When you have a more concrete idea of your dream property you can start looking around. If you are interested in the off plan market you will have to get yourself informed about new developments and property promotions. To purchase a property in a new development can be more complex compared to getting a second hand real estate. This is due to several reasons: you will not be able to see the house before you commit to buying it, the look of the house might not be fitted to your taste but rather to the promoter’s.
For further information about buying a property in a new development please see the section Off-Plan Properties in Spain or you can search through our database for New Promotions available all over Spain.
Whether you are planning to buy a property off plan or to build or to buy second hand, you should always look at a wide variety of properties to gain an understanding of how the real estate market works in Spain. This will take time but the more houses you visit and the more time you invest the more chances you have to find a property that you will love to live in or that will be a great investment opportunity. But you should be aware that there is a high demand for Spanish properties and that there are a number of legal matters that will slow down the process of your acquisition. You need to sort these out before you buy the property – see also the section Legal Matters of Buying Property in Spain.
When you visit properties we suggest you keep in mind your list with your essential requirements. Focus in particular on the things that cannot be changed or that are very difficult to change (i.e. the distribution, location or orientation of the property). If you find a property you like you should visit it at least one more time. You would be surprised at the things you will notice on your second visit. Spend sometime in the area and try to speak to some neighbours about living there. In addition, you should bring along a professional that can examine the structure of the house and that can go through the installations of the house like electricity, water and gas. You can also order for approx.1000€ an official inspection of the property by the ‘Colegio Official de Aparejadores y Arquitectos Técnicos’.
Please see the next section for further information about the Financial Issues involved with purchasing property in Spain.
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