Under The Sun Services
Spain has in many years been the most popular place in Europe for foreigners to settle down or to buy a second property. Apart from the sun and the perfect climate the great variety, the price and the investment value of properties in Spain are some of the reasons why more than ½ million Europeans have bought a property in Spain in the last five years (according to the foundation of foreign property owners in Spain 'Fundación Instituto de Propietarios Extranjeros').
In Spain you can find both new and old properties for sale and everything from farmhouses and small village properties to new apartments, traditional houses and great mansions can be found all over the country.
Compared to other European countries the price and the investment value of properties in Spain are very attractive for foreign investors. Alone in the last 3 years properties in Spain have increased about 15% in value per year and the price per square meter is still about 20-50% below the UK or North European average prices.
Although the above facts make it attractive to go out and find your dream house in Spain, buying a property is still a complex decision to take. To buy in a foreign country even makes the decision more important and complicated and there are a lot of different factors and pitfalls that you need to take into consideration.
In this guide you can find answers to many of your questions about how to find the right property and information about financial and legal issues. If you have any questions or need further help and information you can contact us by email (sales@underthesuninspain.net) or by filling in the form in our Help & Advice section.
Information included in this online guide;
Initial Steps - tips and info about initial steps you can take to make the process of finding a property easier.
Finding the Right Property in Spain - with information about what to look for in a property, information about estate agents and an introduction to Under the Sun Estate Agents S.L. help finding a property service.
Financial Issues - this is a short introduction to the financial elements of buying a property in Spain including what to be aware of, initial and annual costs and information about how to finance the purchase.
Legal Matters - an introduction to the most important legal things to be aware of before you sign any contract.
Off Plan Property Advice
If you are looking to buy off plan property in a new development you have most likely discovered how difficult it can be to find the right property and a trustworthy developer amongst the thousands of new promotions taking place all over Spain.
In Under the Sun Estate Agents S.L. we can guide you through the whole process as we are experts in both the process of finding the right development and all the legal and financial issues involved.
Why Use Our Service
Under the Sun Estate Agents S.L. we have a great variety of new developments available and can therefore always help you find exactly what you are looking for! – No matter if it is a holiday home in a golf resort or a villa in a residential area.
We do not offer just a traditional real estate service and we provide all our clients with full background information about each promotion, including general, legal and financial information about the constructer and promoter and information on what they have constructed before. This helps our clients take a more thorough decision before investing in a property in Spain and makes the whole search process more reliable.
Apart from this we know all clients are different depending on their personal preferences and also on their reasons for buying a property in Spain – a client looking for an off plan property as an investment will need different advice compared to someone looking for a holiday home.
We offer all our clients personalized service and we will help you go through all the important matters you will have to take into consideration before buying a property in Spain.
Our service is free of charge to you as our commission is paid directly by the developers with who we work in return for referring a client to their company. This DOES NOT mean that you pay more for the property but just that the selling agent or developer earn less in commission as they pay part of it to Under the Sun Estate Agents S.L. for our assistance.
The Property Finding Process
The first step in finding the right property is to make a pre-evaluation of your request. We will recommend that you first off all go through our property data base where you will find many examples of off plan and new developments in different areas of Spain (see Property Search). This will help you get a better understanding of the price level and what is available.
To be able to make this pre-evaluation we will need further information about what type of property you are looking for, where in Spain, your reasons for buying the property, etc and with this information we will thereafter get back to you with a personalized evaluation of the type of properties that are available and the main points to take into consideration for selecting the final property (please fill in the short form in the Help & Advice Section).
When we have received your first feedback to the evaluation we have made we will have a better idea of what you are looking for and the next step is therefore to start planning the inspection trip to view properties in Spain. In this aspect we can help you with everything from finding the best flight tickets and accommodation to renting a car or booking any free time activities.
As the market situation for off plan properties changes very fast we will, 1-2 weeks before your arrival to Spain, send out a list of properties we believe are suited and when you have selected the properties you wish to visit we will schedule the final appointments.
Upon your arrival we can arrange for someone to pick you up in the airport or explain how to get to your accommodation. To visit the scheduled properties one of our team members will take you to the different promotions. If you prefer to go on your own we can also provide you with full information about how to get there.
If you decide upon a property we will assist you with the paperwork, exchange of currency, setting up a bank account in Spain, etc and we will also assist you with signing the title deed.
Building Administration (Are you thinking about constructing in Spain?)
At Under the Sun Estate Agents S.L. we offer a complete and secure solution to everyone who is thinking about constructing a property in Spain - no matter the type of property, the location in Spain or the amount you are planning to invest we will be able to help you.
We will help you right from the initial phase of finding and buying the right plot, assigning a suitable architect and constructor and we will make sure that you get all the necessary licenses for the project and that all the legal issues are in order. We offer our service to both private people who would like to build a villa, and groups of individuals wishing to get a cheaper accommodation and to professional investor as well as foreign constructors and promoters.
Why Use Our Service
Constructing a property in Spain is a complicated process with a lot of legal peculiarities and practical and bureaucratic matters that needs professional assistance.
At Under the Sun Estate Agents S.L. we will make sure that the whole process goes smoothly and that you, during all the stage of the purchase, are receiving full assistance with both legal, financial and general matters.
