• Go to a professional estate agent, who belongs to a trade association and don´t be afraid to ask them if they do.
• Choose an agent who knows and understands the Area.
• Use a solicitor, never buy without a solicitor, you would not buy a property in the U.K. without o­ne, so why buy o­ne in a country where you do not speak the language or understand the procedures. Remember a solicitors sole role is to safeguard your interest in your purchase.
• Set yourself a budget and make sure the funds are available.
• Walk around the area, and ask locals about living in the area.

• Let yourself be pushed into a purchase, think carefully, will the property suit your needs, i.e., access to shops, schools, beaches, golf courses etc.
• Expect to fully understand an area if you come out for o­nly a few days, spend longer or come back again.
• Be fooled by ´FREE LEGAL WORK´, ´NO NOTARY FEES´, ´NO TAXES´, ´NO COMMISSION SALES´, all of these things have to be paid for, it is much better to obtain the best offer o­n a property and seek your own legal advice - you will save a surprising amount of money and be more secure.
• Sign a contract unless your solicitor has checked it.
• Hand over a deposit o­n a resale to the vendor make sure it is held by the solicitor or agent, as stakeholder.

1. Once you have found your chosen property and agreed the price, completion dates and terms, it is normal for new properties to sign a reservation with about 3,000 €, the contract will take about 30 days. For resales a contract is normally drawn up within a week, where you will need a 10% deposit.
2. Once you have signed the contract if you do not proceed with the purchase you would lose your deposit, if the vendor failed to sell the property to you he would have to refund twice your deposit.
3. On the day of completion you would all sign the transfer document in front of a ´NOTARY´.
4. Budget for 10% , (there should be change from this), above the purchase price to cover, notary fees, I.V.A. or transfer tax at 7%, legal costs, land registration, obtaining an N.I.E. number and the transfer of utilities.

ALL PROPERTY PURCHASERS WILL NEED AN N.I.E. NUMBER
BEFORE COMPLETING o­n THEIR PROPERTY PURCHASE.

AN APPLICATION FOR AN N.I.E. NUMBER MUST BE MADE IN
PERSON TO THE ALMERIA (IN THIS AREA) POLICE
STATION.

YOU WELL NEED TO TAKE YOUR PASSPORT AND A CONTRACT TO
PURCHASE WITH YOU ,AS YOU HAVE TO PROVE WHY YOU NEED AN
N.I.E

TAKE A TRANSLATOR IF YOU CAN NOT SPEAK SPANISH AS THE
APPLICATION WILL BE CARRIED OUT IN SPANISH