Blog

Moraira Property Update

Tue, 27 Jul 2010 07:25:00 GMT

It’s been a while since we wrote about the Moraira property scene as we wanted to see and experience where it was heading.

As far as the property market goes it has picked up significantly for most if compared to the previous two years. The market seems to have stabilised albeit there are still many properties that are over priced. That said price corrections are now common place, but still the best bargains tend to be down to the personal circumstances of the vendor.

The year so far for us has been fantastic and likewise for many agents we speak to with property sales on the increase. Thanks to Moraira being a highly desirable place to be it attracts property sales as soon as things start to stabalise. There are many buyers around at the moment and hope this trend continues regardless of the UK media always talking about Spain’s deficit and painting a doom and gloom picture. The negativity probably takes the heat off the UK’s recent austerity measures.

Spain has its problems and they are of course very serious as is the UK’s but the coastal town of Moraira remains far more insulated from the wrath of the poor economic climate as a whole. In fact this summer has seen some of the largest crowds at the local fiestas ever and villa rentals are almost full.

The market here in Moraira is driven by Northern Europeans more so than the nationals or Spanish economics, although it’s bound to have some bearing on things especially when taxes or rates increase. Regardless of increasing living cost here in Spain, northern Europeans still want sunshine and a little paradise for their families. The irony is that people are now getting used to the economic problems and know they will not be going away for some time but meantime they still have a life to get on with regardless and now seems to be a good time to invest in property rather than leave cash in the bank which is also a concern for many.

The threat of turmoil was worse than actually being in it as we are today.
The problem with a threat is that you don’t really know how bad is it going to be, so people fear the worse and sit tight becoming spectators for a while which makes things even worse and then they wait until it’s bottomed out. The talk of a double dip recession does not make much sense unless you believe in a so called recovery. We all know the economic struggles we have today will last for years, it’s hardly going to recover and will simply stabalise itself and remain tough. We will probably see some more bailouts, mergers and austerity measures over the next two years or so but for most it will be no surprise and life will continue and wealth will still be created and spent.

So when does it bottom out? If bank bailouts, country bailouts, hardly any interest being paid from the banks to savers, debasement of their currency through the printing of even more money, lowest interest rates in history as well as the real cost of inflation being hidden is not enough, I don’t know what is!
Its no wonder property is becoming a safe haven again.

Consequently we see so many property buyers coming from Holland, Belgium and the UK. Only this time around it is being led by people that understand value for money and investment opportunities plus they are mostly cash buyers. Very different from the boom days where the many could well afford the Spanish dream based upon their equity in their main residence and when banks fell over backwards to lend money which all added to the property price hike.

Having spoken with many clients over the months it’s obvious there has been a shift in the mind set where once people were more than willing to sit it out and leave their money in the bank or in other investments.
95% of all our clients are now cash buyers. This is because anyone with savings, especially in a bank, hardly earns any interest. They seem to be taking their money and investing it into something tangible. Most do not gamble with stocks and shares at this level and historically property has always been a good long term investment that is reasonably safe, plus it is income bearing if you go down the letting route and you get to use it with the family, so it kind of makes sense.

Spanish banks have begun to lend again but to get the best deals around you need to put down 40%. The less risk for the bank the better the deal for you!
They do lend up to 70% and sometimes a little more but the packages are not as good.
They also vet you like never before especially if you have your own business, so be prepared! We have a few contacts for mortgages if needed!

A word of advice: It’s better to get your finances in order before looking for a property because you may be refused by the bank or if not by the time you get mortgage approval the property you found to be a real bargain gets sold to someone else. Happens all the time! If it’s any good that is.

Happy property hunting and don’t forget we can take away the stress and find properties others can’t as well as make things very easy for you!

Good luck until next time

Life In Spain

Thu, 15 Apr 2010 13:06:00 GMT

I thought this news blog would be useful to those out there that may be single and wondering how on earth they are going to find love and companionship again.

If you happen to be a happily married ex pat couple living in Spain enjoying the outdoor lifestyle all well and good. But what about when relationships go wrong or you find yourself alone for another reason? What then? How do you you meet new people especially if you left the bar & club scene behind years ago!

