There is some exciting news in the Spanish property world and for those considering purchasing a new build property on the Costa del Sol!

The Spanish government have recently announced a reduction in the IVA (VAT) paid on a new property purchase – from 8% to 4%!

So what does this 50% reduction mean in real terms for property purchasers? Quite a lot and for example:  If you are purchasing a brand new property in Spain for €150,000, instead of paying €12,000 IVA, you will now only have to pay €6,000!

But you have to be quick!  Unfortunately the new ruling  is only in force until 31 December 2011 and sadly does not apply to resale properties.

Barrington Homes have some wonderful properties in prime developments where you can take advantage of this offer – Take a look at the beautiful beachfront development of Marina Castillo where prices have also been drastically reduced. Coto Real is a much sought after address and offers a high quality build in a peaceful development and close to amenities and finally Residencia Duquesa, a fantastic location on the edge of Sabinillas and close to the beaches and Puerto de la Duquesa.

For more information or to have a browse through our property portfolio, come along to the Barrington Homes Office in Sabinillas, take a look at our web-site or contact us directly.

 These 2 and 3 bedroom luxury apartments in Marina del Castillo enjoy a superb beachfront location that is within minutes walk of the beautiful Duquesa Marina and the Pueblo of Castillo.

Marina del Castillo is one of the newest developments in the Manilva area and one of the most prestigious. Located in-between the pretty Pueblo of Castillo and the beautiful Port of Duquesa, Marina del Castillo is in the perfect location. A new Paseo has been constructed that runs right along the shore line and ensures that walking to either Castillo or Duquesa is a pleasure.  Next door to the development are some Roman ruins and as there is no over construction around the development, Marina del Castillo offers peace, privacy and tranquillity with open views to the Mediterranean.

In addition there are many 1st class golf clubs nearby such as Finca Cortesin and of course our very own La Duquesa Golf Club.

Castillo is a very pretty and small pueblo that offers superb fish and tapas restaurants and has the real Spain ambience. During the summer months here, the castle hosts an open air cinema showing films in English and Spanish and often supports local artists with fantastic exhibitions of their work. A small and quiet area with several beach bars and restaurants nearby, Castillo is a real gem in our Manilva crown.

For a more lively evening, Puerto de la Duquesa offers a large selection of restaurants, bars, cafes, beach bars, market stalls and 2 small supermarkets. Having seen a lot of redevelopment over the past year, Puerto de la Duquesa is the prettiest port on the coast and offers everything one might need either as a holiday maker or resident.

Marina del Castillo has been constructed to the highest standard and includes stunning luxurious features including marble walls and floors, natural wood terraces, light sensitive glass, domotics home control systems and high specification kitchen and bathrooms. Marina del Castillo boasts a beautiful communal pool and sun terraces, underground parking and 24hr security.

Barrington Homes have recently seen reductions in the prices of the apartments in Marina del Castillo from €390,000 to prices from only €189,000 and now with 100% Finance available. This is a FANTASTIC opportunity to own a prestigious property that offers superb rental returns and is a good investment as either a portfolio property, holiday home or a permanent home and in a superb location. For Barrington Holidays  Marina del Castillo is one of our key developments for holiday bookings.

For further information or to arrange a viewing of Marina del Castillo please contact Damian Barrington and we will be very happy to help you.

What is a Nota Simple? 

In November I wrote about the decree 218  and the documents that it stipulates the vendor of a property in Spain must produce. The system and terminology can be quite confusing, I have explained about the Escritura but below is a brief description of one of the other documents that you will need.

A Nota Simple is a certificate given by the local Property Registry which contains a full description of the property you are going to purchase or sell in Spain. This description should include the following information:

• whether the property has any outstanding debts (unpaid community charges, mortgages or local taxes)
• the full name of the current owner
• the boundaries of the property
• the total square meters of the property (house + land)
• classification of the property (rústico, urbano, or urbanizable). This is very important if you are intending to build on the land so be careful.
• the rights that others may have over the property (eg public paths, railway lines, pipes or waterways).

With Spanish property, debts may be tied to a property rather than to the owner of the property. This is why you really must study the up to date Nota Simple carefully, with a legal expert if possible.

The office from which to obtain the Nota Simple for properties in the Manilva area, is based in Manilva Village, opposite the new police station and is called Registro de la Propiedad.

If you have a property for sale with Barrington Homes we will be happy to apply for this on your behalf.  An up to date Nota Simple is a vital aspect of selling and purchasing property in Spain and should never be overlooked.

Barrington Homes currently have clients waiting to purchase properties in the Duquesa, Manilva, Sabinillas and Casares Costa areas. If you are considering the sale of your property, contact Barrington Homes for a free valuation or come to the office in Sabinillas and meet the Barrington Homes and Barrington Holiday  team.

What is an Escritura?

An escritura is the title deed to your property.

Last time, I talked to you about the Decree 218 and mentioned that when selling your property in Duquesa you will need to provide a copy of your escritura to Barrington Homes.

If you have bought a property here in Duquesa, Manilva, Sabinillas or Casares Costa you will have received a copy of your title deeds (or Escritura).  This is a copy of a notarised document (i.e. granted in the presence of a Notary Public), of which the notary’s office keeps the original in their files forever. There are escrituras for many different purposes but in the case of real estate property acquisition, these escrituras constitute the acquisition agreement itself (i.e. the document that contains the basic terms of an acquisition, such as price, means of payment, charges and expense distribution, several tax-wise stipulations, etc.). This type of escritura, of which I repeat, the Notary keeps the original, is the only document (with extraordinary exceptions) that could originate a record on the Land Registry, establishing your ownership in a formal and undisputed way.

When selling a property with us at Barrington Homes, we insist on having a copy of the escritura, along with all other legal paperwork on file and in accordance with the Junta de Andalucia’s decree 218.  Our full time experienced team, focus on providing a dedicated and in-depth service from the time you instruct us to sell your home right through until the day you move. If you have bought a property for an investment we will manage all aspects of your lettings, either long term or holiday rentals.

Don’t forget that you can contact us through our web site www.barringtonhomes.eu or feel free to contact me directly with any ideas or information you would like to see on our blog or website. marketing@barringtonhomes.eu

What is…Decree 218? 

Did you know that in accordance with the decree 218 from the Junta Andalucia, here at Barrington Homes Estate Agents in Duquesa, we are legally obligated to obtain the following information from vendors?

1. Copy of the Title Deeds for the property (Escritura)
2. Copy of the up to date Nota Simple.
3. Copy of latest I.B.I (property tax) statement.
4. Proof of last Community fee payments.
5. Copy of latest utility bills (water and electric).

 It is imperative that this information is supplied to us in full because Barrington Homes estate agents are not legally allowed to advertise your property for sale until all above documentation has been received.

If you do not have any of these documents the Lawyer who acted on your behalf for the property purchase will be able to supply them, so if you are thinking about selling your Duquesa or Manilva property it may be worth gathering the documents together beforehand to speed up the process.

Thousands of Euros are spent on marketing Barrington Homes’ database of properties each year, making Barrington Homes  one of the leading independent agencies in the Duquesa and Manilva area. So it is vital that our sales and marketing team receive the information quickly in order for us to maximize the visibility of your Duquesa property.

Over the next few weeks I will be talking more about the buying and selling process in the Duquesa and Manilva area and about the terminology that you might come across. 

Keep reading and if you have any thoughts, ideas or questions, contact me here at Barrington Homes or email me at marketing@barringtonhomes.eu.