Cheap property for sale

Matthew wrote on Fri Oct 1, 2021 9:44am:

Carleena, You've just learned Lesson No. 1 in chasing property in Spain. All the properties in an estate agent's website are for sale, but not all are to be sold. Work that one out and you're well on your way to Lesson No. 2. 

When we bought in Mojacar Playa back in the day, we also bought a ruin up in the mountains. My intention was to work on it on-and-off which I did. But, I'm sharing the electricity with the Spanish equivalent of Jack-of-all-trades next door. I'm not complaining, but every time I visit he has faile...

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...d to flick the switch so that we can have some electricity (he lives elsewhere). However, we are getting our own supply of electricity . . . . . wait for it . . . . MANANA . . . . Just to give you and indication of what manana is - we've been waiting only sixteen years. You might be wondering why we bought such a place (I bet it tittered through your mind) - It was pretty cheap and has become a sort of retreat, even when we don't have electricity. There are no speakers of the Queen's English there either and the Spaniards are friendly with the irlandés muy loco who bought there.

There are "bargains" available, but they require much work. 

Serious Content:- After you've had a titter remember if you are every buying property in Spain employ a solicitor to act solely for you and not share the abogado of the estate agent or vendor.

forgive me for not inserting the Spanish N above.

Alicia 11 wrote on Sat Oct 2, 2021 9:17am:

carleena also beware the tax you could have to pay we had friends who bought a row of animal sheds and converted them into a nice home.  The old Spanish lady who sold them came and said she had a tax bill to pay which she couldn't afford so they paid it for her only to find they also had a b...

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...ill based on the new property value which was way over the top.  In the end they had to return to work in the UK to pay it. 

Also the property was in the campo but accessed via a rambla which was ok when it was dry but impossible when it rained and they had flash floods.  they could be stuck in or out at those times for days sometimes.  and as Matthew said they had limited electric and water.

Shay123 wrote on Sun Oct 3, 2021 4:31pm:

Depends where you want to be?

Near Baza and  Guadix there are numerous "cave houses" they are not all caves some are houses backing onto an excavated area etc. The same exist between Palomares and Cuevas del Almanzora - I stayed in a very nice AirBnb place in the same area - had its own pool. One of the advantages when I...

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... looked at buying one was you can excavate / modify the interior of many  to suit but check which ones can be altered?

On a house fron there are lots of possibilities on Inland Andalucia which has an interactive map on the website showing lots of pins - click a pin and it will give price and location in one go.

Spanish agencies have lots of old rundown places more than agencies with foreigners working there and basic English?

Would echo Matthews advice though about solicitors and ask the absolute obvious questions and pursue the question in writing with the agent. It is too easy for Brits to ask, "does it have mains water connected" to which you will get some reply like all these properties are supplied with mains water but yours will have no water meter! Or something equally ludricous - be thorough? Despite a lot of modernisation going on in business the old systems are still about.

I wouls also advise you to check on utilities and the complications of how you are billed for water and electricity, it is not the same as the UK - much of this has appeared here recently on this forum.

Good luck, after you wade through everything it will be worth it!

Shay123 wrote on Sun Oct 3, 2021 4:31pm:

Depends where you want to be?

Near Baza and  Guadix there are numerous "cave houses" they are not all caves some are houses backing onto an excavated area etc. The same exist between Palomares and Cuevas del Almanzora - I stayed in a very nice AirBnb place in the same area - had its own pool. One of the advantages when I...

Read more...

... looked at buying one was you can excavate / modify the interior of many  to suit but check which ones can be altered?

On a house fron there are lots of possibilities on Inland Andalucia which has an interactive map on the website showing lots of pins - click a pin and it will give price and location in one go.

Spanish agencies have lots of old rundown places more than agencies with foreigners working there and basic English?

Would echo Matthews advice though about solicitors and ask the absolute obvious questions and pursue the question in writing with the agent. It is too easy for Brits to ask, "does it have mains water connected" to which you will get some reply like all these properties are supplied with mains water but yours will have no water meter! Or something equally ludricous - be thorough? Despite a lot of modernisation going on in business the old systems are still about.

I wouls also advise you to check on utilities and the complications of how you are billed for water and electricity, it is not the same as the UK - much of this has appeared here recently on this forum.

Good luck, after you wade through everything it will be worth it!

Bess wrote on Sun Oct 3, 2021 5:39pm:

If you buy a 'ruin' maybe with wonderful views, but no currently functioning bathroom there is a very strong likelihood that you will not be allowed to turn it into a house to live in under current rules.  Do not part with any money until you are absolutely sure, with documentary proof ( arc...

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...hitects plan validated by town hall), that permission will be granted.