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Your Spanish Property Questions Answered

Hola! I represent Livingstone Estates, an estate agency based in Estepona on the Costa del Sol. I have started this blog to help people out with any real estate questions they may have. The idea is to answer questions here so that others can benefit from our advice. So if you have any questions that you need answering please fire away.

ITV - Spain, Paradise Lost? NOT!
Friday, June 19, 2009 @ 7:54 PM

As with any rogue agents in any country around the world, dreams will be shattered and property buyers cheated out of their savings by ‘too good to be true’ sales pitches!  If it sounds too good to be true, then we all know – it usually is!  And still, new twists and angles are found to repackage a format so that again and again property buyers are ‘trapped’ into a purchase which turns a dream into a nightmare!  Worldwide!!

 
As within any country during this worldwide economic recession, the property market has suffered substantial losses in value – including the UK!  This is not a phenomena solely reserved for the Spanish property market!
 
As with any serious real estate broker worldwide, procedures, moral ethics, business values and credibility continue to rank highest in the list of priorities.  There is no exception to that rule within Spain!  
 
Having said all that, personal experience with a serious real estate broker is the only way to prove to the buyer that not ALL aspects revolving around the property market within Spain are doom and gloom!  Take Livingstone Estates for example!  
 
We give you the opportunity to ‘Try it before You Buy it!’  We literally invite you to try us!  Try out a property within the scheme, for one full week, and during that week, try and test the credibility of Livingstone Estates!  If you decide to proceed with purchasing the property, we will refund you the full rental fee for that week!  If not, perhaps you would like to try another property – until you find what is right for you!
 
History proves that, also in Spain, serious business ventures are there long term!  Livingstone Estates belongs to a group of companies established in Spain since 1996!
 
Yes there will always be the odd black sheep in any business sector; sharks do not just swim and hunt in the vast oceans of this world, and as unfortunate and unacceptable as this may be, it is nothing short of the truth!  Livingstone Estates, however, does not fall into this category and we would like to give you the opportunity to experience that for yourself!  
 
Still looking for a dream home?  Solid investment opportunity?  No nonsense straight forward talk, no corporate jargon, as much legally backed up advice as you need?  Do not let the handful of black sheep or sharks stop you from pursuing what could be the best decision you ever made!!  However, make use of the experiences of others and turn them around to work in your favor!   
 
It’s a buyer’s market right now!  There has never been a better climate to get value for money as the present day!  
 
1.000.000 British have made Spain their home!  That’s British expats ONLY!   The rest of Europe is widely represented in vast numbers as well!  Based on our experience, proportionally only a few have been disappointed!  When it comes to Spain, specifically the Costa del Sol; the numbers speak for themselves!  The direct flights are not empty; on the contrary, more destinations are being added to and from Málaga airport!  Substantial improvement / expansion construction works on airports, countrywide high speed train networks, roads and general infrastructure are being carried out at present day in order to accommodate the continuous growing number of visitors and expats coming to Spain!
 
For a quick glance into the world of Livingstone Estates, we invite you to see how we operate!  Log on to www.livingstone-estates.com and watch us at work via live web cam!  Call us at +34 902 424 484 and when you do, you can see our receptionist actually picking up the telephone and speak to you!  Call us, and ask the receptionist to look into the office camera and wave, this way you will also know who you are talking to!  
 
Livingstone Estates - not just an advertising space in a magazine but a face you can see and relate to - WORLDWIDE!  
 
Try us!  The best time is now!
 


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11 Comments


John said:
Saturday, June 20, 2009 @ 1:17 AM

I speak from bitter experience following ten years of residence and property ownership in Spain. Stay in the UK, try anywhere, but don't buy in Spain. The whole process of buying then selling is a nightmare and I am so glad to be away from it.


concerned said:
Saturday, June 20, 2009 @ 12:04 PM

may i ask what qualifications you have regarding the property industry ?
as we all know estate agency is self regulating , ie no regulation !!
how can you be experts in worldwide property without local knowledge of that country .
your post appears to be just another desperate agent trying to drum up business through short term rentals !!