Many join various organisations like social activity and interest groups. This is a good start to begin building your own network of friends and who knows you may find someone you really like. But what if you have done all these things and everyone you meet that you like seems to be spoken for? Nothing worse than going home alone all the time. The friends you have try to help match make for you but this is usually very limited. The other day I came across a website that specialises in Dating In Spain

Buying property for sale in moraira

Mon, 12 Oct 2009 18:37:00 GMT

Moraira Coast

Over the past eight weeks or so many properties have been sold in Moraira. The majority of which have been of low value. Anything under 350,000 euros is considered low value in Moraira. Average is around the 500k mark and you don’t get much for that! Unless you drop lucky.

We speak with many estate agents and the really good properties at low prices seem to be selling fast. If only there were more! There seems to be a big problem finding quality property of low value in Moraira or Javea. Recently we have all been inundated with property hunters many of which go back slightly disappointed and wondering exactly where the recession is around here. That was a comment made to us the other week
from some clients with 500k. Believe me we have experienced 20-30% price reductions on today’s advertised prices. Make’s you think just how easy obtaining money use to be!

And there lies the problem. “Liquidity” not many people have it and not many can raise it to the level required to satisfy their expectations. Those that do have liquidity are chasing the bargains and snapping them up. But what’s a bargain in Moraira’ well if you can get a “quality” 3 – 4 bed villa (not a project) with a good real sea view from pool level on a useable flat plot near to amenities for under 600k you are doing well!! We have several clients wanting just that. So remember a good sea view and that’s nothing wow cost 100-150k minimum. Sea view plots cost upwards of 340,000 euros!

This leads me to a reoccurring problem that we never used to see very much but it is becoming more common because of the low offers some vendors are having to swallow.

Basically once you manage to find your dream home and agree on a price you usually put down a 3000 reservation deposit and then instruct lawyers to do the due diligence etc…This takes a couple of weeks. Meantime the property is still on the market with several other estate agents and if they have a cash buyer wanting to take a look the vendors hardly ever refuse. They try their luck and see if they can get a better offer.

You see it’s only legally binding once the 10% deposit is paid and the private purchase contract signed by both parties. Other than that you can easily get gazumped. Don’t leave it to chance.

To save the heartache there is a very simple way to avoid this. We have just recommended it to a client and it has been done with ease.
Instead of putting down a reservation deposit which doesn’t mean anything in legal terms, you instruct your lawyer to issue with immediate effect a private purchase contract and make it “subject to due diligence”. Then both parties sign it. This now legally means that the vendor would have to pay you back the double if they sell it to someone else!
It’s worth ensuring this common “pay back the double clause” is in the contract.

The 10% deposit is held within a lawyers client account until all the searches have been completed to your satisfaction. If they are good you continue with the purchase. If they show a problem and the problem can not easily be rectified it is within your right to back out of the deal and get your 10% back from the lawyer. You can not back out other than for legal reasons, otherwise you would risk losing your 10% deposit which is understandable because you may have prevented them selling it to someone else..

Lawyers have standard private purchase contracts that can be tweaked accordingly and used. This means within a couple of days you can secure your deal even if a inventory is required!
It’s also worth mentioning title deed insurance It’s new and well worth while for peace of mind. It’s called Safe Purchase Scheme

Javea Property For Sale update

Sun, 04 Oct 2009 16:40:00 GMT

Sketch of Javea Montgo Villa for Sale

The Euro zone nations have recently been leading the way as far as Javea property for sale and Moraira property for sale is concerned. Buyers from the UK still think that property for sale in Javea or property for sale in Moraira is overpriced even though there has been a significant price reduction.

The recent fall, yet again, in sterling means the UK buyers are no better off regardless of a 20 –30% price drop on average. The UK media coverage says that the prices have fallen sharply in Spain and you can pick up villas at a fraction of the original cost.

This generalization is not true of the Javea and Moraira property market. In all fairness the prices have held up very well. I think a lot of this is more to do with the fact that Moraira and Javea are very well established areas full of villas of a more bespoke nature for the more discerning client. Yes there has been a property boom here too but it has not been built up in the same way as the massive purpose built housing estates to the south of Alicante, created at a price to sell to the masses.

This is where we see massive problems and consequently massive price reductions. Unfortunately the media rarely make any distinction between the prosperous areas and the not so prosperous areas. Remember bad news sells papers!

