Foreign Property Investment

Spanish Survey, Mortgage & Conveyancing Services

Pre-Purchase Services - The key benefit of the SCF Group's service is that we are independent of both property developers and estate agents, preventing any potential 'conflict of interest' and ensuring that our interests correspond exactly with yours. In this vein, we have carefully built up relationships with both Spanish based mortgage and structural surveying companies to ensure that your Spanish Dream doesn't become a Nightmare!

In particular, it is our aim to prevent our Clients from making costly mistakes which can happen all to often to the ill-advised

Surveys - The first thing that must be appreciated in Spain is that there is no equivalent to Chartered Surveyors. In most cases, pre-purchase inspections are carried out by a tazador or project manager. The problem is that their reports are not nearly as comprehensive as those supplied by UK or Irish surveyors and can often lead to a false sense of security.

In addition, it should be noted that there is no equivalent to the concept of 'subject to' survey or valuation contacts, so people have to be far more careful before signing any agreements.

In most cases, (especially where individual, older and/or rustic/rural properties are involved) SCF would recommend that an SCF 'Style' pre-purchase inspection is carried out normally by expatriate UK or Irish chartered surveyors or structural engineers. The benefit of this is that SCF 'Style' Reports follow a similar format to a UK Chartered Surveyors Report and should prevent any nasty mistakes.

Of course, this is very much a 'belt and braces' approach and will cost extra money (normally between €1,000.00 to €2,000.00) but our view is that it is better to be safe than sorry!*

* This service is not available in all areas of Spain

What our Conveyancing Service includes - Our conveyancing service is aimed at the €500,000.00* plus end of the market and includes pre-purchase tax planning advice from our trained London Tax Planning Consultants, full property searches and checks, advice from our Spanish Lawyers plus a "turnkey" service whereby our Clients needn't visit Spain or Spanish notaries - Everything will literally be done for you with your only job being to collect the keys at the end of the conveyancing process.

Our professional fees minus disbursements and duties are 1% of the Purchase Price of the Property.

* This fee is based on a €500,000.00 plus property.

Contact us today to find out more about our competitive service .

The Spanish Conveyancing Process - We do all of these steps for you:

1. Advise on potential tax planning issues, capital gains, inheritance & wealth taxes
   
2. Advise whether a property should be bought directly, through a SL, Branch and whether there should be an overhead Offshore Company
   
3. Draft, prepare and execute a Power of Attorney in favour of Strong Abogados to represent you in Spain
   
4. Carry out a Land Registry Search
   
5. Confirm that the property is free of debts, charges or mortgages
   
6. Confirm planning permission & license status
   
7. Confirm that building guarantees are valid (new properties)
   
8. Draft and/or check the proposed Contact of Sale - Suggest amendments where necessary
   
9. Sign the Property Deed before the Spanish Notary
   
10. Arrange for the transfer of funds to the Lawyers Client Account
    
11. Carry out a final "Point of Sale" Search to reconfirm that there are no debts, mortgages etc. attaching to the property
    
12. Pay appropriate Stamp Duties and other fees associated with the property purchase
    
13. Register the conveyance with the Spanish Land Registry
    
14. Forward or "Safe Deposit" the Title Deeds when returned from the Land Registry
    
15. Confirm completion of transaction to Clients and offer any additional advise or services that may be necessary such as obtaining a Spanish Tax Identification Number.