Question for TJ222....and anyone else for that matter....

It would appear the purchasers on Casares Del Sol Suites/Pueblo Real Golf also believed the sales pitch as we did at CDS as to what size their apts would be.

The sizes advertised are:  Accomodation 89.75 sqm    Terrace  31.03sqm     Total 120.78 sqm (CDDS brochure)

I was over there a few weeks ago and took the opportunity to walk onto that complex during one of Spains Bank Holidays (whilst the security guards were asleep) and actually measured some of the apts in block 6 on the CDSS map. All the 2 beds are the same design and having checked out 4-5 to get a feel of size of which they were identical, picked one to measure. The real size of the apt as we would like to look at it, i.e the overall measurements from one end of the apt to the other including the internal walls are way below what they are advertising. Measuring all the rooms, halls, wardrobes, bathrooms etc, ie the "living areas" it came to just under 60 sq metres with the brochures stating 89.75 sqm. That is 30sqm less than advertised!  That makes the communal areas very expensive. The terrace measured 21 sqm against 31 in the brochure. The crazy thing is if you scale it of their own brochure it comes out even less!

There were guys who bought on CDDS who were telling us they were getting a far superior development to CDS and wouldnt listen to the warnings we were trying to give them about Interlaken. A few of us from CDS were trying to give them the knowledge of what we learned on CDS to make them proactive and not reactive. The whole point of this website is to share experiences for the benefit of all. I remember my last posting on this site many months ago stating something like, "we are only trying to give you the benefit of our experience, if you choose to bury your heads in the sand so be it, be proactive not reactive" 

Check all the earlier posts under "Its only just begun" from sept 2006, and your contracts.

Ian

This message was last edited by Ianmack on 5/18/2007.

Dear Ian

Thanks for your posting.  I'd just like to make a couple of points.

Firstly, a technical one.  The brochures (as is the norm in Spain) refer to the "built size".  As discussed with my lawyer, and as others may be aware of, this does not equate to what you regard as the "real size".  I assume you discussed this with your lawyer before signing anything?

The built size is different from the "floor space in flat" size for a number of reasons.  In respect of these apartments, one of the reasons is the storage room in the basement, which is included in the "built" size but not in your "floor space" calculations.  In addition, please note that the terrace is approximately 30 m2.  However, the first and second floor balconies are 21 m2 - as per the legal contract.

Secondly, I turn to quality and both developments as a whole.  It is in all of our interests how both developments work out as well as the rest of the Casares area as a whole.  That is because if your apartments look horrible then that negatively impacts on the value of ours and vice versa.  In addition, please note that the materials being used in our development are superior (as detailed in my contract).  You will notice this when the final roughcasting and finish takes place.  In addition, our devlopment comes with a rental scheme already in place including 3-year rental guarantees.

Anyway, to conclude.  It is in all our interests that both developments end up looking great.  Hope you agree !

Regards

James

 

James

The purpose of the posting is to make people aware of the situation.

The brochure lists "Accomodation Area" as 89.75sqm which i dont believe inc store or garage space.

I would presume most  purchasers reading the brochures would assume the Acc Area to be living area and not store/garage areas, which are normally listed as seperate areas with most of the other developers. I do know developers inc the superstructure as part of the overall construction meterage but this only accounts for a couple metres overall. Interlaken have a nasty habit though of inc communal areas as part of the overall meterage.

So does your contract state:   Acc Area 60sqm, Garage 15sqm, Store 15sqm, Terr 30sqm  =   120sqm.

Would you really buy something with only 60sqm of living area for a starting price of 300,000 plus.

With regard to the guarenteed rental, this is reflected in the price you paid in the first place. They are in fact giving you back your own money over a three year period.

I hope it all turns out ok for you but we were promised so much by Interlaken that did not materialise hence the warning.

Forwarned is forarmed, its up to you, but judging by your response I feel you may be connected to the developer!

Ian

 

This message was last edited by Ianmack on 5/26/2007.

Connected to the developer or bought the flat on information other than a brochure? I don't know which but I would hazard a guess that it is the latter.

Incidentally, Ian, you never answered a previous questions a few months ago about due dilligence. I may end up thinking you are somebody so bitter and angry about buying a flat on the basis of a brochure rather than sound legal advice that you will now spend all efforts spouting forth ill-informed nonsense about a development with no relation to you. Surely not though.

Anyway, your obvious smugness about being "correct" notwithstanding, many thanks for the "information".

Oh dear Ian,

plain facts are so very offensive to the dream investors aren't they?

Is this yet another case of "shoot the messenger".

All the purchasers will have to face the truth in the end.

Good luck to them - they will need it.

Regards

Norman

 

Dear Captain and anyone else who may have believed the promotion nonsense,

thanks to this excellent website you can discover from other self confessed "suckers" that these promotions are almost totally dishonest. The sickening truth is made worse by the very many lawyers who are so deeply embroiled. Lawyers who we naively thought were honest and were actually  working for their fee paying clients. Wise men will tell you that it is just the way things are done here, historically it is the way things have developed and is "normal" for the region. "Just the way it is".

If you don't want to believe Ian yet, try this:- 

 

 

"Hi all

An issue which we have not seen raised is the conservation area around the development.  We were told that the lettering on the plan according to Spanish regulations/law indicated that this was a conservation area never to be built on.  Unfortunately, like Sking100 we too were naive in not getting various items in writing.   Sking100 said he was flabbergasted with himself.  We will go a bit further than that with ourselves!!

What sold the development to us was the views and the conservation area to protect the views.  We were also told that the maximum build height was 12 metres as decreed by the Council.  We feel that the habitation licence issued by the same Council was the same as a rubber cheque. 

When we saw the level of development in the area one year after we signed on the dotted line (June 2004) we put our apartment up for sale.  We never had one enquiry.  Due to our naivity, we started looking around the Costa del Sol and we came across various people who had bought apartments on other developments for views only to lose them with developments built in front.  One man bought 4 apartments on the edge of a rock face which went down to a road.  He was assured that no development would ever take place because of the rock face, road etc.  2 years on the new development in front of his apartments is almost finished!  This was going to be his home and rental income to support him.  It isn't now!!

Sking100 has asked if anyone has anything in writing about the connecting road, all moving in on time etc etc.  We would add to this does anyone have anything in writing about the conservation area?

We would be interested in anyone's views...  We are in block 19."

This from a buyer on another "prestige" development in the area.

The only other buyers/suckers you should beware of are the ones who don't want anything "negative" posted in case it "affects" their resale or "bale-out" possibilities.

As Ian says "forewarned is forearmed". Be wise and take note.

Regards

Norman

 

 

This message was last edited by normansands on 9/5/2007.

Dear All,

does anyone know who Captain1976 is? He has posted on the other Casares site disputing valuations etc.

Is he in fact a developers plant?

Come on Captain, declare yourself.

We know you are there.

Regards

Norman

This message was last edited by normansands on 9/3/2007.

Thank you Ianmack for the advice on checking the size of apartments.