Feasts, Baracas and the simple life...

Last Wednesday was FIESTA time here (so was last Monday, but that was Constitution Day, Wednesday was religious, celebrating the Immaculate Conception). Unexpectedly, I was invited by local friends to join them at their “Baraca” for lunch. Over the time I have lived here, I have tried to determine the true meaning of “Baraca” as this is not the first time I have been invited to such a location. Originally, it seems, the word “baraca” meant a hunting lodge, situated outside a village or town, where men would meet to enjoy the cooking and savouring of the game they had caught. Also, much drinking of locally brewed beer and wine carried on and no doubt they told many ribald jokes, entirely unsuitable for ladies who were not present at these festivities.



These days things have changed. A “baraca” is now the term for a basic building, out of town, on an allotment, in the countryside or anywhere in which the family get together for fiestas, birthdays or any occasion to be celebrated. It must be said that some “baracas” are rather grandiose affairs, with electricity, gas, loos and even bedrooms and bathrooms. Others, like the one I visited on Wednesday are simple constructions, in this case, 2 rooms at one end of a large allotment, one with a an open fire on which our sausages were cooked, the other without heating or electricity where we sat around a large table groaning with food brought in from my hosts' home. The weather was particularly kind that day, the temperature reaching 16º at its height and the sun pouring into our eating area – just as well, or it would have been very very cold in there! The delicious lunch comprised an apple & tuna salad, numerous and varied types of sausage and chorizo, avocado, a wonderful bread with the typical Spanish tomato spread on it, pork patties fried in breadcrumbs (taught to my hostess by her German friends), and best of all for my taste, a very hot and spicy home-made Romesco sauce (tomatoes, mayonnaise, herbs, chili and spices). The remains are currently in my fridge! Plenty of fresh fruit for dessert and a special cake with almonds and marzipan which is eaten at this time of the year. This was indeed a true feast.

The sun was still shining into the baraca after we had washed up and stored the plates, so we sat down to a game of dominoes, followed by a Spanish card game I had to learn called “La Brisa” which was great fun and I seemed to have beginners' luck as I won each time! It occurred to me that, fundamentally, we are all much the same, wherever we live and whatever language we speak – a good meal with family and friends, a game of cards, laughter is to be enjoyed anywhere, even in a basic shed with a tin roof lit by the sun on a Wednesday in December. Perhaps in these days of ultra consumerism, we should try to spend more time enjoying the simpler things and remember that the secret of such enjoyment is sharing whatever we have with those we love.

On Thursday, at last, the shops began to decorate their windows in a Christmas style. Unlike in the UK, they generally wait until after 8 December (Immaculate Conception) to bring out the trees, baubles and glitter, but it is not overdone here in any way, Each town and village has Christmas lights but there is not that frantic pre-Christmas bustle in Spain. Traditionally, the children do not get their presents until 6 January (Tres Reis - 3 kings), but with the pressure of TV advertising and customs learnt from immigrants, some do now receive a present on Christmas Eve. Christmas Day is very much a family day here as it is in the UK, and they celebrate the 26th December too, St. Estephan (St Stephen's Day). Christmas Carols, roasted chestnuts and sweet potatoes are an essential part of Christmas in Catalunya as in other parts of Spain and I really have the feeling that it is still a religious-cum-family celebration here, not totally overwhelmed by commercialisation, at least for the time being.

Sally

The Overseas Guides Company
http://www.Spainbuyingguide.com

Spanish Laws...are they loco?

Every country has its peculiarities, especially legal ones. Spain has a cluster all of its own, so it is vitally important that you check and if necessary, re-check laws that may affect you if you come to live here permanently or just own a second home somewhere on the Spanish peninsular.

This week, a woman from Galicia, north-west Spain, has legally registered herself as the owner of the SUN. This was done under Spanish Law at a notary's office. She now intends to “charge” us all for the use of the SUN and says she will give the larger part of her new-found income to the government to help with the current economic crisis, some to stall the reduction of pensions and 10% she will keep for herself. Now..just imagine if she “charged” us all a nominal 1€ a month: that would 40,000,000€ each and every 4 weeks rolling into her coffers. Any government would be happy to have a large part of that income without having to do anything for it.

This brings me to yet another thought: that all governments are constantly finding ways of increasing their income for virtually no effort on their part which, I suspect, is why the government of Catalunya has recently passed a law concerning everyone who wishes to rent out a property for 3 months or less, i.e. to tourists. It is now necessary to obtain a licence to rent out your property for tourism and you need to go in person to the Ajuntament (Town Hall) to obtain it. Fees and requirements have been left up to each individual Ajunatment. The property owner will also be responsible for any problems caused by their holiday-let tenants and fines for failing to obtain the licence are expected to be very high.

