I want to move to spain

Hi, my name is Charlotte, I'm in my 50. I live in the UK. Iam wanting to start a new life on my own and have been thinking about moving to Spain for a very long time. I do not drive so cannot live in the middle of no where. The point is I have no clue what part of Spain would be the best. I'm terrified but also very excited. 

Charlotte

You will probably get 100 different options from people on this site, as everyone has their own personal favourite place in Spain. Before you leap into the unknown I would recommend that you write down all the things that you would like when living in Spain. A few examples might be - Can you cope with the summer temperatures in the Southern Costas? Do you want to be in a tourist area where there are other ex pats? Obviously you need somewhere with good transport links? Coast or Inland? Do you speak any Spanish?

When you have your list and a better idea of what you want, if you ask the question again you may get some suitable answers.

Charlotte

That is a rather vague question.  Are you sure this is what you want to do?

Spain covers 195,364 mi²

With a population of 46.56 million (2016)

What about your medical care & needs.

Charlotte, sounds like Camposol, near Mazarron, Murcia might suit you well. Highly favoured  by Brits, so only English spoken, and with all facilities and 24/7 activities . Plus public transport and taxis  to local airport and nearby coastal resorts.

Many believe it to be heaven. Good luck and happy hunting.

House purchase insurance

Hello, bit of advise needed. Thought this might also help Charlotte.

We are also wanting to purchase a property in Costa Blanca while prices are low. We have read the usual horror stories’’ Illegal build, lost deposit, negligent lawyer, corrupt agent, etc.’’

Can you take out an insurance policy against these risks? Or is it that bad the insurance companies won’t touch it.

Frank

Charlotte: perhaps you could tell us why you're thinking about moving to Spain? Nothing too personal, but it might help give us more of an idea of what you're really looking for. Otherwise, you're just going to get replies like "my village is lovely", and this thread will quickly descend into  "my pueblo's better than your pueblo" type of bickering.

Frank: I've never heard of any kind of insurance that would cover all the (many) potential pitfalls of buying property in Spain, other than the age old one of "Research, research, research". Forums such as this are as good a place as any to start, but tread carfeully and take your time gathering as much information as you can. 

Good luck to you both!

A simple solution to your problem would be to rent first..try different areas and see ir they suit. Your needs good luck with the adventure.

Frank.

I have no doubt you will be able to get an insurance policy for all the pitfalls.  The problem is when you come to use it , it will be as big a scam as the problem you may have with the purchase.

like Robert says, research very thoroughly, ask for the credentials of the agent, ask for testimonials from prior customers and try to meet them and discuss their experience.   

When you find what you want then start with a reputable lawyer, who you can discuss your purchase with.

its an absolute minefield, so switch your inbuilt mine detector on and be very careful.  Start from the basis of believing nothing and build up your confidence from there.

The old saying 'once bitten twice shy' is different in Spain.   It's more like once bitten, try again in 15 years when you get out of debt.

Can you take out an insurance policy against these risks? / I have no doubt you will be able to get an insurance policy for all the pitfalls. 

I have never enquired but I would think it extremely unlikely. 

If it were possible I think it would have been mentioned over the years in EOS. But ask an insurance broker.

I tend to agree with John (from afar!).   In the UK you can take out indemnity policies for all sorts of issues, subsidence, 

lack of building control certification, etc.   

Over there I would doubt it would either be enforceable without legal representation for years, or be any good anyway.

‘’its an absolute minefield, so switch your inbuilt mine detector on and be very careful.  Start from the basis of believing nothing and build up your confidence from there.’’

Why does it have to be like that?. Why cannot Spain introduce legislation to rectify the whole property buying and selling procedures?.

Frank

Frank, having bought and sold several times in Spain, helped my son and a couple of friends, and known many others who have bought/sold,  I do not agree with your blanket statement.  Of course one needs to take care but that applies everywhere, including UK.

One of the biggest 'minefields' is to make assumption based on how it is in UK. Whilst there are similarities, there are also big differences.   So posts which are based on how things are in UK, and then a guess that they might be the same here are my opinion misleading and can be dangerous for those who come here to see what happens in SPAIN (EOS) and not what happens in UK

"Why does it have to be like that?"

It doesn't, but it is, and it's not likely to change significantly for a very long time if ever, so get used to it.

John, it wasn't Frank's statement, it was Brian's, but either way I cannot disagree with the sentiment. Of course one needs to take care everywhere, but it's fair to say there are additional risks in Spain that should not exist, and that people coming from different cultures may simply not imagine could exist. Yes, comparing Spain (or anywhere else) to the UK is risky, but nevertheless important in order to understand the differences. For example, when buying in the UK it is generally safe to assume your lawyer knows what they're doing and will carry out all the necessary checks to protect you, including stuff you don't even know about. In Spain you must assume your lawyer will answer any questions you ask and do anything you ask him to - but he will not tell you what questions you should be asking or offer to do anything you haven't specifically asked him to do. Hence, you really do need to educate yourself as much as possible beforehand.

Hello John

It was not my statement, but Brian’s the chartered surveyors’ statement.

You could well be correct that a property purchase is in fact risk free and all these stories of illegal build, bulldozers, estate agents running off with deposits, worthless bank guarantees, are all a myth. Maybe it’s all just fake news.

Frank

No frank, it's not, I just today had news my court case is now put back another 6 weeks for my own property issues.

it was originally scheduled for 2 Feb but 'missing papers,, then for June 2nd but 'agenda changes', now it's July 10.   Have I got any faith in it taking place then?    I think not. 

Believe nothing, question everything, be very very careful.  

Oh Brian that sounds bad. How long has this been going on? Are you paying expensive legal fees to get your own money back that you were swindled out of?. So much for risk free, consumer protected property buying.

Yes paying large fees for the second time, originally bought in 2005, still no money back.

And. hey. we were protected with bank guarantees.  Be very very careful and make sure everything is right.

12 Years, hard to believe. Maybe they are just hoping you drop dead?.  Bet the lawyers want their money up front.

Bank guarantee? So who’s pocket is the money in?. Not yours of course.

Please explain that Mr John.

‘’Be very very careful and make sure everything is right’’

How, I am just a simple plumber not a property barrister? Normally in the UK I would engage a solicitor and use a bank, seems not so in Spain.

Frank

Most people who lost money appear to have bought into pen and ink drawings of urbanisations via UK property expos.  15 years ago Spanish town halls weren't made aware of any plans until developers had started the build, assuming the 3 month planning rule after which time lack of notification,  or lots of back handlers, was seen as approval.

Think one is safe to say this Spanish way of doing business has now ceased.

Plenty of evidence via www now as to where and what  urbanisation's in Spain one should avoid and plenty of assistance on how to check the legalitity of an individual property.

Spanish lawyers, unlike in UK, do NOT specialise. Especially not in property law. Plus never assume any government employee is going to pass on knowledge unless the right question is asked. And even then double check.

Yes it would be much easier for the system if I dropped dead.  

the lawyer has been fair enough, they told me the fees upfront and we agreed stage payments, we both stayed true to that contract, no complaints.  

The problem is the timescales of the legal process and the courts.   I can't say any other than it's a complete farce, for instance the latest information I have is that when a judgment is made concerning paying back funds to a plaintiff, it can take 3 to 8 months to action.  I mean 3 to 8 months?   What's the world we are living in here, back to the future???

its just disappointment on disappointment with the way you are treated.   Take my advice, trust nobody, get a lawyer and only half trust them.   If you still want to move to Spain, I'm sure you will enjoy it if you have not been scammed along the way.