Increase in Land Registry & Notary Tariffs for 2010

Hi,
Thought you might be interested in this article which was apparently in the Sunday Mirror this week (didn't see it - picked it up on the web):

Karen Rockett takes a look at the  enduring popularity of golf properties... four million Britons regularly play golf and half of these are members of a golf club.  A survey by Monarch Airlines found golfing holidays are increasing in popularity too, with 78 per cent of golfers saying they take at least two golfing breaks a year.

Buying a home near or as part of a golf development guarantees you a great holiday – and gives you rental income when you can tear yourself away.  Insiders say that while speculators have stopped buying off-plan just to sell on, Britons are still buying properties as second homes – ideally within putting distance of a golf course.

Spain and Portugal are still the most popular choices, but Turkey, Tunisia and Morocco are emerging as the new golfing hotspots – with some courses designed by famous golfers like Nick Faldo.

And with much cheaper properties, you’ll have spare cash to spend on a new set of clubs.    

Two-bed apartments, townhouses and villas, Jardines de Alhama, Condado de Alhama golf resort, Murcia Despite high prices and over-development in some of the coastal areas, the British love affair with Spain shows no signs of stopping.

It is still number one for Brits retiring abroad and tops with British golfers. Polaris World are building what will be the biggest golf resort in Europe in the Murcia region of Southern Spain, close to nine Jack Nicklaus golf courses.

When the project is finished a whole new town, the largest in the region after Murcia itself, will have been built – Oasis City. The region is more affordable than the Costa Del Sol, with prices 14 per cent lower than the national average.

Despite the downturn in the world economy, the market here seems to be showing little signs of slowing down.

Thanks for putting this on Kev1.

This makes the thrid positive article I've seen in as many weeks and I know our agents are saying people are still buying with golf resorts remaining very popular. They were saying that the 'credit crunch' has just taken away time wasters and people who plan to buy but wont be ready to do so for years (but previously would do an inspection trip to get ideas) leaving those who have the available cash or ability to raise the mortgage or who are looking for a business opportunity.

However these articles are all talking about the buying market I wonder how the rental scene is holding up. I know my work colleagues have been talking about not seeing themselves having as many holidays abroad in the future because of the cost of flights and the environmental impact of travel. That sort of opinion doesnt seem to have had any impact on the plan to build new airports though because I'm sure I have read that Corvera has now been given the go ahead and should open in 2011. 

Hi Jan and Mike, with regards to the rental scene, it will be as positive as you are pro active!  If you require rentals to support your mortgage then advertise, where?  Everywhere!!  Use your employers intranet if you can, a huge source of rentals awaits especially in large companies.  Select a website (mine preferably) targeting PW Resorts.  Use local advertising that targets large numbers, you would be surprised how much income one weeks advert can generate in a local newspaper that targets a large area brings.  Local sources (chip shop) you may laugh but its free advertising and can generate several weeks rentals, mine has!!  Use youtube, have a look at my embedded video!!  Be pro active, follow up every single lead you can to generate that booking with a phone call, remember the bookings dont just fall at your feet.  Lastly dont drop your prices to beat the next man, that will just create a bidding war and will result in bookings being taken at unsustainable prices and perhaps attracting the guests to your resort who would perhaps prefer an 18 - 30 but cannot afford it, remember it is your hard earned cash that bought the fixtures and fittings, I have been renting for almost 2 years now very succesfully on La Torre and have only had minor mishaps such as the odd glass smashed, others have had much much worse, set your prices and stick to them.  As an example the first year I rented at £250 all year round due to the resort not being complete, this year I raised it to £300 off peak and £400 peak, the peak weeks were the first to go!!  I hope that helps if you need any advice just let me know.

Thanks for the info davey- we haven't decided what to do about rental yet. Still trying to sort out how to juggle fixtures and fittings but we expect we will have to rent in the long run. The apartment could be empty for quite long periods otherwise and however much we want it to be ours alone it seems daft not to try to gather some income from it to cover some costs.

Whilst I was reading these artcles very much as a positive in terms of people still being attratced to Spain I suppose it does also keep the resorts in the public domain and act as advertising as well. Many people like to visit somewhere before deciding to buy so these articles keep them current with new developments.

Jinder, I cant read PMs, can you e mail me please 

psi269bty@aol.com

Thanks to Davey for taking out the time to give us info and keep our spirits up!
If he reads this or anyone else from La Torre does,what was the timescale for community charges and how much are they for LT,are they being paid now?
It was the last one to be set I think,so any info would be handy for budgeting for Alhama.
John.

I completed in August 2006 and I believe it was about June 2007 we started paying, the fees were paid at a reduced rate until recently, on an apartment we were paying in the region of €75 a quarter, we have now been asked to pay €500 for the last 6 months to straighten the finances out

Thanks again Davey.
So basically nothing for nearly a year,then if it is 75e a quarter,and 500e for a 6 month catch-up,it sounds very like approx 100e a month?
Or was the 500e to cover the year of no payment?
Or have I picked it up wrongly?
John

I think on Condado we will be paying community fees virtually straight away. 

They are getting temporary supermarkets & cafes ready, the sports area will be ready, even talk of the driving range been open. Also the pools are filled in each Jardine, not sure whether they are clean enough to use though, and the grass is down and being maintained.

With having these services ready Polaris will be looking for some reimbursement and won't be running the resort at a loss from day one.

It was the earlier completions that had the delay in paying, the later completions paid straight away as the system was in place