You should not be put off the idea of renting out your property as it can still be very lucrative, especially from mid-June to mid-September. I suspect that landlords will try to put up their rental prices to cover the extra costs involved in getting the licence, but this may not be wise just at the moment when money is tight and the holiday rental market is extremely competitive. Good properties, though, near beaches or other leisure attractions always find holidaymakers to fill them.

I have a pretty 2 bedroom apartment in lovely seaside town to the south of Girona. Until now, I have let it out on a long-term rental but since my last tenants left without paying several months' rent, I will relaunch it for holiday lets from next Easter. I will now have to negotiate the new licence law in that particular town, so will be able to tell you more about what it involves as time goes by. I already have the “Cèdula d'Habitabilitat”, a certificate of habitability from the Generalitat of Catalunya (Catalan Government), which you need this for either long or short term lets. It is one of the “good” requirements as you only receive it once the property has been declared in good order and fit for habitation, which is necessary for everyone's peace of mind.

It is also possible that this new “Law” may not in fact be implemented. There were elections on Sunday for the Generalitat (government of Catalunya) and the balance of power has swung away from the ruling party. It may well be that, with hindsight, they decide that this licensing law will be detrimental to the tourist industry here and therefore “put it to one side”. Is that not Loco?

Sally
The Overseas Guides Company
http://www.spainbuyingguide.com/

The joys of Spanish trains

I went to Barcelona on Friday to meet a friend for lunch, visit a wholesale jewellery company and to collect my new glasses. All this in 4.5 hours. I am lucky as every time I go there the sun shines and as I walk the streets of this lovely, vibrant city, the sun catches a Gothic window, the side of a contemporary office block, a statue or shop front and lights them up like Christmas tree lights.

Being the capital city of Catalunya, Barcelona is steeped in history, old and not so old, as the Summer Olympic Games were held there in 1992 and an entirely new “Olympic village” was constructed by the sea. That was probably the year in which the World discovered Barcelona, now one of Europe's top tourist destinations.

For those of us who live within reach of the city, it is much more than just a sightseeing destination, as Barcelona can happily compete with London or Paris for wonderful shops, great little restaurants, a fantastic daily covered market (La Boqueria), opera, concerts and musicals. It is about a 90 min drive from where I live but I usually take the train. The MD (media distancia) fast train goes from Figueres near the French border right to the heart of Barcelona and there are several stations on the way where we can board. I usually drive 35 minutes to Caldes de Malavella which lies to the south and so nearer to my destination. Others catch the train at Flaça which is a shorter run but the train journey is rather longer. RENFE is the Spanish Rail Network. The MD trains are clean, modern and fast. Generally speaking trains arrive according to the timetable but the stations vary with regard to comfort. There is usually free parking by the station, so I leave the car there not worried about how much the parking will cost if I delay my return by another hour. The station at Caldes has recently been renovated externally and internally and is actually a beautiful building with wonderful Art Nouveau tiles in the foyer. Of course you can get to Barcelona by train from all directions and with equally good services. The AVE trains are hi-tec, super fast long distance trains, from Madrid to Barcelona taking just 2hrs 30 minutes.

When I go over to the UK and travel by train, I am truly shocked at the ticket prices. Here in Spain, train travel is much cheaper for everyone. There are various cards one can buy which give large discounts, one especially good one, the DORADA (gold) card, is for people over 60 and gives a 40% discount on MD trains & 25%-40% on AVE trains. The DORADA card is purchased annually at a current cost of 5.10€ !!

So on Friday, I took the train to the centre of Barcelona, the Passieg de Gracia, where I met my friend & we went to the jewellery company she works for. I couldn't resist a pair of earrings sold to me at cost price. We then collected my new glasses (much cheaper in Barcelona than in the smaller towns) and set off for lunch. There is such an amazing choice of eateries, but we decided to return to one of our favourites, on the Passeig de Gracia itself, so near the train station. Housed on the first floor above a good Tapas bar, is Restaurant Citrus, a contemporary space where one is never too close to anyone else. They do not have a Menù del Dia, but the prices of the dishes are reasonable and the cuisine which is modern catalan, is excellent. Drinks are a bit pricey, but then you are right in one of the smartest parts of Barcelona. Just time to savour my lunch before strolling to the station and a one hour train journey back to Caldes. I was home by 6.25 pm having had a great day out.

