unoccupied, which took 7 months to complete. But then we weren't buying off plan which I expect complicates things.

Dear British citizens, I have been living with my partner in Spain and we had a horrible house experience, the same with burglary and thieves! Instead of Spain, consider Croatian coast which is extremely safe no burglary, no thieves like in Spain. There is no property tax in Croatia! Most everyone speaks English unlike in Spain where even the Spanish lawyers don't speak English. There are direct flights from UK to many cities along the Croatian coast. Incredibly beautiful nature, amazing history and architecture, not made for mass tourism, the sun is a lot more gentle which is prefect for the Nordic skin. I can go on and on...just have a look for Pula, Opatija, Rovinj, Rabac, Istria, Zadar, Split, Makarska, Dubrovnik...so many places along the coast just look on the map.

neighbours and increases in paying community charges (la communidad) in a shared building can be a problem. Get them to prove that gas and electricity works before you buy and make sure that the person you are buying from has the deeds to the house. at least there is no leasehold in spain and it's almost 100% freehold (UK law for who owns the land on which the building stands).

As a American (my wife is Spanish) I found the purchase process here in Spain more than a bit arcane and more expensive. I had bought and sold two houses in the US and found the process much easier and quicker. The fees that you have to pay in Spain are so much more and the extra bureaucratic steps make it a lot less fun. I felt more elation that the process finally being finished three months later, than I felt when be did the sale at the notary and got the keys. Realtor fees are similar in the US, but the VAT is not. VAT, or as we call it sales tax, is not charged on the sale of a home. You only pay a "title transfer fee" of $300-800, depending on the municipality. Also a lawyer is always involved and the purchase always takes place in their office with lawyers from both parties present. The difference is that their are not separate notaries, all lawyers in the US are notaries. There are also a lot of "little extras" that are part of the process. An sworn certificate of title done by a professional showing any liens and certifying that the property is fully legal. Insurance of the title is also included to make compensation to the buyer if something is fraudulent or missed. There is also a complete inspection of the property by a licensed inspector certifying the condition of the home. The entire process from agreement to purchase to final delivery of title of ownership (Deed) takes less than 60 days. That is for an existing home. Buying "off plan" in the US is not common. Generally construction has to have begun and be at a certain percentage of completion before a unit can be sold. Contracts are also much more defined. A delivery date is part of the contract and the builder will be liable for fines for not meeting the contracted date. This can be refunds or reductions in final payment, based on the contracts late fee provisions(i.e. $250 for each day beyond contracted delivery date). Needless to say I felt I was buying a house here in Spain like it was another planet!

Thanks for the video. Very informative. We bought ours last year and did a lot of research beforehand and luckily we had a very good agent and the whole process took 4 weeks with all legal doc., and got keys and deeds. Yes, agreed that people should avoid buying off plan....

In the metropolitan area of Madrid, in Rivas-Vaciamadrid, where you are recording the video, it's absolutely necessary to build housing: this metropolitan area grows about 100,000 people every year. It's estimated that only in Madrid city, almost 20,000 homes and almost 50,000 throughout its metropolitan area need to be built each year. More than a matter of economy, work or production, construction in many areas of Spain is a necessity...

Could you do a vid on off-grid living in Spain and Portugal and the legal side to it it your from UK like me, thanks

I purchased 17 properties, a mix of flats, fincas, stand-alone homes and land, the sketchiest was buying from builders- they really don't have respect for time and or promises.. I am working on two that have draged 2.5 years now.

You didn't mention the important bit, at least for UK buyers, that you need to add up to 15% of the price quoted for taxes and various fees.

We would love to move to Spain . It is good for everyone to know the pitfalls. Also we know a couple that bought home on Costa Blanca. They bought FRONT LINE. Some years later the Spanish built in front of their house. Not what they had payed for. So watch out if you think you have a VIEW bc 3 years later your View will be gone. !!

Always enjoy your videos thanks , my partner had a place near Alicante and was constantly ripped off by different new charges , even the sceptic tank which was put in place when the Finca was built had to be changed because of new EU regulations and cost a few thousand euro , when she came to sell she found out the access road was built on private land .

Hi just found your vlog and found it very interested to hear your views on life in Spain where I intend going in the next year, with the intention of buying land and living off-grid. Have you done any vlogs on the process of obtaining planning permission for small developments, in my case it may be a tiny home project. Thanks in advance. Paul

Title search and escrow is not required and therefore automatic?

hello,i hear about squatters problem,meaby you can make one vlog about this situation please

Just out of curiosity, what part of Spain is shown in this video and what is the average part of an unattached home in that area? I've been told that Real Estate prices in Spain vary dramatically depending on the region.

