If you buy land close to the sea you will be paying 4 - 500 Euros per square metre. Conversely, inland, building under the 2 per cent rule will see you paying anywhere between 6 - 15 Euros per square metre. The price of land can be a fraction of the property cost or 10 times as much. It's all to do with preference and budget. Whilst land for the average client works out at around 70 - 130,000 Euros per plot, there are instances where it has been obtained more cheaply and also, where far more has been paid.
When you view our property pages, please bear in mind that government taxes and your own legal fees have not been included in the property price nor does the price include the cost of land which is not known to us. The cost shown is that for the design and construction of your house and includes project fees.
Once suitable land is found, the next step is to purchase it avoiding all known problems.
Unlike the United Kingdom there is no such thing as “outline planning” so the possibility exists of buying land upon which you will not be able to build – something which is done regularly by British land buyers. You will be the first to agree that this would not be an acceptable situation and pleased to learn that we, in conjunction with our lawyers, have developed a system which is unique to us and which ensures that this cannot happen.
For the system to operate safely we require that you utilise the service of any of the lawyers with whom we regularly work in order that we may follow the procedures which were designed to protect you but we do appreciate that you may wish to appoint your own lawyer when the procedures for purchase on your behalf will be those determined and preferred by him. If you appoint your own lawyer, he will carefully explain the buying procedure he uses but if you work with one of ours this is the procedure which will be followed:
Having found land which you wish to purchase the first thing we must do is agree the price with the vendor. We will explain to him that certain checks must be carried out prior to the sale taking place but as a sign of good faith, a deposit will be paid to your solicitor to be held in his client account with the instructions that it be paid immediately to him (the vendor) when everything has checked out. Some tend to baulk at this arrangement but most eventually agree. If they don’t we have to find other land because we won't deal on any terms other than those which are safe.
Your lawyer will ascertain the following :
1. That the land is suitable for construction purposes by initiating a full geo-physics survey
3. That the land is free of all encumbrances, charges with no right of way or access problems.
4. Full contact with the planning authorities to ascertain that building will be permitted.
5. Full search of the land registry to reveal all owners without whom the sale cannot proceed.
6. Site survey to ascertain accessibility for the delivery and storage of construction materials.
Only when we know that the land can be put to the use it is required will the sale proceed. If the sale does not proceed, your deposit (safe with your lawyer) will be refunded immediately. You will not find yourselves in the position of owning land upon which you cannot build or for which there are no utilities.
Notaries Office
The final payment will take place at the Notary’s office when all documents will be signed by both vendor and buyer. Tax due to the State will be paid to the Notary at this time. If you do not wish to attend this event you can give your lawyer a limited power of attorney which allows him to act on your behalf in your absence. Although it will take some months before you obtain the Escritura (title deeds) from the land registry, this will not delay any aspect of the construction.
In Spain, it is quite common to purchase land before planning permission has been granted. It is also usual to purchase land before a geophysics survey has been carried out. In both cases there is a distinct risk that building may not prove possible. The methods used by us in purchasing land are those neccessary to protect all of your interests during all stages of the transaction and ensure that you do not get left with land upon which you cannot build. Were this to happen your land would be worth only a fraction of that which you paid for it and its only use would be for agricultural purposes.
