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Recommendations for lawyers /conveyancers/ notaries for buying an apartment...

Posted: Tue Jun 6, 2017 6:08pm
23 replies647 views12 members subscribed
Sara1412

Posts: 5

2 helpful points

Location: Sorbas

Joined: 6 Jun 2017

Hi, we are hoping to buy an apartment in the Mojacar/Turre or surrounding area and are coming over for viewings in August. We have been speaking to a Spanish bank (Bankinder) about a mortgage but can anyone recommend lawyers, conveyancers and notaries please? We have been approached by several intermediaries to organise everything for us, in principle that sounds like a great idea but we are worried about using anyone who hasn't been recommended! Thanks in advance for any help :-)

Sara and Phil


BobL

Posted: Tue Jun 6, 2017 6:56pm

BobL

Super helpful member

Posts: 2170

1225 helpful points

Location: Mojacar

Joined: 18 Aug 2016

Posted: Tue Jun 6, 2017 6:56pm

You should get loads of replies to this one and firstly you never go with an Abogado/Solicitor/lawyer recommended by the Estate Agent. Conflict of Interest. There is a well known 'Brit' lawyer in Mojacar, Mr. Davies, but we ended up using our previous Abogado Mr. Juan Rubio Granados from Huercal Overa. He managed the purchase and sale of my wife's previous property and our other cottage property in Murcia. 300€ cheaper than Mr. Davies who  also didn't want to negotiate payment UK BANK TO UK BANK by CHAPS Transfer. So pay the 10% in Spain and then if a Brit seller the 90% stays out if Spain, no fees, no currency transactions etc. Also transfer monies using an agency like GCEN. The Spanish Banks really gouge you!!!!!!

Juan takes you to the Notary and handles fees etc. Remember the 8%, I think it is, Purchase Tax, land registry, etc, transfer of utilities, rates, IBI, etc. Juan's fee was all inclusive with Mr. DAVIES they were additional and 50% of base fee up front.

So, if you want any details pm me.

The clamouring indicates a weak market/ looking for work. Lots of looking,  little buying. And Brexit. Look to reduce by 15-20% and enquire about furnishings and even leaving their vehicle as a sweetener. We had fully furnished and 120K to 92K euros.

Happy viewing and believe nothing.

Dr./Colonel Bob and Sandra

Mojacar and Puerto Lumbreras

Rob20B

Posted: Tue Jun 6, 2017 9:19pm

Rob20B

Helpful member

Posts: 604

462 helpful points

Location: Los Gallardos

Joined: 12 Aug 2016

Posted: Tue Jun 6, 2017 9:19pm

"firstly you never go with an Abogado/Solicitor/lawyer recommended by the Estate Agent. Conflict of Interest." I would agree that that was certainly the case 10 years ago when lawyers, developers and estate agents all had intertwined personal and financial relationships which were most definitely dodgy. I don't think that it is quite such a problem now. I did a lot of research about lawyers in advance when we bought last year but still ended up going to Mundi Abogados (http://mundiabogados.com/) who had been recommended by our estate agent Paul Fullard at Next Stop Almeria. We couldn't have been more pleased. Maria, Esther and Nicoletta at Mundi Abogados are excellent, do not need chasing and deal with everything in an ethical, efficient and friendly way in English. Maria is not from the area so doesn't have those old relationships which caused such concern years ago. The "thank you" cards in their office window at the Las Buganvillas roundabout between Garrucha and Vera tell their own story.

We were taken to the notary in Vera by the lawyers. Very efficient and it all worked far better than we were led to believe might be the case.

For financial transactions we use Currencies Direct which, I suspect, give a very similar service to GCEN. As Bob has said, don't use your UK bank for transfers as that will cost you a huge amount more than necessary.

Do come back with any further questions.

Rob
Los Gallardos

BobL

Posted: Tue Jun 6, 2017 9:36pm

BobL

Super helpful member

Posts: 2170

1225 helpful points

Location: Mojacar

Joined: 18 Aug 2016

Posted: Tue Jun 6, 2017 9:36pm

Hi Rob, it was actually  Michael Davies himself writing in his Legal Advice column in the local  freepress within the last month who stressed the point I made regarding Potential Conflict of interest, so, in effect, I lifted it  directly from him. Have to say that when we purchased the Mojacar apt. in 2013 through Spanish Property Choice, ('now of TV fame ), there was no attempt to direct us in any way but then we had been in Spain for 10+ years.

Best Wishes as ever,

Bob and Sandra

Rob20B

Posted: Tue Jun 6, 2017 9:49pm

Rob20B

Helpful member

Posts: 604

462 helpful points

Location: Los Gallardos

Joined: 12 Aug 2016

Posted: Tue Jun 6, 2017 9:49pm

You're definitely right Bob, the principle that I think Michael Davies is getting at is certainly right that you need to be careful, do your research and don't automatically take at face value a recommendation from an estate agent or anyone else without checking it out first. Don't discount a recommendation, just check it out and in our case the recommendation was spot on.

