Please can anyone recommend a Spanish (English speaking) lawyer I could use to complete a purchase? Also, can anyone tell me what's the usual fee in Spain? I've been quoted 1%.

Many thanks
Huw

Hi Huw - unfortunately, I only know Spanish ones (with moderately good English) but not based near holiday properties.

Either way, if you want a lawyer you'll probably need either a local lawyer or at least one who understand the local regional law (eg Andalucia, Valencia etc..).

However, it isn't usual in Spanish Spain to use a lawyer - normally the estate agent does this - and the notary just signs off the stuff!

Cheers
Neil

If it is Andalucia, Huw you could try Hassans - they are the largest law firm in Gibraltar but they have an arm that looks after properties bought in Spain. So language obviously not a problem. All the big Gib banks ( Barclays, Nat West ) use them. I have some properties in Spain owned through a company so they manage this for me ( filings, tax returns etc) so can spoeak from experience.

They may be able to do conveyancing outside this location

Fees are definitely negotiable so you should never pay 1% ( or any where near it) on expensive properties.

Hi guys - thanks for responding. The property is just outside Mojacar in the Med Group Playa Macenas development. The sourcing company have arranged lawyers (or to be more exact a company which says they source and vet lawyers) and the fee is 1%. I haven't gone back to negotiate yet as I wanted an idea of the usual rates first.
Huw

Hi Huw,

how are you finding the mkt out there? Is it as much doon and gloom as I keep reading about. Any opionions when the mkt will pick up?

thanks
Alex

Hi Alex

I signed up for this apartment about 3 years ago and there have been various delays leading to completion July 09. It's near Mojacar, which is much less developed than the Costas and therefore nowhere near the same oversupply. I'm not sure how successfully they're selling currently but apartments on the development are being marketed in excess of 100,000 Euros more than I'm paying. It's a very high class development by Med Group (owners of La Manga).

As a result I'm pretty relaxed. I don't anticipate selling in the next few years and will use it myself as well as holiday letting. I don't think I'd necessarily pick Spain as the best investment location if I was buying today, however.
Huw

Hi Huw

We've used a Spanish Lawyer in Mojacar called Pilar Perez. They're on the coast road near to Macenas, just before the Indalo Hotel. My contact there is Helen Lawrence, telephone: 0034 950 478863; email: pilar@iponet.es. They were very professional and useful when we bought our house.

Huw - if you particularly want a British lawyer you could try mylesjackson@granadalaw.com
UK quaklified, I think, but working for a Granada law firm.