15,000 homes under threat

15,000 ex-pats face losing homes

European Parliament urged to save their properties

Article by the cbfriday.com

MORE than 15,000 Costa Blanca homeowners have pleaded with the European Parliament to save their homes under threat from the controversial LRAU land-grab law.

Michael Cashman MEP, has challenged Sr Blasco, the Spanish minister in Valencia, over recent allegations that the European Parliament was exaggerating the number of petitions it had received from desperate citizens asking for help.

Mr Cashman has been leading the fight
for justice for EU citizens against alleged land grabs in and around Valencia.

Mr Cashman said: "Señor Blasco claims the EP is exaggerating as to the severity of the problem concerning the LRAU law in Spain.

"We have been petitioned by more than 15,000 EU citizens affected by the abusive implementation of this law in Valencia and we are acting on their behalf in order to ensure justice is done.

"I’d like to tell citizens affected by this law, as well as Señor Blasco and his colleagues in the ministry in Valencia, that the EP will not rest until this issue is resolved. If that means going to the European Court of Justice, so be it."

His vow comes as a Teulada couple are living a nightmare not knowing whether they will lose their property because of the land-grab laws.

Expatriate pensioners Tessa and Len Deacon said they cannot afford to pay the high infrastructure costs being demanded by the developers of the adjacent land ito their home.

They bought their home in 1993 but now a developer wants to build next door.

The couple would lose 700 square metres of land as well as having to pay 53,247 euros to the developer.

The Deacons said: We are UK pensioners and this is our only home which we bought in 1993 for our retirement.

"The LRAU has had a devastating affect on our lives and we would not wish the stress we have suffered for the past three years to be suffered by other people.

"We have been forced to spend money we had accumulated for our retirement on expensive lawyers and court fees just to try to retain what is legally ours."

• The association Ciudadanos Europeos has awarded its Golden Ensign to Abusos Urbanísticos No leaders Charles and Lisa Svoboda in a ceremony in Altea. The award was made in recognition of the Svobodas’ success in defending the rights of small property owners.

From this article - the cbfriday.com - we would like to remind persons looking to buy a property in Spain that not only is it advisible to use a well established Real Estate company that you can trust but you MUST use a solicitor in Spain - be it an independent solicitor or company solicitor to make sure that the property that you are going to buy is legal and there is not any complications with the purchase.

This can save alot of heartache and stress of buying in Spain - don´t get caught out...

Overseas property: Spain

It is not just in the UK that house hunters are stepping up a gear as the traditional sales season gets into full swing. The same is happening among would-be purchasers in Spain, which remains the favourite overseas holiday home location for Britons wanting to buy into the sun.

The Government's Office of National Statistics says some 69,284 properties in Spain are owned by Britons, although these include those owned by people still officially resident in Britain and who declare their second home to the Inland Revenue. In reality, many more are likely to exist.

Full story on the Independent online.

Spanish Government in for coastal property

Environment minister reserves the right to buy coastal property

Environment minister Cristina Narbona has declared the government has the right to buy coastal land or property offered for sale and that sellers must give first refusal to the coast department.

Sra Narbona said that where property or land is for sale on the coast, the government must be informed. This, she said, is a measure to ensure that unspoilt areas of coastline remain undeveloped and protected.

Under the law, the government has the right to carry out its own assessment of any property and fix a value. This, say experts, could cause problems because of the common trend of putting lower values on title deeds in order to avoid taxes - and then making up the true value in undeclared cash. If a seller refuses to accept the government's valuation of a property, the government can insist on buying at the value in the deeds.

In a separate move, opposition parties in Valencia have called the regional government's urban development programme ‘irresponsible’.

A report by the European Observatory claims Alicante Province is a vulnerable zone in terms of natural disasters. It says that intense construction over the last 10 years has left some places at risk, a fact ignored by regional government.

Opposition groups are demanding that regional president Francisco Camps ensures that marshland and risk areas are turned into development ‘no-go’ zones.

ARCHITECTS SPEAK OUT

The official college of architects in Valencia has urged regional housing and territories chief Rafael Blasco to suspend all building licences in coastal areas until such time as the new Plan Territorial del Litoral has been finalised.

President of the college Fabián Llisterri said that intense construction along the coast in recent years has in some cases caused damage and called for a public debate when the plan is ready.

Story from the Costa Blanca news

Spanish Country property for sale

A Place in the Sun on Channel 4 last night featured "Jaen" which is becoming more and more popular with people looking to buy property inland - country property in Spain.

Inland country property is becoming increasingly more attractive due to the busy and over built costas, people whom have lived in Spain are also seeking to move away from the crazy summer crowds to enjoy the peace, beauty and tranquility of the Spanish countryside. Not only is the country villages and towns of the Spanish countryside beautiful and traditional but much cheaper to buy and the cost of living is considerablely cheaper as well.

