Purchase home with Spanish citizen
Purchase home with Spanish citizen
Are there any advantages (or disadvantages) in purchasing a home, as joint owner, with a Spanish citizen relative?
As a non-EU citizen, I understand I can take a mortgage loan and purchase a home, granted there may be more restrictions and also costly financing. Say, if we have a 50/50 ownership (1 citizen and 1 non-citizen):
1. What are the legal and financial conditions/restrictions?
2. What if the Spanish citizen is currently not residing in Spain?
Thank you!
G&M
As a non-EU citizen, I understand I can take a mortgage loan and purchase a home, granted there may be more restrictions and also costly financing. Say, if we have a 50/50 ownership (1 citizen and 1 non-citizen):
1. What are the legal and financial conditions/restrictions?
2. What if the Spanish citizen is currently not residing in Spain?
Thank you!
G&M
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Re: Purchase home with Spanish citizen
The only thing the Banks are interested in in "Your Ability To Repay". Permanent Job ? Large deposit ? Clean credit history ? Good Luck
Re: Purchase home with Spanish citizen
Thanks, Scotty.
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Re: Purchase home with Spanish citizen
You may not like my opinion but ask yourself several very important questions, why is the Spanish citizen not living in Spain but wants a home there, and is he planning to live there, will he be investing in cash the same amount as you ?
If You are not a Spanish citizen or planning to live there then why do YOU want a home there ?
In General the Spanish are decent people but there are a number of them who are adept at stealing, by so called legal means Foreigners property !
Personally I can find no positives in this scheme, If YOU want a property in Spain just by a cheaper one and do it up, do you understand that if you go ahead with this, your relative moves his family in there and stops paying towards the costs it will be almost impossible to get them out, meanwhile you will be losing money.
He will probably "recommend" a lawyer to you, many of them are bent, who will of course be instructed by him, not you !
You asked about the disadvantages well these are they, I would say unless you have been married to his sister for 50 years then just walk away, this is a deal fraught with legal problems !
If You are not a Spanish citizen or planning to live there then why do YOU want a home there ?
In General the Spanish are decent people but there are a number of them who are adept at stealing, by so called legal means Foreigners property !
Personally I can find no positives in this scheme, If YOU want a property in Spain just by a cheaper one and do it up, do you understand that if you go ahead with this, your relative moves his family in there and stops paying towards the costs it will be almost impossible to get them out, meanwhile you will be losing money.
He will probably "recommend" a lawyer to you, many of them are bent, who will of course be instructed by him, not you !
You asked about the disadvantages well these are they, I would say unless you have been married to his sister for 50 years then just walk away, this is a deal fraught with legal problems !
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Re: Purchase home with Spanish citizen
I own a house both here and in the UK with a Spanish citizen, What is not clear from the OP's posts is what the relationship is with the Spanish citizen. If it's my situation, the Spanish citizen is my wife. then any problem that might arise would be the same as any other person in a marriage.
If it is as Al suggests, I totally agree with him and would tread carefully. I certainly wouldn't invest anywhere with anyone else no matter where there were from
If it is as Al suggests, I totally agree with him and would tread carefully. I certainly wouldn't invest anywhere with anyone else no matter where there were from
Re: Purchase home with Spanish citizen
I appreciate your feedback. All good questions that I should be able to answer and will definitely heed your advice. I am exploring options to purchase a vacation spot where my wife and I can spend several months a year. The Spanish citizen in question is my sister-in-law whom I've known for over 30 years. We have investments together, but if there's no real advantage then I don't see any need to involve them.
Moving on to the next step...finding that property...
Moving on to the next step...finding that property...
Re: Purchase home with Spanish citizen
Remember the 90/180 rule as a non E.U citizen if you want to spend alot of time here
Re: Purchase home with Spanish citizen
Goo to know. Thanks!
Re: Purchase flat in Málaga and negotiating
I am inspired by the folks here on the Andalucia forum who've shared their experience and offer advice.
Since that last post in March 2020, we got ourselves sorted with an agent, attorney, NIE, etc. We returned in 2021 and again recently to shop for a flat in the city of Malaga. We were there probably during the worst time: hot weather and the Feria. But after searching and viewing a bunch, we were fortunate to find at least 1 property to our liking.
We took the chance and made the offer with our agent's blessing on the day of our departure. We quickly heard back with a rejection that the difference was "too much money" for the owner. Our agent said it's priced too high but we still gave it a shot and raised our offer to what we thought is a good offer but offers flexibility for the seller to counter it.
