🎥 Buying Property in Costa del Sol with Real-Time Video Viewings

👀 Why Video Viewings?

Properties on the Costa del Sol move fast. For many international buyers, travelling to Spain for every viewing isn't practical — and when you finally arrive, the listing you liked can already be gone. Real-time video viewings (we use WhatsApp or similar) let the agent walk the property for you, show every room, answer live questions and zoom in on details — all from anywhere in the world.

✅ What You Must Have Ready Before Requesting a Live Viewing

To make a video viewing useful and protect everyone’s time, we ask clients to be prepared before requesting a live tour. That keeps the process fast if the property is a match:

• NIE (Número de Identificación de Extranjero): Essential for property transactions in Spain (can be obtained from the Spanish embassy or by your lawyer).
• Financing in place: Either cash or mortgage pre-approval. Trying to arrange finance “on the spot” is very hard if you are not present in Spain and will delay the reservation.
• Legal counsel selected: We recommend an independent lawyer to protect your interests. Hello Sun can recommend trusted lawyers and mortgage partners if you’d like.

⏱️ The Time-Sensitive Process — Why Speed Matters

If after a live video tour you decide the property is a serious match, the market expects immediate action. If this feels like the right property and a smart investment, don’t wait — others will recognize its value just as quickly as you do!:

• Reservation deposit: Typically €6000–€10.000 paid immediately — usually into the seller’s lawyer's client account — to guarantee the reservation.
• Reservation contract: Should be prepared and signed within 24 hours of deposit payment.
• Closing date: Usually set within 4–6 weeks for resales. For new builds, payments are staged as construction progresses.

✈️ What Happens After the Deposit?

Once the deposit and reservation contract are in place you can book travel to Spain with peace of mind. The reservation normally provides the buyer a short window to inspect the property in person and finalise due diligence. Note that reservation deposits are generally non-refundable unless the contract explicitly says otherwise — this is why having pre-approval and legal support upfront is crucial.

🔎 Practical Tips — Make Your Live Viewing Count

• Ask the agent to film the property slowly — open cupboards, check outlets, show water pressure, and demonstrate any appliances.
• Request measured room sizes and a walkthrough of the outside areas (terrace, parking, storage).
• Ask about community fees, utilities, recent maintenance and any pending works.
• If important, ask the agent to show the view at different times (light, noise level).

🛡️ Legal & Financial Protections

We recommend the following safeguards:

• Independent lawyer: They should hold the deposit in a client account and review all paperwork before signature.
• Clear reservation contract: Sets deposit conditions, completion deadline and any special clauses.
• Mortgage pre-approval: If using a mortgage, confirm terms and realistic timelines beforehand.