There are various articles about Moraira and Javea that may go some way to explain why these areas are so highly desired. If you are thinking about investing in a holiday home it is well worth while to do as much research as you possibly can and hopefully this website will aid you in some way. If you prefer to speak with one of us directly please feel free to do so, we don’t bite! Or you may want to view some properties for sale in javea or properties for sale in Moraira

Trip To Galicia

Fri, 02 Oct 2009 07:06:00 GMT

Mo & Ali Segovia

Ant & Sal in Segovia

Our first stop was Segovia, north of Madrid – a beautiful city with a stunning cathedral and Roman aquaduct.

Segovia Cathedral

The walled city is perched on a rock rising out of the surrounding Castillian plains, and is a maze of narrow streets dotted with Roman monuments and noble mansions.

Mo & Ant Segovia

We stayed one night in a converted monastery within walking distance of the old town.

Wow Beef Rib En Route

Then on to A Pobra de Trives, near Ourense in rural Galicia, after an interesting drive north west through spectacular scenery. No postcards here (well no shops, actually), so just a couple of snapshots of the hotel, which was a luxuriously converted old manor house on a farm, set in beautiful lush pastures, woodland and lakes.

Converted Old Manor

Manor Views

Very green with lots of livestock, the cows and goats with bells so the herdsman can find them to bring them home. So peaceful, and no English spoken – popular area for walking holidays, but few foreign tourists come here so we were something of a curiosity!

Manor Gardens!

Space ship!

Our next stop was Vigo

Escudos Hotel

A busy commercial port on the south coast of Galicia (not far from the border with Portugal).
The city itself was busy and a bit touristy as many cruise liners stop here. But our hotel was a delightful, peaceful haven overlooking the estuary, another lovely old building with gardens down to the beach and all mod cons – we got a free upgrade to a huge suite overlooking the estuary.

Escudos View

Escudos Gardens

There are lots of traditional fishing villages in the many inlets, and summer resorts popular with Spanish holidaymakers. And fantastic seafood restaurants – every conceivable type of shellfish is caught or farmed off this coast.

Seafood Lunch

From Vigo, we visited Santiago de Compostella.
The buildings, especially the cathedral, were spectacularly ornate though rather gloomy.

Not difficult to imagine the throngs of pilgrims there in the Middle Ages, and what an awesome sight it must have been for them. We didn´t get to pay our respects at St James´s reliquary as the queue was several hours long.

Then on to La Coruña for 2 nights – this is where the Armada set sail from and the site of many historic sea battles and sieges. Another busy port on a rocky islet linked to mainland by a narrow strip of sand. Two sleepless nights in a beachfront hotel in sweltering heat – the only bad hotel choice I had made when I booked them all on the internet. The “English weather” we had been promised did not materialise, it was sunny every day and only a few drops of rain during the whole trip. More spectacular coastline, maritime museum and aquarium. The Costa del Muerte (coast of death) is here, very rugged coastline where many ships foundered on the rocks, and Cape Finisterre (heard of in the shipping forecast, always wondered where it was!). Finis Terra in Spanish, means “the end of the world”, which of course it was until Christopher Columbus came back. We celerbrated Mo’s birthday in the famous El Coral seafood restaurant.

Mo’s Birthday Bash at El Coral

From La Coruña we drove into the Picos de Europa, a spectacular mountain range in the province of Asturias, only 18 miles from the sea. A wonderful drive through deep gorges cut by gushing mountain rivers. It was a Sunday, and the area was busy with Spanish holidaymakers and day-trippers, every little town had canoes, bikes or horses for hire and there were hundreds of families enjoying a day out on the river and picnicking under the trees. We stayed overnight in Covadonga, a small village in the mountains with another spectacular church, huge monastery and convent.

Church close up

Another pilgrimage site, to a shrine carved out in the rocks to the Virgin of the Battlefield.

Covadonga Shrine

Covadonga Cave

Woodlands

Church in Covadonga

The legendary battle of Covadonga (not heard of it? Shame on you ….. neither had we!) took place here in 722, when Don Pelayo defeated the Moors and heralded the start of the Spanish Reconquest.

Mo & Ant Covadonga

Next stop was near to El Burgo in Castilla-Leon. Lots of old fortified towns and villages and lofty castles en-route, this being the oldest kingdom in Spain.

Rope Bridge En Route to Meseta

Then on through the “Meseta” – the vast central plains with acres and acres of arable farms, but strangely empty of people. We stayed in a delightful former convent in a quaint walled town where the locals looked at us as if we´d just landed from another planet!

