before you buy
Preparation is key when it comes to buying a new home.
If you have a good enough knowledge of the country via friends who have relocated, TV programmes or magazines etc, you will probably have a fairly good idea about where you would like to start looking.
You first need to think about whether you would like to be within a city, on the coast or in a residential area, many of which have easy access to city centres.
Do you want to take on the challenge of living in an entirely new culture where almost no-one speaks your language or would you prefer having other overseas residents nearby?
Do you want some land to enjoy a more rural lifestyle? If so, are you ready for those sometimes tough challenges (rural Spain has only 95 people per square kilometre so life inland can be very isolating)?
If you are buying in retirement, do you have a plan for when you become less agile? How do you cope with extreme heat – the summers in Spain can exceed 40 degrees centigrade during July and August?
Do you want to learn Spanish?
Will you spend long enough in Spain to maintain your own garden and pool?
Will you want to or need to rent out the property?
One of the first mistakes many people make after having decided to buy a property in Spain is not having researched the costs involved beforehand. We suggest adding between 10% and 13% onto the purchase price to include taxes, notary fees, solicitors fees, survey costs plus any miscellaneous costs such as translations.
If you are taking out a mortgage on a property, it is essential that you do your research beforehand. The mortgage market is a competitive one and you may need advise on whether a fixed or variable rate is preferable, about set up charges and break clauses etc.
It goes without saying (but we will say it anyway!) that it is essential to find a real estate agency that has an excellent reputation.
There are several ways of doing this. Firstly take a look at their track record, read their social media and google reviews and, if you can, speak to anyone who has used the agency to get their opinion.
A local, trained and experienced agent should be every home buyer’s best friend and don’t forget that having an agent that not only speaks English but Spanish too is a plus, so check that out too!
We will be able to offer guidance on all aspects of the area in which you want to buy, the property itself and of course the buying processes. We will stay in touch and help buyers long after the sale – this is a specialised market where recommendation via word of mouth goes a long way!
For general information or inquiries about buying property on the Costa del Sol or anywhere in Andalucia, please contact Harry: Phone (UK): +44 739 44444 80 / Email: costadelsolpropertysales@gmail.com
If you have a good enough knowledge of the country via friends who have relocated, TV programmes or magazines etc, you will probably have a fairly good idea about where you would like to start looking.
You first need to think about whether you would like to be within a city, on the coast or in a residential area, many of which have easy access to city centres.
Do you want to take on the challenge of living in an entirely new culture where almost no-one speaks your language or would you prefer having other overseas residents nearby?
Do you want some land to enjoy a more rural lifestyle? If so, are you ready for those sometimes tough challenges (rural Spain has only 95 people per square kilometre so life inland can be very isolating)?
If you are buying in retirement, do you have a plan for when you become less agile? How do you cope with extreme heat – the summers in Spain can exceed 40 degrees centigrade during July and August?
Do you want to learn Spanish?
Will you spend long enough in Spain to maintain your own garden and pool?
Will you want to or need to rent out the property?
One of the first mistakes many people make after having decided to buy a property in Spain is not having researched the costs involved beforehand. We suggest adding between 10% and 13% onto the purchase price to include taxes, notary fees, solicitors fees, survey costs plus any miscellaneous costs such as translations.
If you are taking out a mortgage on a property, it is essential that you do your research beforehand. The mortgage market is a competitive one and you may need advise on whether a fixed or variable rate is preferable, about set up charges and break clauses etc.
It goes without saying (but we will say it anyway!) that it is essential to find a real estate agency that has an excellent reputation.
There are several ways of doing this. Firstly take a look at their track record, read their social media and google reviews and, if you can, speak to anyone who has used the agency to get their opinion.
A local, trained and experienced agent should be every home buyer’s best friend and don’t forget that having an agent that not only speaks English but Spanish too is a plus, so check that out too!
We will be able to offer guidance on all aspects of the area in which you want to buy, the property itself and of course the buying processes. We will stay in touch and help buyers long after the sale – this is a specialised market where recommendation via word of mouth goes a long way!
For general information or inquiries about buying property on the Costa del Sol or anywhere in Andalucia, please contact Harry: Phone (UK): +44 739 44444 80 / Email: costadelsolpropertysales@gmail.com
