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My first post, just wanted to say hello :) - Page 3

Georgina74

Posted: Wed Nov 17, 2021 2:22pm

Georgina74

Original Poster

Posts: 13

1 helpful points

Location: Calahonda

Joined: 14 Nov 2021

Posted: Wed Nov 17, 2021 2:22pm

Wendy6677 wrote on Wed Nov 17, 2021 1:59pm:

Try this one Georgina

https://youtu.be/3nLul0xBUeY

Thank you Wendy, I have seen that one it's really good. There are a few others that are just someone driving as well. I was hoping for one that walks around the shops, bars, restaurant's and beach, but I'm not sure one exists to be honest. I like those ones because it helps with perspective and working out where everything is. I've been dragging the little Streetview person around but it's a pain LOL

Wendy6677

Posted: Wed Nov 17, 2021 2:44pm

Posts: 13

1 helpful points

Location: Estepona

Joined: 15 Nov 2021

Posted: Wed Nov 17, 2021 2:44pm

Riviera del Sol, including Miraflores and neighbouring Calahonda were never originally towns. This was just vast swathes of land that developers started building on in the 1980's and as a result of which commercial centres, banks, supermarkets , restaurants and all other amenities have since moved in. As a generalsisation, they started with the land nearest the beach and worked back and upwards so the newer properties that date to around 2004 are on the other side of the AP7 toll road. In Calahonda there is a strip of restaurants on the lower half of Avenida España plus you have El Zoco and Los Olivos commercial centres. In Riviera, most of the amenities are on Avenida del Golf and Avenida Polaris on the other side of the A7 to Max Beach. There are other restaurants etc of course but those are the main areas. Try dropping the little man on those streets. There is a whole cross section of nationalities that either live permanently or holiday in these areas so it is busy all year round. I hope that helps .

Ljohnstone

Posted: Mon Nov 22, 2021 3:59pm

Posts: 3

Location: Estepona

Joined: 30 Sep 2021

Posted: Mon Nov 22, 2021 3:59pm

Helli, we brought an apartment back in April, Future homes were brilliant, and the after sales service is great, we popped in last week asking for advice on general how do we do this type stuff and they just keep helping us out. I can't rate them highly enough. It is a family business and you everyone is important who walks through their do.

Gesther

Posted: Mon Nov 22, 2021 4:05pm

Posts: 100

24 helpful points

Location: Estepona

Joined: 18 Apr 2020

Posted: Mon Nov 22, 2021 4:05pm

Totally agree “ future homes” trustworthy and reliable .

mariposa44

Posted: Tue Nov 23, 2021 12:16pm

Posts: 2

1 helpful points

Location: Estepona

Joined: 28 Jul 2020

Posted: Tue Nov 23, 2021 12:16pm

Hello Georgina,

Best advice? 

1.  Do your homework because remember, dreams don't always come true.  They can sometimes become nightmares.  Don't let your heart rule your head!

2. Rent somewhere first to see if you like the area.  Just because others like somewhere doesn't mean you will.

3.  Your lack of confidence and hesitation is because at the moment, you lack knowledge.  Undoubtedly, it is a big step and one I took with my family back in 1972.

4.  Don't think every Brit is your friend. Build a relationship with the local Spanish community.  They know the laws and important things you need to know.

5.  Do try and attempt to make an effort to learn the language.  It will be much appreciated and your experience will be the richer for it.

6.  Lastly, when you have done your homework and found a suitable property, seek a recommended, competent notary and make a Spanish will as well as an English one.

Pues, que tengas suerte con tu nueva vida and I hope you have found this helpful.

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Sam67

Posted: Thu Nov 25, 2021 2:47am

Posts: 7

Location: Mijas Costa

Joined: 2 Dec 2020

Posted: Thu Nov 25, 2021 2:47am

Hi Georgia 

The Costa del sol is a great place to live. 

Now we are in Brexit it cuts our time down to just 90 days in every 180.  Unless you become a Resident of Spain , eg live there for more than 183 days in anyone year. 

Watch out for the  scam iv just had played on me. 

Went with guys who offered to find me a buyer. There contract stated 5% commission on the sale price.

They then touted my property to agents on the Costa del sol. 

These agents put my property on there web site. 

The agents then charge the buyer a commission 5% or more , or what ever bettet deal the buyer can negotiate.  ( this is independent of my original contract of 5% ) 

The estate agent then sends the same  contract to my Lawyer firm, it is sent to me with a demand to sign it. ( I did ) who's the fool. It turns out she wasn't even a Lawyer just a clerk in the conveyancing department who tells me she is a Lawyer and I gave her my power of attorney.  So she counter signs the contract. 