On through more meseta to another walled town at Mora de Rubielos, near to Teruel. A beautiful small town with mediaeval origins, immaculately cared for. Exploring the maze of narrow streets revealed beautiful historic town houses with balconies hung with bright geraniums.

Sally and I walked the stations of the cross to the shrine at the top of the fortified hill with a lovely view of the town below.

Mora de Rubielos Shrine

One of the locals chatted animatedly with Maurice, in sign language, about how cold it is there in the winter, like England! They do get lots of snow in winter and there are ski resorts in the mountains nearby.

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Mora de Rubielos

Local stonework

And then home to Moraira, after 10 days “on the road”, 7 different hotels, and having traveled about 3,000 km. Another huge area of Spain explored, and a breathtaking diversity of scenery, history and traditions experienced, but there is so much more to see ………..

Property valuations in Javea & Moraira

Tue, 28 Jul 2009 19:26:00 GMT

3 bed 120m2 moraira apartment for sale

Recently I have been trying to make sense of property prices and valuations in Moraira and Javea.

There seems to be all sorts of data around with regard to valuations. The majority is not area specific relative to the Javea and Moraira properties for sale. Although we have seen, in some cases, a price reduction of around 20 – 30 % in advertised sales prices, it does not represent a true picture of the underlying value that was born during 2007 – 2009 financial crisis.

What the majority can afford will always dictate the underlying value of a property. It just takes a while for the reality to kick in. Many property owners out there simply don’t have to sell or can hang on to an unrealistic price until such a time when the majority of prices have been corrected. They then have to follow suit if they wish to sell. This process usually takes three years to bottom out to a realistic level. Some properties are priced to sell but the majority for sale still doesn’t reflect reality.

The properties that seem to sell are being substantially reduced when it comes to the actual deal done. Most never get to know how low the actual sales price was relative to the asking price. Many offers are refused but the ones that are selling are deals based upon a more realistic price level to start with. So how do you get a realistic valuation?

The process of valuation is arrived at by various means but rest assured, it’s always way behind the market when it comes to the reality of reductions! Most vendors already seem to know how much their villa is worth. They arrive at this in the usual way and this is based upon other advertised prices and what they think properties have been sold at next door or down the road over the past few months. Then by making adjustments for what they paid for their property and how much money they have spent on it, plus adding some on to negotiate with and “oh, the exchange rate is not in my favour” etc.

The other way is to ask an estate agent to come around to value the property. Estate agents are aware of the market conditions and will use slightly revised figures per square meter that reflect this but will still hold out in hope that the market will improve or will not be as affected like other areas. Historically there is a lot of truth in this as far as Javea and Moraira go. These desirable areas have been able to ride the storm far more than other areas, but of late there seem to be many people having no alternative other than to sell at low prices. In my opinion this time next year will see the low priced deals done today being the advertised sales price next year. So the initial figures estate agents arrive at will be similar to what the banks come up with to lend new money.The only difference is that estate agents are more at liberty to be a little bit more creative with the rest, usually increasing the valuation to please the vendor subject to how desperate they are to sell.

The truth is there is no rock solid formula and the formulas that exist in my opinion, do not reflect the true underlying value of a property or basically what the majority can now afford. Even the official figures are lagging behind what’s happening on the ground and what’s actually happening on the ground is lagging behind the financial crisis born during 2007 and it’s not over. It may take another year before we see some realistic prices being advertised, maybe even longer.

Estate agents talk amongst themselves and know, even if they are not selling much them selves, some of the properties being sold and at what price some are exchanging hands for. Many can’t believe the deals that are being done and it would insult many vendors out there wishing to sell if they knew. Consequently it’s easier to live in the past and avoid the confrontation when asked to put a value on a property! They allow the market to take its natural course.

Another way, though at cost, to value your property is to pay a bank to do it and allow them to be as clinical as possible. Don’t sell it to them! After all these guys will probably be financing the 70% mortgage to someone, somewhere down the line. Its inevitable banks will have their say because most buyers require some form of funding or at the very least an official valuation, so you might as well know how banks are going to look upon the value of your property before hand. At least you can waive an official bank valuation in front of them regardless.