Sally
The Overseas Guides Company

http://www.spainbuyingguide.com/

Getting yourself involved when in Spain

I was sitting in the main square of my town, enjoying a “cortado”, (small strong coffee with a dash of milk), when a friend, in the company of 2 others passed by. They joined me and I discovered that the couple had recently bought a house in a particularly pretty village nearby. They are really excited about their new home and are looking forward to retiring there in a couple of years' time. We chatted and they seem to have thought about most things related to moving to another country and indeed living full time away from their homeland, but I wondered to myself if they as yet realise that the winter here in Catalunya can be long and cold or mild and damp or very pleasant – one just doesn't know. Might they feel a little isolated in their pretty village?

Next time I see them I shall tell them about the U3A Costa Brava which is an excellent and very active organisation of which I am a member. The U3A began in Toulouse, France, in 1972 as a summer school for retired people, based around the university. In the 1980s the idea had developed into an association based on self -help and run by the members themselves in various towns and cities. Today the U3A is present in most countries, the latest association having been formed in Hong Kong.

Here on the Costa Brava we are very fortunate to have a U3A group providing around 40 different activities, some weekly, others monthly. Of course, you can't join everything, but there is such a wide variety of interests, you are bound to want to join several of them. The only requirements to join are that you are over 50 and speak English, so our members are not confined to British ex-pats as we have Dutch, German, French, American, Japanese & South American members too. Annual membership is currently 14€ per person.

One of my favourite is the Local Interest group, which is about discovering more of the area in which we live. Members arrange visits to interesting and sometimes unusual places and always with a good lunch afterwards in a local restaurant. In fact, I am involved with a friend in leading the group this month to the Civil War Museum in La Jonquera, the main border town with France. We will have an English-speaking guide and will learn more about the Spanish Civil War and its effects on the local population, which suffered very badly. I think it is necessary to learn these things to better understand the people in whose land we now reside.

I also belong to one of the many different walking groups, petanca, gardening and family history groups. I hope that the couple I met the other day will join the association as apart from anything else, the U3A is a social organisation, so they would feel less isolated and lunch is always on the agenda after the activity if you choose to join others at the restaurant.

Interesting activities are not solely confined to the U3A however. You can learn Catalan and Spanish (very advisable to learn one if you are planning to live here!), join a gym, go to Pilates and yoga classes, play golf and tennis, learn to dance Sevilliana, Flamenco or Sardanes, the list is endless.

At the weekends, I really enjoy going to antique and second-hand street markets or to a car boot sale which is held every weekend further up the coast towards France. It is amazing what you can find as people of all nationalities take stalls and sell a vast variety of items they no longer need. I must do the same one of these days as I have boxes of stuff that I no longer use and someone else could employ. My nearest market is in the beautiful town of Pals on Saturday mornings, located in a circular park.... I need to sort out the items, load my car & go, but Saturdays are so busy with other things!

Until next time

Sally

The Overseas Guides Company
http://www.spainbuyingguide.com/

Guess the amount of documents we needed!

I went with a friend to Girona the other day. Girona is the capital city of my corner of Catalunya and home to all the government and administrative offices as well as having a wonderful old town with cobbled streets, a cathedral, Arab baths, parks and an archaeological walk around what is left of the ramparts.Girona is largely unspoilt by tourism and is a discreet city often overlooked by travellers heading for the bright lights of Barcelona, about 90kms to the south. Straddling the banks of the River Ter, the brightly painted old houses hang over the water as sentinels of times gone by. The old town is a maze of alleyways and little squares, each keeping its own secret – perhaps a cafe in the cellar, perhaps a shop frontage that has withstood the ravages of centuries past. On the other side of the river is the “new” town, part of it very much of the 18th Century, with the lovely arched Plaça de Independcia teeming with restaurants and tapas bars. Not too far away is the covered market, open every morning. Girona is also a cultural city, with well presented museums and art centres as well as a strong musical tradition. After many visits, my friend and I have only touched the surface of this intriguing city .

Our trip was not for pleasure really as my friend decided she wanted to change her UK driving licence to a Spanish one and since her knowledge of both Castilian (Spanish) and Catalan is poor, she asked me to tag along as interpreter. Navigating ones way through Spanish bureaucracy requires extreme patience and fortitude. In fact, if you have an EU driving licence, you do not have to change it to a Spanish one, but you should register it with the traffic authority. My friend decided that she wanted to change hers, so we found ourselves at the offices of the Traffic Department.

