A place in the sun - Page 4

We work a lot with a place on the sun, and have sold two houses with the clients who have come on the show. The agent really does have to do the normal work, the basics being questioned a to the potential buyer and work to make sure all goes along like a normal sale. Nothing in life is free, and everything has work involved to get the end. 

A Place in the Sun is a series of television programmes aimed at a television audience. If you think it's something more, then you are probably amongst the most gullible who when they arrive at a Spanish airport (according to my Brit friends) leave their brains behind. Television is entertainment which attracts people looking for some kind of escapism. The exception to this occasionally is The News. Many hours of videotape go into the making of a single television programme and all the viewer sees is about 18 minutes (if you delete the repetitive bits, the intro, the summary and perhaps the advertisements). 

The star participants of such programmes are foils (albeit voluntary foils). Everybody else on the programme and behind the scenes has a vested interest in the result. The estate agents want a sale, the paid host wants to enhance his/her cv, the programme makers want advertising etc etc. The only person with potential to lose anything is the foil. I hope the prospective purchaser (foil) gets a few bob for his/her efforts. 

I think Maureen knew what she was doing and decided to rent in the area for several weeks before another sally into the purchasing world. That programme was good inasmuch as nobody got "creamed" of their money. You can make up your own mind about estate agents appearances. One well known estate agent in Mojacar Playa in a programme made about 10 years ago informed the foil that when the railway line between Alicante and Almería opened "next year" the price of property would rise dramatically. I reckon the railway line won't be open before 2025.

I have no insight into the making of television programmes, but one thing I do know is that the truth never gets in the way of a good story. Think of it like Mrs Matthew painting her watercolour landscapes - if adding an extra tree here and there looks good, she'll paint them in. She keeps reminding me it's not a photo it's a painted picture. Duh!

Hi Trev and Kay, if it was on this latest series you can watch it on play back, it will show every episode from start to finish,

Beauly, I think your a little mixed up, one minute your saying Jonny is a con then the next minute your saying he’s a great guy. Make up you mind pal

The lady involved in the programme is a friend of mine.For info she didn't buy any of the properties but rented an apartment in Garrucha.She has now returned to the UK and with the money she had has bought two mobile homes on a site in East Anglia,one to live in and the other to rent out.Her reason for not staying was that she felt quite isolated down here and was missing her family.....

Thanks for that Biggles. I had often wondered how her situation "ended" - I know she contributed a post or two here and she appears to be a well grounded lady and not led astray by covert sales talk.

Good to see you posting too. I don't agree with too much of what you say, but it's good to have you around.

Biggles 172,  Using  the saying,  Another mug from the UK,  I take it you no all about them as you were the first mug from the UK to buy property  in Spain..

I moved to Spain when I married my Spanish girlfriend in 2005..... I got to know the lady featured in the programme when we were attending the same language classes. We both stopped going because of the clicky attitude of a lot of the Brits here.If you aren't part of the in crowd well forget it.Does that sound familiar? They keep in their groups,talk English almost incessantly as most don't speak or try to learn Spanish,I guess it's the herd/safety mentality......I don't consider myself a property mug.You need to be extremely careful with any dealings with property purchases and in fact dealings with all sorts down here.Have lent money to so called friends down here and then they've done a runner back to the UK never to be heard of again...

Biggles didn't mean anything offensive when he used the "mug" word. The term is in common use all over the Costas.and it reflects what some people say about some purchasers of property. "Leaving their brains behind at the airport" is another term in general use. (I bet Biggles thought I'd be the last person defending him).

Most people have a favourable experience when they buy property in Spain. All don't for whatever reason, but nonetheless there are such people. You could be the luckiest/wisest person in Spain and still you could buy the wrong property in the wrong area with the wrong new neighbours etc. Or it could just be a life change that doesn't work.

I advised several on this forum that they were too old at 60 to buy Spanish property and to get the fullest enjoyment of Spain. Last time I visited Mojacar, I was buttonholed by several people who had made the jump at 70+ and didn't regret their move. Let me admit, I am not right all of the time and in that instance I was glad to be proved wrong. 

Therefore, if you intend moving to Spain (even for 3 months) do your homework. If you get it wrong make adjustments and get on with the job. Don't depend on others to make your stay an enjoyable one; do it yourself. If you are learning Spanish, keep at it. If others are strewing obstacles in your way just learn faster and enjoy the experience more. I bet "they" will want to be on your side sooner or later. 

The lady on the Holiday Home in the Sun programme felt isolated. You could feel isolated in Heathrow on a busy holiday weekend. Make the effort and don't depend on others. Be like the 70+ age people I described above and make things happen rather than waiting for things to happen.