Spanish Real Estate forum - Spanish property - Estate agentsSpanish Real Estate forum - Spanish property - Estate agents

lyndonthompson · 08-31-2008, 05:22 PM

I thought I'd post our requirements. I admit they are quite precise but I've wrote them that way so we don't waste each others time.

Summary: Basically we want to be remote, location is number 1, then comes land (we want to be within our own), then comes affordability, then comes the property.

We are looking for a rural property with no neighbours, which is away from cities, towns and large villages. A couple of km out of a small village is OK. This is because we like the countryside and want to be away from light polltion.
Spain light pollution | Andalucia light pollution

House: It can be a new build, part built, reform or building plot, we aren't bothered but obviously the condition / state of completion effects what we can pay. It really needs to be around 200m2 (above isn't a problem). This isn't to say we wouldn't consider slightly smaller if the price was OK and everything else was perfect.
We would like mains water and mains eletric. We wouldn't rule a property out because of this but they are preferable.

We don't want a property with incorrect papers, no legal access, no reform permissions, or incorrect sizes unless the seller is prepared to correct these legally.

Land: We want a large plot of land because we both enjoy the outdoors, gardening etc. The more land the better, certainly upwards of 6000m2 and it should be usable, not on a 60 degree slope. Ideally we would like the property to be centrally located in the land.

Price. we are only youngish (38) and have a limited budget. Luckily we aren't bothered about being on the coast or near to the resorts so one of the expensive beachside plots aren't necessary. Hopefully we will be looking at the less premium plots anyway. We have a figure in mind to complete the project but that's to pay for everything.

Condition: we enjoy landscaping, DIY, gardening, basic building so those aren't a problem. Obviously the condition as to be relative to the price. eg of possible self build or reform project (download pdf file)

Plans
I am an astronomer and my hobby is taking long exposure images of galaxies and nebula. Eventually I hope to offer remote imaging so some form of internet connection is necessary.

How you can help
Because location is the most important feature, before arranging viewings, I do like to "check out" the property on google earth and make sure (as much as is possible) that it's Ok geographically, Ie not 1km from a power station or football ground so postcodes or good directions are great. There's nothing fishy, we aren't an agent who is going to "pinch" the property. Pictures of the property from a distance are good too.

Homefinder · 09-01-2008, 05:36 PM

May I offer a few words of advice?
Take great care buying a property outside of a town, especially if it is fairly new.
Recently, lots of properties have been built illegally in such localities all over Spain and 1,000's are facing demolition. Many of them have building licences issued by the municipality but regional governments are claiming that the town halls have no jurisdiction outside of the area covered by their PGOU (Plan General de Ordinacion Urbanistica).
To explain the PGOU: The town has to submit a plan to incorporate any new areas into their urban zone, be responsible for the installation of the infrastructure and "adopt" the area on completion of the civil engineering works.

In a recent case, a retired British couple had their property demolished by the Regional Government of Andalucia, in spite of the fact that it had a valid building licence.
The property was not within the PGOU and the R G of A claimed, in a written reply to Administrator for the Committe on Petitions of the European Parliment, -

Quote:

The ruling declared the license invalid because it demonstrated the existence of an urban nucleus on land classified as not for urbanisation, having also been shown that the house was not designated for agricultural or similar purposes as specified by the law applicable to land not for urbanisation.

To read the whole report: The Vera Domilition

Now I am not a lawyer and cannot really say but it is quite possible that a property built more than 4 years ago could have valid documentation.
Nevertheless, if you intend to buy in Andalucia, you do have the assurance provided by the "Decreto 218" - but only if you purchase through a properly licensed and compliant estate agent!
In case you are unaware, the Decreto provides for an info pack similar to the UK HIP.
Sadly, private sellers are not controlled by the Decreto, which I personally feel is a big mistake on the part of the lawmakers of Andalucia.

I know that this might make me "flavour of the month" among the estate agents of Andalucia but that is not my intention. There have been enough scandals already, mostly not caused directly by estate agents, and the Decreto was designed to tidy everything up.