Strangely we heard nothing after that. Then our agent said that it's not all loss, we can still negotiate.
It may be our lack of understanding of Spanish and/or European culture or practices. But when our agent says that we can still negotiate, does it mean that the ball is still in our court, or, as we're accustomed, it's now up to the seller to give us his counter offer?
We'll wait and see.
Since that last post in March 2020, we got ourselves sorted with an agent, attorney, NIE, etc. We returned in 2021 and again recently to shop for a flat in the city of Malaga. We were there probably during the worst time: hot weather and the Feria. But after searching and viewing a bunch, we were fortunate to find at least 1 property to our liking.
We took the chance and made the offer with our agent's blessing on the day of our departure. We quickly heard back with a rejection that the difference was "too much money" for the owner. Our agent said it's priced too high but we still gave it a shot and raised our offer to what we thought is a good offer but offers flexibility for the seller to counter it.
Strangely we heard nothing after that. Then our agent said that it's not all loss, we can still negotiate.
It may be our lack of understanding of Spanish and/or European culture or practices. But when our agent says that we can still negotiate, does it mean that the ball is still in our court, or, as we're accustomed, it's now up to the seller to give us his counter offer?
We'll wait and see.
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Re: Purchase home with Spanish citizen
When we bought our house here, we put in offers quite a bit lower than the asking price and did not move. I was worried that we would lose them, but my Spanish wife told me we had to hold fast and wait. In the end both offers were accepted. The second one did so about 3 weeks later, but we had already committed to the one we live in now.
Re: Purchase home with Spanish citizen
Good to know. We’re holding fast and won’t stop seatchong. We actually found another property that we may offer. Perhaps word gets out and the seller accepts our offer.
markwilding wrote: ↑Fri Sep 02, 2022 10:10 am When we bought our house here, we put in offers quite a bit lower than the asking price and did not move. I was worried that we would lose them, but my Spanish wife told me we had to hold fast and wait. In the end both offers were accepted. The second one did so about 3 weeks later, but we had already committed to the one we live in now.
Re: Purchase home with Spanish citizen
We took your advice @markwilding and kept our cool. But we also asked another agent for advice and he happened to know the owner. He returned with an offer from the seller that's 25k lower than asking price with the condition that we skip the agents.
Hours later, our agent contacted us with a similar offer, asking 20k lower. The 5k is probably the difference or partially the difference in the commission.
Now I guess we nudged them a bit. Meanwhile, we are steadfast on our offer, which is 20-25k less.
Pondering over this...wouldn't the seller be obligated to his agent? Perhaps not, otherwise why would he want to skip the agent. It looks like he's just using a free listing on Idealista and his "seller agent" is from a vacation rental company.
What are the disadvantages or risks of purchasing directly from the owner with the participation of an attorney? Do you really need a real estate agent in Malaga, after all?
Any thoughts or advice?
Hours later, our agent contacted us with a similar offer, asking 20k lower. The 5k is probably the difference or partially the difference in the commission.
Now I guess we nudged them a bit. Meanwhile, we are steadfast on our offer, which is 20-25k less.
Pondering over this...wouldn't the seller be obligated to his agent? Perhaps not, otherwise why would he want to skip the agent. It looks like he's just using a free listing on Idealista and his "seller agent" is from a vacation rental company.
What are the disadvantages or risks of purchasing directly from the owner with the participation of an attorney? Do you really need a real estate agent in Malaga, after all?
Any thoughts or advice?
Re: Purchase home with Spanish citizen
Depends what the owner signed with Agent. Friends cut out Agent and were sued by VIVA and had to pay them full commission. Although wouldn't really be your problem I suppose.
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Re: Purchase home with Spanish citizen
I wouldn't be in a rush, the market in central Malaga is definitely weakening. Stick with the low offer strategy and bide your time.
Are you looking for somewhere in a particular suburb or area?
Are you looking for somewhere in a particular suburb or area?
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Re: Purchase home with Spanish citizen
Its really up to you, skip the agents and pay 5,000 less or go with the agents if you don't feel comfortable. I bought direct from the owner, they withdrew their property with the agents to minimise their losses, made no difference to me.
Re: Purchase home with Spanish citizen
Thanks for your input. We also checked with our attorney and said there is no risk or impact on our side. Only that the seller may be on hook if he already signed with them. To be continued...
Re: Purchase home with Spanish citizen
Good advice. We're definitely sticking it out and holding tight. We've been looking at properties in the city and around.
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