Many French nationals buy property in Spain with a view to settling there or investing their money. Most of them, however, find themselves caught up in the process of acquiring their property in this country, whose legislation on the subject is different from that in France. N1 Immo, specialists in property sales on the Costa Brava for the French, gives you a few tips to help you avoid the pitfalls in your property acquisition process.
Buying real estate on your own
The process of buying property in Spain can be time-consuming and costly. If you try to go through the formalities alone, you're likely to run into a lot of difficulties. The best solution is to call on a real estate agency like N1 Immo to guide you through the purchasing process.
In Spain, there are major differences with French real estate legislation. For example, the role played by the Spanish notary in the property acquisition process is not the same as that of a French, Belgian or Swiss notary.
Legal and town-planning checks are the responsibility of the buyer in Spain. They are carried out upstream by the buyer or by a real estate advisor, who must ensure that legal, administrative, national and local rules have been respected. Imagine you've bought an apartment with the intention of renting it out on a short-term basis, such as through airbnb or booking, and the law forbids you to do so!
There are many details to know about Spanish real estate. The French square meter is different from the Spanish square meter, for example.
To save time and avoid setbacks that can put the brakes on your real estate project, we can help you make a safe and pragmatic purchase with our expertise and that of our legal advisors and lawyers.
Unaware of the special real estate situations in Spain
Property visits by foreigners are often too quick. Indeed, most visitors lack time and organization. This exposes them to the disadvantages of the Spanish real estate market.
Some purchases can quickly become an unpleasant experience if you don't do the necessary checks. Many seaside homes are built on marshy ground. The result is ground-level humidity that makes life difficult. When you visit this type of house in summer, you can't see it. This is why we recommend houses with crawl spaces or on higher ground.
It's also important to check the condition of the electricity and water connections. They may look fine to you, but they may not be up to standard. So it's best not to rely on a technician, but to call in the professionals for greater certainty. You should also check the quality of the materials used in the construction, and consult the land-use plan or town-planning projects at the town hall. At N1 Immo, our seasoned experts are at your side to give you the peace of mind you need to complete your real estate project.
Not finding out the intended use of the property
Many foreign buyers plan to invest in tourism or rent out their property for occasional tourist stays. Regulations in this area have evolved in Spain in recent years.
There are many prohibitive factors in Spanish cities. You need to find out enough to avoid buying a property that cannot be used for your project. Impulse buying in Spain is also risky.
However, you shouldn't wait to register your NIE (identification number for foreigners). This is the first step you need to take if you want to invest in property in Spain. If you're a French-speaker looking to buy a property in Spain, call on the experts at N1 Immo, the Costa Brava real estate specialists.
We will assist you in your search for a property on the Costa Brava at the best price. Consult our real estate ads on the costa brava, we specialize in assisting French buyers wishing to invest in Spain. We will accompany you from the start of your search to the signing of the final deed of sale with ADVICE from our experts. We have a 360-degree vision, with a thorough knowledge of the law (lawyers, notaries, etc.) and banking procedures (interest rates, bank charges, etc.).
