This five hundred or so year old property
remained in Don Isidro’s family for some
200 odd years until his grandchildren
decided to sell it. The proposed sale of
this property made regional headlines
and was given a lot of publicity. The sale
came at a time when Spain was suffering
a rather challenging economic climate.
What stemmed from initial curiosity
and an enthusiastic viewing of the
interior turned into almost immediate
negotiations with the sellers. In little
time we found ourselves to be the
proud owners of Casa Pondal de
Laxe and with this purchase, we had
bought not only a house, but a piece of
history. The property proudly boasts
of traditional Galician features, such as
an ample stone walled hallway with a
fully functioning well. The traditional
“Galerias” (windowed balconies) are a
feature quite characteristic of this region
and the library is a particular beauty spot,
as it looks out onto the unspoilt view of
the beach, where one can imagine Don
Isidro spending a lot of his time writing
his journals.
As a property solicitor in the UK, being
able to draw comparisons between the
conveyancing processes in one country
to another is invaluable. From the outset
we were already mindful of the proposed
work required, the necessary consents,
as well as all of the additional expenses
that go with buying a property abroad.
From my experience, if you are looking
to buy in Spain, the process is quite
different to that here and you must tread
carefully. Aspects of conveyancing such
as drawing up the deed, witnessing
the signatures and ensuring purchase
money is paid to the seller, can only be
performed by a public notary “Notario”.
A notary represents the government
and one of his main tasks is to ensure
that state taxes and fees are paid on
completion. A notary, almost certainly
does not act in the interests of the seller/
buyer and thus will not act as your
conveyancer. A notary will not verify the
accuracy or content of a contract or even
protect you against fraud, but he will
however certify the identity of the parties
and may arrange for the registration of
the property into the new owner’s name.
As a foreign buyer you shouldn’t expect
your notary to speak English either,
although many do, you may need a bilingual solicitor or an interpreter to assist.
A notary is required to check the
property register - the name of the title
holder, description of the property,
and any charges or encumbrances
against it before the signing of the
deed. Therefore, if you are looking to
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