Banking

Hi

We are just going through the process. The best thing to do is bring €3000 in cash, you will need this to reserve the property. Once you have a reputable solicitor ( don't do cafe meetings, use the locals choice, find their office and do your homework) easiest way to do this is to give them power of attorney, ( you will personally sign and agree the terms and get it in English and Spanish)  they will then arrange your NIE ( bring 3 x passport photos per person and photocopied passports ) they will open you a basic bank account in your name and do all the work for you. Once they have all the paperwork in order ( nie, notary, bank ) you transfer the money, you can come back into Spain to do this or trust your solicitor who can finalise everything and hold the keys for you. 

A good estate agent will go through everything and suggest a solicitor. Check out both first ( reviews online and google search will do) Our solicitor had a very good local reputation, three secretaries, a large established office and was known to everyone when we walked to the notary with him. ( he gave me his card and in front of him I e mailed and called him on his mobile and landline to prove connection ) 

Spain has changed a lot in the last decade, the corruption is still there as it is in every country but it is being chased out. The buying system ( with the right professionals) is legal, easy and accountable 

Hope this helps

I agree with the previous comments. Get a local solicitor who will organise everything for you. When buying our property our solicitor arranged our NIE's, look us to the Notary to complete the legal matters, arranged an independent interpreter as we have limited Spanish, look us to the branch of Sabadell Bank where we were able to open our account and have all the financials sorted including getting Direct Debits set up for payment of our water and electricity charges. On the banking side of things we have been impressed with Sabadell in the eighteen months since we opened the account.

Just picking up on the first point.. Don't give the agent a penny to reserve the property. Get a solicitor first. Make the offer, if accepted give the agent your sol details and let them deal with it.

Deposits via the agent are one of the Myths people think they need to follow.

This was probably necessary pre crash when demand was high. Now it's just a rip off. 

I refused point blank and told the agent to speak with my solicitor who also said no chance.

Don't use the Solicitor suggested by the agent.

I also agree with Sabadell cannot fault them