Moving to Spain

Most people moving to Spain would think that it in itself would be a big enough challenge.  You need to learn the lingo, way things are done, and find a place to live.  And forget about the Quixote level challenge of battling the bureaucracy.  Build a house?  Are you nuts!

My wife and I originally intended to purchase a casa soon after our arrival in Spain. However, after spending a few months beating the bushes and viewing what was on the market we decided to buy land and build a new home. We had performed considerable research and weighed the pros and cons.  We thought we were reasonably well prepared.  Ignorance is bliss isn’t it.

On the plus side was a house built in a location we liked and the design would be of our choice.  The negative was it would be fourteen to twenty-four months before move in allowing for land purchase, and construction.

When you seek to acquire real estate, be it land, apartment or house in Spain it is similar to tiptoeing through a mine field.  With luck you will cross the terrain without so much as a hitch.  But put your foot down wrong and things can blow-up in your face.  This is because there are not the checks and balances you may be accustomed to in other parts of the world.  It is more a buyer beware situation. 

Understandably, with buying an existing place the whole process from start to finish normally takes but a few months.  But marching down the new build path is both more complicated and lengthy.  You will need to buy the land, hire an architect, and find a builder to turn the pencil drawings into bricks and mortar.  There are some shortcuts you can take to speedup the process, but they may also come at a cost.

The whole process of building a house in Spain is far too involved to explain here but I will mention a few key points.

• Purchasing real estate – MLS (multiple listing services) do not exist here like in the States so you may need to pound the pavement more.  Also, an attorney will be needed to complete the paperwork.  One may be offered to you by the real estate company but pay the money and get your own recommended independent legal eagle.
• Selecting an architect – You want one who can listen to what you want and then convert these ideas to paper.  This person should also be familiar with ins and outs of working with the local building department.
• Choosing a builder – You need to be very careful when making this choice.  There are a number, both big as well as small, who understand foreign clients are unfamiliar with the lay of the land.  They figure the ignorance of language + building methods + customs = sucker.  Are there competent contractors out there?  Of course.  You just need one who is reputable and will keep your best interests in mind.

For a detailed description of building a house in Spain visit: www.spaincallsme.com/spainsitewbook/pages/thehouse.htm.