joe said:
Saturday, June 20, 2009 @ 8:46 PM

stick your spanish properties right where the sun doesnt shine i was sold this utopian idea 4 years ago by parador properties found out today the solicitors holding my money have gone into administration hope they all go to jail a bunch of thieves


Jules said:
Sunday, June 21, 2009 @ 2:45 PM

How do I get my deposit back from rip off agent Palmera Properties or the so called builder Inroal - its been over four year. I have 33 374 euros tied up on a development that it would seem is never going to be built, endless request for refunds get nowhere. The spanish system is slow and spanish solicitors want upfront cash for doing very little. I need some advice on how to handle this spanish process and those spanish solicitors. Any advice


Jules said:
Sunday, June 21, 2009 @ 2:45 PM

How do I get my deposit back from rip off agent Palmera Properties or the so called builder Inroal - its been over four year. I have 33 374 euros tied up on a development that it would seem is never going to be built, endless request for refunds get nowhere. The spanish system is slow and spanish solicitors want upfront cash for doing very little. I need some advice on how to handle this spanish process and those spanish solicitors. Any advice


Jules said:
Sunday, June 21, 2009 @ 2:46 PM

How do I get my deposit back from rip off agent Palmera Properties or the so called builder Inroal - its been over four year. I have 33 374 euros tied up on a development that it would seem is never going to be built, endless request for refunds get nowhere. The spanish system is slow and spanish solicitors want upfront cash for doing very little. I need some advice on how to handle this spanish process and those spanish solicitors. Any advice


Annie said:
Monday, June 22, 2009 @ 5:34 PM

We bought in Spain 9 years ago, hassle free private purchase, love Spain and the Spanish people. Not tried selling as we do not intend to do so in the near future. Not all stories are full of horrors! We lived there for a short time, but due to family ties returned to the UK, but still own our home in Spain and visit frequently. For all those out there with bad stories I feel for you and I am sure the "good times" will return. We are in it for the long term, not to make a "quick buck"


Stewart said:
Wednesday, June 24, 2009 @ 3:32 PM

The ITV program has raised some more eyebrows, and buyers still need to be reminded that the problems of buying property in Spain is a very risky business, especially off plan. Unfinished or unbuilt property is still being advertised on websites aimed at the English speaking market where the developer/ constructors have gone into administration, because of cash flow problems... In the case of Santa Anna del Monte, just outside the town of Jumilla in inland Murcia, the macro urbanisation has neither full authorisation or a future supply of water, which is not so good for a golf resort. All work has stopped on the project. And yet 10s, if not hundreds, of websites are still promoting the sale of houses. Luckily the web shows the other side, where unfortunate buyers are fighting to get their deposits back, and that includes those with bank 'guarantees'! So would you trust these agents who are still promoting these properties?


Charles said:
Wednesday, June 24, 2009 @ 4:55 PM

I agree with Stewart. I suggest anyone who contemplates buying in Spain first read the most recent report on property rights, land law, environmental and related abuses that was overwhelmingly adopted by the EU Parliament in March this year. And that was the third such report! Besides this there are equally strong reports from Greenpeace, Transparency International, the United Nations' Special rapporteur on housing, etc. These , or links to them are on www.abusos-no.org along with commentary on the current situation. It is no surprise that so far it has not been possible to get title insurance in Spain unlike other countries that thrive on real estate rackets of one form or another. One insurance broker replied that with the renown land grabs, it would be like issuing a policy on a burning house!


Mark said:
Sunday, November 1, 2009 @ 10:37 AM

Bought 11 units through crooks at Palmera and others. Spent money with lawyers to run case and now no assets or money to sieze. If this post stops one person buying in Spain then I am pleased. Be warned about the crooks (both lawyers, developers, agents) and the slow Spain legal system that does not protect the purchaser even in the case of embezzlement! I am now without a pension.
I understand that there may well be trustworthy individuals out there but the minority spoil it for the majority. Based on my experiences - do not buy in Spain its full of dodgy secondhand car salesmen and marketeers!


john hughes said:
Thursday, October 6, 2011 @ 3:09 PM

My lawyers have exclusive knowledge newly obtained from government law to force courts to make banks repay deposits with interest.


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