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Hi Kev,

It really does sound like you are getting stressed, I hope that is not the case as you have purchased a property on what I believe will be the finest and most exclusive golf resort in Spain, possibly Europe.

There are such huge names associated with Calidona, like De Vere and the PGA and they really do bring an awful lot of credibility to the project.

The water shortage you refer to incidentally is more a political problem that an enviromental one, I have lived in Spain for over 3 years and owned property here for ovcer 6 years and I have never known a water shortage, I used to experience them all the time back home in the UK.

The building work is coming on leaps and bounds at Corvera and I think you will see a lot of progress from now on and as for the building licences, this is Spain, they never would have started if they were not confident of getting them issued, you should not worry about the 18 months either, it is simply nothing for us buyers to be concerned about.

It is nice and refreshing toi read somebody saying something nice about MRI however, that has to be a first, you should copnsider changing your lawyer, you probably have only paid 50% of the fees, I think your lawyer is probably Martinez Echavarria, if that is the case, they normally charge 1 and a quarter % of the purchase price, you can get a new and efficient lawyer for less than you owe as the second payment.

As I said previously, you would not get your bank guarantee if all was not above board.

Happy new year to all on this forum and let´s hope all will be resolved early in the new year.

Kind regards,

Marvin3004

I would agree with Kev2. In reply to some of the comments below:

1) I would disagree that water shortage is not a problem in Spain - my understanding is that more and more Spanish developments/councils have had to consider this major problem. I have lived in the UK for a long time and have never had a water shortage, although during some hot summer months have had hosepipe bans.

2) It is not difficult for MRI to get information from Calidonia - but this is a minor issue for them. Wait until there is a major problem - then they very conveniently wash their hands of the issue. One of the senior MRI regional managers quoted 'solicitor client confidentiality' - whatever the hell that means, considering I am the client and gave permission for MRI to get involved and sort things out. I have so far forked out £3000.00 extra to change lawyers (Not for Corvera) and am in the process of taking an MRI recommended solicitor to court for malpractice. This solicitor told me blatant lies and skewed the contract in favor of a developer. When I found out (complicated story) and changed solicitors, we discovered that my file was almost non-existent. All correspondence had mysteriously vanished from the file. The solicitor then claimed that her computer had crashed and she had lost all computer records.To add insult to injury, the solicitor insisted that I sign a legal document before releasing the file to state that I could not sue her. Luckily, higher legal authorities have said that this document is not valid. Anyone who thinks that it is like the UK where there is protection for customers is mistaken. When things go wrong the legal system is a very drawn out and complicated by distance as well as language barriers.

3) Unfortunately, I also hired the MRi recommended solicitor for Corvera. In case you are wondering as to how stupid I can be, this was before the other fiasco mentioned in (2). They have so far taken 100% of all fees, not 50%. I believe Spanish law states that they have to return the 50% to me if I change solicitors, but let's see what happens. My experience is similar to Kev2 - I am definitely now changing before the issues of delays, completion and snagging lists become more important.

4) With Corvera my suspicion is that it suits Calidonia to have a delay and to get as much work done as possible before the 18 month clause kicks in.

Ash

Ash, in response and not to be too pedantic, the hose pipe bans you have experienced in the UK, was as a result of a water shortage, I have never had a hose pipe ban in Spain.

Of couse the local authorities have to be careful with all the new developments currently under construction, it is their direct responsibility to make sure there is enough water to go around, just like they must make sure there are enough doctors, hospitals, proper infrastrucuture, etc.

 

I have to say Calidona are not doing themselves in favours from a communications perspective. It should be very straight forward to compile an email list of all purchasers and send a brief update every few weeks. I am surprised and disappointed they do not do this as I'm sure the sales team at Corvera are not seeing customers constantly and could take a few minutes out to communicate with us.

As an example of their missing opportunities to reassure us I know, as I saw them when I was out in Spain early in December, they have some more aerial shots of the site which they were going to put on the web site 'later that week'. They have still to do so.

I genuinely believe that for the amount of work going on the building license issue will not be a problem and I think a lot of the anxiety would be eased by Calidona being more proactive with communicating with their customers.