Homefinder

wood1e · 10-10-2008, 10:14 AM

Have you thoguht of the baleares? Certainly less problems concerning illegal builds, there are a few less busy areas, obviously I am not sure if it will be remote enough for your telescope etc.

There is little lighting on the roads, so that should help even if you are close to one. And the traffic levels are very small in comparasion to Britian or Mainland Spain.

Anyway it was just an idea.

sharonthompson · 10-11-2008, 01:56 PM

thanks for the suggestion wood1e, there is an observatory nr the centre of Mallorca which lyndon went to a few years ago. However the islands are just too expensive for us (no doubt you will tell me differently

)

Homefinder · 10-11-2008, 04:53 PM

Hi Sharon
There are lots of Spanish inland areas where you may be able to find a property that is remote but would probably not have mains water and electricity - easy enough to live with that!
I have a little fishing house in the middle of Tarragona on the river Ebro, this is a beatifull area, very sparsley inhabited and property is ver cheap.
Driving around the country roads I see lots of old houses, little traffic on the roads and very few lights at night.
Whilst fishing at night we try not to use torches in order to preserve our night vision and, even without a moon, there is enough light from the stars, if the sky is clear, to walk around without falling in the river

The shooting stars are amazing - something the "townies" miss out on.
Don't forget what I said about being careful over the legality of rural houses.

A friend of mine bought an old building in the town (Riba Roja d'Ebre) to convert in 6 apartments and, along with the package, was a plot of 45,000 M2 about 2 Klms from the town. It is planted with old almond & olive trees and it is not worth his while to harvest the crop because he has a business down here in Costa Blanca as well.

Something like this might be perfect for you. Buy the land, start harvesting the crop and earn a few bob. Get permission to build a store on it (your observatory as well) and put in "camping" cooking and folding beds for your night sessions - and live happily ever after!

The land is just right for you because there is a high hill between there and the town which blocks all the light.
Buy one of Brian's flats in the town, which he will renovate to your requirements, for when you want to return to the civilised world.
You'll get the whole lot for well under 100,000 as long as you don't go crackers with the apartment refurbishment.
Being 2 Klms outside of town, it will be a long, long time before the town spreads its PGOU out that far but, you never know, you could eventually be sitting on some vary valuable building land.
I must apologise about all that - I just can't control my estate agent instincts!

However, something like that in a rural area could be the ideal solution for you.

If you want to discuss the idea further, I have to say (as a forum moderator) that it would not be appropriate for us to discuss this on the public forum - so send me a Private Message!

I bet my fellow moderators are going to give me hell for that one!

Homefinder

sharonthompson · 10-13-2008, 12:59 AM

Hi Homefinder, thanks for the suggestion but we really would need to live on site. I have no problem with anyone putting proposals to us and we will consider them all (once the other little problem is sorted). Sometimes seeing things from another angle is a real help and I'm old enough to know that taking advice can prevent a lot of mistakes.

Homefinder · 10-13-2008, 01:23 AM

Yep - I guessed you would say something like that and I am sorry that my base instincts get the better of me.
I am trying to do something "respectable" like moderating this forum but, everytime real estate gets discussed, my brain goes "Zoink" and I try to put a deal together.

Tell you what! Why don't you change your hobby to fishing then you could buy a mibile home, not worry about owning real estate ever again, travel the world and look at the stars every night for free.

Perhaps I should do that and stop pestering people!

Best of luck with the other little problem.

Homefinder

sharonthompson · 10-13-2008, 11:00 AM

nice idea, but we already live next to a fishing lake and I don't fish now.

the fish are so tame you can feed them with bread and they are almost like pets!

Homefinder · 10-13-2008, 01:43 PM

Wow - I am impressed.
No way you could ever get a pic like that in Spain - the locals would have shot and eaten the swans years ago!

If you feed the fish you probably don't even approve of anglers like me.

Homefinder

sharonthompson · 10-13-2008, 02:59 PM

we had a lot of rain that day! that's global warming for you.

the swans are very annoying, they come up to the house and tap on the window till you feed them. sometimes they even help themselves

(only 2 more posts before I can send PM's)