Recommendations

Have you got your NIE number yet?

No - Barclay property said that they would do all of that for me.  At the moment I don’t want to be tied to anything so I’m happy to run around when visiting to open a bank account.  Do you know how I can get an NIE number as a non-resident please? Can I get one when I visit La Marina? Thanks Joann

Barclay property will probably only arrange for your NIE to be issued to you if you commit to buy a property that they are selling, When we bought our property 7 yrs ago our estate agent arranged this with us after we had agreed on a price and paid a deposit via a bank transfer company, who made the payment to the agents - this was then deducted from the final cash payment upon completion.

You will need an NIE to open a Spanish bank account but you don’t necessarily need a Spanish bank, myself and many people, now use Wise which is an online bank.

However, you will need an NIE in order to proceed with the house purchase, I believe the process has changed in the 7 hrs since we bought, but I’m sure some helpful forum members will point you in the right direction to get this done asap

Good luck in your venture 👍

I  view  properties  with  Barclays.  I  was  not  impressed  as  they  tried   to  get  me to  use   a Solicitors  that they  recommend. 

As  I  got  to view  more properties  and made  enquiries  some through  Form here. I learned  a lot and  decided  to walk  away  from Barclays. 

The  fees they were quoting  for Solicitors  were almost  double  what I  could arrange  myself. When I  mentioned  this to Barclays  representative  the  tone of  my  viewing  change  .  So  I  walk away  happy with my decision.  So  I would advise  getting  your own Solicitors  they  nearly  all speak English. 

When  I  purchased  I  did  not or would  not open  a Spanish  Bank account. I  transferred  funds to my Solicitors  Client  account  which  I  we agreed  before   hand.  On  Completion  day  Solicitors  completed transaction  with Banker Draft  from his Client  account

I  will  finish up  by saying   Shop  around  with  Estate agents  and Solicitors 

Happy House hunting 

Ok thank you.  I think that once I arrive and speak to them in person I will understand the process more clearly.  I know that they are prepared to do everything if I buy a property through them but I am not even sure if La Marina is the place for me! I will do some more investigating.

Appreciate your messages.

Thanks Jo’ann

Thank you - this is very helpful information.  I am not in an immediate hurry to purchase so I will shop around, also I have a legal background so I will be alert to all the small print! 

Hi you will find that Estate Agents will do everything for you once you have committed to buy through them. Please do not use their Solicitor, you need an independent solicitor.
There are other estate agents on Urb.La Marina, Newstart, Nicky’s Properties and others. 

As Sligogent says shop around, its good advice.

Good luck with your property search.

Regards

Anne

Great thank you Anne appreciate it.

You may find some information about bureaucratic stuff on the Citizens Advice Bureau Spain website.   Another site that may be of interest is the N332 that has information about anything to do with driving in Spain.   It is run in collaboration with officers of the Guardia Civil for English speaking people and has an English version of the Spanish equivalent of the Highway Code on it.

Also, be aware that there are two La Marina places very close to each other.   On the inland side of the N332 coastal road is the urbanisation uder the jurisdiction of San Fulgencio.   The other is the town on the sea side of the N332 which comes under the jurisdiction of Elche.