[Anonymous]

Hi,

I’m writing from a British television company that is looking to make a film about Brits who have bought property in the Marbella area. It would be great to hear from anyone who might be willing to be interviewed that has an interesting story to tell. In the first instance it would be appreciated if you could just e-mail me some key bullet points about your particular experiences. We hope to be filming in and around Marbella in the first week of July. Any help will be much appreciated. Apologies for the “fishing” nature of this e-mail- I hope no offence is taken.

Best wishes,

Gurbs

[Anonymous]

Hi,

Still looking for any interesting property stories to feature in a forthcoming British television programme. Also would be interested if there is anybody who is moving away from or to the Costa Del Sol area in the first week of July. Please do get in touch if you have a tale that would make good viewing.

Kind regards,

Gurbs

[Anonymous]

I have spoken to Gurbs, who phoned me last week and this is a VERY high profile program..well known on TV. If anyone wants to air their problems they should contact Gurbs. I declined as there are many others who have suffered problems that people should be aware of. I have had my say. This will be a good media coverage. I also know that another Granada program has been shelved to make way for this one.

You can PM me and I will tell you the program maker.

[Fuengi (Andrew)]

Claire I know you’ve had a difficult time because of your purchase

but why have i got the feeling this show is going to paint the south of spain in a really bad light?

[Anonymous]

Fuengi

sadly it probably will, but what’s the alternative?, hopefully one day, when the building has slowed down and the crooks exposed and moved on, many people like us, who stand to lose big time, unless we get help, will be happy to sing the praises of the CDS, like we probably did before we got involved with the low life developers,

David.

[Anonymous]

I have no idea what the program will contain. 😕 Probably about the corruption at Marbella Town Hall,etc. It’s obviously worthy of making a program about. It is a shame, because but for these horrendous developers giving the CDS a bad reputation, it is a glorious place to be.

I agree with the comments of goodstitch. From my point of view I will be so pleased when we get our money back, which hopefully the Bank agreed to last Friday 🙄 Then we can get on with our lives and have freedom of choice once again!

[Anonymous]

Hi Gurbs

Why don’t you come and interview my parents?

Came down last October and rented in Elviria for 6 months whilst looking to buy.

Ended up having looked at over 20 properties (privately and through agents).

Finally purchased (using a small local agent) a 3 bedroom, 180m2, front-line golf penthouse in Calahonda for under 300,000euros within walking distance of all amenities and with a stunning sea view (and a golf share!).

The whole process has taken 10 years off them; they’re having a fantastic time, made great friends and are chuffed to bits with their apartment. 8)

No scandal, no sensationalism…and probably over 99.9% of purchasers on the Costa del Sol fall into this bracket.

…but it doesn’t really make for good telly now, does it? 🙁

You still want to interview them?

Send me a PM if you actually want any happy stories and I’ll forward you tel nos of a bunch of them.

[Anonymous]

Come on Sarah, ‘fess up! 😀 If your parents cannot have a trouble free experience in purchasing a property on the CDS, there is no hope for the rest of us! As you own your own Estate Agency, they could not possibly put a foot wrong with your inside knowledge & guidance!

Gurbs is researching for ” Tonight with Trevor McDonald”. IMHO, a worthwhile program! 😉 and No…I am NOT participating!!!

[Anonymous]

sdodgson

i would take a look at my ‘miraflores problems’ if i was you, and the many similar posts on here, have you no idea what people like ourselves are going through?

i’m very pleased for your parents, it’s the situation we all dreamt of, and good luck to them, but please think this through a bit more, and then you might realise how insensitive your posting is,

there are alot of people who despite doing the homework, using what they thought are reliable people and trying to get information at every stage, have been taken for a ride by the many crooked agents, developers and even lawyers who populate the CDS. Yes i know there are good one’s as well, but if you happen to fall foul of the bad one’s you can only speak as you find

alot of us are not wealthy, and if any telvision programme can help us out of this mess and lead to a situation where we can get on with our lives again, without being ripped off by crooks, then bring it on, i say.

I do realise the implications for those living without problems and who are unhappy at seing the CDS portrayed in a bad light, but we can hardly be blamed for wanting the horror of our situation exposed.

We just want justice, not much to ask for is it?

[Anonymous]

Mornin’ Claire!

Yeah yeah yeah. Of course I own the agency but just because it was my parents didn’t mean that they got special service – actually they were really difficult clients! I was fighting with them all the time as on their own they found a “great deal” in La Reserva de Marbella (aaaaarrrghhhhh!) and a “steal” in Gran Calahonda (did anyone say 280.000euros for a 60m2 apartment?)

….and their purchased property came via a little rinky dink Scandinavian company who are great.

Just a suggestion but why don’t more agents fess up and use their real names in the forum then???? “Do unto others as you would be done unto” is a great motto that more agents should work by.

Have a great day
Sarah
x

[Anonymous]

Claire

thanks for letting us know sdodgson’s position, that explains the rather over positive post about the CDS.

