Re: Would you move to Spain now?
 

A lot of old country properties have "issues". An extension added here or there, perhaps a whole new level put on top, a swimming pool added at some point, a little "casita" built at the end of the garden to house the cars, or worse...land divided up into plots and further properties built, etc, etc....all without the corresponding planning permission. The age old escritura often bears little resemblance to what the eye can see standing today. Most old fincas will have been "touched up" over the years in some way or another.

People with land that is "rustico" seem to have been allowed to run riot for decades, but not any more.

If you are worried about illegal properites and domolisions I think it is safest to buy on land that is "urbano" (not urbanizable), and that could be an old property or a new build.

Re: Would you move to Spain now?
 

100 year old cortijos are not a risk so long as they have an escrictura and nota simple ,many are not registered in order to save on ayuntamiento taxes, if old maps /deeds and even early satellite images can prove there existence you wont have a problem registering them,unless you turn an 80m cortijo into a 200m villa!!

Anything post 1970 needs checking with a fine tooth comb!

Re: Would you move to Spain now?
 

Yes, I have heard them on the TV programmes, "we want a bit of land where we can be self sufficient, keeps a few goats and chickens...." :) I wonder how many ever do?

Re: Would you move to Spain now?
 

I have to say I don't know of any actually IN Javea

there have recently been arrests (the mayor or former mayor & a gestor?) in Lliber which is quite close - all to do with illegal properties

it was 'common knowledge' that there are a lot of illegal properties in that area


as for apartments - there are tons for sale in Javea - some buildings have recently been completed & stand almost completely empty

Re: Would you move to Spain now?
 

So if you've (read I've:unsure:) got a 150 year old former mill with extension at the back done when the property was reformed, and the escritura conforms to the size of what was here when we bought it, including the pool, that should be ok?
Just overlooking for a moment that we've done work subsequently to shore up the poolhouse creating a bit of a terrace, & done some path/minor terrace (and I do mean minor - about 2sq m) work.......

Re: Would you move to Spain now?
 

Hi there I've just joined this forum. We are in the process of buying a cortijo near Albuñol in the Costa Tropical region. It will be a holiday home for around 18 months when we plan to retire out there. I think demolition is a problem in some areas particularly with newer properties but I'm told by brits who have moved to our area that its not a problem there.

Can't wait to move out to Spain and leave the UK for ever as I think its going from bad to worse. Personally I wouldn't rent as I think its money down the drain but I know some people think you should first. We love the area and will be near the sea and also the mountains in a lovely 2-bed bungalow with a nice bit of land which we wanted as will be taking our two dogs out eventually. There is room for a pool which we shall get done at some point.

So all in all we can't wait. Just waiting for all documentation to get sorted. Its been owned by a swedish couple for 23 years but the man has now died and getting all docs in widow's sole name is proving to be a time consuming business :frown:

Still I'm sure all will be well and we are hoping to complete next month or early March :fingerscrossed:

Val :thumbsup:

Re: Would you move to Spain now?
 

Hi, welcome to the forum and good luck with your purchase.

Re: Would you move to Spain now?
 

Welcome Val, hope the buy goes well for you...

Whether rent is money down the drain, bear in mind that some properties that were bought for 400k euros in 2005 in the CDS now cant sell for half that amount, but they still need maintaining every year and taxes paid on them...

Now that can be called money down the drain :)

Re: Would you move to Spain now?
 

True cricketman but this is an excellent time to buy in a depressed market. We are buying for €83,000 which we think is a good price for the property and land. Being sold fully firnished as well so we can just move in. :thumbup:

Val :)

Re: Would you move to Spain now?
 

I think that is called a risk-free price :)

Good luck!

Re: Would you move to Spain now?
 

Sounds a good price indeed... just one minor cautionary word, I don't know a thing about that neck of the woods but just be aware you might not get permission to build an in-ground pool. Water's a huge issue in some places.
Good luck & welcome to the forum.

Re: Would you move to Spain now?
 

Apparently you need planning permission for absolutely everything there :eek:

but a couple of brits who have lived there for 6 years say you can get a pool put in and they've done it so know a company we can go to. It will only be an issue once we've moved out there to live anyway and we have an inflatable spa pool to take out to use as a plunge pool for cooling off in the meantime.

First thing we need is gates and some fences and guess what you need planning permission for that too so its gonna be a trip to the town hall to get that sorted first as we must have secure boundaries for when we take the dogs out. :)

Its all exciting stuff though and we can't wait to get on with it.

Val :cool:

Re: Would you move to Spain now?
 

Ah! That's OK if you were told by some Brits, it must be true! :)

Re: Would you move to Spain now?
 

Sounds a familiar story these days and becoming a cliché... so why stick your head in the fire again ?

.. I guess human nature is to be hopeful and a bit wiser! Optimist or Dreamer ?

Re: Would you move to Spain now?
 

Nothing wrong with a brits opinion or lots of their opinions but you have to decide on your own opinion.

Opinions vary.

And also when in spain ask a spanish person.They know most of all.:)