It is vital before you go to any of the government agencies that you check..and recheck... what paperwork you need to present, otherwise you will have made a wasted journey, stood in a queue for ages and felt utterly frustrated. In the case of my friend and her driving licence, she needed to show:

• Proof of identity (passport original and copy)
• Proof of residence (Certificate of Registration in the Central Aliens Register - the NIE number (foreigners identification number))
• Valid driving licence to be exchanged (original and copy)
• Two recent photographs (32 by 25 mm)
• Declaration in writing stating that the applicant has not been banned or suspended from driving
• Declaration in writing stating that the applicant does not hold another driving licence of the same class in another country
  

Her new licence will arrive by post & will be credit card size. I should mention we were lucky that day as the queue was short and we were dealt with by a very pleasant and helpful lady who insisted on explaining everything to us twice as she somehow worked out we were foreigners!
Business done, we headed for Girona old town for lunch. We settled on a restaurant called Mimolet, near the cathedral, not the cheapest but which serves very good bar food. The weather was kind that day, so we sat outside on the terraza enjoying a well earned glass of Cava – Catalunya's answer to champagne and very good it is too!

It was time to head home, but not before we agreed to come back to Girona sooner rather than later to go window shopping (at least that is what my friend said) and sit at a cafe on the Rambla Llibertat watching the world go by, perhaps visit an Art Exhibition or come back on a Saturday when there is a huge market (also on Tuesdays) and a flower market on the Rambla. It is just a question of finding the time.........

Sally Veall
The Overseas Guides Company
Have you visited the main website yet? http://www.spainbuyingguide.com

Have you ever been to a mushroom festival?

Do you like mushrooms? I adore mushrooms – not the closed-cap variety available all year in supermarkets – no, real mushrooms, hidden in the woods in secret places, which when found, are carefully picked, carried gingerly back home and then cooked in virgin olive oil, garlic and parsley. Absolute heaven!

Well, it is mushroom season in Catalunya, North Eastern Spain. Many small villages and larger towns hold mushroom festivals here, where you are drawn into this secret world of fungi. They lay out every type of mushroom you can imagine and carefully signal which are edible are which are likely to cause illness and even death if eaten. Then there are the tastings.."rossynols" are my favourite, a deep yellow with long fine stalks. Also there are "ceps", the most expensive, selling at 50-100€ a kilo, with a deep mushroom colour and intense mushroom flavour.

Tastings are not confined to local festivals. Many restaurants have special menus using the various types of mushroom and it is definitely worth a visit to one or more as somehow the local chefs manage to make an "ordinary fungus" taste like nectar from the gods. In fact, Catalunya is home to many culinary delights, one of the most famous restaurants in the world, El Bulli, is situated just across from the French border in Cadaques. Sadly, the owner, Ferran Adria, has decided to close it for two years and is taking time out to reinvent his cuisine and is currently working in Barcelona.

You don't need to spend a fortune, however, to eat well here. I frequently go out with friends for lunch and we are served a three-colour meal for 10 – 14€ per person, usually including a good local wine, water and bread. It costs more in the evenings – I have never really understood why, except that the lunchtime clientèle includes workmen and in the evenings, the restaurants imagine that they have a different clientèle, which is not usually the case, except that the workmen are now dressed for dinner. We tend to enjoy our lunches and entertain at home in the evenings, except of course on special occasions when throwing caution to the wind, we head for one of the "better" restaurants and usually are truly favourably surprised at the quality and service we receive for around 30-40€ a head.

My local restaurant which has a delightful outside space in a semi-private garden (which I overlook!!), serves an excellent lunchtime meal for 12€ all in. They have a vast menu of starters and a smaller but excellent choice of main courses and most of the "postres" (deserts) are home made. The wine is excellent too. My friends and I have enjoyed many a happy few hours there, in the shade of the garden in hot summer and if we decide to splash out on a second bottle of wine, we are charged only about 7€. One does not, of course, spend every day having lunch in such delightful places. There is a very active U3A here on the Costa Brava which invites one to visit interesting localities … but more of this in my next Blog.

Meanwhile, if you are anywhere near a mushroom festival, (in the UK, France, Italy or Spain) I urge you go along, increase your joy and knowledge by discovering one of nature's best kept secrets.

Sally Veall
The Overseas Guides Company
Go to the main website at: http://www.spainbuyingguide.com/

Autumn Leaves and walks by the sea - Bliss

Autumn, according to the poet John Keats, is a season of mists and mellow fruitfulness and this is also true here in Catalunya, northeast Spain. The days are still warm but there is a chill at night and early morning, mists hover over valleys and many trees are now bearing their fruit. It is the step between the long hot summer and the winter months ahead, lulling us back into the warmth of our homes. Yes, here we have all the seasons.