Recently I thought I would compile 200 villa properties in Javea, taken at random from various websites. I made sure that the prices were reduced prices and that the properties had a similar build 150 – 175 and plot size of 850 – 1200. Then I totaled up the build size and divided it by 200, likewise with the advertised prices. Then I divided the average price by the average build and came to an average figure of 2,300 euros per M2.
I compared this 2,300 M2 figure with some recent bank valuations and arrived at a figure that was almost the same. Today I have spoken to a property valuation expert that does valuations for the banks. Banks use various registered organizations that specialize in such activities whom follow the guidelines laid out by central government.

One such organization is Tinsa and a report by them echoes my sentiment on this subject matter even though there info is dated relative to what’s happening on the ground.

Tinsa, a Spanish property valuation company used by several high street banks, has signaled that advertised house prices will drop a further 20% over 2009. In the same report, they have calculated the drop in 2008 as being 10.1%
If this figure is correct, Tinsa say that this will bring house prices back to their advertised levels in 2005. The monthly drop may be between 1 and 1.4%.
This is not news to many agents down here on the ground, who have seen price reductions of between 20 – 40% in the resale market. The official figures often lag behind the reality of business day to day.
A 10% drop in price does not really attract attention among the bargain hunters looking to purchase a Spanish home at a drastically reduced price. It is only those properties that have reduced to 2005 prices that are actually selling.

It may well take time for certain vendors and developers to catch up with the pricing downturn. It is only those that need to sell for personal or financial reasons that are pricing their properties realistically or accepting very low offers.

This translates into only a small percentage of properties available at ‘distressed’ prices. However, they are the only properties that are selling and selling quickly.

As there seems to be no accurate formula for property valuations, I asked how they establish a value on a given property. It was a little vague but here we go…..

Firstly, they have a valuation guide by province and this is broken down to some degree by area. The problem is that there are huge fluctuations from province to province and town to town. The system depends greatly upon each individual valuation officer having knowledge of a given area and the prices these areas are able to attract. For example a like for like property in the south of Alicante would be significantly less in price than say the north of Alicante in areas like Moraira and Javea.

The bulk of the valuation is based on the amount of actual living accommodation, excluding garages, terraces and undeveloped under builds. The plot is usually included in the price/calculation, unless it’s a double plot. The pool also tends to be included. Then adjustments are taken into account relative to the overall condition of the building, gardens, views and area. So it’s part science part art. One thing for certain is that properties with greater living accommodation have always valued up very well, where as smaller accommodation will not calculate favorably and therefore will be more difficult to sell especially if the buyer requires finance.

Some of the recent bargains I have come across are larger properties of 280 and 290 M2 build. As far as bank valuations go, they value up well and one was recently valued at 670k two months ago. But the prices they are being sold at are way below a bank valuation. The figures work out at 1,300 – 1,400 per M2!!
The reason for this is because that market for older properties that were once worth 600 – 750k has virtually gone, and what’s left of that market sector can buy something that was once worth 1.2million!

So to get back to property values in a real world, many of the once 600k – 750k properties are selling at around the 400k mark, some above and some below. This is mainly due to the fact that lending has become difficult and people have less value in their currency. Spain used to be cheap!

It all sounds like doom and gloom, but let’s not hide away from what is actually happening here on the ground. You might as well know because if you have a villa that you need to sell and it’s not too dissimilar to the many out there and amongst hundreds of others for sale within a given price band that 90% of the market can not even afford, through no fault of their own, how are you going to sell your villa?

If 90% of all buyers can only raise 300k – 400k at best, plus the additional 10% cost and you happen to have a villa that you think is worth 700k or 800k, think again!
Where is your market? Who are you selling to? The few buyers around with this higher budget can find amazing villa bargains that seem unreal and unfair but they indeed exist.
If one day the advertised prices are within the grasp of the many and sterling recovers to 1.45 against the euro, you may stand a better chance of finding a buyer. Either way, you will lose out on both the reduction in price and probably on the exchange rate if you need sterling!

One thing for certain is that resale properties represent amazing value for money. And are far less expensive than new build. You would be lucky to find a decent plot for less than 225k and anything with a sea view is at least 350k for a 1000M2 plot. With the cost of architects, building permissions and modern day materials and labour you don’t get much change out of 600k and that’s for something basic. Consequently, the future of new build looks grim and only prime and very expensive plot locations seem to be being built on for a more discerning customer.

