Spanish Property News

Completing on a new property in Spain is an exciting time and there are lots of things to organise. Finances, NIE numbers, signing dates – after waiting for your Spanish property to be built it can suddenly feel like a whirlwind has hit you. Additionally with Sterling now much weaker against the Euro the money you set aside to set up the property may have to stretch that much further. Furnishing your property will be high up on your to-do list but it can seem both a daunting and expensive task.

Actually it doesn’t need to be either. In our experience the best places to choose your furniture are the local furniture shops. These businesses are generally family run and offer good value quality furniture coupled with excellent service. Typically they have a show room where you can see the basic designs available and plenty of catalogues which give you lots of additional options.

We’ve found a huge benefit of buying locally is that the owners often know the size and shape of the properties on new developments in their area. This is really helpful as even armed with detailed plans and photos it can be difficult to assess what will and won’t work, especially when you are furnishing a whole property in one go.

Delivery is a matter of days, not the weeks we are accustomed to in the UK. Extra requests such as the adding a sofa bed mechanism to a sofa or co-ordinating dining chairs and sofas are easily accommodated.

Most places we have seen offer different ‘grades’ of furniture – for instance you will have a basic quality mattress, medium and top of the range. I suggest that unless you are going to be using the property full time the medium quality range of furniture is ideal in terms of both quality and price. Fully furnishing a two bedroom apartment with medium grade furniture should cost you around 4,000 Euros.

We’ve got a number of clients about to complete on their off-plan properties and we have been showing them some of the furniture stores here on the Costa Calida that we recommend they consider. This is all part of the service Dream Spain clients receive.

Labels: Spanish Property Furnishing

The average property price in Murcia is approx 31% below the national average (see the Kyero price index) so there is still plenty of room for future growth. But even better for you the buyer, the property market has been slow and as a result Dream Spain in collaboration with trusted local builders is delighted to offer you fantastic quality properties in Spain at hugely discounted prices.

Request our new brochure of great Spanish property offers with up to 28% discount - before the offers are released onto our homepage.

Labels: Discounted Spanish Property, Spanish Property Offers

Spanish property repossession is undoubtedly a buzz phrase at the moment – we are told this is the way to grab a bargain property in Spain. Indeed if you Google ‘bargain Spanish property’ you’ll see the phrase several times on page one. Public access to Spanish repossessions was thrown into the spotlight when CAM bank (Caja de Ahorros de Mediterraneo) launched a website offering their repossessions and properties in danger of repossession to the general public. There are various agencies offering access to the properties, but this is the direct link - www.mediterraneancam.com/. Here you can see the CAM bank properties available and if it has the term “en subasta” next to it, you can go to another website to bid on that property in an auction.

Almost every article on Spanish property at the moment will not fail to say that there is an over-supply of property in Spain. They suggest that hundreds of apartments lie empty and banks are having keys thrown back at them by disgruntled ex-pats. Here in Murcia, the building of resorts by Polaris World are used by some as an example of the apparent over-supply in this region. Therefore as CAM bank have worked with Polaris World on their developments I would expect to see endless lists of incredibly cheap properties, many of those from Polaris, on the CAM repossession website.

However if I go to the website this is not what I find. There are currently only 107 properties on the website for the region of Murcia. Yes, there are a few very cheap inland properties for sale – ideal for those with a big restoration budget - you have always found these on Spanish Property portals. There are also a handful of low priced apartments in Cartagena city. I don’t find that surprising as, like most cities, there will always be parts of the city where cheap property surfaces during difficult times.

However if I look in the areas most popular with second home buyers - the Mar Menor, Los Alcazares, Polaris World resorts - I do not see an endless list of repossessed new build properties or even very low priced resale opportunities. There is the odd property which looks reasonable value- especially when compared to the quoted original price. However I am not convinced by the accuracy of these original valuations – and the “repossession” prices are often no cheaper than some of the properties we have available in the resale or new-build market.

We will keep watching this repossession site with interest to see how much clients can really gain by purchasing one of these properties. We know that our clients want the best value for their money. This is achieved by finding a property that is constructed to a very high quality, in a great location and at a realistic market price. Great value property has always been available on the Costa Calida – but to judge this accurately you need help from someone who really knows the local market conditions regarding prices, location and build quality. That way you can be sure that you really are grabbing your own Costa Calida property bargain.

Labels: cam bank property, cam bank repossessions, Costa Calida Property

My friend here in Murcia mentioned to me yesterday that he is hearing rumours that Disney are buying-up plots on the Costa Calida for the next Disney theme park.

This would be of great interest to anyone owning or thinking of owning a property in Murcia.

However I am fairly sceptical as the only ‘rumours’ I can see on the web suggest plans were once in the pipeline for a theme park further south. Furthermore with the current global economy building a new theme park seems a risky plan for Mickey and crew. (If you seriously KNOW better then post and let us know).

It did get me thinking about all the attractions we have in Murcia and wondering if we are really missing out not having Disney in Murcia.