So why not look for a Spanish country property - Central Property Bureau offers some excellent properties for investment and for permanent living in beautiful areas such as Granada, Murcia and Alicante. We also have property contacts in Albacete where you can pick up unbelieveable property bargains !!!

Start searching today !!!

Ex-pats behind Spains property boom

Expats are emerging as a driving force in the Spanish economy, boosting demand for new housing, analysts say. House-buying by expats helps to sustain the country's construction boom, reports the British daily The Financial Times.

"There is no risk of a property crash in Spain in the short or medium term thanks to new demand generated by immigrants," says Angel Berges, a partner at Analistas Financieros Internacionales, a Madrid consultancy.

Berges told the paper he believes immigrants will buy some 170,000 homes in Spain this year – almost one quarter of total demand for new houses. In the past six years, Spain has seen a huge increase in its immigrant population.

The number of immigrants has risen to 4 million, making 9 percent of the population of over 44m. One in three immigrants moving to the European Union since 2000 have gone to Spain. Spain's rising divorce rate will also help to drive up demand for new houses.

Estate agents say people who have split up will buy up to 140,000 homes in 2006. Last year there was an 80 percent increase in divorces, to 87,000. It follows the introduction by the present government of the so-called 'express divorce'.

The number of separations fell by 51,000 as most people opted for divorce.

Strong property investments

Property investment in Spain has sometimes been overshadowed in recent years by stories of the growth in Europe's emerging property markets.

Those in the know, however, Spain has rarely been out of mind, with conditions remaining excellent for capital gains & demand from locals & foreigners alike extremely high.

As reported today by Expatica, the desire to own property is still strong among Spaniards, even after interest rates were increased.

Mortgage loans increased by 37.7 per cent in January when compared with 12 months earlier, reflecting much higher confidence & a growing trend of homeownership in the country in general.

Expatica reports that the Bank of Spain has criticised the European Central Bank for the current rate saying that it is "expensive", but it is clear that families are willing to go through with property transactions all the same.

Demand from foreign investors is always likely to remain high and this has played a significant role in sustaining almost unrivalled house price growth over the last couple of decades.

Because of Spain's thriving reputation for sports & golf in particular, many choose to purchase holiday homes around developing golf resorts, with many intending to rent their properties out to holidaymakers who head back to the lush fairways & immaculate greens every year.

Of course, it is rare to discuss Spain's allure without mentioning its beautiful beaches & property investors have also been boosted on this front.

Over the years, many people have been tempted to construct buildings by Spain's celebrated beaches without having any kind of exit strategy or a real purpose for the property. It is an unfortunate trend that has left numerous dilapidated buildings blighting the stunning scenery of the coastal areas.

As reported recently by Expatica, however, this is being tackled with the decision to allow the Spanish authorities to demolish structures along the country's coasts, with 63 already torn down.

Adding investment appeal to the areas, it is hoped this will lead to renewed enthusiasm from those who have been put off by the accumulation of functionless bars, homes, walls & industrial buildings.

Almeria has seen much of the action, but nine structures have also been pulled down in Murcia, where investors have already been making significant gains in recent years.

Based on the Mediterranean coast of Costa Calida, Murcia is only 40 minutes from Alicante airport, while it is thought it will receive one of its own by the end of the year, providing yet another incentive to invest.

Spain property still the best!!!

Despite the lower property prices, Bulgaria ranks after France and Spain based on the popularity of the country as property destination for British investors.

Nearly 43 per cent of the foreign property purchases occurred in the two countries, 999 Today reported. Australia ranks third with 11 per cent. Bulgaria remains fourth with 10 per cent, followed by the US with four per cent.

Most British investors look for holiday property abroad, the online publication reported. Additional factors, increasing the appeal of property, include the availability of cheap flights and easy access to resorts.

Bulgaria's expected EU membership attracts increasing number of property investors, representatives of Assetz real estate consultancy said.

Once Bulgaria joins the union, property prices there will rise significantly, 999 Today reported. Still, Bulgaria will need some time to achieve the investment level of already established property destinations, Assetz representatives said.

Now is the best time to buy in Spain..

Welcome again, and with no great cheer being offered by Mr G. Brown in his budget for either those who already own their property or first-time buyers looking to get onto the property ladder, now is a better time than ever to make the move overseas to Spain or start building your property portfolio.

With hundreds of resale properties for sale on the Costa Blanca and many new property promotions in the area, why not take advantage of the huge reductions on properties here with Central Property Bureau.

We have property starting for only 79,000 Euros that is only 60,000 pounds sterling, now is the definatley the time if you have been thinking of moving to Spain. Due to the amount of property available, prices are beginning to drop and we have already seen the results in recent sales and enquiries, so contact Central Property Bureau or visit the Central Property Bureau website, for a quick property search click here.

Don´t get left behind !!!

Which overseas buyer are you ?

People who buy a home abroad fall into categories, rich, poor, level headed, impulsive, plus a few in between, says Damian Barr.