Non Resident Taxation Explained

Wed, 22 Jul 2009 08:56:00 GMT

Non-Resident Home Owners and Annual Property Taxes

Most non-resident owners of property in Spain are under the misconception that they do not need to submitt their annual tax forms anymore!

It would be great but it is not the case. However as from 1st Jan 2008, the law changed and the taxes payable are less than people paid in previous years.

Up until the end of 2007 non-residents with property in Spain were liable to pay a “wealth tax” (Patrimonio) which was calculated on the value of their assets in Spain.

It is interesting to note that when Prime Minister Zapatero fulfilled his election promise regarding Patrimonio or “Wealth Tax”, with the introduction of Spanish Law 4/2008 passed on the 23 December 2008, the tax was finally amended by reducing the taxable base to zero.

Is this technically a formal abolition of the Tax? The answer is no. Certainly the effect is that no wealth tax will be paid by either residents, (obligación personal) or non-residents, (obligación real).

The law, which ironically was published in the Spanish Government Official Gazette (BOE) on Christmas Day 2008, applies to tax years starting 1st January 2008 onwards which, under the previous scheme would have been payable in arrears in 2009.

The mechanics of the new law mean that the obligation to submit a wealth tax return (Modelo 214) is terminated by applying a 100 per cent deduction to the taxable base.
By reducing the tax to zero but not abolishing it, is the Spanish Government retaining the option to re-introduce the tax in the future? That may well be the case!

So to reiterate, the Patrimony “wealth tax” has to all intents and purposes been done away with. But that does not mean that there are no annual property taxes for Non-Residents to pay. You may remember noticing on previous year’s Modelo 214 forms that there were 2 separate calculations: The Patrimony amount and the “Declaración de la Renta” amount.

The “Declaración de la Renta" or “Non Resident’s annual tax return” must still be made and paid!

Taxation, and particularly dual taxation issues are an extremely complicated subject and I would always advise readers who make financial gain from their property in Spain to get a qualified assessment of their own personal circumstances, either directly from the Spanish “Hacienda”, Spain’s Inland Revenue, or from a tax professional.

However, in general terms the earnings from rented property or sub-let property are calculated on 24 per cent of the gross income received from the tenant, excluding IGIC.
If the property is only rented out for part of the year, the earnings are calculated as above for the rented period. For the part of the year that it lies empty, the calculation is made as for “Deemed Rental Income”: see below.
See if your Catastral Value has been updated since 1994 if the answer is yes the coefficient to use is 1.1 if the answer is no then use 2.Multiply the Catastral Value by 1.1 or 2 (as above) per cent Take this value and multiply by 24 per cent – thats how much deemed rental income tax you pay.

Example: Catastral Value 150,000 revised since 1994 = yesx1.1 % = 1650x 24% = 396 euros tax payable
If your property is left empty, even though you do not let out your holiday home for gain, Spanish law assumes you have what is called a “Deemed Rental Income” which is subject to non-resident Income Tax.

The “Deemed Rental Income”, which used to be included on the old Modelo 214 form, is now declared on a Modelo 210 form.
The amount you pay is calculated using the “Valor Catastral” (Rateable Value) of your property in Spain. This can be easily ascertained by looking at the receipt for your “Impuestos Sobre Bienes Inmuebles” or IBI, (often referred to by English speakers as “Rates”) – which is paid to your “Ayuntamiento” annually.
This receipt will also tell you whether the rateable value of your property has been revised since 1st January 1994. This is critical because the percentage used to calculate “Deemed Rental Income” is higher if your rateable value has not been revised since that date. Tax payable on the “Deemed Rental Income” is 24 per cent. The deadline for the submission of form Modelo 210 is the June 30th 2009 for income deemed or actually derived in 2008.
All of the above applies to Non-residents with no permanent establishment but who own a holiday home in Spain
An example of a receipt for “Impuestos Sobre Bienes Inmuebles” or IBI: The format can vary between Ayuntamientos, or whether you get the receipt from your bank rather than paying in cash. But all the information you need will be on there.

Anyone treating apartment letting as a business
If someone owns property in Spain, but is not resident in Spain for tax purposes and has at least one office or premises used for managing the letting business and employs one or more people on a full time contract, then the owner is considered to have income through a permanent establishment in Spain and is subject to different regulations.

It is important that non-resident homeowners are aware of their legal obligation to submit an annual income tax declaration in Spain. What holds true for all, is that no non-resident home owner, whatever their circumstances, are exempt from making a non-residents Income Tax return.