Furthermore we offer many complementary services, which a building surveying company or a legal firm will not offer - including help finding the right plot, we have contacts to many recognised architects and constructors, we will advise you on both legal and financial sides of investing and constructing in Spain and most importantly we will be at your full disposal with help and advice right from the initial stage of planning your investment in Spain and throughout the whole process.
Please Contact Us for a personal offer for our complete Building Administration Service.
If you have any further questions or would like us to help you through the process of constructing a property in Spain please fill in the short form in the Help & Advice section.
Building Administration Service
Below you can find further information about the services included in our Building Administration service.
Legal advice from question answering and an initial legal briefing to our full assistance with preparing and closing the purchase of a plot, applying for all licenses to build, preparing the contracts with the builder and architect and getting the final licenses for first occupancy.
Investment and Financial advice including help getting a mortgage, buying currency and information about investing in the property sector in Spain.
General information and advice about constructing a property in Spain and the bureaucratic elements involved in the whole process.
Help planning an inspection trip to visit plots in Spain or during the construction - we can arrange everything hotel, airport transfer, visits to a requested number of plots etc..
Help finding the right plot and making sure it is free of debts, that it is possible to fulfil your building plans in that area and assist you with the purchase of the plot.
Recommendations and help finding an architect and prepare the design and plans to present it at the local authorities, which is needed to apply for a building permit.
Help finding a reputable builder and preparing the building contract including the payment terms, standards and materials used, completion date with penalty clause for late completion, etc.
If requested we will provide a good technical architect or engineer (aparejador) who will supervise the building throughout the completion and ensure that it comply with the construction standards set out initially.
Registering the finished house at the property registry and getting the new title deed, where the new property is included.
Upon completion we will help with all the practical matters that need to be taken care of such payment of taxes, opening water/gas/electricity, getting a telephone installed etc.
Legal Assistance
At Under the Sun Estate Agents S.L. we offer a legal service that covers all areas of purchasing and or constructing a property in Spain. We make a great effort to ensure that all important legal matters are explained to our clients in an easy to understand way and from an early stage so that nothing comes as a big surprise. All our lawyers speaks Spanish and English, have a law degree from a recognised Spanish University and are members of a recognised Legal Bar Association giving them the right to practice and acting as lawyers throughout Spain.
Below you can find further information about the legal services provided by At Under the Sun Estate Agents S.L. If you have any questions or would like to discuss how we can help you please fill in the short form in the Help & Advice section.
Buy a Property
As mentioned many times throughout this web site buying a property in Spain is a complicated process with a lot of legal peculiarities. We can strongly recommend to seek independent legal advice as there are a lot of potential problems that can occur, which can end up costing the buyer both money and worries.
At Under the Sun Estate Agents S.L our legal advisors offer legal assistance right from the initial phase of the property search throughout the whole process including initial legal briefing, the closing of a purchase contract and after sale assistance. i.e. getting renovation or building permissions.
We offer a complete legal service for both resale and new properties including:
Helping you to get a fiscal number (NIE), which is needed to pay different property taxes and to register your new property.
Checking that the house is free of any charges and that there are no debts or other liabilities against the property.
Going through the title deed of the property to make sure that the seller has the right to sell the property.
Making sure the developer (when buying off-plan) has all papers in order - deed of the declaration of new construction, property deeds, construction licenses and occupancy permission - as well as investing the solvency and reputation of the constructer.
Going through receipts and payments of the real estate tax, the wealth tax, community fees etc.
We will also go through and explain to you all the rules of the community as they can have legal influence on you and your property.
Making sure that the local government doesn't have any plans about the area where the property is located and looking at the house plan at the town-planning department.
Reviewing or drawing up the private purchase contract as well as negotiating with the seller or his solicitor about payments, supplies, handover of keys etc.
Assisting you at the Notary for signing the title deed or we can sign on your behalf with a power of attorney.
Filing in all the paper work including registering the property at the property registry, arranging payments and declaration of the property transfer tax, stamp duty, inform Bank of Spain on your inversion (if necessary).
Practical help applying or changing receipts for water, gas, telephone etc.
Construct a Property
If you wish to construct a property in Spain you need first of all to have patience (as it is a long process) and it is vital that you have the right advisor right from the beginning. In At Under the Sun Estate Agents S.L. we can help you throughout all stages from finding a plot and making sure that it is possible to build on it to getting all the paper work and permissions in order as well as help finding a builder, architect, engineers.
We will steer you through the whole process including:
Initial advice about building in Spain including information about all the legal and bureaucratic elements involved in the whole process.
Helping you find the right plot and making sure it is free of debts, that it is possible to realise your building plans in that area and assist you with the purchase of the plot.
Helping you find an architect and prepare the design and plans to present it at the local authorities, which is needed to apply for a building permit.
Assisting you with finding a builder and preparing the contract with the builder including the payment terms, standards and material used, completion date with penalty clause for late completion, etc.
Help finding a good technical architect or engineer (aparejador) who will supervise the building and ensure that it comply with the construction standards set out initially.
Registering the finished house at the property registry and getting a the new title deed, which includes the new property.
Other Legal Services
Apart from legal assistance with buying or constructing a property we can At Under the Sun Estate Agents S.L. also help you with. Helping you sell your property including professional advise about pricing the property, presenting the property to different estate agents, prepare paperwork needed to complete the sale, prepare private contract stating terms & condition of the sale, assistance at the notary, payment of capital gain tax, etc.
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