My advice when thinking of buying a Spanish property within a community of owners is as follows: 1.    Ask to see the budget and minutes from the last AGM This will give you an insight into any problems that the community faces (i.e. any outstanding issues or unresolved lawsuits with the developers/builders) or any grumbles that the current owners may have (i.e. maybe the barking dog at Number 9 is a recurring theme - could be a problem if you are thinking of buying Number 10!) 2.    Take a look around the communal areas If you think that any areas look tatty or in need of a lick of paint, ask your agent to find out if/when any remedial work is due. This will give you an idea of how seriously the owners take the upkeep of the community. 3.    Ask about security. Security if a thorny issue on most communities - it is a divisive and costly service. Try to find out how effective the security is, and whether it represents value for money. 4.    Ask to meet your neighbours Particularly if you are buying a ground floor apartment in Spain , ask to meet the neighbours upstairs - try to find out what sort of people they are - do they have kids or pets? When they invite you to their regular Friday night party, you may begin to have second thoughts about moving in! 5.    Meet the President This may be tricky, but by meeting the President of the community, you will get a feel for how strict he/she is likely to be about enforcing the communal rules and regulations. If he/she is strict about certain things like kids playing in the pool and making a noise after dark, this may worry you….or conversely, you may consider a more liberal arttitude as a good thing. Related Posts Fancy Communal Living – Think Carefully! Paperwork - a frustration of living in Spain Freezing Temperatures in Southern Spain

Continued here: 
Communal Living in Spain - A Few Things to Consider

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