26 Nov 2013 7:18 PM:

Glad you're happy with your service charges Juan.  Personally when we were led to believe that service charges for the community would be in the region of 15E per month, and actually they're about 100E per month, it's been a big difference to budget for - particularly taken with about 70+E per month for water and electric in months when it's unoccupied).  A greater than expected service charge is a fairly common experience amongst owners that I've spoken with - along with lots of other shared unfortunate experiences.  Oh, and there is a debate in the community about whether the builder is to be taken to court for various issues..... one of the little gems recently reported apparently involves the electric connections not having been done correctly /legally/ whatever - with ensuing massive costs to the community.  Also there seems to be some debate as to whether the bank will pay service charges for the properties they've repossessed.  There is a long list of issues which are unanticipated / costly / a pain in the backside to deal with.

And yes there were issues with the way the mortgage was set up and no it's not possible to be more specific about that gripe as legal advice is being taken at the moment. 

If you've had a good experience, then that's great.  I just suggest that anyone interested in the area find an owner or two on their visit, and ask them to talk them through how everything works / what actual costs are / how things might work differently to the system in whatever country they're used to dealing with things in (and by system I mean community stuff, how their bank works etc).  Otherwise I'm afraid people flick through these forums as a way of doing due dilligence, see positive comments about a lovely area etc and given that their experience of the area is that it is lovely they think it all is positive, and unfortunately it's at least a year down the line that the reality of how it all works will catch up with you...... and it would be worth putting money on whether someone asking around a couple of people (either property owners or tradesfolk) would find some very enlightening and problematic stories........ speaking from personal experience the main issue is a lack of honest description (with the service charge example above being just one of many) issues which have arisen. 

Community thread: Buying propery Mojon

--------------------------------------

25 Nov 2013 1:55 PM:

Just come across this thread, whilst reviewing what to do about the latest issue I need to deal with re Mojon Hills, and thought maybe my experience / that of many others might be of interest.

Blue Med are kosher is mentioned by someone above.  I suggest you disattach yourself from whoever of Blue Med is showing you around, and speak to some of the current owners about their experiences.  You are likely to hear a very very different story.  The Brits working in the area are likely to be able to enlighten you also.  

Try searching for Mojon Hills Julio - if you've not yet had the background to the Atlantia story, I'd suggest it's worth bringing yourselves up to speed. 

If you've just bought, and think that you understand the situation you're in, best wait a year or two until you've seen the full picture..... unless you've taken lots of extra advice, and have brilliant Spanish skills or have had everything professionaly translated, together with a full understanding of how things work in Spain, you may be in for a few choice surprises. 

The area is lovely.  But, if you're up for being treated fairly through your purchase, and for things being as you've understood them, you may not enjoy the area as much as you'd thought you might.  If you have the resources to not mind the vast sums which will be regularly seen exiting your bank account, seemingly at a whim, then you may well love the area and the whole experience. (And if your bank account is as yet fairly static, that may be because demands have been presented and have bounced - but not shown up, which is the way that banks operate in Spain - in which case they may well catch up with you two, three or ten years down the line, along with the accompanying fines and credit card rates of interest which are invariably present).  

Hope this helps - I thought we'd done due dilligence before buying, but compared to the whole UK system, this is a whole different beast.  

If you're considering Mojon Hills as an investment, you might like to think about a career on the comedy circuit.  (In the words of one of the letting agents 'the supply is way in excess fo the demand').  

Community thread: Buying propery Mojon

--------------------------------------