Costa Brava Property
Area Guide
The Area
The Costa Brava lies between the eastern end of the Pyrenees and the northern tip of the coastal mountains. It has enormous, sheer cliffs with small welcoming beaches lying in between. Tiny inlets lie close to the coast, boasting charming fishing villages.
Blanes, a harbour on the Wild Coast, at the border of the Province of Barcelona, is an important tourist resort on the site of the Roman town of Blanda. Of interest are its Gothic fountain, the Parish Church of Santa María and the Gothic remains of the castle of the Viscounts of Cabrera.
Lloret de Mar has undeniable qualities as a place of entertainment par excellence. It prides itself on having the largest number of hotels along the coast as well as a variety of bars, discotheques, nightclubs and casinos. Lloret de Mar is one of the most cosmopolitan tourist centres of the Costa Brava, although it does preserve its traditions and roots. The town hall square retains its character with little whitewashed streets around it. The beach is very large, clean and transparent.
The large coastal town of Tossa del Mar, originally a fishing village, is located within a wonderful bay. Although an important international tourist centre, Tossa still retains much of its charm and character. Remains of a Roman villa with a magnificent mosaic were found in the surroundings and the Vila Vella, the 12thC old part, still preserves its narrow, winding streets of medieval design surrounded by a curtain wall with five towers, of which only three are left.
Activities
The Costa Brava boasts excellent sporting facilities including cycling, hand-gliding, parachuting, horse riding, hiking and golf. There are also watersports available at the numerous yacht clubs and marinas. Windsurfing, waterskiing, sailing and diving to name but a few.
An abundance of museums can be found throughout Costa Brava, housing many archaeological finds and collections of paintings of the many artists that have visited.
Buying a Property in Spain
1. Putting down a Holding Deposit
On finding a property you wish to purchase you will need to negotiate the terms, price and conditions of the sale with the owner. This part of the process is not binding. We would recommend using an independent English speaking legal advisor. Once a purchase price has been agreed, normally a holding or reserve deposit will be required to ensure the property is removed from the market. The sum required will vary between properties and will be based on the purchase price. A time limit for the preagreement to be signed will be arranged and there will also be legal checks to be made.
2. Setting up a Pre-agreement (Contrato privado de compraventa)
The pre-agreement will set out the conditions under which the Buyer and Seller agree to complete the purchase of the property and the price they have agreed upon. Relevant details will generally be included for example the property details, purchase price and the date for completion. A deposit will be required at this point, this will vary, but will generally be 10% of the agreed price. This agreement will include a penal clause if the sale does not go through. If the seller pulls out of the sale your compensation will be double the deposit you have paid, but if you decide not to go through with the sale then your deposit will be lost. Certain checks will need to be made before signing the contract, checks should be made against the title of the property, mortgage status and if the property has any debts held against it. The planning status should also be looked into. These conditions can be varied by the seller and the buyer and other types of agreement can be made.
3. The Contract (Escritura de compraventa)
Before a non-Spanish purchaser can buy a Spanish property they will need to have set up a Spanish bank account and obtained a Spanish tax number (NIE). The completion will take place in the presence of a Notary Public. This is a Spanish public official, by law the deed of sale must be witnessed by a Notary Public. You will also need your own independent, expert legal advisor to act on your behalf. On Completion the buyer must pay the balance, that is the price agreed after the deposit has been deducted, plus any other fees on the completion date. Both buyer and seller must sign the Escritura de compraventa contract, (this is the Spanish equivalent of the title deeds). The title deeds (escritura) will be given to the buyer, this will be done in the presence of a Notary Public, they will certify that the transfer has taken place. The tax office will be sent a copy and the property registry will be informed of the transfer.