Can anyone recommend: Lawyers and Banks

Hi Valerie,

Are you buying a property with a view to living permanently in Spain, or as a holiday home?  This would make a difference to the bank I would recommend.

Regarding lawyers, I'd recommend SGM Abogados in Benijofar:

https://sgmlegalspain.com

Kind regards,

Kim

We are hoping to use it as a Holiday Home in the winter months in the UK, 

I would unconditionally recommend Caxia in Rojales, technically the Formentera branch.

Victor there speaks perfect English and couldn't be more helpful. 

Hi Valerie,

The two banks in Formentera del Segura are Caja Rural and a small branch of Sabadell.  Earlier this year, many of the banks increased their fees and non-resident property owners have been looking to find cheaper alternatives.

Unless you appoint a lawyer (abogado) who allows you to transfer the purchase funds direct to their client account, I'd recommend opening an account with Sabadell.  If you don't speak Spanish, I'd recommend opening an account at Benijofar branch, rather than Formentera.  The reason I recommend Sabadell is because their online service is very good and they have the widest network of ATMs.  It's a while since I've had their non-resident Key Account, but the fees then were €140 per year.

Once your purchase is complete (and your lawyer has transferred the direct debits for utility payments from the vendor to yourself), I'd recommend opening a mobile/online only bank account, transfer your DDs and close the Spanish account.  Starling has had good reviews on this forum, but whichever you choose, make sure they have an IBAN (international bank account number), as the Spanish utilities won't accept direct debit payments from the UK without one.

Kind regards,

Kim

Bear in mind that your visits will be limited:

https://www.costablancaforum.com/area/area-77813/eu-brexit-living-holidaying-moving-to-area-215/jims-guide-visiting-the-eu-post-brexit-part-1-the-90-day-rule-109473/

We have had a holiday home in Formentera for 13 years. I would recommend Sabadell easy online banking from your phone on the app. As Kimmy suggested open the account in Benijofar branch. Our account is in Guardamar as we were originally with the Halifax that Sabadell took over. Our lawyers are Abbacos in Torrevija, we pay them an annual fee and they take care of all our taxes etc which as its a holiday home is an easier option for us. You can do this cheaper yourself but for us we prefer them to oversee it. Plus you get regular info from them on any information relating to changes to law etc in Spain. You can use any Sabadell Bank for transactions and we use the one in Formentera, Benijofar and Guardamar. We have a named contact person in the bank who speaks English and we have no difficulty making appointments on line to meet him plus he will exchange e mails with us, useful when we are in the UK. 

Good luck in getting it all sorted. 

Thank you for that information it is

appreciated, we are due to fly over the 4th unless flights cancelled and are booked to see apartments on the 7th one of them is opposite the the sports centre so any 

information you can provide on that and also Formentera as a place to buy would be really appreciated, we used to own a property in Villamartin but we want a quieter life now.

Regards 

Val & Brian Cattell

Our flight for 9th Sept has been cancelled, disappointing but we'll come a little later. Formentera is a really lovely friendly village which is Spanish as oppodosed to Villa Martin, I'm sure you will love it. We have friends who live  opposite the football and sports ground, they have great views. Wednesday morning is walking football for the more mature males and the women supporters are a great friendly bunch. It's a convenient location. We are the opposite end of the village looking over the orange groves towards Rojales. We love it there really enjoy the times we spend there, with easy walks to Benijofar, Benimar and Rojales plenty of bars, restaurants and shops in easy striking distance. 

I do hope you find somewhere you like. X

My partner has been going to the village for the past 13 years and once I saw it the first time I also fell in love with it and the people.  We bought our own apartment over 2 years ago and anyone who visits us also falls for the friendliness of the village.  I can seriously recommend the village as a whole but prefer to be closer to the football pitch part of it.  Our pool faces Sunleys bar and if you have not called into Sunleys you are missing out.  The Sunday dinners are to die for.  I use Sabadell and even tho the branch in Formentera has closed they are keeping the ATM functional.  We are from Northern Ireland and get over as much as we can but if not there then online banking is key. Good luck on the house hunting.