http://www.housematix.com Save your energy Fri, 16 Jul 2010 17:32:36 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en Spanish property prices fell just 3.7% over 12 months to the end of June, say the latest figures from the Ministry of Housing. The Ministry’s figures are so detached from reality they can usually be ignored, but this time I decided to delve, a bit deeper and found out that ... http://www.housematix.com/housematix/2010/07/spain/latest-spanish-property-price-index-from-housing-ministry-down-3-7pc/ The Spanish real estate market expanded in March, though less vigorously than in February, according to the latest house sale figures from the National Institute of Statistics (INE). Excluding social housing, there were a total of 33,632 house sales in March, up 8.2% compared to the same month last year. Good, ... http://www.housematix.com/housematix/2010/05/spain/spanish-real-estate-market-expands-in-march/ A group of 10 British buyers is taking legal action against the promoter of Corvera Golf and Country Club in Murcia, arguing breach of contract and demanding their money back. [ad#b] The buyers are also worried they may lose all their money – in some cases the bulk of their life’s savings ... http://www.housematix.com/housematix/2010/04/spain/british-buyers-take-legal-action-against-promoter-of-corvera-golf-and-country-club/ Anyone wishing to buy or sell property in Spain needs to know about a type of local or municipal capital gains tax on property in Spain – known as the Plusvalía. This tax often catches buyers and vendors unawares. [ad#b] What is the plusvalia tax in Spain? The plusvalía is a local (municipal) ... http://www.housematix.com/housematix/2010/04/spain/the-plusvalia-property-tax-in-spain-often-catches-buyers-and-vendors-unawares/ When a non-resident sells property in Spain, they buyer is obliged to retain 3% of the price and pay it to the tax authorities to cover the vendor’s tax liabilities. If the vendor is due a refund after the tax has been paid, it can take years to get money ... http://www.housematix.com/housematix/2010/04/spain/non-resident-vendors-get-hit-by-spanish-capital-gains-tax-retention-on-property-sales/ Spanish holiday-home promoter Polaris World has narrowly avoided bankruptcy proceedings after reaching an agreement with banks at the eleventh hour. [ad#b] Murcia-based Polaris World, the biggest holiday property developer in Spain, last night reached a deal with its banking creditors just before a deadline that would have forced the company to seek ... http://www.housematix.com/mark/2010/04/spain/polaris-world-dodges-bankruptcy/ Real estate asking prices for homes already lived in fell just 0.9% over 3 months to the end of March, according to data collected by Spanis property portal Idealista.com. [ad#b] As a result, the average asking price of real estate in Spain finished March at 2,387€/m2, with wide variations between regions. The ... http://www.housematix.com/mark/2010/04/spain/real-estate-asking-prices-down-0-9pc-in-first-3-months/ There was an interesting piece yesterday in the FT about the liquidity problems facing Spain’s regional savings banks, or cajas. The article didn’t go into it, but this has big implications for the Spanish real estate market. [ad#b] Cajas in Spain tend to be controlled by local politicians and their cronies. So ... http://www.housematix.com/mark/2010/04/spain/cajas-and-the-spanish-real-estate-market/ Marbella’s real estate market has been in a funk for years, starting long before the real estate crash, thanks to the greed and corruption of local politicians and some developers. But finally, some light at the end of the tunnel, argues Ángeles Muñoz, Marbella’s lady Mayor, with figures in hand ... http://www.housematix.com/mark/2010/04/spain/marbella-real-estate-market-back-from-the-dead/ With a glut of 1 million homes, Spanish house prices might have more room to fall, and that price adjustments could take another “two or three years to play out,” reports the FT. No news there, but it was interesting to read how Spain’s real estate glut can be ... http://www.housematix.com/mark/2010/04/spain/spanish-property-glut-breaks-down-into-3-categories/