Spanish property FAQ

[Anonymous]

I’m starting work on what I hope will be the definitive Spanish property FAQ.

Not forgetting that the average age of foreigners buying property in Spain is 51 there may be a few of you old fogies who don’t know what an FAQ is, so for your benefit I’ll explain.

FAQ stands Frequently Asked Questions. Basically the 20% of the questions that 80% of people ask. The kind of questions that everyone needs to ask when buying property in Spain.

Given that Spanish Property Insight is all about user focus I thought I would consult you good people on which questions to include. A bit of teamwork always gets the best results.

So fire away. What are the questions you most want answered?

Please don’t anyone answer the questions here, as that will mess it up. Just questions please.

Thanks

Mark

[Anonymous]

How do you go about finding a ‘good’ Spanish lawyer?

Asking the other people you meet, who are at the same stage of the purchase procedure, is not practical because it is not until later in the process when you discover you have no building licence/roof/golf course/water supply that you realise you do not in fact have a ‘good’ Spanish lawyer. And no friends either if they have taken your advice!

I have personally met 5 Spanish lawyers – one ‘good’ and four ‘bad’ (and I can quantify this). That gives a 20% chance of getting a ‘good’ one, which is not good betting odds.

[Anonymous]

Hi mark,

Question: What is a builders bank guarantee, when should you ask for one and what should be specified on it?

Linda

[Anonymous]

Another question: What is an NIE number, why do I need one and how do I get it? (our developers insisted on it early in the build)

[Anonymous]

What is a “nota simple”, and how do I get one?

What is a “reservation deposit”?

How can I get my children into the Spanish school system?

In which eye should I poke an independent mortgage broker?

[katy]

How can I find out the development plans for the area without trusting someone else to do it.

Is there anyone who offers a “hand-holding service independant of agents.

[katy]

An addition, is there an agency who can check out my new neighbours, eg. barking dogs. people returning at 4am. in stilletos, parking problems, lots of short term rentals etc. To sum up, neighbours profiling.

[Anonymous]

What is the minimum one should expect the lawyers to check before entering into a contract:

a) Resale property
b) Off plan property

(and can you take their word for it!)

[Anonymous]

What is involved in obtaining permission to build on urban land?

[Anonymous]

How do you find a reputable agent, lawyer, accountant?

How do you find a find a good criminal lawyer to get you bail from assault when you dont?

[Anonymous]

Once a non-resident has actually purchased a home in Spain, what Taxes is he liable for? (both national and local)

[Anonymous]

is there anyway finding out a list of people who might be buying on a development for when things go wrong or before they go wrong

[Anonymous]

What are the costs when you sell?
Lawyer?
Agent?
Taxman?

[Anonymous]

Hi Mark,

Having brought a property recently, the thing we felt was missing from all the books and sites was a really easy to follow, all in one place over-view of the buying process, from viewing onwards, maybe in the form of a mind map or some sort of diagram.

Heather

[Anonymous]

Can bank guarantees be issued without full planning permission being given?

[Anonymous]

Why are banks willing to grant a mortgage on a property without a building licence?

[Anonymous]

Is it safer to buy through a high-profile UK estate agent such as Parador? 🙄

[katy]

Is it possible to get a breakdown of ALL the buying costs before I sign anything?

[Anonymous]

Why is it necessary to make a Spanish will?

Do I have to have a fiscal representative?

Can I trust that the Notary will ensure that everything is done correctly and legally? If not, why not?

[Anonymous]

Do the lawyers involved in the purchase of your property assist you to set up Direct debits to pay for electricity/gas etc ?

Do the cost`s of water /drainage come out of the community charge on a small development or are you billed independently ?

Is it better to use a lawyer or rely on a management company to look after your tax affairs whilst renting out a small apartment ?

If you are only transfering small amounts of currency to cover mortgage costs and bills every month [ say between 400-600 euros per month ] what is the best and cheapest way to have these amounts transfered from a UK sterling account to a Spanish bank account ?

What charges do Spanish Banks normally make to set up Direct Debits [to pay bills and a mortgage] ?

What would you consider to be a reasonable setting up fee when obtaining a Spanish mortgage ?

Regards

JWH

[Anonymous]

As a none resident, but registered owner of a property. Do I need to apply for a “wealth tax” form or will one be sent automatically. Do I need to use a gestor??

[Anonymous]

AT WHAT STAGE IS THE “SNAGGING” LIST COMPLETED ON A NEW BUILD ?
IS IT BEFORE THE SIGNING OVER OF THE PROPERTY WITH THE NOTARY OR AFTER ?
HOW LONG SHOULD YOU GIVE THE BUILDER TO CARRY OUT THE WORK ON THE LIST ?

ON A NEW BUILD IS IT WISE TO EMPLOY YOUR OWN INDEPENDENT SURVEYOR ON COMPLETION OR WOULD THE NECESSARY CHECKS ALREADY HAVE BEEN CARRIED OUT [IE BY A BANK AS PART OF A MORTGAGE APPLICATION ] ?

WHO HOLDS THE 10 YEAR BUILDING GUARANTEE ON COMPLETION ?

THANKS

JWHARDING

[Anonymous]

What are the pitfalls to watch out for, and the pros and cons, for new build Vs resale?

What information should be checked at the local Town Hall?

What information should be given by the Urb. Administrator, if appropriate?

What are the likely Tax implications in my home country if I remain non-resident in Spain?

What is a ‘reasonable’ timescale to buy a property in Spain?

[Author]

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