About Moving to Spain - Buying Property in Spain

Anyone thinking of moving to Spain has to think about where they are going to live. Are they going to rent a Spanish house, flat or villa, or are they going to invest in Spanish Property. When you ask expats how they went about moving to Spain they will give you different advice.

Some will tell you to begin by renting property in Spain. This makes sense if you are not sure about the area you have chosen to live in or just want more time to look around Spain before you make up your mind.

Renting a property in Spain is also an excellent idea if you haven't purchased your Spanish property yet. It gives you time to get to know some Spanish builders (most Spanish houses will need some form of renovation, unless you are prepared to pay a great deal of money for something that has been renovated just for sale).

Renting a property in Spain is also an excellent idea if you have purchased a Spanish property which is undergoing renovation. By living nearby you can keep an eye on the renovations and make sure that the work is being carried out to your satisfaction. You will also be on hand to deal with any little glitches in Spanish bureacracy will may well occur along the way.

However, the majority of people moving to Spain are still buying Spanish property as their first move. House prices in Spain are on the increase, but they are still much cheaper than in many other places in Europe, the UK or USA, so buying your Spanish house, flat or villa does make sense. So what are the best ways to do this?

Things to look for when buying property in Spain:

• Take your time looking at Spanish properties.
  

• If you are doing your search for Spanish property from outside Spain, one of the best places to look is on the internet. The website Kyero is very good. It has thousands of Spanish houses, flats and villas and many places to rent as well. You can also find many Spanish properties for sale or to rent at your local estate agents. Some even specialise in this. However, you will find inflated prices here. Nevertheless, if you prefer to have most of the viewing arrangements done for you and are prepared to pay a great deal more for this service, then this could be your best bet.

• Whichever way you chose to buy your Spanish property you will need to spend some time in Spain on the purchase. You will also most likely find that you need to spend more time looking at property than you had estimated. So set yourself some dates when you and your family can visit Spain for several days and then make your arrangements to view the properties you have chosen before you arrive there. Many estate agents - Spanish and foreign, will be able to make accomodation arrangements for you if you wish, but this of course will mean you are expected to spend your time viewing their properties. It is often better to make accomodation arrangements yourself.
  

• When you arrive in Spain you will most probably be shown a whole host of properties as well as the ones you expressed an interest in. Spanish estate agents often advertise a small number of their properties on the foreign market but have a lot more on their books. Some will be well worth viewing; others will not. I would say it is worth viewing all that is on offer, as the bargains have often not been advertised. So, take time to view as many different Spanish houses, flats and villas as you possibly can.

• Use a number of different Spanish estate agents. You may find that the Spanish villa you have set your heart on is up for sale with a number of different agents at different prices. You can strike up a reasonable bargain this way.

• Have a list ready of things the property must have. For instance, if you have pets and young children you will most likely want to have a garden where they can play. Many Spanish houses do not have this luxury, so if you need that outdoor space, you will either have to buy a Spanish house with a garden or have this as part of your renovation plans.

• Have a list ready of all the things you consider essential for the area you live in. For example, to live in rural Spain you will need a car, but you need to consider other members of your family who do not drive, so check out the local bus service. That Spanish mountain villa may seem perfect in its isolation, but what happens if there is no access to public transport? Would your whole family be able to cope with this?

• Do not be pushed into purchasing your Spanish property too quickly. The house may have been on the market for months or even years, but it is very unlikely the estate agent will tell you that. In most cases you can take a few days to make up your mind.

• Make sure you have your NIE numbers and your Spanish bank account before you even begin your search. In order to sign official property purchase forms you will need both.

• Get yourself a good lawyer, but look around first. There are many English speaking lawyers in Spain, but some will charge you the earth for their service. Ask around - perhaps on expat forums, there are many on the net. If you are already renting a Spanish property, ask your neighbours. It's surprising just how helpful Spanish people can be (especially if you try to communicate with them in Spanish). In my experience they are much less likely to rip you off than a local expat businessman, so it's definitely worth a shot.

• When you find the Spanish property you want to buy, make sure your lawyer checks out all the property details. He or she has to ensure that the vendor has the sole right to sell the property. You do not want to find yourself with his relatives on your doorstep demanding their Spanish home back.

• If you are buying a newly built or extended Spanish property, ensure that your lawyer checks that all building works have been carried out according to local and government regulations. New properties in particular have been cause for concern in Spain for the last couple of years. Many companies have built whole estates on land which was not regulated for building. People have lost their homes as a result. Your lawyer will know this. Make sure he does a thorough check and shows you the details. You do not want bulldozers to come along and ruin your Spanish life in the sun.

• If you are buying a Spanish property to renovate you will probably need to employ a builder or project manager. Check him or her out. Ask about him on expat forums. Ask him about work he has done in the area and go and talk to the house owners when he is not about. Ask the locals if they have seen him around the area. Spanish village gossip can tell you almost anything you need to know. If this seems unnecessary, let me tell you it is not. There are many builders and project managers in Spain (mainly from the UK) who are not legit and will rip you off. Personally, I would employ a Spaniard to do the work, they are usually more reliable and they know the local building regulations and materials. However, I realise this may be daunting if your Spanish isn't very good. Either way, please check them out, or else you could regret it.

If all of the above seems like a daunting task, but you still have your heart set on moving to Spain, then please don't let this put you off. Spain is a great place to live. Most people are very friendly and helpful here, but moving to a different country always has its risks. If you are well prepared, these can be diminished quite a lot.

I hope these have been some helpful tips about moving to Spain and if you have read this far then I guess you are keen on making the move. From my personal view it is well worth it, so I wish you luck in your move to Spain and great joy in your Spanish property. And for now, hasta luego.