I think if you have trusted Spanish friends, they also can help you with some of the ins and outs of purchasing property or any other legal matters.

Hi, good video. I know that I have to come up with some down-payment for a house. Do you think as a foreigner, I could qualify for mortgage loans for any bank institution in Spain?

what is your opinion on buying a unfinished property or built your own.

Buy a house that’s already built ... in a mature area. Good advice !

I believe you should rent for a while and assess everything properly. Friends of our bought out in Spain a few years back and nice villa but not a good investment. Easy to lose money, although they love the villa they do regret not having rented for a good while first

A couple who bought and thought they were very intelligent DIY lawyers found a check list for all documents to make up perfect title and complied with all requirements. They were very puzzled when the Alcaldia (local authority) sent them a notice to demolish their property. Eventually they realized that all of the sealed permits from the same Alcaldia were forgeries.

What about rent in your area. Eksampel. 2 bed appartment. Price

There are a lot of Okupas, so be carefull to leave the property alone.

I was told to always get a mortgage even if it's for 10,000€. The banks would never lend against a dodgy property.

Given that at some point there will inevitably be another recession, do you expect a repetition of these events in Spanish housing or have the authorities put some safeguards in place?

I am considering a home purchase in the Barcelona Province, but just looking at this point. I prefer a pre-existing house rather than a new build.

Good advice 👍

Do you have anything about buying a property that is considered historical?

Did you get a mortgage in Portugal even not living there? Is that possible?

I am about to venture into buying a property in spain after renting here for over 2 years, noticed this video and will definately do my homework. My reason for deciding to buy is nervousness about the financial institutions after the corona virus period. Money can dissapear overnight but hopefully a property will will more permanent. Thanks again

My next home I purchase will be a flat in Madrid; at Barrio de Slamanca. 👏👏👏👏👍👍 Salutations from, USA.

It’s quite simple really do your research and quality legal advise. I think the general rule of thumb is if it sounds too good it probably is.

Have been watching a place in the sun and a lot of properties seem run down and very rustic. I don’t intend to camp if we buy to retire I like to see before I hand over $ what I am getting but have to wonder how hard is it to get reliable tradespeople like electricians and plumbers. We have renoed 4 houses in different countries. Hopefully Spain will be our last one. We are looking at Valencia we don’t want a city as big as Melbourne. Do Spanish double glaze or like Aus. the houses are built for the heat and are freezing in winter.

Happens in Mexico all the time when buying a home or condo have to be on your toes builders go bankrupt and the buyers are out their deposits. My friend lost her 25 thousand deposit

I really want to move to Spain someday because I hate living in Ireland where it is rainy and only get a couple of weeks of sunshine in Ireland during the summer sure I know it may be hard to buy property in Spain but I’ll make sure that I get good property if I was going to buy there yet I can’t speak any Spanish I do really want to learn it tho I’m not sure which part of Spain but I’m thinking good places like Madrid, Barcelona, Salou, Valencia or Toledo

Where is this? It doesn't look like a coastal area. No palm trees or such type of vegetation

Thank you for sharing

When was this video made ?

We bought off plan on Camposol Mazrron the villa was two years late in completion but once finished the villa has been a success. Most people have been happy with their villas but a small minority have had problems..

Thanks for the info’, I was thinking of buying a home in Camposol, but with comments I’ve read and now you’re advice on not being tempted by price I’m having 2nd-3rd-4th thoughts. There’s a lot to consider. 👍😎🍺🍺🍺

The quality of construction in Spain is often terrible with the building standards also found to be sub par. It’s not that the trade is lacking skilled professionals it is more a case of their attitude, the focus is on saving money, cutting corners and fooling buyers into thinking the levels of quality are far above what they actually are. A lot of the pricing and valuation processes are absolutely ridiculous. A true minefield, both for those that are naive and those that are switched on, each type of individual suffers differently when buying in Spain!

We liv d in Southern Spain, Andalusia for 3 years. We are back home in the US and want to buy a vacation/ retirement home hopefully in the next few years in the town we lived in.

