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Made An Offer on a Property in Los Altos

Posted: Mon Apr 26, 2021 7:47am
65 replies2365 views18 members subscribed
Nigella8

Posts: 217

8 helpful points

Location: Los Altos

Joined: 20 Apr 2021

Hi All,

I have made an Offer on a Property in Los Altos to the Costa Blanca Estate Agents. Is it ok for me to put a deposit down for this property to secure it. 
We are unable to come out there at the moment, as Spain is on the Red List.

Any suggestions what to do?

The Estate Agent said that we can use a Lawyer he recommends.

Many thanks

dmbucks

Posted: Mon Apr 26, 2021 8:19am

Posts: 87

40 helpful points

Location: Torrevieja

Joined: 4 Jan 2021

Posted: Mon Apr 26, 2021 8:19am

What ever you do,  do not put down a deposit with a lawyer the estate agent recommends, you must get your own independent lawyer. Or one that is recommended by a forum member. 

Nigella8

Posted: Mon Apr 26, 2021 8:34am

Nigella8

Original Poster

Posts: 217

8 helpful points

Location: Los Altos

Joined: 20 Apr 2021

Posted: Mon Apr 26, 2021 8:34am

dmbucks wrote on Mon Apr 26, 2021 8:19am:

What ever you do,  do not put down a deposit with a lawyer the estate agent recommends, you must get your own independent lawyer. Or one that is recommended by a forum member. 

Thank you for letting me know.

Can you give me an English Lawyer then in Los Altos or nearer the Phone Number or e-Mail address please.

Thanks

Nigella8

Posted: Mon Apr 26, 2021 8:44am

Nigella8

Original Poster

Posts: 217

8 helpful points

Location: Los Altos

Joined: 20 Apr 2021

Posted: Mon Apr 26, 2021 8:44am

Please can you give me an English Lawyer in Los Alfos or surrounding area as the vendor has accepted my offer, so the next stage is reserving the deal...

I am dealing with Costa Blanca Estate Agemts.

Many thanks

PAul1670

Posted: Mon Apr 26, 2021 8:57am

PAul1670

Helpful member

Posts: 112

74 helpful points

Joined: 23 Dec 2019

Posted: Mon Apr 26, 2021 8:57am

Nigella8 wrote on Mon Apr 26, 2021 7:47am:

Hi All,

I have made an Offer on a Property in Los Altos to the Costa Blanca Estate Agents. Is it ok for me to put a deposit down for this property to secure it. 
We are unable to come out there at the moment, as Spain is on the Red List.

Any suggestions what to do?

The Estate Agent said that we can use a Lawyer he recommends.

Many thanks

Have you seen the property and area, photos can be very deceptive and only show good points. I personally would wait whilst I could come over as sometimes when you go into a property it does not feel right, be very careful.

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Joanne60

Posted: Mon Apr 26, 2021 8:58am

Posts: 108

39 helpful points

Location: Los Altos

Joined: 13 Oct 2019

Posted: Mon Apr 26, 2021 8:58am

Nigella8 wrote on Mon Apr 26, 2021 8:34am:

Thank you for letting me know.

Can you give me an English Lawyer then in Los Altos or nearer the Phone Number or e-Mail address please.

Thanks

Hi. I used Sun Lawyers as a friend recommended me to them. Their website is www.sun-lawyers.com. My contact from there was a lady called Virginia and their office is in Cabo Roig so that might be the nearest for you. You can get a taxi, if you don't drive its not far.

I don't know the telephone number off hand but the website will have it. They speak good English so no problem with communication. My house purchase was done in about 8 weeks with them. 

Good luck with the purchase. Can't wait to get back to my holiday home in Los Altos!

