Obtaining NIE Number - help/advice please

[vanessa205]

Hi

My husband and I are hoping to purchase a propertry in Corrlaejo when visiting next month and have several viewings lined up. In preparation, I have been told that its better to obtain our NIE numbers before we go as we cannot apply for a mortgage or bank account without them.

What Id like to know is whether to wait until we go and submitt all our documents to the Police Station the 1st day we arrive (we are there for 1 week) and hope we get our number back within a couple of days so that we can get everything sorted before we return to the UK OR go to the Spanish Consulate in London next week and submitt them now so we could hopefully have them to take with us?

Any advice or previous experience with this would really be appriciated?

Thanks 

[TheCooler]

We applied for a mortgage and the banks took our passport numbers as reference , but you will need a NIE number as the home buying process progresses .An NIE number has to be obtained in person , contacting a reputable lawer before you go would be a good move , as they can advise you of the current process.

Applying in London is slow as they have to send off the documentation. I was quoted 3 months to get an NIE.

Getting a Spanish mortgage is a slow and painful process, the banks do not give mortgages the same way as they do in the Uk.Look at about 3 months as the minimal length of time before you will get acceptance.All mortgages are now decided in he head office usually Madrid. That's where they are underwritten and the interest rate is then decided on risk.
Do as much research before you go .
One piece of advice I would give is don't pay a deposit to an estate agent. It's not required and if you fail to secure a mortgage there's a good chance you won't get it back. (Usually the deposit pays the estate agents fees).
They might argue otherwise , but then ours told us that the short term let clampdown was a  storm in a tea cup and nothing would come of it.
Good luck.

[SheilaW]

We did exactly what you're hoping to do. Makes for a very busy week, I can tell you - don't expect to spend too much time on the beach!

It's probably better to have an NIE number sorted before you come over, but we didn't and I don't think you'll be able to. Maybe the next best thing is to arrange for a local lawyer to do it for you - you'll be registering with one anyway for the house. When we'd found our house, we took our estate agents' advice on lawyers. This is not necessarily a wise move, but in this case it has worked well. Many people here will advise you to go with Aguado Damsell Reguera S.L. (ADR - just off the main strip), where their English assistant, Beverley, can sort everything out for you. We gave them Power of Attorney to buy the house, get NIEs and NIFs, operate the bank account that we set up whilst there and get power and water fixed up for our arrival. Being present for the house signing would have been nice but they couldn't give an exact date so it was quite impossible to arrange it. Note that the PofA has to be witnessed by a notary so it will need an appointment - we almost left it too late.

My advice to you would be to get as much help as possible, particularly if you don't speak fluent Spanish. Banks are open Mon to Fri, but only until about 2pm, and only when there isn't a public holiday or a strike. The same for police, lawyers, town halls etc. Some public holidays are well publicised, but others only apply to Fuerteventura or to the La Oliva area, or even just to Corralejo. You'll find one week frustratingly short if you try to do everything yourself. It's better to throw a few more quid into the relocation pot. Estate agents are often open until late, and often on Saturdays too.

Feel free to PM me if you think I can help. Good luck! PS Save a bit of energy for the Corralejo music bars and restaurants in the evening!

[vanessa205]

Thank you - some good advice there, which I will definatly remember and use!

I have emailed Aguado Damsell Reguera S.L. solicitors in Corralejo for advice as I may just get them to do everything for us once we have found a property.

Any other advice about buying in Fuertaventura would be appriciated...I am especially interested to hear anyones experience or advise on buying fees/costs, obtaining 100% mortgages or purchasing a repossession.

Thanks again