Yes, definitely you need to do your homework before buying a house. My experience is that unfortunately, you shouldn't even trust the council arquitect. I got free advice from private arquitects and from a lawyer. When the time came, we hired that same lawyer before signing anything. Otherwise, we would literally be crying right now. I'm Spanish, however I'm also half Portuguese, I only lived 5 years in Portugal when I was a child. But, I lived in the UK for 13 years and part of my work was dealing with Spanish and Portuguese companies and my impression is that the Portuguese are more professional in what they do. However, as we all know there is good and bad everywhere. So, do your homework, research very well before signing and beware not to trust anyone by his/her word!

And is it possible to buy land and put a log cabin on it, thanks again

Can you make a vídeo explaining what the IBI is?

When are people comming to Tenerife, I have one appartment for sale. 1 bed with big balkon and garden

Hi thanks for the video. How much cost a lawyer?

alsi what do you think of bribery of some officials to make things fly faster.

Some years ago a friend of mine sold his villa in Spain, he said the Spanish Government kept a percentage of the money he received for his property. Is this correct?

What does "Buying off plan" mean?

Even if you do everything by the book it can still go pear-shaped. My sister bought a maisonette off plan. Her lawyer who spoke good English said there were no problems. She checked everything. Some months later in the local government offices she saw a map on the wall with a huge motorway on it due to be constructed a couple of hundred metres or so from her property. Fortunately the motorway was bulit in a deep cutting so it did not affect her too much. You can do everything right but corruption or inadequate notification of local planning can screw you badly.

Could you please tell us the pros and cons of Spanish residency?

I bought a farmhouse in galicia. Green country, honest helpful people, never a problem of any kind. Beautiful mountain top with great few. If i would not got sick and needed special treatment i would not be in boring germany again. I lived in many countries but this is the best. Ok, it rains a lot, but that makes the place so stunningly lush and beautiful. I will sell for a ridiculous price to the right buyer.

Surely this is just common sense, unfortunately to many buyers come and leave their brains at home. Don’t do anything unless the builders checked out and all the licenses are in place ,they give you bankers guarantee on all payments.Make sure you have an English speaking independent lawyer.Use an established reputable Agent, not one working out of the back of a car with a good looking web site but no office and probably not legal.

Yo nunca compraria un apartamento sobre planos,yo quiero ver el apartamento construido,los acabados la calidad de los materiales la colocacion de esos materiales el funcionamiento de los desagues luces grifos etc etc, cosa que sobre plano no lo vas a ver hasta que esté terminado, sin embargo tengo amigos que si lo han comprado sobre plano y estan encantados.

We bought a new house (chalé) 21 years ago. There were a few things to be fixed, no problem, no extra cost. We are now best friends with the builder. Spain is a Paradise once you speak the language. I think we will buy a finca now that the prices are low.

What's the difference between off plan and normal house in Spain?

For christ sake. Its not worth the risk. Besides that when i went to write my will my solicitor asked me 'do you have any property abroad?' I said no and he said 'because if you have, forget it'. We have all on not getting ripped off in the uk nevermind in a foreign country.

Talk also about selling the house again and moving back to your Country. Thats When the Goverment ask you a surten amount of tax That can be very high.

You forgot to tell where this area is

Man, every time I watch your videos, I just want to move to Spain! By the way, good advice, keep up the great job!👍🏻 Does one has to be a Spaniard resident to buy property in Spain?

What I know is the proper way is you need to have your bill of payment and mortgage papers property papers to prove that you’re the owner of the house then you can go to the police the police gives the squatters. To move out I think 48 hours mainly but it’s not difficult it’s just paperwork and don’t leave your paperwork in Spain in your house but put it in a bowl’s in a bank office so you can get to it all the time.

One of the issues I have is the "non-refundable" 3,000 euros deposit a lot ask for. Yet there are often problems that drag the sales on sometimes.

From a Portuguese bloke: you were lucky on your Portuguese deal. Lots of dodgy businesses around here too. And property in Portugal has an inferior price quality relatiobship when compared to spanish property construction quality, project and materials

This is from 2019? (Hoy April 9)

Interesting video thanks for sharing. I've never been to Portugal but I love visiting Spain

Wish uk had your space millions of empty properties there and a small amount here love to swop with spain uk has a big shortage at monster prices ,

Trust no professional in spain, corruption is rife and recourse via the legal system is monumentally difficult, my brother in law has been involved in a 22yr property claim case, nearly everyone involved at every level has been shown to be corrupt

Yes buyer beware. Could recommend PSI Consultants in Orihuela Costa as we used for buying and selling as they were English speaking and very professional. They had power of attorney as we were not in Spain full time.

