Archive for April, 2010

Upbeat Murmurs for Spanish Property

Thursday, April 29th, 2010

There is a positive rumble within the overseas property industry about Spanish property. Professionals and experts from all areas of the sector are emerging with encouraging results for the first quarter of 2010 and upbeat predictions for the rest of the year.

A number of sources have now quoted the increasing interest, one, in overseas property in general, and two, more specifically for Spanish property. In addition, the Costa del Sol and in particular the coastal resort of Marbella is showing promising growth. Marbella property has recorded 200% growth in property sales during the first quarter of the year.

The Overseas Property Professional (OPP), report increased interest from both lifestyle buyers and property investors alike. A Place in the Sun has also predicted Spain to be the best destination for property investors during 2010.

Overseas mortgage specialists, Conti Financial Services, recently confirmed an increase in mortgage applications by 48% in March on the previous month. The severe winter experienced in the UK has been cited as a contributing factor for the rising interest in overseas property, with many revisiting the idea of purchasing that property in the sun.

Clare Nessling, Operations Director at Conti, said, “The most popular destinations amongst our clients are still France and Spain, both of which come with easy access and good rental opportunities”. She particularly highlights bargain hunters in Spain. “Confidence is definitely growing, but there’s also an element of buyers snapping up bargains in traditional hotspots while they have the chance.”

Source: Kyero.com, Property Showrooms

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Posted in Business Investment Opportunities, Costa del Sol, Investment Property in Spain, Investors in Spain, Marbella, Property in Spain, Property on the Costa del Sol, Reduced Property, Selling Property in Spain, Spain | No Comments »

First Quarter 2010 show 200% Increase in Property Sales in Marbella

Monday, April 19th, 2010

Record property sales have been confirmed by the Marbella tax office for the first 3 months of 2010. 2,499 Marbella properties were sold during January, February and March representing a 200% increase on the same period of 2009 during which 820 properties were sold.

The number of Spanish properties sold this year has even surpassed the same period in the boom years; 2008 saw 1,263 properties sold, 2007 saw 1,602 properties sold and 2006 saw 1,224 properties sold. The Mayor of Marbella, Angeles Muñoz, announced she is confident the town “will be the first out of the crisis”.

The new town plan, which comes into effect this month, also appears to be having a positive impact. Confidence in the market is clearly increasing as the town hall combats the illegal scandals that have plagued the area. The town plan will legalise some 16,000 properties that to date have been frozen from the property market.

Marbella is not the only place to have seen increased activity in the property market. According to the National Institute of Statistics, in February, the Spanish property market as a whole grew by 16% when compared to the same month of the previous year. Of the 35,720 properties sold in February, 21,368 were new build whilst the remaining 19,665 were resales.

Prices have been following their downward spiral since December 2007. Since then prices have decreased by 16% throughout Spain as a whole, by 22.5% on the Mediterranean Coast and by 13.6% in the Canary Islands.

Source: Spanish Property Insight, Property Wire, Property Community

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Posted in Business Investment Opportunities, Costa del Sol, Investment Property in Spain, Investors in Spain, Malaga, Marbella, Property in Spain, Property on the Costa del Sol, Reduced Property, Selling Property in Spain, Spain | No Comments »

The British Return to its Favourite Destination – Spain

Friday, April 16th, 2010

Spain’s costas are once again hot property for Britain’s second home buyers, according to a recent article in The Times. All indicators point to a resurgence of British property buyers on Spain’s coasts.

Prices at their lowest ever level combined with one of the worst winters on record in the UK have led to renewed interest from families looking to escape the grey. And the relatively low sterling-euro exchange rate appears not to be a deterrent.

The report is confirmed by experts in the industry both in the UK and in Spain. Spanish property was the most popular search on Primelocation.com between February 2009 and 2010, accounting for 32% of total overseas property searches. Rightmove overseas recorded an overall rise of 60% in overseas property searches when compared with March last year.

Many Brits are returning to buy property in Spain for lifestyle reasons. It is an additional incentive that prices are now affordable with reduced property at a level where the purchase can also be for investment over the longer term.

And it is no surprise the British are returning. Southern Spain was rated in the Top 10 places to live abroad by Knight Frank Estate Agents. A recent article in the Daily Telegraph explored the best places to live in the world, with Southern Spain featuring high in the list.

According to a recent article by the OPP, Marbella has seen a resurge of foreign lifestyle buyers. “Total property sales in the city have risen to their highest level in four years, research from the tax office shows”.

Source: The Times, Daily Telegraph, OPP

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Posted in Bargain Property Overseas, Costa del Sol, Investment Property in Spain, Investors in Spain, Malaga, Marbella, Property in Spain, Property on the Costa del Sol, Reduced Property, Selling Property in Spain, Spain, Uncategorized | 1 Comment »

Capital Gains Tax Reclaim Update

Monday, April 12th, 2010

The European Court of Justice (ECJ) ruling on 6th October 2009 that the higher capital gains tax applicable to non-residents in Spain between 1997 and 2006 was discriminatory, has generated huge interest from non-residents who sold their Spanish property in this period and were subjected to the higher rate of tax.

However, the process to file for the reclaim is not so straightforward. Any application to reclaim overpaid taxes should be filed with the Spanish Tax Authorities stating the amount overpaid and the interest accrued since the payment date.

From this administrative procedure, the tax authorities are required to produce a formal statement error with the calculation of the amounts that should be paid back including the interest.

However, the tax authorities may deny the claim. In such a case the taxpayer must go through the ordinary appeals process. Under Spanish Tax Law, the reclaim period is limited to 4 years from the tax payment date. For example, a property sold on 20th April 2006 would have paid the tax within the due date (4 months from sale on 20th August 2006), the claimant has until 20th August 2010 to file for the rebate.

Failing this, there is a possibility of claiming beyond the 4 year time limit. A judgement passed on 26th January 2010 by the ECJ means the taxpayer can make a claim through an extraordinary procedure via the Council of Ministers to claim the responsibility of the Spanish state as legislator.

Whilst it is not necessary to seek legal help through the procedure, for such a complex process, legal advice is advisable for a successful and stress free outcome.

Source: OPP

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Posted in Investment Property in Spain, Investors in Spain, Property in Spain, Property on the Costa del Sol, Selling Property in Spain, Spain, Spain Economy | No Comments »