Introducing myself - Page 2

The ironic thing is, we were due to travel to Mojacar today and would have been enjoying a few cold beers by the side of a pool. Due to these uncertain times obviously couldn't travel.

Me and my much better half love the area and can't wait to start our search for our place in the sun.

Good luck with your search and hope you get sorted soon.

Stewert.

Like you it’s such a shame we can’t go just yet .

I know Spain quite well but not this area, have been doing lots of research. Quite like the old town which seems to be a very poplar area ,but might change our mind when we are there .

Mojacar Pueblo is a stunning village, very hilly. I personally prefer Mojacar Playa, love walking along the sea front on an evening. There is a very reliable bus that runs all along the sea front and takes you up to Mojacar Pueblo, so easily reachable if you decide the sea front is for you, only costs around €1.25 if my memory serves me correctly. 

Looking forward to exploring the area and then we will make a decision. The property we like in the Pueblo is quite expensive but a large property .

Thank for the information always good to know.

Ola 

We are in the process of moving to Mojacar area but need to buy a house when borders open which we expect it will be mid July/August.

Your pieces of advice are good but scared me a bit. My husband and I thought the agency from whom we might buy a house from would be honest enough to get us a good abocado! They are an English estate agency and we thought they sound super nice and honest. Now I’m a bit worried. Where shall we find a honest abogado then?

Just for the record, we both speak fluent Spanish.

Also I thought utilities in general are cheaper than UK apart from electricity which is similar according to friends who already live in the area.

So, after finding the property and an abogado, what would be the first thing me and my husband need to do please? We intend to just buy and (not rent before) as we know we want that area.

Does anybody know someone to rent a propertyfor a few weeks while we are there in July/August?

We would love to hear any suggestions and help , we need all support we can get.

Marcia & Tony

Your question: Where shall we find a honest abogado then? I am always flabbergasted to see how many foreign property buyers are throwing away millions over the years at the feet of Lawyers who one really does not need at all when buying any property in Spain. All one needs is to be able to understand the property's Title deed (either translated by an accredited Translated) or explained by a an ableand trusted translator. All one needs to do is to be sure that there are now encumbrances to the ownership nor any doubt as to the borders of the properts nor any hidden problems or reservations from the Town Council loaded on the property. If these are all cleared then thats it. You've saved your lolly. Fear and too much money and lack of spanish are the sticking points here.

"Just for the record, we both speak fluent Spanish." Why then do you need a Lawyer at allllll I pray? You can, if it must be,  even commission the Notary to check whether there are any hindrances to the ownership question, and the check with the Town Council Officer in charge who are very honest and helpful in the respect and who will never let you down. Then Bob's your uncle. You can even asl Lucas Mayo (a great fello, half english and half spanish!) opp. Lopez Ferreteria (Gecko!)  to check and give you the OK.  Depending on a Lawyer is an expensive, mean fad that does not really help anyone at all except for the "takers". We bought two properties without a Lawyer, NO PROBLEM AT ALL.

Once you have found the property get it checked out as above and then sign a simple agreement with the current owner that you will buy it off him, make an appmt. with a Notary and sign and pay for it with a Bankers cheque on the spot.

We have a flat vacant if you are interested. Very close to the Red Cross!

Wow thanks so much for this very detailed and interesting reply! I didn’t know it was “allowed” not to have a lawyer involved as we have just sold our house in uk and first thing we had to do after we got an offer was to register with a lawyer suggested but the agents who sold our house. 

So when we find our ideal property I wonder if the agents will be surprised if we say “no lawyers please”

Anyway I so grateful for your explanation , thanks so so much!

As for the property for us to stay/rent from you, is it in Mojacar or near it? Where is Red Cross?

Thanks again!

Márcia D Campbel

Hi Marioca.  Tomass has been lucky to have bought properties with no dire problems but not all properties sales are so straightforward and many Spanish tend to use a good lawyer before parting with a lot of cash. Like Tomass, I myself have bought an apartment recently in an established complex without a lawyer but then I have lived here for more than 30 years and speak Spanish very well and understand the procedure.  I would not have gone DIY 30 years ago fresh from the UK.

Another thing I learned was that not all notaries are totally efficient or even honest, although things may have improved slightly on both fronts.  To give an example, some years ago  I was buying a price of rural land which which was 2.5 hectares to be segregated from a large finca. My plan was to pay an architect for a project for house etc.  However, the notary did not inform me that the minimum I could legally segregate was in fact 3 hectares, although he was aware of why I was wanting to buy!  I suppose he might have been a friend or relative of the seller as I used the notary which the seller preferred.  It took a lot of time, trips to Almería, and money, to sort out and was something that could have been avoided using a decent lawyer.

Do use a lawyer if you are making a major investment, but for heaven's sake, not the same lawyer used by the estate agent which you buy from which is where many people slip up!  There are many people on this forum who can recommend efficient lawyers who would be glad to advise.