Buying Through an Agent or Buying Direct from the Seller.

The boom and bust of the Spanish property market is fast drawing to a close with ever diminishing supplies of \’bargain basement\’ properties on offer. Savvy owners who know the real value of their properties refuse to be swept along by the sheer panic being installed into the others by ruthless property agents and fortune seekers alike.

Some of these agents have little or no interest in their clients who are trying to sell and they willfully drive the sellers prices down to ensure that they continue to achieve their margins – come what may. These agents make little or no effort beyond, listing the property on the internet and a quick showing in their shop window for a few days. Ashamedly, most of these Agents are British.

Over recent years, there has been a significant increase in the number of sellers listing their properties themselves. This means that they can offer a real discount to prospective buyers of around 5% of the sale price by not having to pay an agent this money!

Agents will tell prospective buyers that they are able to protect them against unscrupulous sellers but who protects the buyers from unscrupulous agents?

What can an Agent offer that a Private Seller Cannot?

*Most offer free transport from your hotel to the viewing and back

*They have a selection of properties in a variety of areas to show you

*They can negotiate on your behalf with the seller over price

*They can point you in the direction of their favorite lawyer

*They will sometimes collect and return you to the airport for free

*They will email you frequently to update you about properties and prices**

*They can sometimes Speak a Language that Some Sellers Cannot

What are the Advantages of Dealing Direct with the Seller?

*The Seller strips the Agent\’s fees out of the price – The Buyer gets 5% discount

*Most Sellers know instinctively how far they can go on price reductions

*Sellers know their way around their own home, Agents seldom do

*The Buyer can ask any questions directly without fear of later contradiction

*The Seller can explain exactly how the Buyer can get the best out of the property

*The Buyer can agree all the arrangements with the Seller without complications

*The Seller can be just as helpful in directing you to a number of lawyers

*The Buyer can generally communicate 24/7 with the Seller but not with an Agent

*Some Sellers do speak more than one European language

*With the Seller you have as much time as you want to inspect and re-inspect

There is now an abundance of websites advertising Direct Sales by Owners, why give 5% to the Agents for their mediocre efforts?

This situation is much the same whether you are buying in Spain, France, Italy, Greece or anywhere else on the Mediterranean.

Living in Spain.

Spain continues to be the favorite hunting ground for property and the English in particular have had a long love affair with Spain. The German people love it here too and thousands have made their home here accompanied by the French, Dutch, Belgians, Swiss and more recently the Russians.

Broadly speaking there are few coastal places in Europe as beautiful as the Costa Blanca region and in particular around Moraira. This area of Spain is considered by the World Health Organisation to be one of the top places to live a long life.

Despite the hard time that Europe in general and Spain, Italy and Greece in particular are going through, there are many valid reasons for living here.

Climate.

Spain enjoys long hot periods throughout the summer months and mostly bright sunny days throughout the winter months. When it rains it pours but when that is over and done with – the sun shines again!

The Rain in Spain does not fall mainly on the plain. It falls along the coastal regions too.

The winter nights are cool and often very cold.Those retiring here will need their Winter Fuel Allowance just as they did in the UK but over a shorter period of time.

Sometimes high winds develop out of the blue and then die down to a mere whisper. A gentle breeze in the hottest months is a joy to behold!

Environment.

It is clean and the air smells sweet! There are not many factories belching out obnoxious fumes if any.

Scenery.

Altogether, the scenery in this area is breathtaking. Whether you are travelling along a coastal road or passing through the mountains and valleys there is always a wow factor about what is there for you to see. Places like Guadalest and various waterfalls like Fonts D\’Algar are major tourist attractions.

Safety.

Spain like any other country has its crime and crime statistics but the police here are far less tolerant of thugs, hooligans and general misconduct. Generally people can go about their business without being molested.

The writer has found the situation here to be vastly better than in the UK.

Food.

Fresh vegetables, meat, fish and poultry are readily available in all shopping areas and the range of products is extremely wide. There are outdoor markets during all weekdays in differing towns and a profusion of very modern Supermarkets are dotted about throughout the area.

Supermarkets have improved significantly during the period that the writer has lived in the area (9 years). A number of large Supermarket groups have sprung up.

Eight or nine years ago it was almost impossible to find a food shop open on Saturday afternoons and Sundays. now most Supermarkets are open all day on Saturdays and until lunchtime on Sundays.

Food Price

Spain`s entry into the Euro brought with it increased pricing in just about everything as the country struggled to match the expectations of their senior partners in Central and Northern Europe. however, food prices are still lower than most of these countries and the quality is absolutely fine.

Alcohol.

Alcohol is still cheaper in Spain than most Northern European countries but be warned – there is a growing intolerance to drink-driving here and the legal limit is lower than the UK. There are moves afoot to move to a Zero Tolerance situation.

The cost of a taxi pales into insignificance when compared to the loss of an innocent victims life or the lives of passengers travelling with a drunk driver.

Eating Out.

One of the most enjoyable activities here is to take your lunch or dinner at one of the multitude of restaurants around. There are innumerable choices with just about every dish generally available throughout the world – on offer here.

Eating In.

Eating at home can be just as pleasurable as eating out! most people have a terrace with a view and sufficient shade to enjoy eating outside for most of the year. It is a lot cheaper and you can have a drink without worrying about getting home.

Swimming.

There are numerous beautiful sandy beaches where one can swim or bathe or sunbathe along the road from Moraira to Calpe, or around Javea and Denia and most people have their own private pool to swim whenever they want in the day and into the night! If you budget can stand it, have a pool heating system installed and be able to swim all year round. Be warned, the air temperatures reach very high levels in Summer.

Education.

for those with young families, there are both public and private schools available according to their means. Education standards are pretty much on par with Europe in general with all subjects delivered in the national language and or a regional language like Valenciano or Catalunian, depending upon where you choose to settle.

The Spanish people absolutely dote on children and always put them first.

Healthcare.

For retired people there is the option to go private or use the public health services having at first applied for a SIPP card. For Pensioners and their dependents, the British Government has a reciprocal arrangement with Spain and other countries but not all have the same. This means that your government picks up the bill for your medical costs including hospital treatment up to around