What's the property market like at the moment? Where should I be pitching my offers?

You should put in an offer of what the property is worth to you. The likelihood of property being overpriced by 50% (which is what 30% off equates to!) is minimal. A certain amount of offer/counter offer as in UK would be reasonable - but in the end, ‘silly’ offers are only likely to be considered if vendors are desperate or you are looking at a derelict ‘shed’ in the middle of 30000 square metres of protected rural land!!!!

We offered and paid the full asking price for our house last year, as in comparison to UK, the price was very reasonable and it was worth it to us.

I would suggest that discounts are available but they will vary widely due to owners circumstances and nationality. It's impossible to generalise. Although prices have started to rise it remains a buyers market and there is a lot of choice. 

If you forced me to set figures on it you might try/get 10% discount urban and 10-20% rural. But equally you could get more or you could get nothing. Find a property you love, don't get obsessed about losing it because your first offer is too low. Make your first offer and see the reaction. Dont offer unless you are serious about wanting it. 

Steve

The best thing to do is look at what prices are like for the kind of property you want you soon get a feel for it. recently two property prices were 25k difference for the same type of property but you could still make an offer on the cheaper one some people will wait to achieve a price some want to move quickly ask lots of questions as you would in the UK is the property empty ask why will they take an offer most will but ask how long has it been on the market? etc property's are moving now and prices are starting to rise most agents are popping up all over the place because the market is again buoyant if you see something you love don't hang about but also don't dive in to quick pretty easy Eh LOL

Good Luck

We have recently been through this, we found the place then our preferred urbanisation. We bought in Relleu for its authentic spanish feel, upmarket hated development and views to die for as well as wonderful local amenities.

You can see properties on our urb from €85,000 new houses to €140,000 they are all similar but sit in different places the new ones are ones the developer mothballed in the crash and has now completed so yes this is also a complete urb not one of those half ghost ones.

We saw everything that was available and we had detailed discussion with the developer and it was clear he would at a push accept €80,000 however there was one bank repo on the site nicely situated overlooking the pool with two balconies a garden three bedrooms two toilets etc. 

When we finally got in we where pleasantly surprised, it needed decorating and all the old furniture removing new lights throughout but that was it. This was on for an incredible €75,000 recently reduced from €85,000 we started at €60,000 I know crazy for a three bed villa which sold in 2007 for €149,000 they said no. We ended up getting it for €65,111 everyone on the urb is happy it’s off the market as it was holding the prices back. Once the last few €85,000 3 and 4 bed go they are all expected to be market over the €100,000 market.

I think you need to make sure the property and the area is right, don’t make the U.K. property mistake of thinking you will make money (I have made a comfortable amount in the U.K. property which has enabled me to pay cash for our holiday home. My view is holiday with the kids for 10 years then sell it. As we got our so cheap we have just bought a car out there too almost new hopefully it will last for the next ten years then we will sell. Even if we get back what we paid we would have had 10 years of amazing holiday which have saved us a fortune at peak times.

I am hoping as we bought at the bottom there will be a little on top to cash in though :-) but that’s not my primary feature. Also if you are buying to live make sure it’s right as you could be stuck in it for some time unless you want to lose lots by selling it cheap. Buy in haste and repent at your leisure :-) good look and enjoy it.

We got our keys 4 weeks after the viewing and offer and had our 1st holiday at 6 weeks after seeing it

Also don't forget in Spain the cost will be around 13% on top of the price you pay with taxes and fees etc,

The final price you pay is between you and the vendor but reputable estate agents wont be showing over-priced properties.  The first thing o decide is area - you can adapt a house that is in the right area to suit you but you can't do anything to change what is around you.  So, location first.  Then it's your budget - just like the UK everything is different and a similar property in one area will be more in another.  It's supply and demand so the more popular the area the higher the price.  

Rural properties tend to stay on the market longer so more chance of a cheeky offer being accepted.  But if you choose an 'in demand' location don't expect to get much off the price as the owner knows there will be another buyer along soon and will hold out.  I have not heard of anyone getting 30% off these days.  Much more like the UK market now, say 3-10% depending on location.  My experience is mainly in south Costa Blanca so it may be a little different heading north of Denia though.