Questions about Alicante and property

[NickZ]

Can I get a feeling for what the weather is like Oct 1st to March 31st?

I assume it's the rainy season but is this mostly rain with some sun? Or is this solid gloom?

At what point does the weather start to improve?

What sort of closing fees should a person expect? I see something like 10% in tax for a second home. Close? Legal fees? Estate agent?

How is property tax calculated?

How accurate are the prices on the fotocase website? Many seem too good to be true.

How long is the buying process normally? In other words how long from offer being accepted to getting the keys?

I assume offers are possible?

Are mortgages available? If so what's the process?

Any idea what it would cost to rent a studio apartment with parking for a few months while I browsed the homes for sale?

Is it reasonable to expect a fairly new build property in a newish area to have broadband?

I've seen the threads on the new residency requirements. Is this just Spain following the French and Italian lead? Or are they going further? Or is the law still super secret

Thanks

[Stravinsky]

I have answered in red

Originally Posted by NickZ

Can I get a feeling for what the weather is like Oct 1st to March 31st?

I assume it's the rainy season but is this mostly rain with some sun? Or is this solid gloom?

We were sitting out on the terrace last December having lunch on a regular basis
Tends to be rainier in Feb March, but this year its been relatively dry

At what point does the weather start to improve?

Depends what you mean. We are in the pool in about mid May
Sept Oct Nov and Dec have been fairly good. I always class late Jan through to April as the worst months

What sort of closing fees should a person expect? I see something like 10% in tax for a second home. Close? Legal fees? Estate agent?

You need to ask a solicitor to quote fees for you. Estate agents, generally crap and will try and show you what they want to show you, not necessarily what you want.

How is property tax calculated?

How accurate are the prices on the fotocase website? Many seem too good to be true.
I dont know what photocase is. In general, disregard the prices on the websites. Problem is also that if two agents take on a property, they often advertise at different prices!


How long is the buying process normally? In other words how long from offer being accepted to getting the keys?

I assume offers are possible?

Its a buyers market, so yes offers are possible.

Are mortgages available? If so what's the process?

Yes, but you need to speak to the banks of course

Any idea what it would cost to rent a studio apartment with parking for a few months while I browsed the homes for sale?

Is it reasonable to expect a fairly new build property in a newish area to have broadband?

Not originally, you will need to contact telefonica / movistar or whoever to install

I've seen the threads on the new residency requirements. Is this just Spain following the French and Italian lead? Or are they going further? Or is the law still super secret

Its common knowledge as far as I know, and theres a thread on it on the forum. In theory you have to prove health cover requirements and an income. I dont know if they are following anyones lead. Spain is Spain and their laws are their laws

Thanks

[xabiachica]

Originally Posted by Stravinsky

I have answered in red

fotocasa.es - venta pisos, alquiler pisos, pisos madrid, pisos barcelona, pisos valencia

[NickZ]

Thanks.

In I think both Italy and France second homers aren't required to get residency. You just have the same disadvantage that other second homers have. Higher taxes and no real access to many of the local services. But you don't have to meet the requirements for residence if you don't want to.

[Stravinsky]

Originally Posted by NickZ

Thanks.

In I think both Italy and France second homers aren't required to get residency. You just have the same disadvantage that other second homers have. Higher taxes and no real access to many of the local services. But you don't have to meet the requirements for residence if you don't want to.

I'm not quite with you. Are you saying that you think that if you have another house in the UK that you dont need to be a resident in another country if you live there?

[xabiachica]

Originally Posted by NickZ

Thanks.

In I think both Italy and France second homers aren't required to get residency. You just have the same disadvantage that other second homers have. Higher taxes and no real access to many of the local services. But you don't have to meet the requirements for residence if you don't want to.

actually that made me wonder - so I just looked at the UKinItaly consulate website & found this

it seems that the requirement to register as resident after 90 days is the same as Spain - & the income & healthcare requirements are along the same lines, too

http://ukinitaly.fco.gov.uk/resource...inistry-health

If the period of stay exceeds 3 months, EU nationals are
entitled to stay, subject to the registration with the National
Registry Office, and no obligation to apply for a Residence
Permit (this requirement only applies to non-EU family members of
Eu nationals), in the following circumstances:-
a) the EU national is an employee or a self-employee in the State;
b) has sufficient means that ensure that he/she will not become a
burden for the host country's health system, and has a health
insurance or similar cover;
c) has enrolled at a certified public/private institution to attend a
study or vocational course, and has sufficient means for
him/herself and his/her family, and a health insurance or similar
cover;
d) he/she is a family member accompanying or joining an EU
national who is entitled to stay in the country under the above
provisions.
To register with the National Registry Office, the EU national,
according to the above mentioned circumstances, needs to produce,
in addition to any other requirement concerning Italian nationals
under the relevant legislation in force, the documents certifying
what follows:-
a) his/her working activity;
b) his/her availability of financial means (including through a
declaration, under articles 45 and 46 of President of the
Republic's Decree No 445 of 28th December 2000), and to
have a health insurance or similar cover;
c) his/her registration at a certified public/private institution; the
availability of financial means, and a health insurance or
similar cover

I seem to remember reading that these are EU rules which Spain has only just decided to opt into, so I'd be surprised if France was any different

[jojo]

I'm not sure that spain would give out a mortgage on a second home right now, after all of the bank trouble and subprime stuff??????

Jo xxx

[NickZ]

Originally Posted by Stravinsky

I'm not quite with you. Are you saying that you think that if you have another house in the UK that you dont need to be a resident in another country if you live there?

Not if your normal home is in Spain but if you have a second home. Your residence is the place you normally call home even if you're spending a majority of time in your vacation home.

[NickZ]

Originally Posted by jojo

I'm not sure that spain would give out a mortgage on a second home right now, after all of the bank trouble and subprime stuff??????

Jo xxx

I wouldn't have thought that to but the websites all mention mortgages Including the ones selling bank owned properties

[NickZ]

Originally Posted by xabiachica

actually that made me wonder - so I just looked at the UKinItaly consulate website & found this

That makes no sense. Required to register but no obligation to apply for residence.