This is my happy story and I'll try to keep it short.
It had always been my dream to own a place in Spain, we would always holiday in Benalmadena and when I was made redundant in 2001 I commuted part of my occupational pension to buy a one bedroom apartment there. When we went there as usual in June 02 they had risen to £56k from £34k. Following June they were 90k, decided to look at other properties and found a 2 bed for 120k. Returned home to arrange extra financing and went back in September to find they had gone up another 30k euros.
In October 2001 a friend went out on an inspection trip and bought off-plan (La Cinuelica Los Altos) she went back out in June 02 to arrange furniture only to find that the foundations hadn't been laid. Next day she looked at a Piloto near to where she was staying and ended up buying the last house on the site. I came back from Benalmadena really peeved to find she had just bought another house and was going back in July to furnish 2nd property as it was ready to move into. I went with her and although I wasn't impressed with Torrevieja I viewed a property in Dona Ines near to Carrefour. I was drawn to it but something didn't feel right, I still preferred Benalmadena.
In October 2003, I joined my friend and others at property no.2 (no.1 still not finished). My sister-in-laws cousin was co owner in an estate agent nearby in Los Balcones so I arranged to see some properties they had. I viewed several properties a couple I did a second viewing. On our last day I viewed a house which had just come back onto the market. The owner had emigrated to Australia three months before but the buyer couldn't sell their UK house. I had an hour before the taxi was due, just what I was looking for. Agreed to buy, 10 days later I was back to sign at Notary. In the morning opened back account, waited a couple of hours in Solicitor's waiting room, signing loads of papers. The receptionist was English so she wrote down a list of what I had signed for and other information re taxes.
Solicitor came back in with what I thought was his lunch only to find out later it was the "black money". Spent minutes in Notary, came back to sign more forms and was given a cheque for the difference in the money I had originally paid
Agent told me that doesn't normally happen straight away, I was pleased as I needed to furnish house. Only problem was my name not correct so went back the next day, no problem he said I'll ring the bank. Went to their bank and explain to teller who looks at me as though I have 6 heads. When I mention the Sol had rung them I got the spanish shrug and he cashed it straight away.
The agent arranged for Tefefonica to reconnect the phone the following day Thursday, in afternoon my new neighbour took me to a local store and I bought beds, settee, chair, fridge/freezer and washing machine. It was all delivered the next afternoon even though it was raining, I mention this because I also bought a chair from a secondhand store to be delivered on Friday morning and they didn't turn up because it was raining, that was after my sister and I had waded through the streets from where we were staying. When it rains in Spain eh.
The previous owner had left 2 tv's and some garden chairs and I had the annologue sky system in the lounge and bedroom.
On Saturday my husband come over for the weekend with Kettle and other things I'd packed and we were able to move in. I made full use of the 1p flights in the next year to get everything over, I even took a golf bag with EasyJet, inside wascurtain poles and bedding (a tip from my agent). Got some strange looks from the bag screeners. In the Dec paid for husbands diy friend to join him on his weekend trip and used his luggage allowance too - house now full so will now have to start doing bootsales as want to downsize here.
We're very happy in our casa, I'm out for a total of 3 months in a year over the winter and spring periods, himself less as he is still working. It cost's us around £1k per year we are not on an urbanisation but a private road so fees are 120e a year. We have a swimming pool open June to September. I live next door to the presidente who can be a pain but then aren't they all. She's very kind hearted but loves the power. She looks after the house for me and is better than a burglar alarm.
Hope I've not bored you all
Zena