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rusty106500 wrote on Wed Jan 27, 2021 10:04am:
Hi,
I bought 2 properties through Solvia and never needed a lawyer as the contract is in dual language and covers every possible angle. They also sent their lawyer from Barcelona to Marbella for notary as this was my preference.
Wow - thats good to know. Will study the site in detail later
“I know this is probably known by most people but would like to warn other potential buyer of what happens when you deal with estate agents in Spain.”
Of what happens! Really ? That’s a statement of fact! Isn’t it? You have lumped all Estate Agents in Spain together and that’s not actually acceptable at all. There are very many decent agents in Spain! So name the Estate agents you are badmouthing here. In my humble opinion, and reading your comments, it seems to me you are trying to buy repossessions only. That could be part of the problem with communications being poor. Same as for no community info. You could put people off buying at all in Spain, people who are not chasing the repos.
L181SKY wrote on Wed Jan 27, 2021 11:41am:
“I know this is probably known by most people but would like to warn other potential buyer of what happens when you deal with estate agents in Spain.”
Of what happens! Really ? That’s a statement of fact! Isn’t it? You have lumped all Estate Agents in Spain together and that’s not actually acceptable at all. There are very many decent agents in Spain! So name the Estate agents you are ba...
Read more...
...dmouthing here. In my humble opinion, and reading your comments, it seems to me you are trying to buy repossessions only. That could be part of the problem with communications being poor. Same as for no community info. You could put people off buying at all in Spain, people who are not chasing the repos.
You have read the thread - I am yet to come across an honest agent in Spain - if they are out there I have not come across them. I have interacted directly with 3 agents in Almeria alone - 4 in Granada and 3 in Costa Del Sol.... same result. I have started trying to buy from the banks to avoid agents - because I have found it impossible to buy using an agent. And yet, the last property I put an offer on was a bank property - Once again I was forced to use an agent and once again the I lost the property ( in spite of putting in a higher offer). That agent sold the property at a lower price to one of their other clients.
I am aware of even more agents in Almeria who are advertising properties that cannot be sold. This is deliberately misleading potential buyers and they know it.
The core reason is that there is no regulation of agents in Spain. No official body that I can goto that can judicate and take action against these agents. I have lost thosands on wasted viewing trips. They have lost nothing -
I am a willing cash buyer - there is something wrong with the system.
greg77 wrote on Wed Jan 27, 2021 12:04pm:
You have read the thread - I am yet to come across an honest agent in Spain - if they are out there I have not come across them. I have interacted directly with 3 agents in Almeria alone - 4 in Granada and 3 in Costa Del Sol.... same result. I have started trying to buy from the banks to av...
Read more...
...oid agents - because I have found it impossible to buy using an agent. And yet, the last property I put an offer on was a bank property - Once again I was forced to use an agent and once again the I lost the property ( in spite of putting in a higher offer). That agent sold the property at a lower price to one of their other clients.
I am aware of even more agents in Almeria who are advertising properties that cannot be sold. This is deliberately misleading potential buyers and they know it.
The core reason is that there is no regulation of agents in Spain. No official body that I can goto that can judicate and take action against these agents. I have lost thosands on wasted viewing trips. They have lost nothing -
I am a willing cash buyer - there is something wrong with the system.
I have followed this thread as I too have heard you have to be careful with Estate agents in Spain, as with the rest of the world, but the broad brush effect that is painted here, puts me on edge, when maybe I have no need to be.
For the record, I have been looking to buy in the Vera area, wanted to move before Brexit. we have friends who have been living there for 3 years now, we visited last year were taken by it all and decided to rent, look deeper, then take the leap to finally move. Then a little bug called Covid stopped us in our tracks
So I am following this thread with deep interest, hoping to find out who the nefarious agents are, your convictions are strong, but seem to lack actual substance as to the direction of the agents who have let you down. If you have had these terrible experiences surely it would be in all our interests to know who these people are, so I for one can not get caught in the same situation as you state.
I thank you for flagging up your experience for us to read, but as a purchaser yourself would it not be a civil duty to other purchasers to point out the agents to avoid, it could not be disputed by them if you have been treated so badly, let us all know.
Best of luck with your future ventures.
J
Magiceye wrote on Wed Jan 27, 2021 1:17pm:
I have followed this thread as I too have heard you have to be careful with Estate agents in Spain, as with the rest of the world, but the broad brush effect that is painted here, puts me on edge, when maybe I have no need to be.
