We just heard about this from the owner. This stunning large reformed Cortijo in the heart of the Sierra Nevada has just been reduced by over 100,000 euros in order to encourage a quick sale.

The property is located in the picturesque village of Mecina Bombaron in the area of Granada that includes the Sierra Nevada National Park and the Alpujaar Valley.

More details of the property:

Just reduced. Must sell quick.

Stunning 2 storey villa in the heart of the Sierra Nevada mountains complete with separate B&B accommodation consisting of 2 self contained rooms with disabled toilets and town hall licences.

The ground floor of the property has been converted in to high quality horse stables with capacity for 4 horses, and is ideally positions for people who would enjoy horse trekking in the mountains.

The main accommodation consists of 2 bedrooms, a huge lounge dining area, an American style kitchen and a large bathroom. But this property is much more than that; there is a sunny terrace which runs the full length of the property and features stunning views down the valley. There is a paddock for the horses. The property has it’s own spring with flows in to a large drinking trough near the entrance to the main building.

There is an existing mortgage on this property which we understand could be passed on to the new owner.

This is a business, opportunity, a lifestyle change and a wonderful house, that has been reduced by almost 150,000 euros to encourage a quick sale.

Price is only 200,000 eruro.

 For more information on this property please contact Andy Stevenson Tel +34 616739435 or use our contact form:

cforms contact form by delicious:days

OK, so let’s presume that you have found a property that you like and want to own. What are the next steps and what potential pitfalls may be encountered before you can expect to own your dream home in Spain .

The first step would normally be a meeting with a solicitor. Most agents working within this web site will offer you the services of a local, reputable solicitor; this would usually be on the basis of an un-rewarded referral to guarantee prompt and attentive service for their legal charge.

During your first meeting your solicitor should explain to you the legal implications of your purchase. You will be told that normally you are required to place a small reserve on the property in order for the owner or developer to take the property off the market. Under Spanish law this is money which is conditionally un-refundable should you choose not to proceed with the purchase.

He will outline in detail his charges and what he will provide by way of service in return. This includes searches on the property to establish ownership and resolve outstanding debt, checking deeds (in Spain ‘ Escrituras’) are in order and conform to the building and land being offered, in Spain these deeds are separate. He will also check building licenses are in order and that the owner or developer has satisfied any local planning conditions prior to offering the property for sale.

You can also expect that your solicitor handle any financial transactions on your behalf, although it is more practicable to allow him/her power of attorney over your bank account where funds are held, rather than to allow him to hold funds in ”client accounts”.

So, reassured the purchase is sound, you go ahead and make an offer that the vendor accepts. A reserve of normally between 3,000 and 6,000 Euros is takes and the property is taken off the market.

You will now have 2 to 4 weeks to find the balance of 10% of the sale price to go to contracts. During this time your solicitor will receive and check the contracts of sale. If satisfactory the sale contracts will be signed and deposit taken and given to the vendor. From there on it is normally a further 2 to 4 weeks during which time a mortgage can be arranged and the Escritura drafted before you or your solicitor go before the notary (legal guardian working for the government) to have the sale completed.

On this day you will be required to provide funds to meet the sale price of the purchase. Between 60 and 80% can be covered by a mortgage (or Hipoteca in Spain ) depending on your circumstances and an acceptable valuation. You should allow for an additional 10% of the sale price of the property to cover fees and costs. The bulk of this being Spanish sales tax on new property or stamp duty in the case of resale’s, both levied at 7% of Escritura value. The other 3% is solicitor’s fees, notary fees and, land registry fees and charges. This may vary according to work required.

All fears and media panic aside; THE BUYING PROCESS in Spain is a fairly simple and painless one if you work with the right, professional and ethical suppliers. The aims of this web site are to assist the buyer in making that choice. Yes you can contact vendors directly and complete a sale without using a solicitor but it is not recommended and is potentially fraught with anxiety for a novice or experienced purchaser alike. If you have any questions on this subject or are seeking further advice please contact our admin team.

Between the snow-capped Sierra Nevada mountains and the Mediterranean Sea , lies the area known as La Alpujarra. It is a place of virtually unspoilt natural beauty with panoramic views of rolling hills, intense red cliffs, and steep ravines.

In 1492, having been expelled from Granada by their Christian conquerors, the Moors took refuge in these mountains where they maintained their customs and way of life for a further century. Their legacy remains in the architecture of the village houses, the network of irrigation channels (acequias) and the local cuisine.

The white villages of La Alpujarra cling precariously to the mountainsides. Like sugar cubes, piled haphazardly on one another, they shine white in the bright Andalucian sun and at night twinkle like clusters of little stars. The architecture is unique in Europe but identical to that of the villages in the Atlas mountains of Morocco . Walls, a metre thick, keep the houses cool in Summer and warm in Winter. Roofs are made of heavy stone slabs covered with a thick layer of launa (a sort of clay formed from the decomposition of grey magnesium slate.) A tall round chimney protrudes from every rooftop.

Each village has its own particular charm but three of the prettiest in the region are Pampaniera, Bubion and Capileira. At an altitude of 1476m, Trevelez, the highest village in Spain , is internationally famous for its cured hams, dried in the mountain wind. The little village of Yégen was immortalised by the writer Gerald Brennan in his classic “South from Granada .” A member of the Bloomsbury group, he spent several years in Yégen in the late 1920’s where he was visited by many literary friends, including Virginia and Leonard Woolf and Lytton Strachey. Six kilometres south of Yégen stands the village of Válor , birthplace of Aben Humeya, leader of the last Morisco uprising against the Christians in 1569. Each year on 14th and 15th September the rebellion is re-enacted in the village square as part of the fiesta, and is a spectacle well worth seeing.

Farming in La Alpujarra is carried out on terraces, carved high into the mountainsides. The Moors in the tenth and eleventh centuries developed an intricate system of irrigation channels, called acequias, which still carry water from the high Sierra to the terraces below. Chestnuts and cherries are grown on the upper slopes while olives, almonds, oranges, figs and vines flourish lower down. Stooped men in flat caps work the terraces with mules and the sound of jangling bells can be heard as goats graze the hillsides.

In contrast to this traditional lifestyle, towns such as Orgiva, Lanjaron and Ugíjar offer modern hotel accommodation, shops, restaurants, night-clubs and Internet cafés.

In late January the terraces take on a pink and white hue as almond blossoms burst into life. Carpets of wild flowers delight the eye in Spring. In Summer each village celebrates its own fiesta with colourful processions, fireworks and all night dancing in the village square. Wine-making in Autumn often takes place outdoors on the narrow streets and little plazas. In Winter the nights are cold but by day people sit outside cafés, sipping coffee or enjoying a beer and tapa.

Although still largely unspoilt by tourism, in recent years La Alpujarra has become increasingly popular with walkers and nature lovers. The area is famous for its variety of wildlife, including wild boar, mountain goats, foxes, dear, eagle and partridge.

The traditional craft of rug making continues to thrive as well as the age old practice of weaving baskets and panniers from Esparto grass. Hand-painted ceramic tiles and pottery are also typical of the region. In recent years many artists, artisans and writers have been attracted to La Alpujarra. Cortijos (farmhouses) which had fallen into ruin have been given a new lease of life by foreigners seeking a life of peace and tranquillity.

La Alpujarra is reputed to have the cleanest air in Europe . Its people are friendly, the food and wine excellent and the views breathtaking. One of the few unspoilt regions of Spain it is a wonderful place to visit or settle.

Words by Anna Dooley.
annadooley@gmail.com

View Larger Map