Disney boasts of fantastic shows, spectacular parades and breathtaking firework displays. Well in Murcia for this you need to look no further than one of the region’s fiestas. The processions and fireworks of Semana Santa (Easter) kept my 4 year old nephew quiet for hours (miracles do happen in Murcia!) and the re-enacted battles of the Cartagineses and Romanos contain enough drama for anyone.

Disney is great for keeping the kids entertained, but then most parents and kids love the safe fun they have on the Mar Menor beaches. It’s a unique salt-water lake connected to the Mediterranean and a fantastic place for families as the water is shallow, warm and without currents.

Of course for the more active kite-surfing, jet-skiing, go-karting and quad biking are all readily available. While it is true that there is a distinct lack of white knuckle rides in Murcia, the water shoots and slides at Murcia’s water park definitely raise the adrenalin levels during the summer months. The tranquil spas at Archena and Fortuna are there for those that need to calm down afterwards.

I have heard people say the Disney franchise has no soul - well Murcia certainly has plenty to share. The city of Caravaca is one of only five holy cities of the world and celebrates one of its holy days with an infamous wine horse race – a real spectacle.

I have barely touched upon the activities available in Murcia, but I am sure that if even if Mickey has decided not to buy a home in Murcia there are many people who don’t need the razzmatazz of Disney to convince them it’s a good place to own property.

Labels: Buying Property in Murcia, Costa Calida Property

Despite or may be because of the doom and gloom filled media many people are wondering if they can still fulfil their dream of moving to Spain. With savings in the bank now bringing a minimum return they are attracted to the opportunities in the Spanish property market and the potential to rejuvenate their lifestyle.

A fear which is preventing people from making the move is the “no going back” syndrome. If you sell your property in the UK it can be difficult to return – especially with the current mortgage situation. What if your Spanish dream doesn’t work out? What if you don’t like living in Spain? What if you need to return to your family in the UK?

Spain does not work out for everyone so it is always sensible to have a Plan B. Rather than selling up in the UK more and more people are looking to rent out their original home whilst they trial a new life in Spain. It has a number of advantages – you retain your asset and the rent covers your mortgage or provides an income. Most importantly you do not have to start all over again should you decide to leave Spain.

However it also brings its own set of challenges, not least being an overseas landlord with an emotional attachment to your rental property. Finding a good UK based letting agency is vital to ensuring you can enjoy your life in Spain without worrying about what is happening to your property in Blighty. Communication is key for overseas landlords and you need a letting agency that acknowledges this and is prepared to keep you informed and take real responsibility for your property.

Director of SurreyLets, Sally Asling, has this advice for potential overseas landlords “Letting your home in the UK whilst you move abroad is a sensible option as if things don’t work out you still have your home to return to.

Once you are overseas and are content it was the right move, you can either sell your home and reinvest in more conventional buy to let properties to maximise your returns on your investments whilst keeping a foothold on the UK property Ladder or sell up.

It is however imperative to work with a Letting Agent that you trust and find out who will be dealing with your home on a daily basis. Too many larger companies pass you over to call centres and the personal touch disappears. Here at SurreyLets we pride ourselves on offering clients a personal and professional service that is tailor made to suit you. The professional staff can advise you on all aspects of letting you home and assist you with every step along the way, ensuring your best interests are put first”

Often people who try this approach find that the knowledge that they still have a ‘haven’ in the UK helps them settle into their new life in Spain, and it is soon a case of “Never going back”.

Labels: buying property in Spain, Letting Agents in Surrey

To be sure of a sunny holiday in these uncertain times it appears that more holiday makers are considering the Mediterranean than last year. bmibaby, the low cost airline that flies to both Murcia and Alicante, reports that over 1.3 million people searched for flights to the Mediterreanean this February compared to 87,500 last year.

rawford Rix, managing director of bmibaby says "With the current economic downturn consumers want to make sure their annual summer holiday guarantees them some sunshine".

bmibaby, along with many of the other low cost airlines have increased their summer flights to Murcia and Alicante bringing more people than ever to this tranquil coastline.

Spanish property landlords on the Costa Calida of course will be pleased by this news and holiday home owners will welcome the increased opportunities to visit their property for relaxing summers breaks. The poor exchange rate may have deterred some people from considering Spain, but on the Costa Calida prices for food and drink are still good value for money while the beautiful beaches and bright sunshine are still free!

Labels: Buying Property in Murcia, Costa Calida Property

Great news for all our new and existing clients - CALLS to our UK NUMBER - 0845 86 200 50 are now FREE from a BT Landline at certain times. So why not call us to find out about some of the great property deals available with Dream Spain.

Think that the poor exchange rate means you can't buy a property in Spain? Well talk to us now - some of our properties are available at a fixed sterling price based on an exchange rate starting at 1.45 Euro to the Pound.

Would you like some friendly no-nonsense advice about how to turn your dream of owning a Spanish property into reality? Call 0845 86 200 50.

Labels: Dream Spain Spanish Property, Fixed Sterling Exchange Rate