Now the estate agent  have a legal right to claim there fees from me at the Notary, on the point of sale 

, As the contact was made by the estate agent and the buyer then the buyer would add the fees to the sale price as agreed. 

All is well until I change my mind to sell. 

My Lawyer had taken a 10% deposit. 

I HAD TO PAY DOUBLE BACK .

 ( A FORTUNE ) 

WARNING 

(NEVER PAY A DEPOSIT. THERE IS NO LEAGAL REQUIRMENT TO DO SO. IF YOU CHANGE YOUR MIND OR THE CONTRACT DATE LAPSES YOU LOOSE YOUR DEPOSIT. ) 

In my case the estate agent who I didn't even know and i personal had made no contract with  threatened me with her Lawyer to take court action against me if I didn't pay there fees. ( Because I signed her contract that she made with the buyer.)

APARENTLY ME SIGNING THEIR  CONTRACT WHICH THEY HAD WITH THE BUYER CONSTITUTES AN AGREEMENT  FOR ME TO PAY THERE FEES IF I DEFAULT ON THE SALE. 

I was gutted . 

But it didn't stop there.

THE GUYS WHO SAID THEY WOULD FIND ME A BUYER ALSO WANTED THERE 5% 

THE FINAL STRAW WAS THE LAWYER FIRM DROP ME AS A CLIENT AFTER 23 YEARS BECAUSE I CHANGED MY MIND TO SELL TO A SPANISH BUYER.  I WAS INFORMED IN AN EMAIL FROM THE IMPOSTER LAWYER ,OFFICE CLERK THEY WOULD NO LONGER ACT FOF ME ON THIS SALE . 

THEY GOT ME TO SIGN A LETTER IN SPANISH,  WITH NO TRANSLATION INTO  ENGLISH THAT THE IMPOSTER LAWYER AND THE FIRM EXONERATE THEMSELVES FROM THE SALE CONTRACT. 

WHAT A NIGHTMARE . I LEFT SPAIN TOTALLY DEJECTED PAYING OUT A FORTUNE.

BUYER /SELLER BE WARNED. 

PS I WAS ADVICED BY A REPUTABLE LAWYER TO PAY THESE PEOPLE. 

HE ADVICED THAT THE BUYER COULD  SUE IN THE SPAINISH COURTS TO GET MY PROPERTY FOR THE DEPOSIT OUTSTANING  (I HAD ALREADY RETURNED THERE 10% DEPOSIT) HE SAID THE COURT COULD AND PROBABLY WOULD GRANT IT. 

Please be careful this place is full of scammers . 

Sam 

Gesther

Posted: Thu Nov 25, 2021 5:04pm

Posts: 100

24 helpful points

Location: Estepona

Joined: 18 Apr 2020

Posted: Thu Nov 25, 2021 5:04pm

Sam67 wrote on Thu Nov 25, 2021 2:47am:

Hi Georgia 

The Costa del sol is a great place to live. 

Now we are in Brexit it cuts our time down to just 90 days in every 180.  Unless you become a Resident of Spain , eg live there for more than 183 days in anyone year. 

Watch out for the  scam iv just had played on me. 

Went with guys who offered to find me a buyer. There contract stated 5% commission on the sale price.

They then touted my property to agents on the Costa del sol. 

These agents put my property on there web site. 

The agents then charge the buyer a commission 5% or more , or what ever bettet deal the buyer can negotiate.  ( this is independent of my original contract of 5% ) 

The estate agent then sends the same  contract to my Lawyer firm, it is sent to me with a demand to sign it. ( I did ) who's the fool. It turns out she wasn't even a Lawyer just a clerk in the conveyancing department who tells me she is a Lawyer and I gave her my power of attorney.  So she counter signs the contract. 

Now the estate agent  have a legal right to claim there fees from me at the Notary, on the point of sale 

, As the contact was made by the estate agent and the buyer then the buyer would add the fees to the sale price as agreed. 

All is well until I change my mind to sell. 

My Lawyer had taken a 10% deposit. 

I HAD TO PAY DOUBLE BACK .

 ( A FORTUNE ) 

WARNING 

(NEVER PAY A DEPOSIT. THERE IS NO LEAGAL REQUIRMENT TO DO SO. IF YOU CHANGE YOUR MIND OR THE CONTRACT DATE LAPSES YOU LOOSE YOUR DEPOSIT. ) 

In my case the estate agent who I didn't even know and i personal had made no contract with  threatened me with her Lawyer to take court action against me if I didn't pay there fees. ( Because I signed her contract that she made with the buyer.)

