Villas, Townhouses, Apartments & Moorings for Sale -
(Click on the photos for more details) Area: Other Costa Brava & Catalonia.

Spanish property sales are usually completed within three weeks and the vendor is required by the independent notary to provide documents showing ownership of the property. A 10% deposit secures the property - it is then binding on both parties (the buyer is committed to the purchase whilst if the seller backs out, he must repay the 10% deposit and the same amount as compensation). This almost entirely eliminates gazumping.

The notary should satisfy himself that the property was built with the permission of the local authority (the Adjuntament de Roses), and that there are no charges or taxes outstanding on the property. As further security, 7% of the agreed price is held independently for one year, to cover any financial obligations outstanding. Even with these safeguards though, it is still very worthwhile to engage an English-speaking solicitor.

As a first step, get a copy of this excellent book -
"Buying a Property in Spain: An Insider Guide to Finding a Home in the Sun."

For information & tips on house removals , Click here