Chris

Hi Marvin & All

You're right about me being a little stressed. when I went into this venture, I was a novice as far as off plan poperties were concerned, and I readily admit to not doing nearly enough research at the time. I got carried away with the MRI spiel at the time, ' properties will go up 20% per annum etc, silly me. If I knew a fraction of what I now Know, I would have left foreign off plan properties well alone, but after saying that If I had to choose a development  I'm glad I chose the one I did, Corvera, as it seems to tick all the boxes.

The problem is that our future investment (which is a large chunk of everything I have) appears to be in the hands of theTown hall and Calidona. And it appears that the people at the local town hall are not competent enough to schedule a meeting for this building licence ( ie a specific date and let Calidona know about it, and through them us), and give valid reasons for the delay. And then you have Calidona who do not appear to have the common sense to keep us well informed and to be seen to be doing everything that they can.

I take your point on water shortages and there has not been a shortage in the area, but past experience is no guaranteee as to what will happen in the future. Basically there appears to be  a large increase in demand comming up, while there appears to be  no corresponding increase in supply (or at least I am not aware of any). The development is basically in a desert  ( I read on another message board that it was drier than the Sahara in the past two years) and there are a lot of other developments in the area, Corvera itself covers approx 500 acres and there are 1,800 apartments and this is one of 36 current golf developments in the area, and there are many other developments. Although I take your point that it may well not be a significant problem for the forseeable future (although I would not take it for granted).

By the way you were right about my solicitor and I may well take up your advice about changing them, I apologise if I appear a little negative but its more the lack of information which is causing me to become impatient, if there is a genuine delay at the Town Hall can they not give a reason for it. If the licence has been given which appears to be the case (again), then great, but if for some reason wer'e still waiting for it  'any day now' say in March, then we should get together and see if we can do something to help get things moving.

Happy New Year to all and I'm sure we will all be a lot happier about the development by the end of it.

kev

JUST BACK FROM SITE AND CAN CONFIRM THINGS ARE HAPPENING VERY QUICKLY NOW. SEE LATEST PHOTOS

CORVERA TOWN ALSO VERY BUSY AS THERE ARE OVER 350 PEOPLE WORKING ON THE SITE  NOW AND OVER 20 CRANES.

CONFIDENT ABOUT CORVERA  ,

HOPE THIS INFO HELPS 

Hi all

Thanks for the info Investor, it certainly does sound like things are happening, but I would feel better when it has been stated in writing that the licence has been granted ( and this checked by the legal people).

I sent this email to Rosa at Corvera

I  have purchased 2 apartments at Corvera, could you tell if there have been any developments at Corvera with regard to the granting of licences.

and today received this reply

Rosa Barreiro
Coordinadora de Ventas / Sales Coordinator

I did reply to her to let her know that I could not find anything on the website that relates to the latest on the licence. so looking on the website could not answer my question. This is my fourth email to her in 2 years, clearly too many.

Again the reply could be a little clearer, I assume that everything being finalised in mid January means that they should get the signatures for the phase 1 & 2 licence (and I would have thought it also relates to the environmental impact report). So again there is yet another date  for the expected  granting of the licence (or signatures), now should be in mid January, remember wev'e already had previous dates which have included, April, June, September,October, November and December. She also did not specifically say that they are proceeding with building phase 1 & 2, but if they have been building phase 1 & 2 ( or have they?), does anyone know if it is this normal and perfectly OK, to proceed building when everything has not been finalised,  especially when the final licence date is not very specific (should be finalised in mid Jan). She also did not specifically say that the licence had been basically granted and were just awaiting the 'final sigtnatures'.

 

 

Personally from the photographs I have seen, it is not clear that there has been any above ground development ( ie building on phase 1 & 2 ,despite the shapes of some of the apartments being seen on the ground), I suspect that they are making a final push on the groundworks in expectation of the licence ( to help them ensure that they build within the 18month limit), I also suspect that they will not proceed too far with the build until everything is finalised, hopefully they will be right with their latest estimated date, but as their previous half a dozen or so estimates have been wrong, I would not be overly confident.

 

Again I may be coming across as negative, but I feel there are plenty of people putting across the positive side  (and I'm glad there are) but I feel the less positive side should also be stated to get a reasonable balance.

kev

This message was last edited by kev2 on 12/31/2007.

This message was last edited by kev2 on 12/31/2007.