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Accell

Posted: Wed Jun 7, 2017 9:08am

Posts: 1

Location: Mojacar

Joined: 29 May 2017

Posted: Wed Jun 7, 2017 9:08am

BobL wrote on Tue Jun 6, 2017 6:56pm:

You should get loads of replies to this one and firstly you never go with an Abogado/Solicitor/lawyer recommended by the Estate Agent. Conflict of Interest. There is a well known 'Brit' lawyer in Mojacar, Mr. Davies, but we ended up using our previous Abogado Mr. Juan Rubio Granados from Huercal ...

...Overa. He managed the purchase and sale of my wife's previous property and our other cottage property in Murcia. 300€ cheaper than Mr. Davies who  also didn't want to negotiate payment UK BANK TO UK BANK by CHAPS Transfer. So pay the 10% in Spain and then if a Brit seller the 90% stays out if Spain, no fees, no currency transactions etc. Also transfer monies using an agency like GCEN. The Spanish Banks really gouge you!!!!!!

Juan takes you to the Notary and handles fees etc. Remember the 8%, I think it is, Purchase Tax, land registry, etc, transfer of utilities, rates, IBI, etc. Juan's fee was all inclusive with Mr. DAVIES they were additional and 50% of base fee up front.

So, if you want any details pm me.

The clamouring indicates a weak market/ looking for work. Lots of looking,  little buying. And Brexit. Look to reduce by 15-20% and enquire about furnishings and even leaving their vehicle as a sweetener. We had fully furnished and 120K to 92K euros.

Happy viewing and believe nothing.

Dr./Colonel Bob and Sandra

Mojacar and Puerto Lumbreras

Hi Bob and Sandra,

do you have an email address from Mr. Granadas ?

Best regards,

Tom

BobL

Posted: Thu Jun 8, 2017 12:07am

BobL

Super helpful member

Posts: 2170

1225 helpful points

Location: Mojacar

Joined: 18 Aug 2016

Posted: Thu Jun 8, 2017 12:07am

Apologies. Internet.off all day, just back on. GW will reply tomorrow.

Best Wishes,

Bob and Sandra

Sara1412

Posted: Fri Jun 9, 2017 11:35am

Sara1412

Original Poster

Posts: 5

2 helpful points

Location: Sorbas

Joined: 6 Jun 2017

Posted: Fri Jun 9, 2017 11:35am

Hi Bob and Rob

Apologies for not responding sooner, I've had laptop issues! thanks so much for your advice, much appreciated - I will no doubt be bombarding you with more questions as we go along!

thanks again

Sara 

BobL

Posted: Fri Jun 9, 2017 11:56am

BobL

Super helpful member

Posts: 2170

1225 helpful points

Location: Mojacar

Joined: 18 Aug 2016

Posted: Fri Jun 9, 2017 11:56am

If I can save.you & yours from being cheated &'disappointed as we have been episodically over 15 years, then we shall be grateful. It's supposed to be a great experience but being cheated by your own.rather takes the shine from the apple.

Best Wishes,

Bob and Sandra

slipperyuno

Posted: Fri Jun 9, 2017 1:18pm

Posts: 63

30 helpful points

Location: Villaricos

Joined: 16 Nov 2016

Posted: Fri Jun 9, 2017 1:18pm

Rob20B wrote on Tue Jun 6, 2017 9:19pm:

"firstly you never go with an Abogado/Solicitor/lawyer recommended by the Estate Agent. Conflict of Interest." I would agree that that was certainly the case 10 years ago when lawyers, developers and estate agents all had intertwined personal and financial relationships which were most definitely...

... dodgy. I don't think that it is quite such a problem now. I did a lot of research about lawyers in advance when we bought last year but still ended up going to Mundi Abogados (http://mundiabogados.com/) who had been recommended by our estate agent Paul Fullard at Next Stop Almeria. We couldn't have been more pleased. Maria, Esther and Nicoletta at Mundi Abogados are excellent, do not need chasing and deal with everything in an ethical, efficient and friendly way in English. Maria is not from the area so doesn't have those old relationships which caused such concern years ago. The "thank you" cards in their office window at the Las Buganvillas roundabout between Garrucha and Vera tell their own story.

We were taken to the notary in Vera by the lawyers. Very efficient and it all worked far better than we were led to believe might be the case.

For financial transactions we use Currencies Direct which, I suspect, give a very similar service to GCEN. As Bob has said, don't use your UK bank for transfers as that will cost you a huge amount more than necessary.

Do come back with any further questions.

Rob
Los Gallardos

I too have found Mundi Solicitors to be very efficient, and reply to queries very quickly.  I did not however give them power of attorney as I wanted to go the notary to experience the process first hand.  I have since realised that they have signed my name similar to my signature on two documents for utilities (on dates where I was actually in Spain so could have signed them myself) - I will be addressing this with them shortly - so proceed with caution would be my advice. Good luck. Alex 

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