do you have a particular reason you want to buy rather than rent first ??

have you lived in Spain before ?

the only reason i say this is eg you buy your "dream" property, then for whatever reason you dont like Spain or cant settle or dont like the area...then you are stuck with a house you have bought and in the current climate may well have difficluty shifting

please dont feel I am being negative but if you read through the threads on this site and others many many people wish they had only spent time living (renting) in an area rather than buying on a whime on an inspection trip, to then only be left out high and dry by the agents who were only to helpful at the time of purchase but now are nowhere to be found !!!!!

Do not, under any circumstances offer the asking price, or anything like it. Best idea is to come out here, rent long term, see the area, look at other areas, there are a lot of agent here with houses where there has been a reduction of anything up to 60%. Please think carefuly about the area, we started on Orihuela Costa, but after trying several places in the area we have moved up the coast, we are much happier here.

We came here as early retiree cash buyers and viewed, offered and completed on our house in four days.

But I believe you have six months to complete after paying your deposit.

It is usually 3 months and the deposit is negotiable amount.

We sold a property in Spain 4 years ago. The agent asked us what price we wanted and then they put it up for sale at a much, much higher price (without telling us). This meant they would pocket the difference on top of the percentage out of our asking price.
In the end, we sold privately.
So my advice is to avoid the agent and go direct to the person if you can, you could get a much, much better deal. Also to get a good lawyer from a personal recommendation. There are some sharks out there.

good advice

Course you are - you are now friends with us and it's a much better area

Hi people.....thanks for all your advice you have given to us, sooo appreciated. Wish us luck as we are going over there on Bank Holiday Monday to hopefully find our "Home"!!!!! xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Rent first to check out the area in different seasons.

There is so much sound advice here, we have owned an apartment here for four years, we know that this is where we want to be after seven years of visiting various bits of Spain.
When the early retirement opportunity came we grabbed it. but, having sold in the UK, we have taken eighteen months to find "The House".
Again when the opportunity arose we looked and then offered €200,000 below asking €415000 Vs €210000 which was, I would say reluctantly, accepted.
We have looked at about 30 houses and this one represents the largest area for the least outlay, It needs some work but it is still within budget, so my view would be to rent, take your time, and ultimately you will find exactly what you want.

wse sold a couple of years ago using the same way

So all the advice wasn't really wanted after all, just how quick can I buy. Sooo, am I right. The advice hasn't been appreciated or taken on board, you are doing what you were going to do when you first posted.

You must know the area where you are going on Monday well. Bet you've been there and other places loads of times. I get the feeling that this is a wind up!

If it's not a wind up, my apologies but as some guy called Victor used to say "you cannot be serious"

I am sorry you think this is a WIND UP!!!! It is nothing of the sort! Yes, we are going out there to LOOK for our new home, I didnt say anything about actually finding it or jumping in to something that isnt right. Yes, we know the area, but that wasnt the original question. Why are you sounding so bitter? All I did was ask asome questions in the hopes of getting somr advice, NOT if we should go out there!....I am sorry if this is the way you feel, I really dont know where you are coming from. Have a nice life! But, many many thanks to those who HAVE helped us and we are taking all the decent advice given to us on board. Thanks to you, I now feel that I am no longer welcome on this site and believe me when I say that it is an awful feeling....cheers for ruining my excitement in what will be our retirement home!

You are welcome on this site.

People that live here are trying to steer you in the right direction only.

It appears that you have already made your mind up though.

You do need to take the blinkers off though and have a good look at the site before you buy, there can be so many problems if you are not thinking clearly.

Check out clinics, hospitals, bus service, shops, things to do in the immediate area, noisey neighbours, what happens to the place when you get Spanish rain, the list is endless..............

The reason I posted was that you had not made your position clear, other than you are retiring to Spain.

Spain posted 2 messages on 17th May asking for clarification of your position. In the absence of a reply to either (dealing with her questions) and what appeared to be a continuing insistence upon buying I wondered whether you are one of a few who post to ruffle a few feathers.

I am not bitter and I am not coming from anywhere (in the sense you mean).

All I was concerned about was the prospect of you going out to buy property without knowing an area well. You didn't reply to the question of why you want to buy rather than rent and this again concerned me.

You are far from the first poster to say "I'm coming to Spain, it's my first visit and I'm coming over to buy a property " (or similar statement).

Sorry but your first posting was vague as to whether you knew the area and referred to a company apparently not favoured by others on here.

No intention of putting you off your dream life, go for it but with the speed of a tortoise and not the hare.