Spain Property Insight

I walked down our local high street in Gloucester and saw queues of people at banks etc that Santander had taken over.Are the British people gullible,look at what happeed to our property in spain.

From what I understand British Banks are quite capable of making a mess of their own Industry, they don’t need any outside help to do it. Furthermore, Santander has not risen to being one of the largest banks in the world by making risky decisions based on mortgages and offering easy credit on mortgages.

REGISTRO DE LA PROPIEDAD NUMERO 1
Beatriz Ana Ruiz, 32
03140 GUARDAMAR DEL SEGURA (ALICANTE/ALACANT)

I know this has been asked before, but not lately…. I’m thinking of re-locating, living there most of the year and renting part of the year. Want to be able to sell in coming years, though, and hopefully make a profit! And where is a good place to buy? I like bits of Costa Brava but much more expensive than the south, so thinking of inland from Malaga….

Yes it is a good time to buy ,as in england property developers are going through a bad time and properties are moving very slowly,
Re sale houses are barely moving at all and some people are getting desperate to sell and are open to silly offers,i am talking about the costa blanca area. particularly inland of alicante and Murcia.
there are currently 5 of my neighbours who have been trying to sell for nearly 2 years and have finally realised that they have to slash there prices.

There are a number of English speaking Equity Release companies here in Spain that you may wish to contact, the procedure is explained on this link - http://www.tumbit.com/how-to-guides/articles/48-lifetime-loans-and-equity-release.html

The areas I’m looking at are Andalucian cities, Estepona, Las Palmas or Barcelona

As landlord or tennant?

Either way, it is easy. Most rents ask for three months rent up front. Two months deposit (which is very difficult to get back) and one (or two ) month’s rent in advance.

Personally I would only give one month’s rent as a deposit or go else where.

Short term rental agreements are very simple and easy to understand.

Always take local advice.

Avoid any agency that has not got lots of years in the business. API agencies are the only ones to deal with if you have no local knowledge and cannot read the Spanish contract yourself.

do they have mortgages that are available for other EU citizens such as from the UK?

It works just like anywhere else. You go to a bank and if you can afford the mortgage, you get it.

Just remember that there are taxes and notaries to pay on top of the purchase price. Your bank will advise. (Budget at least 10% to 15%).

My parents are thinking of moving from the UK to Spain. Generally, are properties built on time according to the timescale Spanish builders give, or are there big delays?

I have a relative who moved to Spain some years ago. They ordered a new build, and of course there was an overrun with time. Meanwhile while they were waiting they stayed in a rental property a few kms away, a pretty grotty place by all accounts.

When they did eventually move in they didn`t find too many unexpected problems, did their snag list which lets the builders know which jobs require attention-though only some of those actually got done.

Others on the same complex weren`t so fortunate. A coupe of villas had cracks in the outside walls. Not talking here about hairline paint-over cracks, but very deep ones which meant the properties had to be underpinned. Naturally the villa owners took the builders to court because the builders wouldn`t accept liability. The owners won, but still nothing has been done. Justice works very slowly in Spain.

My brother now tells me that if he had his time over he would have bought a non-new property. That way all the issues would have (hopefully) come to light, and already been resolved.

Investing in the Pyrenees, or midi-Pyrenees as the region is often known, has become a very popular option in recent years for investors from the UK and across Europe.

While investors were busy moving in on the more accessible areas of northern France, the undiscovered region of the Pyrenees remained untouched. This led to a recent leap in popularity, as investors went off the beaten track and tried to stretch their cash that little bit further.

Toulouse is the capital of the midi-Pyrenees and is a very popular and lively city which has incredible opportunities in terms of education and employment. As a result of the buzzing atmosphere and cutting edge ambience of Toulouse, property prices are at the highest in the region.

Those looking at investing in property in the Pyrenees would be better off looking towards Gascony. Here, investors can find a touch of real France with beautiful countryside scenes and rural properties that are often a lot cheaper to buy than apartments in the larger better developed cities.

Famously, the Pyrenees have some fantastic mountain resorts and this has become a real joy for skiers at all levels, during the winter months. These same resorts are fantastic for walkers and climbers during the summer months, resulting in all round appeal for holidaymakers. Anywhere with all year round appeal is highly likely to produce good rental yield and is a solid source of income for any investor.

Another interesting part of the Pyrenees is the city of Albi. Located on the River Tarn, this historic and beautiful city has a lot to offer investors, as it is generating a healthy return in terms of both rental yield and capital gain.

In terms of location, the Pyrenees are in the south west of France bordering on Spain, making it very accessible for travellers from all parts of Europe. Accessibility is key when it comes to the property market, and as such it doesn’t get much better than the Pyrenees. The region boasts four airports and is less than 3 hours away from Barcelona; the channel ferry connections are also within reasonably close proximity.

All of these factors have made the Pyrenees particularly popular lately and house prices in this region have grown, on average, by 12 percent a year over the last 4 years, making it one of the fastest growing regions of France.

Developers in the region have started to realise the potential of the Pyrenees and are now offering incentives to investors including leaseback and guaranteed rental schemes. Examples of recently available properties include a two bedroom apartment in Toulouse for 90,000 Euros on a 5.55 percent leaseback and a three bedroom property in the Hautes ski resorts for 115,000 Euros with a leaseback for 4.5 percent, with two weeks use annually.

Investing in property in the Pyrenees is definitely something for the future. Investors looking for the next boom area are flooding to the Pyrenees, and with good reason.

