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A place in the sun

Posted: Tue Jun 25, 2019 5:18pm
57 replies6793 views16 members subscribed
shirley1

Posts: 11

2 helpful points

Location: Mojacar

Joined: 11 Jun 2019

Hi  I thought there would have been comments about the programme A Place in the Sun, I recorded it   and watched it yesterday  , and after watching the programme for years , its the 1st time I have  seen decent sized rooms  and lovely houses  I would have had a hard time in choosing one. I would like to hear some comments from you

Matthew

Posted: Tue Jun 25, 2019 10:04pm

Matthew

Legendary helpful member

Posts: 2236

3339 helpful points

Location: Mojacar

Joined: 16 May 2018

Posted: Tue Jun 25, 2019 10:04pm

Well Shirley, if you decided to buy a Spanish property solely on the information provided by the television programme A Place in the Sun I reckon you should be immediately certified stone mad. I saw the series and others and every real estate agents' catch phrases are offered like free lollies to gullible children.

If anybody is thinking of purchasing property in Spain much homework needs to be done before even looking at what's available. The first thing to be thought out is what to do with your property in the UK. Then you've got to find a place that ticks all your "must" boxes. Rent in the area you like for no less than five weeks in the off season. It'll cost you a few bob, but after five weeks you'll know if the area is for you and indeed if Spain is for you. 

If you've done the above, at least you're at the Starting Gate.

My new catch-phrase:- A Place in the Sun is not for your mun.

TonySam

Posted: Wed Jun 26, 2019 10:11am

Posts: 48

41 helpful points

Location: Albox

Joined: 23 Dec 2017

Posted: Wed Jun 26, 2019 10:11am

Good morning Shirley,

We used to watch A Place In The Sun back in the UK and searched online for ages. Although, it is, more often than not, a decent watch it doesn't count for much and things are shown to run smoothly for those buying, not always the case. We actually declined an invite to appear on the programme.

Agree with Matthew, you have to come out personally and visit areas of interest and do your homework and research before you decide.

We came out quite a few times and looked at differing properties in different areas until we made the jump. When we first landed we rented a townhouse for 6 months in Vera Playa right near the beach, it was a lovely spot but wasn't for us.

We took the plunge and found what we were looking for and have now been in our cortijo (5 minutes out of Albox) for 12 months. Love it!

Good luck if you decide to do it.

Bryan

Posted: Wed Jun 26, 2019 1:41pm

Bryan

Helpful member

Posts: 159

86 helpful points

Location: Mojacar

Joined: 5 May 2017

Posted: Wed Jun 26, 2019 1:41pm

Nope not me saw apartment on internet in atalaya de Mojacar bought it without meeting estate agent or lawyer gave them poa 

Job done! Boom 

Michelle

Posted: Thu Jun 27, 2019 8:55am

Posts: 75

32 helpful points

Location: Purchena

Joined: 16 Feb 2017

Posted: Thu Jun 27, 2019 8:55am

We visited about 30-40 properties in different areas. We wanted to be by the coast then realised you get more for your money inland and that coastal areas would be ghost towns in low season and that we wouldn’t be on the beach everyday so we bought inland with a pool. 

We did lots of research about the buying process. Found a good lawyer. Don’t go with one recommended by agents. Go with a lawyer and not a conveyancer. 

We were buying in Albox but the agents told us it had an AFO but our lawyer told us after checking the paperwork that it didn’t. So we waited for them to apply for the AFO and install a septic tank (part of AFO process). We were told one month later that septic tank was installed. We kept on visiting the villa secretly over the months to check and nothing had changed. We kept saying that the septic tank has not been installed and asked for proof. Nothing. The septic tank was installed 5 months later. The AFO was granted 2 weeks after. 

Our lawyer checked the AFO and noticed the land was more than was advertised and that the owner had sold some of the land without a legal contract to a local farmer. To change the Catastral paperwork could take months and a new AFO would be required plus we could have issues with the farmer and have court fees to sort it out. Our lawyer said walk away. Problem was that if we pull out we lose our 10% deposit. Luckily we came to an agreement with the agent/owners that because of all the lies that we just get our deposit back. 

