Calling all Condado owners!!

Hi, Can ye help me out please? We will be viewing at the end of October and I believe the apartment we will see is on Naranjos. Its a 2 bed 1st floor with roof terrace. What opinions have ye on Naranjos? The one we are looking at is 508. How realistic is a 110% mortgage? The agent of course says it should be possible. The property is 7 years old and has never been occuppied as its a bank repo, has anyone experienced problems with wiring, plumbing etc with a property that has never been used so standing there for a long time? I have noticed that some agents require a 6,000 reservation deposit and others only a 3,000 reservation deposit, how come there's such a big variation in deposits? Thanks for any help ye can give me.

We are also looking on Terrazas btw but the large roof terrace on Condado is very attractive.

Sungoddess

Hi

i purchased on Isla this year and firstly the mortgage you will get will be around a 100% this doesent include the initial costs of around 12% I used Andy in Condado invest and it all went smoothly there was no lights so I got Andy the electrician to fit the lights he was cheap and did a great job there is a network of people on site who do a great job. 

Kevin 

Hi Beecherk, thanks for replying!

I was thinking that after we purchase (if we do), we probably couldn't stay in our apartment the first time we are out because none of the "odd-jobs will have been done. Can you tell me what you did in this regard? How would I get numbers and contact details for tradesmen and handymen?

TIA

Hi 

if you go on Condado home improvements website. You will have a number of English speaking tradesmen on there I have used. 

Andy the electrician you have to book him in advance he is busy.

rob Leverton did my locks and some improvements to my wardrobes,

I purchased my apartment through Condado invest Andy and his team are onsite and provide a great service and they recommended sally at pals solicitors who speaks English and made the whole process easy. 

and I use Caroline and Neil for my key holding thy are Exellent 

all of these are trustworthy and do a good job. Hope this helps.there are plenty of apartments on site who do weekly rates. 

Kevin

Thanks for all the help Beecherk. If our mortgage comes through we will be buying through Quality Homes, Daniel is the guy we are dealing with there. He has recommended lawyers to us and we are in touch with them. Is it necessary to have keyholders do you think, if we weren't going to rent it out initially? I am clueless about everything to do with going about this so thanks for any help you give me.

Sungoddess

Hi 

key holders are personal choice but Caroline goes in weekly and sends us a private message on facebook with pictures that show the apartment is fine she also checks the water and electricity is off. It's really piece of mind as we are back in the uk.

kevin

Hi just been browsing the forums and wondered if you have ever been to a small village called Balsicas ( it has everyting in it and is only a 10 minute drive to san javier / alcazares. Its just that a friend has told me last week that he is going to sell his 3 storey town house that has a private roof terrace. If you are interested then get in touch with me and I will pass his details on to you, best regards Paul.

Hi Paul,

Thanks for contacting me. We are actually thinking of putting a deposit on an apartment on Condado de Alhama and are in the process of doing that at the moment. Thanks anyway for the heads up on your friend's place though.

Sungoddess

There's some good recommendations - Andy is brilliant.

The only one I would question is PALS solicitors.  I used them a few years ago and they made an omission that cost me money - I only found out several years after we completed.  Suing a solicitor in Spain is not easy, so hire one who is a bit more thorough, even then you need to be on full alert and ask questions.

Hi acer 

i had a different experience they have been great sorry to hear you had problems.

kevin

Hi Kevin,

Thanks for yours - I would just make the point that with solicitors, often you don't really know if they've done a good job or not until later, possibly when you come to sell.  

I recall thinking when we bought the house it all seemed too simple, but it turned out they had taken short cuts.  I alway had the feeling with PALS that they were keeener in keeping the vendor happy, rather than guarding my interests.

When their omission came to light their attitude was very unprofessional - they simply didn't want to know.  That's why I had to comment when I saw them being recommended - it still grates a bit.

We used Solicitors provided by our agent Daniel and cannot fault the service, everything was explained in detail, very pleased. 

We use Military Breaks Plus as our keyholders, excellent service and a great team 

Good luck with your purchase 

Hi Kaz110578,

Can you tell me were yo happy with the wording of the power of attorney? I received the draft version of it a few days ago and I asked my solicitor here at home to have a look at it just to make sure the wording was ok. Our solicitor said that the wording was far to open as it included provision for them to rent it out and collect rent etc without our say so. It also included provision for them to sell the apartment. Our solicitor said that the POA's in Spain are unecessarily open and to be very careful. Did you have any issue about this? Maybe I'm being too cautiouus but I have asked them to take out the clause about rental and selling. 

In relation to key holding, I know of Sparkle property services, how does Military Breaks compare price wise. I would be looking for someone to hold a key so that workmen/tradespeople could gain access to carry out work/small jobs in the apartment so that it could be ready for us in advance of us coming over for the 1st time. I'm thinking Air con installation, fitting lights, servicing the boiler etc.

Thanks for the advice.

Sungoddess if you arent renting out you dont need an expensive keyholder.

We pay 100 euros a year for checks to aprtment.

You can get all the jobs done by recommendation, the lights are a doddle to do, air con more difficult depending on how good the pre-installation is.

If you want any more advice many will give it, PM if you require any further.

Hi, just found this forum and thought I'd reply.

My wife and I have had an offer accepted on N504, through the Daniel and hopeful everything goes through soon

Simon & Kate

Hi Simon & Kate,

Congratulations on your offer acceptance!! It's a very exciting time isn't it? We have put a deposit on N508 so we could be neighbours soon! We are just waiting to hear from the bank about our mortgage. Fingers crossed. I would love to hear how you get on with your new apartment. Is the apartment brand new or previously occupied? Just wondering if you will need to do the setting up bits and pieces like light fittings and air con like us.

Sungoddess

Hi sungoddess 

we have a key holder and she is cheap and each week she sends us pictures in private on facebook so we know everything is fine and she turns on the electricity and water the day before we arrive so my beers are cold and the water is hot. She will also get you shopping if you require. 

When we placed the deposit I found the bank was a bit slow so i dropped in and she authorised the mortgage there and then. Any bank transfers you need to keep a copy off as the solicitor will ask you for a copy and the expenses to set up the apartment worked out at 12%. 

When we purchased the apartment we bought all our lights from ikea. I also purchased a bed Sofia and TV unit from ikea we got the lights fitted. And the electrician found the wires in the fuse board were loose. The first day I went to the apartment I didn't know that the wires and the water had been switched on. So be carefull. 

Once you have electrics you can go to millinium Levante they are in al kasar on the right hand side and they will get your wi-fi and TV channels connected. 

Hope this helps.

kevin

Hi 

we just bought n506. So we should see you out there some time. We went to the electrical shop in Murcia and fitted the lights myself,also the toilet was leaking but all and all not to bad for a property that has been standing for 9 years 

Hi Mark, we have completed on n504 and have the keys, so we are neighbours!

Hi,

I have read this forum for some time without registering. However, today I decided it was about time I did!

We bought on CDA 12-18 months ago. Whilst somewhat apprehensive at the time, I can honestly say it is one of the best things we have ever done. We bought from Daniel at Quality Homes and instructed their recommended solicitors MMB Solicitors in Mazarron. I found both to be thoroughly professional.

CDA is a fantastic place, you'll love it!

Good luck.