Robert@Eurosettlers

Hello Cid.

I have recently joined British Expats.com and was looking through the site when I came across your posting. Please be cautious when buying a property in the Albox area. We help lots of clients to find homes in Spain and there are a high percentage of 'illegal builds' in this particular area. This even applies to new developments. My understanding is that the authorities in the area have overstepped their powers and are approving certain builds that are beyond their remit. This has to do with the quantity of approvals and the inability of the infrastructure to handle this density of new builds. If you do find somewhere there, make sure that you get a properly qualified Spanish solicitor (that speaks English) and make sure that you choose your own, not one put forward by the developer. We will be exhibiting at the West Country Property Exhibition in Bristol on the 7th & 8th May and would be pleased to see you and help in any way we can. Let me know if you are interested and I will provide more details.

Robert@Eurosettlers

englishmaninjavea

Hello Cid and anyone wanting to purchase a property in the CB.

I am a estate agent in Javea, Costa Blanca, - people be wary of whom you deal with in spain - there are unscrupilous agencies around - it is best to ask around before dealing with an agent. Some agencies charge 10,20 or 25% commissions to the price you are buying your property for. If in doubt ask! they probably won´t tell the truth but it´s worth asking! Usual commission rate is 5%, although some agencies do charge 3% or lower on exclusive properties.

The commission rate is high due to the fact that the properties are advertised alot here and in the UK, the paper work involved, the price some companies pay for exhibitions and usually agencies share the commission with another agency.

Yes, you do find alot of properties are banded around the different agencies, check the price around locally before purchasing.

I was once looking for an agency to whom I could deal with in Javea and was told by a fellow agent with 12 years local experience that he could not recommend anyone! he said I would have to find out for myself!

However there are good agencies around, in my experience they are family owned local agents, the bigger agencies have a bad name and word soon gets around.

Dont be afraid to ask locally as to who are the good agents and the cowboys, the local expats are friendly, and word gets around about the dodgy agents, the local expats can give you help and advise.

Please feel free to e-mail me, if you require any help or advise about purchasing a property in this area.

englishmaninjavea
[email protected]



I have recently joined British Expats.com and was looking through the site when I came across your posting. Please be cautious when buying a property in the Albox area. We help lots of clients to find homes in Spain and there are a high percentage of 'illegal builds' in this particular area. This even applies to new developments. My understanding is that the authorities in the area have overstepped their powers and are approving certain builds that are beyond their remit. This has to do with the quantity of approvals and the inability of the infrastructure to handle this density of new builds. If you do find somewhere there, make sure that you get a properly qualified Spanish solicitor (that speaks English) and make sure that you choose your own, not one put forward by the developer. We will be exhibiting at the West Country Property Exhibition in Bristol on the 7th & 8th May and would be pleased to see you and help in any way we can. Let me know if you are interested and I will provide more details.

Robert@Eurosettlers [/QUOTE]

cidshock

thanks for your post

simon

Gill Stevens

My brother in law lives in Mojacar (Almeria) and looked at properties in Allbox and surrounding areas. We were going to look in those areas as there were detached villas for much less than other areas in Mojacar until he warned us off. He put a deposit down on a property and then found out a few worrying things and pulled out of the purchase and lost of deposit. I cannot remember what he told us, but it was along the lines that there was no permission for the roads they wish to build to get to the developments and I also heard from an agent here that a lot of the people in those inland Almeria areas had not received what they were promised from the builder and lots of people were still waiting for their deeds. I also heard when we were looking in Costa Blanca last September from various agents that there are court cases going on.

Cal Salter

[FONT=Arial]undefined[/FONTHi I just thought I would let you know that myself and my husband run our own estate agency here in the costa blanca and it is possible to obtain a mortgage for a resale property. Banks do not like to give mortgages on New Builds, as yet it is not possible to obtain a 100% mortgage very easily. i hope this helps you some. Caroline from www.elitevillas.net]

cidshock

Thanks for youre reply,

we are looking at getting a 30-40% mortgage on the property using a bank, would that be ok for a new build also.

cid

svenskidoo

You should have no problem getting a 30-40% mortgage on a new build providing you meet the banks lending criteria and the bank is satisfied with the development and builder.

Best thing to do is establish a relationship with a bank, then talk to them about what you want.

cidshock

thankyou for the post.

simon

phantom phixer

Very true Dougie, I am having a place built in the Costa De La Luz and it is already nearly a year behind shedule and no offer of compensation at all from the builder or British estate agent I am dealing with. With hindsight I wish I had employed a solicitor from day one. So if anyone is thinking of buying off plan get yourself a good solicitor and make sure he/she puts a late completion penalty clause into your contract. If it goes behind shedule you may get up to 30 euros for every day it is late.