Excellent rental yields are on offer and property is still very affordable, allowing those who want to try something a little different the opportunity to ride the crest of the property investment wave!

Tem Pearson
http://www.articlesbase.com/real-estate-articles/investing-in-property-in-pyrenees-friend-or-foe-92091.html

When it comes to celebrity tourists, the Spanish holiday island of Majorca has more than her fair share.

And if celebrities weren’t enough, Majorca is frequented by royals too.

The Spanish have long been aware of King Juan Carlos love for the area. He even maintains a retreat and moors a yacht there for his regular Majorca holidays. In fact, the isle is popular with the entire royal family, including King Juan Carlos’ son, Prince Felipe, who also holidays there frequently.

Other famous visitors to this Spanish paradise include Queen Elizabeth, actress Patsy Palmer, actor Michael Douglas, actress Catherine Zeta-Jones, musician Mike Oldfield and more.

Celebrities from all over the world have purchased holiday properties and second (or third or fourth) homes on the island. Majorca is so popular with the rich and famous that it isn’t unusual for residents to spot a celebrity on any given day. And though it is the largest of Spain’s many islands, at only 3700 square kilometers, it isn’t the easiest place in the world to hide. Still, with its private beaches and secluded mountain retreats, it offers enough solace to continue enticing celebrities as it has for almost 50 years.

Majorca’s year round population stands at less than one million, smaller than many major cities. Yet tourist numbers may double that number during the peak holidays season.

The biggest piece of the tourism pie comes from other European countries and the UK. However, Majorca has become increasingly popular with visitors from North America in the last two decades. In fact, thanks in large part to Majorca’s draw of visitors, Spain has become the second most visited country in the world. It is second only to France for the most foreign tourists.

Majorca has invested billions of dollars in the tourism sector since the 1960s. That investment has certainly paid off - Majorca draws over 6 million tourists annually. An astounding 95 percent of Majorca’s economy is directly or indirectly sparked by tourism.

Both short-term and long-term holiday-makers are drawn to the area mainly for its sunshine, beaches and breathtaking natural beauty. Hotels do a brisk business in every region of the Spanish isle. Tourists who like to stay longer and visit more frequently (especially the rich and famous) have helped to keep the real estate business booming on Majorca. The politically stable climate of Spain has made its many tourist destinations, including Majorca, popular places to invest in property.

These are just a few of the reasons that the British newspaper The Telegraph recently touted Majorca on its ‘best of. list.

It noted that the island’s ‘lovely’ geography and natural features make it a particularly worthwhile destination for holidaymakers.

Majorca remains extremely popular with outdoor lovers. Both celebrities and the average vacationer alike appreciate the quality of outdoor life that can be found on the island. As long as Spain remains politically stable, Majorca will surely continue to draw visitors from around the world in the years to come.

Roger Munns
http://www.articlesbase.com/destinations-articles/majorca-a-favourite-island-for-celebrity-holidays-513151.html

When it comes to celebrity tourists, the Spanish holiday island of Majorca has more than her fair share.

And if celebrities weren’t enough, Majorca is frequented by royals too.

The Spanish have long been aware of King Juan Carlos love for the area. He even maintains a retreat and moors a yacht there for his regular Majorca holidays. In fact, the isle is popular with the entire royal family, including King Juan Carlos’ son, Prince Felipe, who also holidays there frequently.

Other famous visitors to this Spanish paradise include Queen Elizabeth, actress Patsy Palmer, actor Michael Douglas, actress Catherine Zeta-Jones, musician Mike Oldfield and more.

Celebrities from all over the world have purchased holiday properties and second (or third or fourth) homes on the island. Majorca is so popular with the rich and famous that it isn’t unusual for residents to spot a celebrity on any given day. And though it is the largest of Spain’s many islands, at only 3700 square kilometers, it isn’t the easiest place in the world to hide. Still, with its private beaches and secluded mountain retreats, it offers enough solace to continue enticing celebrities as it has for almost 50 years.

Majorca’s year round population stands at less than one million, smaller than many major cities. Yet tourist numbers may double that number during the peak holidays season.

The biggest piece of the tourism pie comes from other European countries and the UK. However, Majorca has become increasingly popular with visitors from North America in the last two decades. In fact, thanks in large part to Majorca’s draw of visitors, Spain has become the second most visited country in the world. It is second only to France for the most foreign tourists.

Majorca has invested billions of dollars in the tourism sector since the 1960s. That investment has certainly paid off - Majorca draws over 6 million tourists annually. An astounding 95 percent of Majorca’s economy is directly or indirectly sparked by tourism.

Both short-term and long-term holiday-makers are drawn to the area mainly for its sunshine, beaches and breathtaking natural beauty. Hotels do a brisk business in every region of the Spanish isle. Tourists who like to stay longer and visit more frequently (especially the rich and famous) have helped to keep the real estate business booming on Majorca. The politically stable climate of Spain has made its many tourist destinations, including Majorca, popular places to invest in property.

These are just a few of the reasons that the British newspaper The Telegraph recently touted Majorca on its ‘best of. list.

It noted that the island’s ‘lovely’ geography and natural features make it a particularly worthwhile destination for holidaymakers.

Majorca remains extremely popular with outdoor lovers. Both celebrities and the average vacationer alike appreciate the quality of outdoor life that can be found on the island. As long as Spain remains politically stable, Majorca will surely continue to draw visitors from around the world in the years to come.

Roger Munns
http://www.articlesbase.com/destinations-articles/majorca-a-favourite-island-for-celebrity-holidays-513151.html