For the record, I have been looking to buy in the Vera area, wanted to move before Brexit. we have friends who have been living there for 3 years now, we visited last year were taken by it all and decided to rent, look deeper, then take the leap to finally move. Then a little bug called Covid sto...
Read more...
...pped us in our tracks
So I am following this thread with deep interest, hoping to find out who the nefarious agents are, your convictions are strong, but seem to lack actual substance as to the direction of the agents who have let you down. If you have had these terrible experiences surely it would be in all our interests to know who these people are, so I for one can not get caught in the same situation as you state.
I thank you for flagging up your experience for us to read, but as a purchaser yourself would it not be a civil duty to other purchasers to point out the agents to avoid, it could not be disputed by them if you have been treated so badly, let us all know.
Best of luck with your future ventures.
J
It is a fair point you have raised - but , as mentioned before, my intention is not to damage estate agents and that is why it would be unfair to name the ones I have had issues with - because naming them will most likely damage them one way or another.
However, at the same time, I want to warn buyers in the same shoes as me, that when dealing with agents in Spain, there are some side effects that I was not expecting - many of these side affects are because of the way the market is structured in Spain, as well as the lack of a regulator to force them to stop certain practices.
So, its more constructive to warn of the tricks being used than to single out individual agents - I have only directly interacted with 3 agents in Almeria - but under closer inspection, I have noticed these issues on other agents sites. Maybe what needs to be done is for me to compile a detailed list of where and how you will/could get caught out as a buyer. That would hopefully be of use to buyers, and those who took notice, could run those checks against the agents before deciding to buy through them - All agents I have dealt with so far would have failed that checklist - and that is why I still dont have a property.
The other point worth noting is that it is incredibly easy to contact sellers direct now - its faster , you pay a better price, and its much more transparent.
What is needed is a site that lists serious ( validated) buyers with their requirements - and let the sellers approach them with their properties. After all, it is the buyer who pays for everything. Then bring in qualified experts as and when needed - lawyers, notaries, translators, etc.
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rusty106500 wrote on Wed Jan 27, 2021 9:37am:
Hi use www.solvia.es
I put an extra . After the link address earlier which won't work.
I just had a look at the site - it doesn't have much stock at all. Also, Google log in doesnt work so cant create alerts etc.
greg77 wrote on Wed Jan 27, 2021 1:48pm:
It is a fair point you have raised - but , as mentioned before, my intention is not to damage estate agents and that is why it would be unfair to name the ones I have had issues with - because naming them will most likely damage them one way or another.
However, at the same time, I want to warn buyers in the same shoes as me, that when dealing with agents in Spain, there are some side effects that I was not expecting - many of these side affects are because of the way the market is structured in Spain, as well as the lack of a regulator to force...
Read more...
... them to stop certain practices.
So, its more constructive to warn of the tricks being used than to single out individual agents - I have only directly interacted with 3 agents in Almeria - but under closer inspection, I have noticed these issues on other agents sites. Maybe what needs to be done is for me to compile a detailed list of where and how you will/could get caught out as a buyer. That would hopefully be of use to buyers, and those who took notice, could run those checks against the agents before deciding to buy through them - All agents I have dealt with so far would have failed that checklist - and that is why I still dont have a property.
The other point worth noting is that it is incredibly easy to contact sellers direct now - its faster , you pay a better price, and its much more transparent.
What is needed is a site that lists serious ( validated) buyers with their requirements - and let the sellers approach them with their properties. After all, it is the buyer who pays for everything. Then bring in qualified experts as and when needed - lawyers, notaries, translators, etc.
Oh well, looks like you e got the job lol. I would dearly like to know what 3 Agents in Almeria who let you down.
Posted: Wed Jan 27, 2021 3:32pm
greg77 wrote on Wed Jan 27, 2021 2:24pm:
I just had a look at the site - it doesn't have much stock at all. Also, Google log in doesnt work so cant create alerts etc.
Hi,
That's just one bank in Spain I used and example, there are many others available with a little research.
rusty106500 wrote on Wed Jan 27, 2021 3:32pm:
Hi,
That's just one bank in Spain I used and example, there are many others available with a little research.
Do you know is there is a single aggregator site for all the banks?
Posted: Wed Jan 27, 2021 7:43pm
greg77 wrote on Wed Jan 27, 2021 5:31pm:
Do you know is there is a single aggregator site for all the banks?
There was a website that listed lots of them with links but I don't know if its still up or if it is how up to date it is. I will see what I can find for you.
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