You probably know someone who has owned property for years and never made a declaration? However, if they are caught, and computerised records are making that ever more likely, they are liable to pay the last four year’s tax and probably a hefty fine.

But in any case, when that property is eventually sold or passed on as part of an inheritance, the Spanish Tax Agency can and will check their records, which will show that the property is owned by a non-resident and that no tax declarations have been received. The taxes will then need to be paid, including any fines imposed, before the property can be legally transferred.

I believe that at the very least it makes sense to clarify what your tax liability is and if at all possible, keep things up to date, rather than looking over you shoulder and waiting for a fine to drop on the mat.
Research and script by www.diana-mcglone.com

moraira property for sale

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 18:25:00 GMT

Moraira El Portet villa for sale

Property for sale in Moraira and property for sale in Javea is still proving to be very resilient to the huge price reductions seen elsewhere, predominantly in the mass developed areas where we have seen dramatic price reductions.
Having seen the thousands of properties on the many housing estates in these areas, it’s no wonder!

For those British property owners in Moraira and Javea that have to sell, we have seen on average a reduction of up to 30% in sales prices to reflect the devaluation of sterling. But that’s it apart from a hand full of very distressed property sales. The market is ticking along with lots of lookers but not so many buyers unless a real bargain comes up. Still there are properties being sold and recently have seen an upward trend in activity. I think significant recovery will be a long time coming but recover it will if history is anything to go by.
As to what level and when is anyone’s guess Comments appreciated.

Sterling has recently made some significant increases against the euro and British sellers are now not wishing to negotiate as much as they once were. In fact some sellers have actually increased the sales price to reflect the stronger pound. The reduction was literally based on the poor purchasing power of the pound against the euro in the first place. But even with the 30% price reduction the British are only where they were two years ago when sterling was at 1.45 So nothing has really changed! That’s why we have lost such a significant amount of British buyers and the ones that exist, some 15% of what we once had, are looking for real bargains.

All things considered, I personally think price increases at this stage are rather short sighted, as the majority of recent sales have been led by the euro zone countries taking full advantage of the price corrections fuelled by the devaluation of sterling. If British owners are unwilling to negotiate or in some recent cases, increase their prices simply because of the recovery in sterling, they risk losing not only the few British buyers around but also the many buyers from the euro zone countries.
If you are trying to sell your property in this market, one has to assume that the majority of you are pretty desperate to sell because now is not the time to do it. Buyers know this and will put in, what may seem to you as, ridiculous offers. If you do not wish to be insulted by low offers, it might be worth your while considering the possibility of removing your property from the market thus saving everyone’s time.

Lets face it, low prices and easy lending created the property boom here in Spain and consequently prices escalated. Today, easy lending has gone and so too have the second homes and inflated prices with it.
The big gains you thought you had are simply not there. If you bought midway or at the end of the property boom, you would do well to recover what you invested in the first place. Many are doing just that to make a sale. Needs must!

It’s affected us all. I am one as well and we all have to face it whether we are selling or not. The majority of house prices have fallen by at least 30% and for those that have to sell the prices need to reflect what the majority of buyers can afford. Scary stuff but the market always dictates and there are always winners and losers.

The days of easy lending, over valuations and 80- 100% mortgages etc.. are no more. Today, Spanish mortgages can be very difficult to obtain, then it’s only 50 to 60% of the price paid and then subject to much scrutiny, excellent proof of income and job security. Most used to re mortgage their main residence in their native county to afford a second home here in Spain and simply come out as cash buyers. Those were the day’s!
Property prices in Spain have risen over the years to such an extent that it has become virtually impossible for people to raise enough finance, based upon the inflated equity in their main residence as they once did.
Their house prices have fallen in value and with it have gone the easy to obtain second mortgages.
So, how then are people, other than investors with liquidity, going to be able to finance a property purchase?

Unless buyers have sold their main residence and achieved a good sales price, which is highly unlikely, then paid off their mortgage and have enough surplus to buy a Spanish home, mortgaged or not, plus leave some money in the bank for a little capital; I think it’s going to be difficult to make a sale unless you drop lucky.

How many people do you know with say 350 – 500k cash in the bank? Personally, I think you could be waiting a very long time before your property sells unless you negotiate really hard. A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush!