Autumn brings us golden and red leaves which start falling, flocks of starlings on their way south...I reckon each evening there are about 300 perched on roof tops, a nearby crane and in the treetops which I look out at from my office. It is an amazing sight. Autumn also brings with it more unpleasant things, coughs and colds, flu season and central heating. Thankfully, the National Health Service here is available to rescue us. Each region of Spain runs its own health service and the system in Catalunya is excellent. I had my free flu jab yesterday, available to those over 60, people with respiratory and lung problems and also to children at risk. For the rest, there is a small cost to have the vaccine. Most towns and large villages have a medical centre known as the CAP (Centre de Attenció Primària) which is like a large clinic with GPs and other front line medical staff plus an emergency department which is open day and night.Their job is to treat your condition if they can or to refer you to the local hospital or specialist if they can’t.

That brings me to the local hospital, in my case located in a pretty seaside town called Palamós. Unfortunately, I have got to know this place rather well during the time I have lived here and once you get used to the system (which isn’t particularly cosy nor blessed with a great bedside manner), you will find an excellent medical service with totally up-to-date X-ray, scanners and other necessary medical aides. Their job is to cure you.

CAP PALAFRUGELL
(local health centre)

Of course autumn brings other activities too. Walks by the sea bathed in the lowering sunlight, jazz evenings in courtyards, sitting in local restaurants with a group of friends bemoaning the fact we can no longer sit outside at night, but warm and comfortable in the rustic interiors. And let's not forget the tramuntana wind which comes from the Pyrennees and blows hard with a distinct chill for 3 days, it's dryness taking humidity out of the air.

Yes, autumn here on the Costa Brava is a season of mists and mellow fruitfulness.

Please contact me if you have any questions about life on the Costa Brava.

Sally
The Overseas Guides Company
Visit my main website at: http://www.spainbuyingguide.com/

Living in Catalunya

Hola!! My name is Sally and I will be writing the Spain Blog. I live in Catalunya (Catalonia) which is in the north-east of Spain & stretches from the French border to just north of Valencia. It is a region of contrasts, sea, mountains, beautiful and varied countryside, old medieval stone villages & towns and a language of its own, Catalan. Of course you can speak Castillian (Spanish) here but it helps if you try to speak their language as well. Catalan classes are free for newcomers and it is worth the effort as you will find new doors opening to you, even if you only speak a few words.

My town is just 4kms from some of the most beautiful beaches on the Costa Brava, which means "Wild Coast". It is a land of little coves, often hidden from the modern roads, where you take earthy tracks down to the sea. The three nearest beaches to me are Callela, Llafranc and Tamariu, each one with its own identity and ambiance. There is an easy and beautiful coastal walk among pine trees with stunning views which is widely used by locals and visitors alike.

Well, that is where I live. Why did I choose to move here from France where I lived for 12 years? Actually it was almost by accident as my husband was in contact with several people in Valencia & Barcelona universities and we were making regular car journeys from where we lived, about 60 minutes north-west of Toulouse, to both these cities. Eventually we decided that it would be easier if we moved closer to them and so we began discovering the Costa Brava, far enough from the big city, but with good communications in all directions.


I mistakenly imagined that the Catalans in Catalunya would be similar to those in south-west France, and yes - they do speak the same language, but the local and cultural difference become evident once you live here. Over the next months, I hope to tell you about the history & culture of what is now a very modern Catalunya which is in itself part of a very modern post-Franco Spain.

I love living here, even in the Winter when people generally stay indoors after dark but are to be seen on coastal walks or at special events at the weekends. I look out across the town of Palafrugell towards the Pyrennees with their snow-capped peaks changing colour in the evening sky.

I am very lucky to have found this corner of Spain.

I hope I am able to help you see what life in Spain is like and give you some tips if you are thinking of buying here. Please email me any questions to: Spain@OverseasGuidesCompany.com

Sally Veall
http://www.spainbuyingguide.com/

Important checks before you buy

So…after much searching, you have decided on the Spanish property you want to buy. What now? Well, before signing anything there are some massively important checks that that you and your lawyer should have a look at.

The Escritura Publica is the registered title deed of the property. It is entered in the Registro de la Propiedad or Property Registry and is the only guarantee of title in Spain. It contains a description of the property, the details of the owner and any mortgages or legal claims that exist against the property. This document is important because it tells you if the seller is the legal owner of the property being sold.

The nota simple contains further details of any mortgages or other encumbrances or charges against the property and is also available from the Registry. The owner’s names on the Nota Simple should match those on the Escritura. It shows the latest recorded details of any charges - in Spain debts, charges or court orders may be registered against the property rather than the person: these include hipotecas (mortgages), censos (ground rent or leasehold payments), usufructos (interests in the property), limitaciones (restrictions on use), multas (fines), cláusulas resolutorias (determinations, i.e. decisions about the future of the property), or embargos (court orders for distraint or seizure).

