Emigrating / Buying Property in france/spain. - Need Help?

Question

I need some advice on buying a property in france or spain, we have around about £250,000.

Any recommended area's to move to?

Also what about legal stuff, anything need to be done?

How would you say to go about moving?

Any help/suggestions are appreciated

- Thanks

Answer 1

check your local airport for regular/cheap/all year departures.  No point buying somewhere that's not easy to get to for a weekend break etc.  Make sure your Solicitor can translate for you and understands the local system.  Get a second opinion if you're not sure.  Why not try and enlist Amanda Lamb's help?

http://www.channel4.com/4homes/ontv/plac...

Answer 2

Given the widespread corruption in Spain, it does make it difficult, even if you 'think' you are going through proper channels.  Estate agents there are all pushing 'new build' properties and it is hard to get details of pre owned buildings. The standards of construction appear high on the surface, but the reverse is often the case. Many properties have extrmely thin walls an you can hear everything that happens next door from a bottom burp up.

France - accept that the system of buying is different from the UK and you will have no problems. A lot of Notaires who carry out the legal work here speack excellent English. You DO NOT need an English solicitor, they charge thousands of pounds (for your peace of mind) and in reality just translate documents. Local translators will perform the same task for around £100 if you really need it. The system is France is heavily regulated and no one can do anything to change it.

Advice - get a French Bank Account opened, sell your property and move out here, for looking around  areasuse ETAP, or similar cheap hotels for a few days. When you find an area you like hire a static caravan for at least 6 weeks while you pin down the property you want. From the time you say I will buy It to completing is often around 3 months. The Notaires are very professional and you can trust them completely. They ensure all checks required by French Law are correctly done sp just leave them alone to get on with job. Your estate agent will also probably be fluen in English and they will help all they can. Estate agentshere have to be licenced (ask to see it) and have to have either a degree or 10 years experience to obtain their licence. Complaints against them are taken very seriously by the authorities here. They think (rightly) that most UK buyers are numpties. So long as you accept that France is different to the UK you will be fine. Moving - use the net to find self storage over here and move what furniture you want into store. Again, be realistic, so many foks we know try and bring everything they own, and it just does not work. Bring with you rugs (much cheaper in UK than France) anything else you can but new here for less than or equivalent to, UK prices.

Use HIFX or similar to transfer most your money toyour French Bank Account. If you are a cash buyer you can often get a property a bit cheaper or faster because you do not require a mortgage. When you agree to but, you and the seller have a 7 day cooling off period, after that the seller can not withdraw, and you, having paid a 10% deposit, would loose it if you withdraw after 7 days.

We found virtually all the info we obtained in the UK is based on 'scaremongering' because we are not fluent French Speakers. Cobblers, the French people have been so helpful and really go out of their way to help you. Go for it, be realistic and you will be fine