Property Finders - worth the money?

Hi all,

Im considering purchasing an apartment in Spain, due to my remote working situation. 

At this point i have no idea where to even start, or what resorts / locations would suit my needs. 

Has anyone any thoughts / recommendations on using a property finder company to locate suitable properties on your behalf? I can see one costs around 600€, which if they do their job correctly, you would expect is a vert wise investment, but im not sure of the standard of a lot of these operations.

Has anyone any thoughts? Or used a property finder they can recommend?

Cheers,

Dave

Using a property finding service ..is usually for high end properties ..if you are looking at run of the mill  type Villas & apartments ..then just do what everyone else does  Browse the internet and leave your details at estate agents ..all the estate agents especially in Spain network together.

Ok, thanks for your feedback :)

Dave, not sure your plan makes any sense. 

You must be in a position to give your professional advisor some meaningful parameters, particularly the location.  At the very least you must undertake some research yourself to be sure of the region that suits you.  But better still the actual town or urbanisation you fancy.

Otherwise, in practical terms how can you compare the results? - you're unlikely to want to visit each one - Spain is a big place and the price differences are massive, even within regions.

You may be better off looking at some TV programmes like episodes of "Homes in the Sun" to start the process, before you make some trips yourself.   In reality employing an Advisor is probably several years off - when you begin to have a handle on what you think you want. 

Thanks all, i suppose im looking to avoid the ground work, and just pay someone to provide suitable options. Buying / choosing a property in a country you know nothing about seems a daunting task... but thanks again :) 

** Advertising- Against forum rules **

As other posters have already said, leave your details with agents, register your interest and scouer the internet Good luck with the search, it sounds like you're in a fantastic position as a remote worker. 

** EDITED - Against forum rules **

You have so many questions, with little answers. I would  pick about 5 different locationsup and down Spain and rent for a few  months at each location. See whats important for you, what lifestyle you want and what keeps the hearth ticking. It should help make your search easier

Seems a bit strange your asking these questions when you posted the following all those years ago 

This message was last edited by RIVIERAESTATES on 08/02/2021.

what exactly do you find "strange"?

Personally I found it quite exciting when I was looking for a property.. with discovering new areas and so forth ...I bought my first Villa 15 year back on Camposol it didn't take us long to work out that we had bought a very large detached Villa with a pool that was just to big for our needs ..so we sold it 3 years back ..and bought a 2 bed quad Villa on a gated community that had gardens and a community pool in Los  Balcones Costa Blanca...so think twice and part with your money once as the buying and selling process in Spain for some reason or another is extremely expensive .

Believe it or not I still have the marketing stuff sent to me on Camposol almost 20 years ago, but I decided against buying there.  A few years later they built the main road right through the place, so I'm particularly glad I didn't!

But this is a good example of why this request from Superd is not clever.  The pics in the glossy brochure look fabulous, but Camposol is a decidely marmite kind of place - paying fees to a Property finder is likely to be a waste of money.  There is no substitute for doing the job yourself.

I ought to be doing something constructive, according to the reader over my shoulder...but it's been bucketing rain here in La Vera, Caceres....for the last couple of weeks.

@superd.....in a friendly way, I also find your enquiry "strange" in the light of your asking about Spanish property eleven years ago.....yet recently writing "Buying / choosing a property in a country you know nothing about seems a daunting task."

That's the strange bit....being interested in buying in Spain for at least eleven years that we know of, yet saying you still know nothing about Spain.....

Anyay, I wish you the very best of luck in running to ground a property that makes you happy. But you might have to make more effort, lol. As my schoolteachers used to write on my reports "Could Try Harder". Again, good luck.

Guy T

I have been a member for some years like you Windtalker,Acer etc and if you remember back in the day the site was very active with good healthy content ,genuine buyers owners and some service providers etc then in the last few years the posts became more like how should I say tyre kickers and Phishers that's why I got a bit put off to be honest and stayed away.

I just thought it odd that someone would be asking a property finder to source a property especially after all the scams bad press ,dodgy agents ,solicitors builders,jack the lads etc.

Perhaps superd is genuine but 11yrs is a long time to want something and still be no nearer to acquiring it however I do understand fir some folk just the wanting is more pleasure than the owning.

Anyway I think a lot of second home owners are thinking will we ever get out again to enjoy Spain and all its wonderful charm I know I am.

Stay safe and well 

R

That was a one off opportunity to purchase through a friend, no other research was carried out other than a visit to view that property - 11 years ago.

Since then, given remote working shift, this is the first time ive re-considered purchasing in Spain, and I havnt been to Malaga area since. Moreover Port Duqueza is probably slightly far from Malaga airport. 

Currently without proper / any knowldge of Malaga surrounding towns, my scope is wide. I was just hoping to narrow the scope somewhat, and curios on peoples experiences with property finders.

So personally I dont find the post that "strange" :(

Thanks all, for the less critical feedback ;)

Just being a bit nosey, and fully appreciate you may not want to answer - but are you British? And are you thinking of staying more than 3 months in any 6 month period? I'm curious, because a family member (in the UK) just asked me what type of visa he will need if we wants to spend more than 3 months at his apartment in Benidorm. As far as I know, there is no such visa for tourists. On the other hand, another family member (also UK resident) owns a property in the Canaries, and before Dec 31st applied for residency, so that they can work remotely for periods of time if they decide to. Is this something other non-resident property owners have done?

Roberto, I noted a comment by one the Spanish politicians a while ago saying that you (meaning non-resident ex-pats) will be able to apply for a visa if the Schengen restrictions are an issue.  But not heard any more since. 

There is the "Golden visa" currently in Spain that requires a €500,000 investment so no use to most, but perhaps they might bring the limit down?  Perhaps that's wishful thinking?!  But nothing to hang your hat on currently.

Thanks Roberto, Im irish, Im assuming with Brexit etc.. the same does not apply!?

Lucky you! Ignore my questions then.

Good luck with your future plans.