It may be that there are some unpaid taxes not yet recorded at the Registro, so your lawyer should also check with the relevant authorities, including Hacienda (Ministry of Finance), the Ayuntamiento (Town Hall), and the Recaudación Provincial (Provincial Rates Office), that these have been paid.

The notary must obtain a new nota simple on the day that the sale documents are signed (when the contract is effected) in order to confirm that the ownership and charge details have not changed since the last enquiry.

Every property sale must also quote the Referencia Catastral of the property in question. The Catastro concentrates on the location, physical description and boundaries of the property. While the Property Registry focuses almost exclusively on ownership and title, the Catastro is concerned with property valuation.

These systems do not have any connection with one another, which is an irritation with the Spanish system. In fact, it is common to find that the catastral description of a property differs greatly from the one in the Property Registry. You need to request the actual certificate from the Catastro with a full description of the property. The certificate is in two parts, one being a description of the property and the other being either a plan or an aerial photograph. These details will give you a better understanding of the boundaries of the property and size and description of the property.

For instance, when a house is completed on the land, the Catastro or Council Tax authority should be informed. There are areas in Spain (for example Andalucía and Murcia) in which the notary sends the deeds to the Catastro to inform them about the modification, but this does not happen countrywide. This means that often the catastral records are out of date and inaccurate. When you realise that the Catastral system is used to work out the taxable level on each property you will understand why this is sometimes not updated. Tax avoidance is considered something of a national past-time in Spain and many property owners avoid updating their Catastral details for fear of having to pay more tax. Because the updating of the Catastro was always on a voluntary basis in the greater part of the country this is an ongoing problem.

My advice? Use a good lawyer and make sure that this is all in agreement and correct before even thinking of signing anything. There may well come a day that Spain falls into line with the rest of the EU in terms of property regulations and the last thing you need is a problem further down the line.

The other thing to do before purchasing a resale Spanish property is to check out the lmpuesto sobre Bienes lnmuebles or lBI, which is the municipal property tax. Ideally, you should be able to see the IBI receipts for the last five years. Further back doesn’t really concern you as that is the limit of liablity for unpaid back taxes attached to the property. A new property bought from a developer will not have an IBI receipt – it is then your responsibility to register the property for this tax.

I know, I know – it all sounds very difficult…actually, if you are in the hands of a really good lawyer who understands Spanish property law – and English incidentally – it will all fly by. The problems in Spain have arisen because people have failed to take legal advice – please don’t be one of them!

Kim Brown
http://www.SpainBuyingGuide.com

Buying a Property in Spain? Reasons to Hire a Lawyer

If there is one thing that bears repeating when buying a property in Spain it is that you should hire a lawyer, one that has nothing whatsoever to do with your state agent, developer or vendor and that comes personally recommended.

There have been a fair number of property disasters in Spain. Happily there have also been very many successes – and you need to be one of those. Scratch the surface of a successful property deal and I have little doubt that you will find a diligent, bilingual lawyer of integrity representing the interests of the buyer in there somewhere! The reasons for the problems are many so I am going to look at how a really good lawyer can help you avoid them.

Horror stories abound. Greedy developers sometimes don’t comply with the existing laws and regulations. Knowing that foreign buyers are less informed, unscrupulous developers and estate agents have no compunction in selling an off-plan property that may eventually be demolished because it does not conform to regulations. Some of these developments have even been given the go-ahead by the right government department…but by a crooked official employed there. Some buyers have bought property with charges, encumbrances and other debts attached to their property that they knew nothing about. Another possibility is that the property has never been officially registered. Or the buyer hands over a deposit to someone purporting to be owner who subsequently does a disappearing act.

All these matters should be carefully looked into by a competent lawyer who has an intimate knowledge of the law and of his area well before you put pen to paper. A lawyer will also help when dealing with the Notary Public, banks and the whole slew of hoops that you need to jump through to get the whole deal sorted out.

For instance, if you are applying for a mortgage in Spain, lawyers can sometimes refer buyers to more sympathetic deals. Non-resident applicants are routinely charged the highest rates by financial institutions as their perception is that this second home is not a priority when the owner is faced with financial difficulties. Do check carefully however; lawyers may have family members working in banks - sorry to sound like a suspicious so-and-so but in my job I have heard it all!

The beauty of the legal system in Spain is that registered lawyers are covered against negligence by professional indemnity insurance. This means that, if they slip up and something goes wrong during the transaction, the professional indemnity insurance will cover any liability arising from this negligence.

