 |
By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago
|
I am looking to buy in Costa Blanco in the very near future. Have joined a lot of groups to get info. An estate out there offered me a property over tge weekend and asked for €3 k backhander. I know the seller usually pays the fees. So my question is this... is it common practice to pay a backhander?? Or is it just a dodgy estate agent?? |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
|
By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago
|
I am going out in January for a month and will have a good look then. I have had a few messages telling me to offer between 10 to 20 per cent of asking price as there is lots of properties on the market. |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
We have more than one property on the Costa Blanca so have a bit of experience.
Whichever way you look at this agent he is certainly not straight.
Firstly (which is my gut feeling) he sounds like a scammer. I'm guessing from the posts on here that you haven't actually seen this property yet. If not then my first issue would be to ask myself does the place even exist? It is more than possible that he has just lifted some photo's from another web site and is pulling the "too good to be true" scam. Trust me it happens a lot.
Secondly, if he is a bona fide agent then he is screwing his client.
If the owner has indicated that he/she is willing to take the 70k then he should either offer the property at that price to conclude a quick sale or if (as in your case) he can find someone who will in effect pay 73k then that price should be put to the owner. Creaming 3k for himself and then taking commission is just crooked.
Personally I would avoid him like the plague.
As for the Costa Blanca property market in general, it is still quite buoyant in the more popular areas. But like everywhere it's location, location, location.
In some of the larger urbanisations (especially the ones a bit further inland) that were built during the property boom of the early 2000's buyers are hard to find and prices are weak.
However in the more established areas closer to the coast prices have firmed and in some areas are actually still rising.
The number of British buyers may now be a lot smaller than in the boom years but many others have filled the void. In our area Scandinavians (especially Swedes) are buying a lot. Also Dutch, Belgians, French and Germans are still quite strong.
You haven't said what kind of property you have been offered or its exact location, so it's difficult (impossible really) to say whether it is good value or not.
In our area (Playa Flamenca) 60-80k would buy a small/medium apartment, 100-120k a decent town house, and detached villas start at just under 200k but can go to over a million (Cabo Roig headland for example) That's Euro's BTW.
New builds are a bit more expensive.
Remember to add 11% to any purchase price for legal fees and taxes. |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
I would just add.
Whatever you buy DO NOT use any lawyer recommended by or attached to the agent.
Invariably they act for the agent to get the deal done. Not in your best interests.
If you need on in the Torrevieja area we can recommend a good independent one who we have used many times. |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
|
By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago
|
"I would just add.
Whatever you buy DO NOT use any lawyer recommended by or attached to the agent.
Invariably they act for the agent to get the deal done. Not in your best interests.
If you need on in the Torrevieja area we can recommend a good independent one who we have used many times."
Thank you so much for all the info. Im looking to buy a 2/3 bed apartment on a quiet urbanisation near the city and beach. Will pm you for info on lawyer, again many thanks. |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
» Add a new message to this topic
