Posted: Mon Sep 14, 2020 2:49pm
Both of you are 48 - children in terms of this forum, I would say. (Take the compliment, I don't give too many!)
1. You can be lucky and see the holiday home of your dreams on the internet and you buy it blindly and all works out well. Well Done! Please give me your lotto numbers.
2. Buying a holiday home is easy - thousands of us can't be wrong! But, can we? Yes we can. I would advise (i) Rent in the area where you want to buy during the off season November, December, January, February, March. If you can take a month's rental at least. That 4/5 weeks will be enough for you to know if that area is for you or indeed, if Spain is for you. (ii) Ask the questions no matter how stupid they sound. You will learn to separate the lies from the truth. Keep in mind that you are within minutes of making yourself look stupid if you buy blindly.
3. You are going to be advised by the truth-tellers of Vera Playa, Garrucha, Mojacar Playa, Macenas, Carboneras that they bought merely for a place in which the family and friends can holiday. Rubbish! repeat Rubbish!. Buy for investment only (you heard this first from a disgruntled Paddy). You'll be told "I rent only to cover the complex fees/utilities/internet/cleaning." If ever I make a good few bob in Mojacar Playa I'll buy a polygraph and connect it up to the most dreadful untruth tellers in the area.
4. Employ a solicitor (not an agent) to act solely for you. It'll cost, but worth every penny. Spanish solicitors are not happy to put their Registration on the line and won't leave themselves open to litigation. You heard this here first too.
5. If you believe everything an estate agent tells you please be my best friend; I could use you. Ask the "dirty" questions and insist on a clean answer. Strange how sellers of property can reframe an old broken down toilet to say "gem of a WC." You've probably seen the railway line from Alicante to Almeríá - note the only things that run on it are local fauna. I think it's due to be up and running some time during 2023 (translation:- 2033 in my opinion).
6. You're probably getting the impression that I am the forum cynic. You're not wrong!
7. The Good News:- If you can afford it, a holiday home in Costa Almería can be a fruitful experience and a terrific investment. [You thought I had not much good to say, I bet].
Summary for You Only:- Go for it, but tread carefully.