earlyoap

Hi All
We have been looking at a list of Banks/Estate Agent we seen on here.
https://www.idealista.com/news/inmob...a-inmobiliaria
The first Question is the property's each has listed are they all repossessed property.
Some seem to show the same property loads of times! is this because the banks took back a whole development?
We also know people have said rent before you buy. We plan to
But some of the property's listed seem to good a bargain to be true!!!
We do want to rent first but a lot of property for lease dont seem to allow dogs or are only for short term.
We will be is Spain for 7 weeks mid Jan on wards so hopefully find out alot then.
We have a million and one things we want to ask but dont know where to start.
Wish we could sit down and talk to some of you. Its just one question leads to another
We wont be moving for a year or so but we want to find out more.
Even though we wont be moving yet we have been thinking of going to an Estate agent while on hol but this seems a bit unfair to him as we wont be buying/renting just yet. Wife has suggested if we where to tell them this and it was just fact finding exercise he might not be very helpful.
We just want to know what we may get for our money be it buy or rent. Dont know if it seems daft but should we even think about telling him its a fact finding thing and offer to pay him for his time he may be more helpful then!!!
Dont know where to start
and yes know he might be a she

Moses2013

First of all I wouldn't just look at banks (repossessed properties) but at properties I actually like and what area are you looking? The true bank bargains are long gone in my opinion and you'll now find the crap they didn't sell before. That's why they list the property multiple times so it comes up more often and they offer 100% mortgages.

lurchio

Stressful business, eh? As regards the estate agent,its their job to show you properties that you request to see. Obviously they always HOPE you will buy / use them, but they know also that people need to be shown places and then simply not like it, or for hundreds of other reasons walk away. Do not feel guilty, or at least if you do, why not ask a few Agents to show you properties and spread the load? No need to pay, just be upfront you are on a 'fishing expedition', any undue pressure, tell them to go away, or similar.
Repossessions? How many would Sir like? Each case on its merits but if it looks to good to be true, it probably is!! Buyer beware and I expect others can comment on that, as we didn't buy in that market. Be helpful if there was some idea of your itinery for the visit, in case anyone did wish to meet up!

Moses2013

Very stressful. To be honest I would also just look at the properties I like on the usual websites like idealista, fotocasa and not focus on one estate agent. If it's 20 different estate agents or private seller who cares. The main thing is that you get the right property.

KieronF

To balance your research I would suggest you look at Rightmove and look at the prices of more 'mainstream' properties in the area in which you have an interest. As has been said, most of what you see on the bank agents websites is hanging around there for a reason. Don't be concerned about coming back on here with lists of questions - that's what the forum is for.


Most will say that renting is best to give you a flavour of life in Spain before you make the decision to burn your bridges and sell up at home, however, the initial problem is trying to decide exactly where in Spain you might want to live - the place is vast with such a diversity of landscapes and regional cultures - so make that your priority and once you have a specific area in mind there will be so much more relevant information and help that folks on here can give you.

lurchio

Good one. Also Kyero, and don't worry if you see the same house in different Agents at different prices! You are simply now at the research phase and can't break anything or lose your savings! Dig in!

Loafing Along

If you are planning to be "In Spain" for 7 weeks from mid-January onwards by now you must know whereabouts you are going .
Start on the web sites such as https://www.idealista.com/ , same site that you have visited but the non-bank properties. Many properties appear to be repeated but are in fact separate homes/apartments on complete developments now owned by the banks as the builder developers went bust. The Costa del Sol is littered with them.
Don't have any qualms about "prospecting" with an agent - it is there job to sell and many customers do the same . Maybe you will even find what you like.
Regarding long term rentals certainly on the Costa they are in short supply at the moment, people are being more cautious about buying , poor exchange rate, uncertainty over Brexit etc etc so opt for rental.
Several years ago we did something similar, went to at least a dozen different agents and just got them to "show us around" on a very loose specification. In the end the home we bought came up quite by chance through one of them some time after we had visited their office but they had our contact details on file so were able to find us.
Enjoy your trip

stevesainty

When we first came to Spain to live we took a holiday let for several weeks to give us plenty of time on the ground to research a suitable long term rental.