Thank you for the deailed account! I have postponed a possible move to Portugal, but last year I researched small habitable Houses (I'm single and solitary. That's my style.) Found one small House that had been completely renovated the year before. In the hills around Coimbra. Would have been perfect, but time wasn't right. This was offered through a UK real estate firm and I think they would be above board on everything. Still dream of the Garden full of Fruit Trees and outdoor Bread Oven!

The prices are crazy .more than UK for a new build house no land over a million at least cheap kitchens etc total rip off

Buying in Spain is easy selling is a different matter

We are thinking to buy property in the Canarias and relocate. We are from Romania and my wife works for a Spanish company. We speak Spanish very well.

Hi do you know if it is better to buy in France instead of Spain plz? Thanks

I bought off-plan in 2005...Builder went bust, Lawyers went bust ! (Aldea Assesores) after 12 years the interest on the 50k was nearly as much as the debt..took it through Court were Banco Popular pushed me as far and as long as the could (you pay your own costs in Spain) after over 12 years I was given my deposit back - my Lawyer kept the interest in charges (37,000€) nice !

how many people have fallen into the old we love it here let's look fo a house trap? i know i have from almost everywhere ive been,starting with towyn north wales when i was a kid, just think, a diet of fish and chips, toffee apples and candy floss every day with almost endless rides on the fair at rhyl. the old adage is true, you do become wiser the older to are, thats not to say we can't dream is it? your advice is sound stuart, you should think before committing, will i fit in with the locals?,are there jobs to be found? is life after the holiday going to be ok? if your answer is yes then you will do ok, now it's time to do the real work, looking for a house, looking at the legals, asking for a good deal. i wish i could commit myself and i really say good luck to all those that have a go. thanks again for your time stuart.

I would love to have my own house in Spain.

I have 2 apartments in Costa Blanca, I rent one out long term and one short term. Spanish are heavy on tax demands. Buy cheap in best area you can afford. I have a brilliant solicitor in Spain which saved me a lot of time. I trust her to the extent that she has power of attorney. Would I do it again? Not sure really, had the properties about 3 years now. But what does that sort of money I paid get you in UK? Go over, stay in rental for a month and Take your time! Consider the costs, higher than here, such as electricity, water, food, taxes. 😉 Good luck, just remember the fabulous weather.

Older property V new property I agree with you! as a lot of the problems in the economy crash previously were caused by "off plan" developers.

my experience the worst living nightmare, remember buying in Spain it s a Russian roulette no matter what even solicitors and notarios are a disaster, Dont bring money into Spain

Always do your homework, research, find a lawyer to check the agreement before signing it.

I was thinking of buying a property simply for the pure reason that property in Sydney is ridiculously expensive. I’m glad I didn’t buy anything because my family want to have an “executive” say in what I do with my money over here. As well,I don’t work and have 0.00 friends here,I just don’t see how it could work out for me. And yes,those dodgy builders and lawyers. It’s a potential nightmare waiting to happen if you’re not careful. Property in Portugal must be cheap and foreign ownership doesn’t seem much of a hurdle from what you said. There might be a property boom there but in the Galician town of Carballo,there’s f#ck all construction works here(By the way,I don’t want it buy property here. My mum lives in Carballo). Anyway,good advice for the potential buyers out there. Keep up the good work.

Drive slowly past parked vehicles unless you don't mind a bloody body on your lap.

Buying a property in Spain “on plan “ is not for the faint hearted ,even the locals get ripped off . Second hand much easier as long as you work closely with a competent lawyer or “ gestor “ and that has NO connection with the builder / promoter / estate agent . Beware of the taxes you have to pay when buying and selling .

Hi if I buy a house in spain or portugal will I receive a visa or a special id or what.

Particular cases... It is necessary STATISTICS. Particular cases do not define an experience. It is not good information.

I just can’t understand that anyone would pay so much for a used holiday home, it’s not better than a used car. 20-30 years old and more. When there are brand new homes for almost the same price and with warranty ! Old things always need DIY and that is so expensive these days both material and labor.

Stuart buying off plan in Portugal may be better than Spain ... I don’t doubt that. It still needs great care. Here in Portugal people have bought off plan. The house was delivered as promised ... but the dream golf course was never built. The houses surrounding the unfinished golf course are worth a third of what people were expecting.

I agree so much please do not buy land or homes in Spain. We don't need anymore foreign. We are already invaded. Stay home stay safe. Stay in your home land