All conveyancing lawyers hold a client’s account with preferential conditions at a Spanish bank. This means that when transferring monies from abroad you can avoid the extortionate charges imposed on non-resident accounts by other institutions, which can be anything up to 0.5% of the sum transferred. Also most Spanish lawyers provide an escrow service as part of the conveyancing service and do not charge separately for it. An escrow account allows parties to deposit funds in an impartial party held account – there are other companies that can offer this service but they routinely charge 0.8% of the amount.

Lawyers will also assist you in the processing of NIE numbers, opening bank accounts, changing utility contracts and arranging standing payment orders, setting up companies, drawing up wills and sorting out rental options. They will not only look after the filing of tax forms, collection and registration of the deeds, but can also help with after-sales situations which require a lawyers letter or phone call, such as arranging the "snagging", talking to the community of owners association and so forth.

Plus if you sign a power of attorney at the Notary Public in Spain, or even in your home country, most of the purchasing process can be done by the appointed lawyer in your absence.

Most conveyancing lawyers in Spain are fluent in English – they have been doing business with the Brits for very many years. If you do not retain your own lawyer you should remember that an estate agent or developer wants you to buy the property – in fact, let’s face it they don’t get paid unless you do. To rely on their impartiality is short-sighted, to say the very least!

I sound a bit like a lawyer punting for business: I assure you I am not but I cannot stress how important it is that you look at having your own lawyer to look after your interests. Personally, I would list everything that you require them to do for you – that way, you have a record of what you asked should be checked and, if anything goes wrong, you can apply for reimbursement from their insurance company.

Kim Brown
http://www.SpainBuyingGuide.com

How to make your overseas buying dreams come true this year

I am unabashedly a list girl, so yes: I will be making a list of how to make your property purchasing dreams come true, but there is one thing that is by far and away the most important step. You must want it enough.

I know that sounds simplistic but it is nonetheless THE most important aspect of your dream. The reality is that there will be a fair amount of work ahead and you may encounter a few problems along the way so you need have the determination to push on with your quest, but remember that countless other people have done it and you can too. Here comes that list:

Cost: It is essential that you have a clear idea of exactly how much you wish to spend from the outset – and then that you stick to your budget. If you need a mortgage, try to get an idea as to what sort of mortgage you can get up front, and certainly know what you can afford to repay. You also need to have a good knowledge of all costs that you will incur on purchase (both the cost of the property and the purchase charges), how much you will need to spend per annum, transport costs etc.

A Currency company: Aligned to cost is that you open an account at a first class currency company, one certainly regulated by the Financial Services Authority (FSA) under the new Payment Services Regulations 2009. When I moved countries I was unaware of the enormous savings a currency company can secure. Go to: http://www.smartcurrencyexchange.com/ for an outline as to how they can save you heaps of money. And remember: if you decide on a price to pay for your new property, and are happy with that price, it may be best to lock your currency in at that day’s rate. Certainly people who did that in early 2009 laughed all the way to the …well, currency company, by the end of the year!

Location: You will need to decide exactly where you wish to buy: this decision will be dependent on what you are using the property for. If you think you may want to rent it out at any stage, then the location is of primary importance. For instance you will need to think very carefully about access, both by air from the UK but also the distance from the airport once there

List your requirements: Make a thorough list of your requirements, specifying what is absolutely essential to you: 3 bedrooms, a bathroom rather than a shower (my pet requirement!) etc – and don’t be swayed, no matter how pretty the house is

Views: Ensure that your lovely view cannot be obscured: One of my saddest memories is of a couple who bought a flat abroad with a heavenly sea view. When they next visited the property, a huge block of flats totally obscured their view – they immediately put their property on the market, with their dreams in tatters

Reputable Estate Agents: Decent agents will happily listen to your questions and answer them as best they can (plus we can help you find those agents!). You may be able to make offers of up to 20% less than the price they are asking if the area is one that is a buyer’s market - the agents we recommend will guide you as to which these are: make use of them!

Lawyer: Always use your own independent lawyer. If you are recommended someone once on the spot, always ask for personal references and check them

Sign ONLY when contract checked and correct: This may seem an obvious one but in the excitement of buying your property you may overlook the importance of getting your contract correct. If you don’t fully understand everything, get the contract translated, and changed if needs be

And finally – take your time! Do not allow yourself to be rushed into anything – it’s a huge decision and one that you will have to live with, so make sure it is the right one

If you need any help at all just phone the OGC Resource Team on 0207 898 0549 and they will gladly assist you where they can - there is currently no cost nor is there any obligation to use our recommendations at all.