We enlisted the help of a couple of estate agents and we thought that they would have a myriad of properties for us to view. They turned out to be as useful as chocolate fireguards to be honest. They only had two or three properties on their books and one of them was duplicated.

We eventually decided on an area we liked the look of and got out of the car and walked around on foot. We talked to people who were sat on their terraces and asked if they knew anyone who wanted long term tenants. As it turned out there were several holiday home owners that had not used their properties for a long time but were not actively seeking tenants. However when asked, by the people we spoke with, we eventually found a suitable place to rent long term.

What I am saying is you will be very lucky to find somewhere suitable by just employing one method of research.

I do wish you well in your endeavors and, as has been previously posted, do not be afraid to ask as many questions on here, and other fora, as you like. We would never have made it thus far without the help and guidance of forum members.

earlyoap

Will be it Tarifa for 6 weeks. But think the town may be to busy in the summer also you dont get much for you case unless where looking at the wrong sites. So there for would head up into the hills. Would like to be within an hr of Tarifa and Gib ideal world. Another place we will be staying only for a few days is Ribera Del Fresno so will have a quick look round there.
So if anyone know a little town like Ribera with in an hr of Tarifa and Gib then job would be done.
Just to make matters worse where we live now is 20miles to nearest shop and .5 of a miles from nearest neighbour if we could move this place to Spain we would be sorted so not bothered about being out in the sticks if fact would prefer it

lurchio

You may be at the wrong end of Andalucia if you prefer the 'sticks'?!!! Granada province? Malaga north? Jaen? Nows the time to dig around the net.

Moses2013

I don't know which areas you've seen so far but I would really use the time to think what you really want. Being out in the sticks is possible anywhere in Spain but why does it have to be near Tarifa/Gibraltar? Of course if you like wind and surf Tarifa is ideal but it's not really a pretty town and the whole area doesn't really seem to have much decent housing stock from what I've seen and heard. Algeciras is also a bit dodgy and known for drugs and unless you want to work in Gibraltar it wouldn't be a place many people would consider (no offence to people in the area). Lurchio mentioned the other end of Andalucia which would seem a better pick.

earlyoap

Me wind surfing LOL you have not seen my beer belly. Tarifa we where in Tarifa Jan/Feb this year and where told it never gets to hot because of the winds. For this reason the wife likes it. Gib is just for the English bit Super Sol dont sell.
Algeciras been throuh there and were not moving there. We will have a proper look when we get to Tarifa. Might even cut the Tarifa bit short and have some time in the other places mentioned above.
Decisions Decisions Decisions I hate this
But thanks for all the help.
Half the problem is I am asking you guys and girls stuff and truth be told we dont know what we want
We just want to move to Spain and get it right

Moses2013

I wouldn't worry about being close to Gibraltar for the English bit. You'll probably find Gibraltar less English than many other parts of Spain. I'm not retired and only have a place in Spain as a bolt hole but even then I looked at all areas from North to South, from East to West to get a good idea of value for money, climate etc. Budget obviously plays a big part too and what kind of life you are looking for and can get for your money (the windsurfing).

lurchio

Good news is that Andalucia will have the answer somewhere for you, when you decide what you want, bad news is that its a big Community! A holiday lasts a couple of weeks, but a lifetime means you have to get it right, as you said. Don't get the 'hate' up, keep it fun but keep it real........ You will get there, but its an adventure you're on, not a nightmare. Alternatively, bale out and stay in Blighty!!!! (God help you, now you're after moving here you will dislike the UK more!) Only Joking.....

Loafing Along

If you want to be "country" but not too far from the coast - Tarifa there are some wonderful villages and small towns all around Medina Sidonia and Vejer de la Frontera , Conil etc etc as well as an excellent main road to Jerez.