Hi all,popped into Corvera on Sat just gone the 5th and was told final license promised on Jan 15 (think heard that one b4) however the amount of activity was indicative of serious development and was told should be ready for completion on phase 1 and 2 spring 2009.Am a bit sceptical on that one but never the less its all go from what I saw.Hope this helps any one who may be a little worried nothing was going to happen after such a long delay.

     Regards Trev

thanks for the update! that is good to know.

Hi all

Had a phone call today from Abi in Corvera. She said that they had started and were "above ground" not sure how true it is but it sounds promising at last

Sean

Hi Curtis its true.

  Regards Trev

Hi All

I emailed Pablo for an update yesterday as I am planning to visit in April. He wrote back advising that above ground works have started, that the golf course is also due to be started imminently, as was work on the new airport which would definitely be an international one due to be completed by 2010. He also advised that  new photos will be put on the website in a few weeks time.

I was also advised that there will be an after-sales department established at some point. Once this has been set up, catalogues will be made available with all additional extras available for purchase such as air conditioning, jacuzzis, white goods and furniture etc.

Mandy

 

hi all

according to my contract it clearly states that section 8 (commencement of the works and selection of materials) the vendor shall notify the purchaser of the commencement of the works,by telegram,registered mail or any other means ensuring receipt by the addresse.

the above is in there contract and as ive yet to recieve notification i still am a disbeliever and wonder why im still waiting like the rest of you for this spanish nightmare to begin,my concern now is what standard of work will be used to compleat phase 1&2 in the time frame they have set

i am amazed how patient and calm you all appear to be in england if a builder turns up a day late we want to hang them up by there short and curlies and thats before we have paid them.

bored

Thanks bored about the interesting point about the notification, according to a previous message from mandy (Coxa), Pablo has stated that work has commenced, therefore we should have been notified or should shortly be notified, if not why not?. Although I noticed that  the contract does not  state how quickly we should be notified. I would also be concerned if work continues for any length of time without the full granting of the licence ( assuming it has begun in earnest).  

I feel that a lot of patience is required when you are buying off plan as significant delays are common place, although that patience can not be without limit and that the limit with this development must be quickly approaching. I feel that  if the 'official' start is delayed ( ie the full phase 1 & 2 licence being granted) beyond the end of this month, I'm sure this patience will be at an end. If this does happen I personally feel that we should find out what our options are, and make some concerted effort to try to move things along. Hopefully this will not be neccessary and we'll be looking forward to the completion of a top class development.

kev

This message was last edited by kev2 on 1/10/2008.

This message was last edited by kev2 on 1/10/2008.

Hi BORED!

I don't suppose you're the ex-leader of "The Spanish Inquisition" are you ? My eyes are watering at the thought of fitting any windows for you! LoL!

I have been to Corvera today, had a good look around and had a good chat with the staff up there.

There is a massive amount of work underway, I counted about 35 cranes, there could be more, loads of work going on all over the development, loads of the structures are well above ground and again, all over the development, there are roads in, areas cleared for more imminent construction.

Got to say, was a bit excited at the sheer volume of work having been done and what is currently happening, all very positive.

Hope this helps folks.

Hi Marvin & all

Sounds good but when you were having a chat with the staff did they mention the date they were expecting the licences to be finalised ( is it mid January as previously stated?), I would imagine it would have to be very soon as work on phase 1 & 2 appears to be clearly on  its  way.

kev

Hi Kev,

Did´nt ask about the licences, we know as much as the staff, I think they are as much in the dark as we are regarding the licences and obviously they wish they did´nt have to face us all the time, I do feel a bit sorry for them, but I can not stress enough, I was very, very encouraged with the sheer volume of work, there really is an enormous amount of work going on, it really is quite positive news, I think so anyway.

Hi Marvin,

Thanks for the update - apart from the continuing lack of building licenses it sounds very promising. We visited the site early December and the number of cranes were very similar but we found it very difficult to see any above the ground building work. How visible was the structural work above ground level from the office as it might give a slight indication of how much progress has been made in the month since we were there.

Cheers
Chris

Hi Chris,

I would say there are a huge amount of these properties and I do mean lots and lots up to at least first floor and maybe higher, it is going on all over the resort, there really is massive construction on the go.

I may sound excited, because I am, it all looks great, it is now a proper construction site with a real sense of urgency, looks great.