Kimmy11

Posted: Mon Apr 26, 2021 9:08am

Kimmy11

Legendary helpful member

Posts: 6869

12554 helpful points

Joined: 8 Aug 2017

Posted: Mon Apr 26, 2021 9:08am

Hi Nigella,

I don't know any lawyers specifically in Los Altos, but I've seen many recommendations on this forum for Sun Lawyers, who have offices in La Zenia, about 10 minutes away:

 https://sun-lawyers.com 

I suspect that the estate agent is trying to get you to pay a "reservation deposit" of anything between €3,000 and €6,000?  You should never pay money to an agent - pay it to your independent lawyer.  In fact, the only deposit that you are legally obliged to pay is 10% of the purchase price, once your lawyer has confirmed that the sales contract details are correct.  This deposit is binding.

The agent may try to tell you that you'll lose the property if you don't pay the "reservation deposit" - don't be pressed into doing so.  Tell them that, as an act of good faith, you will consider paying a small deposit to your lawyer, until such time that your lawyer confirms that it is OK to proceed to binding contracts.  Ask the agent to convey this to the vendor.

I'm afraid that some agents will try all sorts of tactics to get you to give them money - but if the sale doesn't proceed, you may have great difficulty getting your deposit back.

(By the way, Spain isn't on the UK's Red List.)

Good luck!

Kind regards, 

Kim

Nigella8

Posted: Mon Apr 26, 2021 9:23am

Nigella8

Original Poster

Posts: 217

8 helpful points

Location: Los Altos

Joined: 20 Apr 2021

Posted: Mon Apr 26, 2021 9:23am

PAul1670 wrote on Mon Apr 26, 2021 8:57am:

Have you seen the property and area, photos can be very deceptive and only show good points. I personally would wait whilst I could come over as sometimes when you go into a property it does not feel right, be very careful.

My cousin lives in Blue Lagoon and he went and viewed the property for me and said it was ok.

I was sent a video of it and liked it.

PAul1670

Posted: Mon Apr 26, 2021 9:33am

PAul1670

Helpful member

Posts: 112

74 helpful points

Joined: 23 Dec 2019

Posted: Mon Apr 26, 2021 9:33am

Nigella8 wrote on Mon Apr 26, 2021 9:23am:

My cousin lives in Blue Lagoon and he went and viewed the property for me and said it was ok.

I was sent a video of it and liked it.

Ok that's fine, is it a permanent move and if so have you looked at all the requirements needed post Brexit.

All the best

Paul

Nigella8

Posted: Mon Apr 26, 2021 9:36am

Nigella8

Original Poster

Posts: 217

8 helpful points

Location: Los Altos

Joined: 20 Apr 2021

Posted: Mon Apr 26, 2021 9:36am

Kimmy11 wrote on Mon Apr 26, 2021 9:08am:

Hi Nigella,

I don't know any lawyers specifically in Los Altos, but I've seen many recommendations on this forum for Sun Lawyers, who have offices in La Zenia, about 10 minutes away:

 https://sun-lawyers.com 

I suspect that the estate agent is trying to get you to pay a "reservation deposit" of anything between €3,000 and €6,000?  You should never pay money to an agent - pay it to your independent lawyer.  In fact, the only deposit that you are legally obliged to pay is 10% of the purchase price, once your lawyer has confirmed that the sales contract details are correct.  This deposit is binding.

The agent may try to tell you that you'll lose the property if you don't pay the "reservation deposit" - don't be pressed into doing so.  Tell them that, as an act of good faith, you will consider paying a small deposit to your lawyer, until such time that your lawyer confirms that it is OK to proceed to binding contracts.  Ask the agent to convey this to the vendor.

I'm afraid that some agents will try all sorts of tactics to get you to give them money - but if the sale doesn't proceed, you may have great difficulty getting your deposit back.

(By the way, Spain isn't on the UK's Red List.)

Good luck!

Kind regards, 

Kim

Thank you so much.

I will e-Mail Sun Lawyers.

Is it ok if I give a deposit to secure this property with the lawyers

I think coming back from Spain we have to Quarantine

Is Power of Attorney ok to go ahead with the Solicitors?

Many thanks

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