That still won't undue the damage done by stuff like this

http://spanishshilling.blogspot.com/

When you buy in the UK/France/Italy/Cyprus/Morocco, etc your investment is generally safe.

When you buy in Spain you should do it where you hope no-one wants to build a road, or upgrade a road, or build a golf course, extend a marina - or build a supermarket, or a private clinic, or, well, just about anything that might make someone with the right connections a couple of extra euros.

A Risk Assessment would probably rule out buying in Spain altogether.

I had a quick look at the blog and it seems to be about a compulsory purchase order in the future ?? These things could happen anywhere, and have happened in the UK with residents getting compensation if their property is in the way, but perhaps not if they are affected by extra noise.
I am not 100% clued up on all things Spanish, so perhaps it is more serious than I think. I intend to buy somewhere in a town centre, probably an apartment, so hopefully won't be affected.
As regards not buying yet, I will need a place to live and rather than pay rent for a year or more, it seems better to me to buy after I have lived in the area for a few months to get a better feel of exactly where is best. I will of course make a ridiculously low offer on 2 or 3 which appear suitable, and if one owner wants my cash then a deal will be done. As I will be buying at the bottom of the price scale, then I can't see that a property now at a reduced price of around 70,000 euros will be a bad buy if I can pay perhaps 60,000 or a bit above. Surely a basic property won't drop from an original price of 80,000 to 50,000 or less ? Hard to say without discussing a specific property I suppose, but just my thoughts.

I think you'd be wiser renting for the first year, because most people agree that prices are set to drop.

You'd feel pretty sick if you bought a place that you didn't like after a while and then couldn't sell it.

It's very easy to buy - not so easy to sell.

But after living here for a year you'd find that out for yourself, I promise.

The Land Grab laws have been causing misery to everyone who is affected.
It's not like the Uk where you have a reasonable prospect of compensation in a reasonable time, and you can negotiate.


Here there is no negotiation, and very little compensation if any, that will take anything from 5 or even 10 years to come. In the meantime you'd have to find somewhere to live, perhaps still be paying the mortgage on the property you've just lost.

Bulldozers have turned up without notice, although those in power have sworn that notice was given - this has happened many times before and to some very smart people - they have used the legal system and got nowhere.

Remember, this is Spain not the UK - it's different out here.

Bets? In South cambs, plus Oxford, I think, they take 50% of your land for social housing and then devalue what's left.

I think you'll find that the majority of people who move here do so sucessfully. Yes, there are problems with the Valencia Land Grab Laws (which incidentally, Spain are being taken through the European Court at the moment), but I do think its being a little overstated here.

When it goes wrong it goes wrong big time for sure as illustrated by the Priors disaster, but equally things like this can happen in most of the countries you mentioned.

Extremely good research is what is needed most of the time ... yes, if you like, a risk assessment.

That's absolutely right, the majority have bought and still live happy as can be, I probably should have put that in my rant, err.. post.


But it's still a possibility that should'nt be ignored, because if you happen to be one of the unlucky ones, then your dreams and your investment will turn to dust.

I suppose I must sound like a real doom mongerer; to be honest it makes me angry when I think of those people who have fallen victim to a form of legal theft.

Well there you are, perhaps it's a subject I should avoid, sorry, just couldn't help it.

Yeah, well from personal experience being land raped in the UK ain't much fun either!

Did you get ANY compensation?

No not at all ... although the majority live happily with their property ..... the pain that people like the Priors must be going through is immeasurable and its difficult to understand how unfeeling the authorities were.

yes, it's unfair, and most spanish people would agree.

But we love it here, warts and all.

I wouldn't change my spanish vecinos, it's like having an extended family!

If anybody is looking to move back to the UK I know where there is a superior 3 bed semi for sale complete with a building plot with planning permission

As if. We even have to pay to supply the services , roadway, etc to them.

Hi Carefreebirit,
I hope I have misunderstood your reply. Are you buying at that price bevause you can't afford any more, or just because at that price you can buy a servicable property? There have been many warnings about changing countries without doing the sums right. I hope that you don't mind me askng, the intentions are the best honest.
Dave

Good advice,having checked out the legalities of all of the documents etc,---check the classification of all the surrounding land and then study the location of the site and consider its possible potential to developers or road builders.

Regarding the land grab I think its fair to say that quite a few Spanish have also been affected,though maybe not quite so much,as they tend to live in more established areas.

I am out of touch with the situation at present,but two things crossed my mind.
1.-Is it not possible to slap an embargo on land which may wrongly have been taken,limiting its further use,in view of the fact that it is an on-going case in the EU Court?
2.-If the Court finds in favour of those who have had their property taken,is their any possibility of those responsible having to pay fair compensation at some time in the distant future?