By Darren Cronian on Monday, February 6th, 2006

Spanish Property agents Pocomed have noticed a recent explosion in British women deciding to turn away from traditional investments and instead pursuing their dream of owning a place in the sun and watching their investments grow as Spanish house prices rise – in recent years as much as much as 30% per annum for “off plan” property during the construction stage and 18% for existing property.

Whereas only a few years ago their main enquiries were from couples eager to find somewhere to relax in their later years, today Pocomed’s main enquiries come from affluent women and couples who have researched their options and decided that a slice of the Med is a sensible investment choice.

Pocomed owners, Carol and Tony Roberts, have put together their top ten tips on finding a home in Spain, whether it’s for investment or lifestyle, or both!

1. Dream a little
… but do your homework at the same time – if you know people who already have property in Spain, ask which agent/s they used. Use the internet and visit overseas property shows to find out more.

2. Check It Out
If you’re serious about buying, spend some time in the area you’re considering. Pocomed offer viewing trips where they accompany you to view many properties and show you a little bit of what life is really like in Spain.

3. What do you want?
Think about why you want a home in the sun. Do you want a second home? Or do you want to relocate your whole life? What are the pros and cons to both?

4. Rent not buy – at least at first!
If you’re making the move permanently, it is worth renting in Spain for a while to make sure you like it – and to find which areas you like most.

5. Town or country?
Decide what sort of location you want. Do you want a beachside location or do you like the idea of village life? Narrow down your selection to two or three areas to make your search a little easier.

6. New or old?
You need to decide if you’d prefer a resale home or are thinking about buying off plan. The second might well prove much cheaper, but it will take longer before you enjoy your home.

7. Size does matter!
Think about how often you’ll use the property and the size you want too, as well as the maintenance costs of property with lots of land.

8. Are you all ready?
Think about what upping sticks will mean for your family – if you’ve got children, how will they adjust to life in a foreign country? Do your research when it comes to English speaking schools and think about getting the family to Spanish classes.

9. Money, money, money
Once you’re sure you want to go, think about the financial aspects. Have you got the cash to buy outright or are you going to need a mortgage? If you’re buying a new or off plan property, the developer will generally have the most attractive financing options to offer.

10. Get help.
Don’t be tempted to do the legal and administration yourself. Get the experts in. Pocomed can recommend trusted people who will work on your behalf to make sure your deal is legally secure.

About Pocomed

Almost four years ago, 25 years after they first started their commercial interior design business, husband and wife Tony and Carol Roberts decided to leave their life in the UK and start a new, more relaxed life in the Murcia region of Spain.

Initially Carol took some work with a local estate agent, helping look after their UK clients. To her horror Carol uncovered poor administration, non existent customer service or support, and care only for the commission the agency was earning, meant that buyers weren’t really being offered the best help and advice on what is a huge and even life changing purchase.

The experience inspired Carol and Tony to start up their own agency, Pocomed (meaning a small piece of the Mediterranean), offering UK buyers the chance to have their own piece of the Med. “We wanted the sales aspect to be low key and the emphasis placed on advice and support. We’ve been through the whole experience ourselves, buying own home here, and know how reassuring it can be to have someone who understands your worries and anxieties” says Carol.

They only work with trusted developers and builders, and the fact that they work in the traditional village of Purias means they are often offered local properties unknown to faceless corporate agents. Pocomed have been helping buyers find their dream homes now for over 3 years, and properties have ranged from rustic village hideaways to new build coastal apartments.

For further information, images and articles please contact Paula Gardner on 0208 504 4557, 07941 244343 or paula@divinepublicity.com Alternatively visit www.pocomed.com


Related Posts:





Subscribe to RSS Submit to StumbleUpon Bookmark page

Comments are closed.