Life....It Must Get Better Now! Part 2.

Despite the stress involved in transferring sterling to euros, then accessing the funds (discussed in my two previous posts, Gremlins1 and Gremlins2); that was nothing to the actual house purchase which was unbelievably stressful!

Amanda my incredible ‘Rottweiler’ of a legal lady, rang on Friday to check that the funds were accessible for the Notary on Tuesday.  Yes, they were and at that very moment, whinging their way through the ether to Spain.  Yes, they would be accessible and through her was able to sort out I could access them at the branch in Vera, to transfer into her client account on Tuesday morning.  What I could not at that time tell her, was I would be short, but by how much I could not say at that moment.

I had loaned 1,500 Euros to my friends several months previous, to enable them to make a trip home and finish some important business.  At the airport their tickets were not waiting for them, the online booking had not gone through so I paid for their flights with 5 minutes to spare.  The understanding was that they would pay me most of it back on their return in three weeks.  When they came back it was to inform me that they had spent the money and could not repay me at that time.  A ‘fait a compli’ I am afraid, but what could I do?  I did not want to lose friendship over money so asked that they get as much money together as they could in time for the purchase of my house.  The rest could be worked off in helping me move and doing things on the new house.  

Things returned to relative normality between us and they kindly ran me about when needed to.  I had sold my car to pay for the new house and could not purchase another yet.  I would have to buy a car on credit and would need the house documentation to buy the car in Spain, as security for the car loan.  I did not abuse the service offered to me by them, just a trip once a week into Cherivel to buy groceries, and an odd journey elsewhere.  I gave money for the diesel when needed as they were so short.  Little did I know that they were knocking off the loan 10 Euros an hour for services rendered, which I thought a little rich when I always fed the whole family regularly when they came and naively misunderstood the relationship interaction was not as I thought, friendship.  Is that not what friends do, help each other out when required? Give meals as a thank you? Obviously not in this situation; hey ho, you live and learn!  However, I like my friends and they are a lot of fun so no way do I want awful 'money' to break apart a generally good friendship.  I just need to be aware that friendship requests come at a price, and quotient that into the equation!

When finally, I could check my finances, I was 2,000 Euros short for the house purchase and taxes, etc.  I wrote the explanation email to Amanda in trepidation.  She was an absolute ’brick’ and waived her fees for a short time.  If I could put together the majority of the purchase price and taxes, the sale could go ahead.  I was 500 Euros short so a desperate email went out to my friends, to ask them to help me, no answer!  They had already told me through a rather ‘snotty’ email before the financial situation arose, that they could not run me through to Vera , for the Notary.  I accepted this and made other arrangements.  I was not going to fall out with my friends over money and they did help me out by looking after my animals at short notice, so, for the time being, I just had to find the money elsewhere.

My English friend who had introduced me to Spain came up trumps big time.  She was coming over to see me from the Malaga area where she lives, and we arranged that she would come for the Tuesday and go over to the Notary with me.  Her knowledge and experience in house buying in Spain was considerable, so very useful to have there to see that everything was done correctly.  Having a very comfortable lifestyle, my friend had been abused so many times over money, that I swore I would never borrow money from her.  Unfortunately, the situation I was in was critical.  The house sale would not go through without the 500 Euros needed to pay the taxes part of the sale.  She insisted that I borrow the money from her and pay it off when everything else had been finalised.  What could I do? I have now done both of the parts of the saying, ‘never a borrower nor a lender be’!  

Off to the Notary on Tuesday with my friend.  First to the bank, then on to the Notary where we sat around for hours waiting for the official house papers to be printed and certified.  Finally, into the Notary’s office to have the document stamped and signed by him.  I was now in possession of a mortgage free house in Spain; an absolute bargain which I got through being in the right place at the right time.  When I move in it will immediately increase in price from the 25,000 Euros paid to 72,000 Euros.  Unfortunate really, as the house local rates are based on the higher figure, so more local taxes to pay!  Never mind, I HAVE A HOME AGAIN, yesssss!!!!!!  Now I just require a vehicle to complete the circle and enable me to move on. 

Part 3, tomorrow, will go into the reality of buying a vehicle in Spain on credit......not to be done lightly. Until then, Adios Amigos

 

 (The drive up to my rented Cortijo, is it not stunning at the moment?)

From sunny Almeria Province, Spain. X