7 months later and we are now in our new home 😊🥰

I hope you find your dream home. 

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Andythestick

Posted: Sat Jun 29, 2019 6:38pm

Posts: 12

4 helpful points

Location: Mojacar

Joined: 13 Mar 2019

Posted: Sat Jun 29, 2019 6:38pm

Hi Bryan,

We are moving over in September, full time. My small family consisting of partner (and now unexpected young daughter) have been visiting Mojacar for almost 20 years. On retiring this year, we know it’s the place for us so we too have rented on Atalaya de Mojacar for our first year. We can then spend 12 months looking for the perfect home. I look forward to meeting you then, neighbour!

ANDY C.

beauly

Posted: Sun Jun 30, 2019 9:07am

beauly

Helpful member

Posts: 206

89 helpful points

Location: La Alfoquia

Joined: 2 Apr 2018

Posted: Sun Jun 30, 2019 9:07am

A Place in the Sun - TV programme.  What a con including Jonny Irwin!!!!

Our house is for sale and was filmed only 3 weeks ago hosted by Jonny Irwin.  What a great guy - but still a liar.  Yes, the couple loved our house, put in an offer at 8.00am in the morning (this part is filmed LIVE).  On our estate agent contacting the couple on the Monday morning (they had returned to the UK on the Saturday), they were asked for the holding deposit which is non-refundable.  There was a long pause on the phone .....  the prospective buyer said “but we have to sell  our house first”.  The buyers insisted that they told Jonny Irwin and the production team that they had a house to sell......  What a scam!!!!!!  I suppose one way of getting a cheap holiday.  We were gutted to say the least.

Matthew

Posted: Sun Jun 30, 2019 9:47am

Matthew

Legendary helpful member

Posts: 2236

3339 helpful points

Location: Mojacar

Joined: 16 May 2018

Posted: Sun Jun 30, 2019 9:47am

I can empathise with Beauly with television coverage of her property. Two prospective buyers are interested and the chances are 4-1 against selling (seemingly not bad odds). It appears the buying couple were never interested in anything more than appearing on television. Beauly is led up the garden path; the wannabe buying tv stars found themselves billed with a substantial non refundable deposit. The programme producers never did their homework and ferried a couple around Spanish towns and country free of charge. A cheap fake television Spanish purchase scenario was filmed and will be shown for years to come earning a fortune in advertising for the tv company, royalties for the presenters etc. Beauly gets nothing other than an adventure into seeing her property on television. The purchasing couple probably got a free few days in the sun.

chevyrecycler34

Posted: Sun Jun 30, 2019 8:32pm

chevyrecycler34

Helpful member

Posts: 759

410 helpful points

Location: Huércal-Overa

Joined: 10 Feb 2017

Posted: Sun Jun 30, 2019 8:32pm

Where does a 10% deposit and/or non refundable deposit come into the buying process 

When you agree a sale with a vendor you agree to pay a €3000 deposit, if you back out you forfeit the money, if youre vendor backs out then they lose and have to pay you the same €3000 deposit. The 10%  would only come into any dealings when the buying process goes beyond the initial if you like verbal handshake.

It's a briliantly simple way of stopping being gazumped or swindled, any reputable conveyancer or solicitor should tell you the same.

As for PITS being a load of bollocks its tv at the end of the day just like bargain loving brits in the sun or sun sea and selling houses.

Matthew

Posted: Sun Jun 30, 2019 8:48pm

Matthew

Legendary helpful member

Posts: 2236

3339 helpful points

Location: Mojacar

Joined: 16 May 2018

Posted: Sun Jun 30, 2019 8:48pm

I am not sure, but if the vendor pulls out of the sale after the deposit is made, he/she must pay 3 times that to the would be purchaser. I am open to correction.

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