At one time, investing in properties was considered the safest investment. Whatever happens, the investor will at least have the actual land, a measurable and solid commodity. This was the guiding principle of the investors. But with falling property prices and the sub-prime crisis in the United States, many investors are finding the land of profits tends to slide away from them. In an ironic twist to their guiding principle, what most people are left with is the actual land. They are finding it difficult to sell the property for a desired profit. This situation is slowly spreading across several countries and Spain is no exception.
Selling properties in Spain has become a complicated business because of the two-tier tax system. Non-residents of Spain who own a property there have to pay a capital gains tax of 35% if they hold a property for a year. For residents this tax is only 15%. Despite the pressure from the European Union to abolish this discrimination and a subsequent and ongoing legal tussle at the European Court of Justice, the authorities in Spain still persist with this taxation system. This rule has forced many people to sell their property within one year of buying it.
Even without the taxation system, the real estate market has been slowly becoming a buyer's market. With reduced property prices, the buyers have the option to pick and choose. Many desperate sellers, especially those who bought a property as a short-term investment, are finding it difficult to recover at least the initial investment amount, forget the profit part. So, it takes some effort from the part of the seller to successfully market his or her property in the current Spanish real estate market.
First of all, the seller should advertise heavily to capture the attention of the prospective buyers. The first step must be an attention-catching "For Sale" board on the property itself. You can advertise on print media and on the internet. But nothing matches the impact word of mouth publicity. Tell all your friends and relatives about the news that you are going to sell your property. If you do not have much time to engage in these activities, it is better to hire an agent. But always remember that some real-estate agents tend to create a labyrinth between you and the buyer. So hire only a trustworthy agent with whom you can communicate effectively.
For selling your property in Spain, it is important that you fix a price that is in tune with the current market prices. Too high a price will chase away the buyers and too low a price will eat away your profits. Also, keep your land and the house clean and well maintained. Try to carry out the affordable repair works. A well-furnished and good-looking house can wipe out the doubts regarding the price in the buyer's mind.
Veronica Valentine is an accomplished niche website developer and author. To learn more about real estate in Spain, please visit Working Real Estate for current articles and discussions.
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