A PLACE IN THE SUN

Lockey57 wrote:What amazes me is when they are asked what’s the maximum they can afford, they are then shown properties to the value of this, however it’s never explained that there is probably another 12% needed on top to complete the purchase, and very rarely are the hunters told what community fees are!

Exactly my point as well !!! community fees etc never mentioned also.

The new series filmed 2021 from September also does not mention the rules for buying and living in spain, rules of earning and medical etc...

It’s ghastly at times to see some of the properties shown, some are really lovely and some are really poor.
I watched one couple who bought a magnificent place somewhere near Catral a few years ago. I remember the man was bowled over by the outside area including a party kitchen. As I recall, they bought it and planned to move over a few months later. I imagine everyone watching that particular programme were thrilled for the couple. Some months later came the floods and torrential rains which brought devastation and ruin to so many homes in that area. I have often wondered about that lovely couple. Was their home saved or was it ruined? Does anyone remember them? Their house purchase has stuck in my head all this time.

Mac3blade wrote:It’s ghastly at times to see some of the properties shown, some are really lovely and some are really poor.
I watched one couple who bought a magnificent place somewhere near Catral a few years ago. I remember the man was bowled over by the outside area including a party kitchen. As I recall, they bought it and planned to move over a few months later. I imagine everyone watching that particular programme were thrilled for the couple. Some months later came the floods and torrential rains which brought devastation and ruin to so many homes in that area. I have often wondered about that lovely couple. Was their home saved or was it ruined? Does anyone remember them? Their house purchase has stuck in my head all this time.

I can answer this for you as this couple came to view my property AFTER those floods, that purchase did not go through, because like most Catral properties, it proved to be illegal, so they were still looking. And no they did not buy my property either lol. These programmes are no way reporting the true stories

Well, well, well. They were saved! How amazing. I wonder if they ever found their dream home. T never crossed my mind that the deal would fall through.
Thank you for telling me. I can now out that couple out of my mind!
I hope you sold your place and got the price you expected. Cheers.

I do agree that a lot of potential'buyers' are just out for the jolly. But surely the appeal of this show, to those watching in UK, is the fabulous scenery and blue skies as well as the 'dream' to have a home abroad been seen as both achievable and affordable.

It's a nice but of escapism in the bleak UK.The presenters are good too.

Just to put the other side of the story out here. We actually filmed with PITS in August 2021 and bought a place in Quesada through it. To be fair to them there is a lot of due diligence done by them before getting anywhere near Spain (or wherever they are filming). There are forms to complete and we must have had at least 8 phone calls with various members of the team to ensure we are happy with out budget, could afford it, we knew about all the additional costs, we knew we would kneed to get independent legal advice and advised to speak to someone before we even considered putting any offers in, why we wanted to go that specific area, what we are hoping to get....
They then do a day filming in your house before any flights are booked which in affect is a bit of a face to face interview to try and gauge you to ensure you are sincere and ask face face questions.

Then once you are over there there are lots of questions asked and information given by the crew both off the camera and on however, not all of it makes the screen. Filming actually takes 4 days for probably 35 minutes of screen time where a lot of what has been mentioned in this thread is discussed but they just cant fit everything in.

Also, if anyone has ever thought, they do not get any commission and don't always deal with specific Estate Agents etc and to prove this the one we bought off had never dealt with the show at all.
They also make it very clear that although they have your interest at heart, they are not an estate agent, they are not a solicitor and are only giving opinions based on their knowledge and experience. At the end of the day they are there to make a TV show and they do not hide that fact.

From a personal experience I found the full experience really helpful, nothing was hidden from us, and we got exactly what we wanted from the show which was the chance to get a better understanding of what was on offer at places I would never have thought of myself and most of all from an independent entity that had nothing to gain by us buying any specific properties.

To be fair to them they will always get people who lie and are there just for a jolly with no intention to buy and if you think about your own experience of looking at houses you may have expectations of something but until you actually see them in person you don't know for definite and of course things do change as and when you start actually seeing properties or areas.

