Time in the sun kicks off online revolution for buying homes in Spain.
BUYING a property in Spain will never be the same again following the launch this week of Time in the Sun – the UK’s biggest, fee-free independent selection of Spanish homes available to buy over the Internet.
Boasting around 4,000 homes ranging from euro 100,000 through to palatial properties at euro 3 million plus, UK buyers will now be able to log on to track down a Spanish property – and know that the Time in the Sun (www.timeinthesun.com) team has weeded out any rogue estate agents or property developers.
"One of the biggest problems UK buyers have experienced when buying online is that they do not really know what they are getting," said Time in the Sun joint managing director Nathan Cozens.
"But we have done our homework: although Time in the Sun's head office is in south-west London, we have spent literally months vetting and interviewing agents and developers in the prime Spanish areas such as the Costa del Sol, Costa Blanca and Majorca.
"Only properties where we can vouch for the provenance of the agents and developers appear on our site. All the hassle – and worry – of buying in Spain will from now be a thing of the past," adds Cozens.
And Time in the Sun has another attraction for UK buyers: the company has linked up with a major High Street broker to offer holiday, retirement or investment buyers dedicated mortgages on Spanish properties at hugely competitive rates.
"Our research shows that while potential buyers are keen to source properties using the convenience of the Internet, the major step of arranging the finance is a different kettle of fish," argues joint MD Noel Mangan.
"But by linking up with a major broker, buyers who so prefer can sit down face to face with an adviser to arrange a loan for the property at exceptionally competitive rates.
"So it’s the best of all possible worlds. You choose the property from our site, secure in the knowledge that we have sorted the wheat from the chaff, arrange a dedicated Spanish property mortgage at one of the 100 or so outlets, and then help tie up all the legal and administrative factors in addition to Time in the Sun's expert, low cost service," adds Mangan.
"We believe that Time in the Sun will put all other online services for buying Spanish homes in the shade. We will be the benchmark by which our rivals are judged."
Spain is now the UK’s number one destination for second and retirement homes. A recent survey for A Place in the Sun magazine showed that four in every ten adults are currently thinking of buying abroad – and Spain is at the top of the shopping list.
Budgets typically start at £100,000 for sun seeking Brits, according to the survey: Time in the Sun's site has a wide selection of homes easily within reach of this kind of budget. And for the better off, the site also carries plenty of properties with multi million euro price tags.
"Interest in buying property in Spain has never been higher, but choice – and the credibility of that choice – has been limited until now," says Nathan Cozens.
"But Time in the Sun will change all that. Our service does the lot, from spotting the dream home to arranging finance and signing legal agreements. It’s a one stop which will inevitably change and improve the way UK buyers source their dream home in the sun."
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