Once upon a time there were those who owned a second home abroad. They bought it for pre euro peanuts and did it up slowly. It was something lovely, a farmhouse somewhere predictable, like the Dordogne.

There they enjoyed long holidays with their children and their friends and their children. They were the fortunate few. Now, it seems, everyone is doing it. More than a quarter of a million Britons have turned the daydream into a reality, according to Caxton FX, an independent currency company. Almost half of those have snapped up homes in Spain and France. But, as Provence becomes provincial, we're looking further afield with more than a third of homes now being bought outside Europe.

We now move quite comfortably between countries, not counties, and sometimes even between continents. A second home is a must have.

Some people even have two homes, or three or four or more. Others have a much,loved bolt hole in a tried and tested territory. For twentysomethings desperate to buy something, anything, anywhere, Bulgaria is better than nothing.

So are you an Intrepid Investor, a Level Headed Long Termer, a Jetsetting Bon Vivant, a Serial Buy to Letter or a Rampant Renovator? And will you all live happily after? Read on to find out.

Intrepid Investors

The Intrepid Investors are cash poor and time poor. They have "freelance projects" rather than jobs and have never even thought about a pension. They make lots, spend more and surf the bottom of their overdraft. Their busy lives are a series of deadlines and the next big one is finding a place to buy. Although they no longer live at home, their parents are piling on pressure to settle down.

Easier said than done when your natural habitat is edgy but expensive Shoreditch in East London. They've considered Glasgow but they're not sure how good the sushi is up there, and it's too cold. Despairing Mum and Dad are even offering a deposit of 50,000 GBP's.

The Intrepid Investor hasn't seen that much money since the last student loan. It seems a waste to put it straight into a property in Britain just as the market is levelling off. Why not buy abroad? At their local gastropub that night a group of Intrepid Investors discuss the possibility of finally getting on the property ladder and making some easy money. A friend freshly returned from travelling (again) believes Eastern Europe is a bargain. The beer is certainly good, and there are plenty of cheap flights.

Financed by their parents and fuelled by dreams of capital appreciation and potential rental income, the Intrepid Investors are off, scouring the internet for bargains on the eastern fringes of Europe.

Serial Buy to Letters

Such is their grasp of geography and global affairs, Serial Buy to Letters could well work for the UN. As it is, they are a lawyer or City worker with more money than time. They communicate by BlackBerry. When it comes to money and markets they know what's what.

What's more, they have the cash to take advantage of prevailing trends. They were among the first to buy off plan and they know their way around the most complex contract.

To spread the risk the SBTLs cast their nets wide. Yes, there are the corporate lets in big cities like Madrid and Frankfurt. But there are also the holiday apartments in countries such as Turkey and even Brazil. No single property costs more than 150,000 GBP's.

These are not homes, they're investments, each a carefully considered piece of a perfect portfolio. The SBTL hasn't seen them all but can tell you about the square footage and what they're worth.


The full story from Times Online

The crack down on "Black money"

The Government in Spain is stepping up on new laws to help stamp out the use of "black money" in property purchases across Spain.

To help reduce tax liabilities for a seller, they will often ask a purchaser of the property to declare that they are buying at a price which is much less than the original price advertised, then pay them the difference in cash "black money".

The under declaring of purchase price benefits the seller if he has a Capital Gains Tax (CGT) liability & the buyer from a stamp duty perspective.

CGT is payable even on gains on main residences in Spain. Spanish residents pay 15 per cent & non-residents pay 35 per cent at the moment.

Better solicitors will always suggest that their clients don't agree to under declare. They will also work with the client to come up with a suitable compromise with the vendor which might involve paying a bit more but knowing there will be no problems in the future.

New laws, expected to come into force later in the year, property sellers & buyers will also have to disclose their tax identification numbers when buying a property in Spain.

This will help the Spanish authorities to see if homeowners do not register their properties & who do not pay tax on rental income on their property or when they sell their property in Spain.

The Government in Spain introduced measures last year to help prevent black money being used in property deals. Now, everyone involved in the property purchase has to state in the deeds of the property what the method of payment is.

It is also becoming harder to withdraw large cash lump sums from banks in Spain without raising suspicion. If you have suddenly withdrawn €20,000 in cash on the day you signed the deeds, then you risk being investigated.

However, the tightening of the regulation is unlikely to result in sudden attempts to claw tax back from those who have previously bought property using black money. It would be relatively easy for the Spanish authorities to track down those who had used black money. Quite often in the contract, both the declared price & the actual price are written there, so it wouldn't be difficult to trace people who had under declared.

There are also steps being taken to ensure landlords disclose rental income. Many landlords try to escape revealing this income, again to avoid paying tax on it. But tenants now have to include the property registry number on utility bills and other contracts, so it will be clear when a property is being lived in and when it is vacant.

You normally find it is when people are paying cash from their own purse or raising the money from their own UK properties that they can be drawn into this.

As well as risking fines by not declaring money during a purchase of a property, remember that there are other ways in which you can lose out.