Villas for sale in Moraira Vs Community Property for sale in Moraira

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 17:54:00 GMT

2 bed semi Moraira community property

Community Pool

Detached Villas in Moraira or Javea, within their own grounds and with a swimming pool are the most popular choice for property seekers. Although far more expensive than most community properties, they tend to be wanted more because they usually have a much larger plot with a private pool and with more than adequate boundaries from neighboring properties providing a little more privacy. Ideal for family holidays. Letting potential for a private villa is usually in greater demand with higher returns.
That said, the rates are higher, annual taxes higher and the maintenance is higher and unless you are living there, will require a pool cleaner and a gardener.

Community Property

For those that require a very reasonably priced holiday home or a very low maintenance permanent home with low running cost, it might be worth while considering a quality community property in [Moraira Costa Blanca](http://www.spanish-property-sales.net/locations). Detached or semi detached, there’s always a choice. [Great example here](http://www.spanish-property-sales.net/properties/10070-villa-for-sale-in-moraira)

If you do your homework you can usually find excellent properties within a well managed community. Usually with a very large swimming pool that you would not get with a typical villa and with large beautiful gardens as well. The annual community fees will cover all cost associated with keeping the communal areas in tip top condition, like the pool, gardens, lighting etc.. so it’s always nice on your arrival.

It’s very simple to come and go as you please. They also let reasonably well because they are much more affordable than private villas especially with the recent credit crunch!

Some people don’t like the idea of a shared pool, however many do and enjoy the fun and interaction that a shared pool of good size provides, especially if you have children.

Community property owners also benefit from the fact that more often than not, there are some full time residents.
Many are only too glad to help out with keeping an eye on things, giving you peace of mind in your absence.

There is usually a very helpful community spirit and it’s nice to have some neighbours nearby when you need them.
Everyone respects each others privacy and of course the all important community rules that help protect your investment!

For example if next-door wanted to paint their villa pink or put up a scruffy looking garden shed, subject to the community rules agreed, they could not. Each community makes their own rules so it is worth while understanding these before you buy. Pool safety is usually paramount.

Every year communities have an AGM to discuss how the community is managed, maintained and what is required. Everybody can have a say and vote. The elected president ensures all is done as per the majority vote.

See this link for more information on [buying a Moraira property](http://www.spanish-property-sales.net/buying-guide).

Villas for sale in Moraira and Javea - Repossessions

Fri, 22 May 2009 14:10:00 GMT

For some time now property prices have slowly but surley been corrected to take account for the economic downturn.

There are some genuine bargains to be had if you do your homework. It’s a mistake if you think that bank repossessions are bargains! It’s not always the case and sellers always try to recover at least the outstanding mortgage as a last attempt to sell. One must ask the question why the property has not sold before the repossession? In my opinion it’s usually for good reason.

Having seen many overpriced or undesirable villas for sale, I am not surprised they have never sold even though prices have been reduced. Many are not even worth the outstanding mortgage and consequently they get repossessed.

Banks will auction them off and try to recover the mortgage. If they fall short they will pursue the owners for the outstanding debt.

Assuming you can pick up a so called “distressed property sale” from a bank, there seems to be a fundamental flaw here as you risk inheriting the very same reasons why it never sold in the first place, so buyer beware!

As Moraira and Javea property finders, I have taken a close look at bank repossessions lately and it has been of no surprise I have seen many of the properties on the list over the past 3 to 4 years.

Understanding why property does not sell and what truly represents excellent value is paramount. The market may be depressed and property sales way down, but don’t be taken in by all of the media’s generalisations, sweeping statements and exagerrated hype stories. The fact is there are genuine bargains to be had and desirable property is still selling. It’s a buyers market and for those with some liquidity property seems to be a safe bet. Where else do you invest money and feel safe?

That said, more recently it has been more euro led since sterling has lost so much of it’s value.
Eurozone countries are taking advantage of the price reductions. The UK buyers whom once led the market are few and far between, compared to when sterling was strong but they indeed exist.

Real bargains tend to be with the people that bought before the boom began and paid very little for their property. If they have dire circumstances they can afford to let go and still recover more than most that say bought during the boom so it’s worth bearing in mind.

Without doubt there are some desirable properties at knock down prices if you have the time to find them but you need to be careful that you arn’t just buying work. Our property finding services are free so feel free to contact us with this [link](http://www.spanish-property-sales.net/contact).