Why buy property in Spain?

I read a very interesting article recently. What it said was that Brits move mainly for cost of living reasons, plus for a better quality of life for themselves and their children. Potential first-time homeowners are finding the cost of buying a home in the UK prohibitive and cheap travel abroad reduces the perceived distances. It can take about the same travel time to get from London to the north of England as it takes to get from London to parts of Spain !

Over and above that, with technological advances, many people are able to work anywhere in the world and are no longer tied to an office, or even to a country.

Almost 4,000 Britons moved abroad EACH WEEK in early 2008 according to the Office of National Statistics (ONS), the UK ’s biggest exodus in nearly 50 years. By the year 2014, the number of Brits living abroad is expected to be in the region of 3.2 million. Spain now ranks among the top three European countries chosen by us Brits, along with France and Portugal .

Approximately a million British nationals now live for at least part of the year in Spain : many have moved permanently and others have chosen to buy a second home there. It would appear that relocation is most popular with Brits aged between 18 and 30 and also those in the 51 to 60 age bracket, perhaps seeking a better lifestyle for their retirement. An increase in tax for high wage earners, coupled with rising UK unemployment, is thought to be partly behind the mass exodus.

Geographically, Spain 's diversity is immense. Located at the crossroads of the Atlantic and the Mediterranean, Europe and Africa, Spain 's history and culture is a melting pot inherited from the many nations that invaded and conquered Spain in the past.

In 711 A.D. the Moorish General Tarik and his army crossed into Spain from Africa to the Iberian Peninsula thus beginning the Moorish domination of Spain , which only ended in 1492. The Moors built magnificent cities in Spain ; Cordoba for instance, built in the tenth century, was far in advance of its time and resembled a modern city. The streets were paved, and there were sidewalks for pedestrians that were lit at night. And all this several hundred years before there was a paved street in Paris or a street lamp in London !

The country has an abundance of magnificent buildings, ranging from Islamic palaces to Gothic cathedrals and Moroccan-influenced villages. Almost every second village has a medieval castle and Roman aqueducts abound – the breathtaking Ronda springs to mind here. This dramatic city is where both writer Ernest Hemmingway and film maker Orson Welles spent time, in the old quarter called La Ciudad. Both wrote about Ronda's beauty and famous bull-fighting traditions – indeed after Welles died in 1985, his ashes were scattered in a Ronda bull-ring. Hemmingway’s ‘The Sun also Rises’ is set in Spain and captures the flavour of the country beautifully.

Other Moorish towns include Toledo , Seville and Granada , with its spectacular Alhambra . The whitewashed villages of Andalucia are lovely too and their people still live according to age-old traditions, inherited from their Iberian, Roman and Moorish forefathers. This is especially true of the wonderful heritage of Moorish architecture and culture, with many of the buildings still retaining their Moorish architectural roots.

There are endless tracts of wild countryside as well as some spectacularly rugged stretches of coast between the beaches. While travelling to the north east of Granada I glimpsed what I thought to be a town – actually it turned out to be a film set! Our driver told us that many of the Spaghetti Western movies such as the old Clint Eastwood classic ‘The Good, the Bad and the Ugly’ as well as ‘Lawrence of Arabia’ were filmed in this part of Spain .

Spain has been the home of some of the world's great artists - El Greco, Velázquez, Goya, Dalí, Picasso - and has museums and galleries to show for it. The country pulsates with music of every kind, from the drama of flamenco to the melancholy lyricism of the Celtic music and gaitas (bagpipes) of the northwest. Cervantes' novel Don Quixote, subject of more than one film, is one of the most popular ever written and film directors such as Pedro Almodovar attract huge audience to their works.

The country has many enchanting religious festivals, pilgrimages, carnivals and fairs. In fact, given Spanish friendliness, you will find yourself part of these festivals as you are carried along by the warmth and enthusiasm of the crowds – sometimes literally!

Spain’s history has always been closely interwoven with the sea, both culturally, historically and, indeed, in its cuisine. Think of those early Spanish navigators who, with the Portuguese, led the way in the discovery of the New World . Indeed Christopher Colombus’ voyages were funded by the Spanish King and Queen, Isabel and Fernando.

Most importantly, Spain is the ideal family friendly environment. It has an exceptionally low crime rate; the latest crime figures indicate that the UK is far worse off than Spain when it comes to crime - particularly violent crime. Most people are also attracted by the relaxed and unstressed way of life in Spain and the culinary delights are legendary… and affordable.

Visit the Spain Buying Guide site for more information