As they say, ‘ none so blind as those who wont see’

[Anonymous]

@sdodgson wrote:

I was fighting with them all the time as on their own they found a “great deal” in La Reserva de Marbella (aaaaarrrghhhhh!) and a “steal” in Gran Calahonda (did anyone say 280.000euros for a 60m2 apartment?)

Hi Sarah,

This is exactly my point.! Without your (persistent 🙂 )expert advice to your parents, they could have gone along with the “fab” place at La Reserva 😯 or the “bargain” apt at Calahonda 😯 😯 and they would be where many of us are now….raving on this forum. There but for the grace of God…and you! 😉

Forgot to add, it would be a good idea if all the agents used their real identity but there are some who would say they are “touting”. Also, they would get a lot of vitriolic posts me thinks!

Claire
x

[katy]

Calahonda is not everyones idea of a paradise and there are more properties for sale than anywhere on the CDS. Golf shares usually turn out to be worth less than the paper written on ( a bit like bank guarantees!!). these golf courses are built solely to sell property and never ever are self supporting, owning a share can also lumber you with hefty community fees.

I know lots of people who have problem free purchases but that doesn’t take away the growing number of those who have been ripped off.

[Anonymous]

Hello to everybody – this is an excellent website. A pity we did not find it in 2003.

Curbs, I have sent you an email regarding our horrendous story. Hope you can expose these people – we have been duly suffering for a long time. I have never met so many liars in all my life. We were told one lie after the other. I never thought it could have happened to me having worked for top city lawyers for 15 years. The mind boggles!

We are still waiting for justice – my patience is running out.

Hope you can expose these people.

Elizabeth

[Anonymous]

Hi Lizi,

Would you share your experience with us please?

[Anonymous]

I think people purchasing property abroad can get caught out by any number of factors. The main problem is that most people approach the purchase having done little or no research. Theyare ripe for the picking as far as unscrupulous and dishonest people are concerned. They allow their dream to overrule their head! The same thing happens in Florida and Bulgaria and the poor purchaser has to pick up the pieces and make the best of what is usually a very bad deal for them. I read of people on this forum who have done all the “right things” and still have had major problems.
The forum is a great tool for sharing information and any estate agent who is willing to share their expertise is to be applauded. Two weeks ago Sarah spent the better part of a day showing apartments to my sister and I. She knew we weren’t planning on purchasing this trip but she showed us a selection of the apartments which gave us an idea of what we could expect for our budget. There was no pressure and she pointed a few things only a locally based agent would know. Contributions from someone like Sarah to this forum can be very valauble to everyone.

[Anonymous]

Claire

Have sent you a pm. Will be letting you know the complete story in the near future. I would like to name the estate agent, promoter and builder involved – they are all still trading.

Kind regards,

Elizabeth

[Anonymous]

@kilkee wrote:

I Two weeks ago Sarah spent the better part of a day showing apartments to my sister and I. She knew we weren’t planning on purchasing this trip but she showed us a selection of the apartments which gave us an idea of what we could expect for our budget. There was no pressure and she pointed a few things only a locally based agent would know. Contributions from someone like Sarah to this forum can be very valuable to everyone.

Kilkee, that’s what Estate Agents do, it’s their job description! 🙂 Sarah is lovely and a recommended agent by this website. IF we were to buy again in Spain I would certainly use Sarah. NOT ALL LAWYERS, AGENTS ARE BAD. I’m not so sure about developers.

People use forums, no matter what their topic when things go wrong or they have a problem that they would like help with. Those who have no problems, everything in the garden is rosie, do not use these forums. Why would they? I use another “health” related forum. It is full of people who are “sick” No healthy person writes on it because they don’t need to. 🙄

I sincerely hope your purchase with your sister goes hassle free…because if it doesn’t, I’m sure we will be hearing a lot more from you…..no matter how much homework you may have done!! Happy hunting.

[Anonymous]

@Claire wrote:

@kilkee wrote:

Those who have no problems, everything in the garden is rosie, do not use these forums. Why would they?

Hey, that’s not true! I use this forum and I don’t have any property problems (of my own)! I house hunted and bought without any hitches and have been living and working here happily now for 3 years!
You say, “Why would they?” Well, I use this forum (and others) to gain information, read advice and offer it too if appropriate. I’m a property professional and therefore have relevant training and experience and some specialist knowledge which I’ve gleaned myself since being here and which it may help to share. Why not?! And I’m sure I’m not the only one eg Maria.

[Anonymous]

OK, so you are using the forum “to gain knowledge”. Maria uses the forum on her own admission to do the same & give advice, as does Drakan Jose Maria Sanchez, Cesar and Rawlins And sdodgeson(Sarah) and others I’m sure I have missed. We are very grateful to these people who give their time to us. In essence, none of these people have a property problem. You are a separate category. I think you have missed the point I was trying to make. 😉

[Author]

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