I'm not saying everything is perfect but they certainly helped us a lot

Mac3blade wrote:I watched the programme during the weekend and watched a couple searching for a house in Torrevieja. I’m convinced that this programme gives viewers the idea that they can buy a dream property in the sun for buttons. This particular episode was in the south of Torrevieja. The couple wanted a fabulous place on the Cabo Roig coast and within walking distance of the sea, bars and restaurants. The presenter finally showed a very decent house selling for around £105,000. Both liked the house but felt the kitchen needed to be completely replaced and THE WOODCHIP would also need to be replaced. The presenter never mentioned that most Spanish homes have the plasterwork finished in this style. The kitchen certainly didn’t look bad to me! Finally, they met up to discuss the plans List. The couple sat and told the female presenter that they liked the final prop our holidayer and had put in a cheeky offer. Amazingly, they offered £50,000. Even the presenter was shocked but little else was said.
These programmes suggest to people that they can pop over to Torrevieja and surrounding areas and buy a dream home in the sun for very little. It’s time they stopped this and promoted our area more honestly.
We need serious buyers who are prepared to pay a realistic sum for a decent home. We certainly don’t want dreamers coming over thinking that they will buy the perfect house for buttons. This programme is misleading and is lowering the tone of the Costa Blanca. I’m disgusted with it. Am I the only one to feel this way?

I watch this program and you right the presenters are full of bs.
It has nothing to do with the seller if the buyer doesn’t like the decoration or needs to put air con in or upgrade the kitchen because they don’t like it.

Great comments which I agree with. Too many UK dreamers still thinking Spain is still in the 1980’s or just after 2008 property crash and that they can pick up properties for pennies. also no consideration given by PiTS presenters to oncosts / commissions / legal fees etc

Lockey57 wrote:What amazes me is when they are asked what’s the maximum they can afford, they are then shown properties to the value of this, however it’s never explained that there is probably another 12% needed on top to complete the purchase, and very rarely are the hunters told what community fees are!

I totally agree with this comment and think the programme needs to be updated to include more´facts´ about the other costs that buyers will incur.

karllap wrote:Just to put the other side of the story out here. We actually filmed with PITS in August 2021 and bought a place in Quesada through it. To be fair to them there is a lot of due diligence done by them before getting anywhere near Spain (or wherever they are filming). There are forms to complete and we must have had at least 8 phone calls with various members of the team to ensure we are happy with out budget, could afford it, we knew about all the additional costs, we knew we would kneed to get independent legal advice and advised to speak to someone before we even considered putting any offers in, why we wanted to go that specific area, what we are hoping to get....
They then do a day filming in your house before any flights are booked which in affect is a bit of a face to face interview to try and gauge you to ensure you are sincere and ask face face questions.

Then once you are over there there are lots of questions asked and information given by the crew both off the camera and on however, not all of it makes the screen. Filming actually takes 4 days for probably 35 minutes of screen time where a lot of what has been mentioned in this thread is discussed but they just cant fit everything in.

Also, if anyone has ever thought, they do not get any commission and don't always deal with specific Estate Agents etc and to prove this the one we bought off had never dealt with the show at all.
They also make it very clear that although they have your interest at heart, they are not an estate agent, they are not a solicitor and are only giving opinions based on their knowledge and experience. At the end of the day they are there to make a TV show and they do not hide that fact.

From a personal experience I found the full experience really helpful, nothing was hidden from us, and we got exactly what we wanted from the show which was the chance to get a better understanding of what was on offer at places I would never have thought of myself and most of all from an independent entity that had nothing to gain by us buying any specific properties.

To be fair to them they will always get people who lie and are there just for a jolly with no intention to buy and if you think about your own experience of looking at houses you may have expectations of something but until you actually see them in person you don't know for definite and of course things do change as and when you start actually seeing properties or areas.

I'm not saying everything is perfect but they certainly helped us a lot

That's very interesting. thanks for the insight.

Out of curiosity, do PITS pay all the cost of air fares and accommodation and leave you to cover meals? What sort of accommodation standard did you get?