APARENTLY ME SIGNING THEIR  CONTRACT WHICH THEY HAD WITH THE BUYER CONSTITUTES AN AGREEMENT  FOR ME TO PAY THERE FEES IF I DEFAULT ON THE SALE. 

I was gutted . 

But it didn't stop there.

THE GUYS WHO SAID THEY WOULD FIND ME A BUYER ALSO WANTED THERE 5% 

THE FINAL STRAW WAS THE LAWYER FIRM DROP ME AS A CLIENT AFTER 23 YEARS BECAUSE I CHANGED MY MIND TO SELL TO A SPANISH BUYER.  I WAS INFORMED IN AN EMAIL FROM THE IMPOSTER LAWYER ,OFFICE CLERK THEY WOULD NO LONGER ACT FOF ME ON THIS SALE . 

THEY GOT ME TO SIGN A LETTER IN SPANISH,  WITH NO TRANSLATION INTO  ENGLISH THAT THE IMPOSTER LAWYER AND THE FIRM EXONERATE THEMSELVES FROM THE SALE CONTRACT. 

WHAT A NIGHTMARE . I LEFT SPAIN TOTALLY DEJECTED PAYING OUT A FORTUNE.

BUYER /SELLER BE WARNED. 

PS I WAS ADVICED BY A REPUTABLE LAWYER TO PAY THESE PEOPLE. 

HE ADVICED THAT THE BUYER COULD  SUE IN THE SPAINISH COURTS TO GET MY PROPERTY FOR THE DEPOSIT OUTSTANING  (I HAD ALREADY RETURNED THERE 10% DEPOSIT) HE SAID THE COURT COULD AND PROBABLY WOULD GRANT IT. 

Please be careful this place is full of scammers . 

Sam 

I am so sorry to hear your story. When we were looking we too had many so called agents trying to scam us as Buyers ….everyone need to be aware.after months of cowboys and girls  on our out last few days we spotted an proper estate agent just past the port. Our luck really changed then and so we ended up buying a property through them so please we used them and would only recommend them for buying and selling .

“future Homes” AveDel Carmen Estepona

mariposa44

Posted: Mon Nov 29, 2021 12:31pm

Posts: 2

1 helpful points

Location: Estepona

Joined: 28 Jul 2020

Posted: Mon Nov 29, 2021 12:31pm

Sam, this is a very complicated horror story with too many fingers in the pie. It is so important to check peoples' credentials before parting with any money. Not that  that helps you now.  My feeling is that the company with the fake lawyer, if they are a genuine legal team could be reported to the law society in Malaga for malpractice.  This would not incur legal fees as you can present the case yourself but it would need to be carefully done and in Spanish and of course it would take time.  Or perhaps you could go to the police and just denounce them for theft and acting under false pretences.  Simply paying up just encourages fraud. 

MichaelJ

Posted: Tue Nov 30, 2021 12:56pm

Posts: 48

29 helpful points

Location: Estepona

Joined: 8 Sep 2021

Posted: Tue Nov 30, 2021 12:56pm

Hi,

we bought an apartment back in 2012 in Casares Costa. Due to some private issues we decided so sell it again in 2017. This was a really hard decision, and back in April we found an apartment again in the same community and bought it. We are extremely happy "to be back" and we simply love this place. As not all buildings are of high quality, and as damp is partly a problem, you should be avare of that. When we bought first time, we got the advice to avoid ground floor apartments, as they more often have damo issues. Another thing is the financial situation of the community. There are quite some communities with challenges when it comes to that.

Besides of finding the right place, one of the most important points is to have a good laywer. We used Antonio Zarco for when we bought and sold, and we can only recommend him, he is doing a very good job. 

Antonia Zarco - [email protected]

C/ Juan Ruiz Muñoz, Ed. Marino 1, 1ª planta

29.602. Marbella

0034/952779600-Fax: 0034 952823575

If you will need a mortgage, I can also recommend - www.bankinspain.com - it is an agent with connection most banks in Spain. We used their services last time, and they are offering full service and as a client you never feel "left alone" - if their offer is accepted it cost one time € 599,00 - and this is in fact a very good quote. Other agents takes up to 3 times more.

Enclosed a photo of our view from one of our balconies.

If you have any questions, please feel free.

Regards,

Michael

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