This story is not about the average Belarusian is not about who stands at the machine, saves from fire, cure hvorob or teaches children. Yet the situation itself is remarkable: a foreign Bank citizen with a blue passport with no problems gets a mortgage loan on a “toy” by Belarusian standards the percentage that buys a comfortable home and for utilities pays an amount comparable to subsidized domestic winter fares. We can do this for literally a month and a half has been a 32-year-old Minsk resident Alex, who studied in the University on economist and commodity expert, but almost immediately changed to the diploma with IT.
To learn IT I began to independently: read, studied, — drawn, — says the young man. — More than knew and could those earning more. With the first money are easily parted: she was young. But in a more conscious period of life — after 27 — began to invest in the improvement of the material aspects of life: buy good cars, apartments. Then got tired of it. For a while, making money has become to me in target, and then came the realization that the goal was false. It was an unpleasant discovery. But I definitely realized that I need personal comfort: to work where I want, in the environment that I like that pleases every day to see the sun and have the sea within walking distance. In General, tired of living amidst slush and snow.
Of course, I could buy another apartment in Minsk, in footage more. But I didn’t want. My reluctance has many causes. First, I’m not ready to pay big money for a box that will have only a toilet (and not fact). Secondly, I don’t want to invest half the cost of the apartment in its repair. I understand that now the prices fell slightly, but still to spend €85-90 thousand just for an apartment with a primitive finish do not agree. Moreover, the location and especially can not be choosers.
— “Pros” in our country, of course, earn well, but, by and large, even we can’t afford a home loan to Belarusian cent: people have learned to read and understand that take a considerable amount of under 41% in rubles — this is crazy. It’s not a fact that tomorrow I will earn the same money in hard currency. In life anything can happen, and to shift debts to family I’m not going, Alex says.
Before to stop the choice on one country and consider it as a new place of residence, the Belarusian “it specialist” made a trip around Europe warm. Italy did not like him for his fussiness and “loudness”, Greece — a large number of migrants. The most pleasant impressions of Alexei from visiting Mallorca: a great climate, friendly people, relaxed atmosphere.
— I really need peace and quiet, — says Alexey. — That there was no chaos. In Belarus it is considered that the “pros” “zazhralis”, but believe me, we are working on your money. Free schedule assumes only that you begin to work, when I woke up and finish when you let go of the customer, living on the other side of the globe. Exactly eight hours and five days a week, nobody works, the working day lasts 12, 16, or 20 hours. So comfort for me is very important.
Spanish Mallorca pleased with the attitude towards foreigners: no one builds a wall, as occurs in us, you always smile, help, prompt. And after comparison of real estate prices in mainland Spain and Minsk, all doubts have disappeared. The same number of “squares” and approximately a similar price in Spain I get an apartment with full finishing, fitted kitchen, expensive sanitary ware and with great views.
— Having estimated that to buy more furniture I will be cheaper than to do the repair in the “three rubles”, made the final decision. Additional bonuses — housing near the sea, 320 days of sunshine a year, cheap fruit all that I love seafood in unlimited quantities. By the way, while he lived in Spain one of the products spent about €50-55 per week, while in the diet were fruits, fish and seafood. Yes, I found out when shopping in the grocery sales, and shamelessly used this: for example, if on Friday morning in the store are imported fresh fish, then on Saturday afternoon it is already possible to take at half price, — shares secrets of successful food shopping young man.
Initially preference for the coasts and cities of Minsk was not. Alex was ready to consider all options and travel around the different Spanish region. But, like many Russian-speaking buyers, eventually settled on the coast under the melodious name of Alicante.
All the pictures of the young man made winter
— As it turned out, the week the choice is very little: every day had to go to six or seven locations. Revised a lot of options: from my grandmother’s houses, by all means hiding from the sun, to the new built apartments. My budget inclusive of Bank mortgage was a maximum of €200 thousand In the end really liked the three objects. These were places where I wanted to live: bungalows on the first line with a beautiful finish, the apartment is 150 metres from the beach on the 4th floor overlooking the sea and the townhouse (duplex) in a small town, located slightly away from the water. The second option was very attractive, but had to abandon it because I had to wait another nine months until the house is finished. The third and clearly won the first. So it was decided to buy a duplex. As we found out, just a residential complex of about 50 houses, major neighbors — the British, the Germans, the Norwegians and two Russian families. All the tenants know each other and maintain cordial relations, — says the observations of Alex.
LCD, which is the townhouse Minsker, consists not only of two-storey houses. In the courtyard there are two pools — adult and children, Playground. All tracks brushed and groomed, and the lawns and plants boast bright green flowers. “It was my dream to Wake up, get out of the house in the morning and fall in the pool”, — confesses the young man. Housing dreams Minsker bought in November last year.
— About buying a duplex negotiated directly with the developer, with the participation of real estate agencies. The seller agreed that as guarantor of the inviolability of their intentions to leave a security Deposit of €500. This symbolic by Belarusian standards, the amount meant that housing is reserved for me and to offer more will not be. According to the contract, within 10 days I had to Deposit another €13.5 thousand, the first payment on schedule. Was able to negotiate with the Builder and considerable delay. Figuring your finances, I realized that to collect the required amount I need six months: mortgage need not cover the entire cost of housing. I guess I was lucky, but the seller went and to take this step. All these six months I have accumulated money in their account, and in November we signed the deed of purchase — the townhouse including all taxes cost me €174 thousand, while the house itself was worth €149 thousand.
The process of obtaining a mortgage loan was quite simple and transparent. The first thing the Bank independently evaluates a property according to its own criteria. My house was valued at €160 thousand, and subsequently, the mortgage was calculated from that amount. The Spanish Bank was willing to pay 70% of the cost of the duplex. However, to start business, I had to prove the solvency. Also need to provide documentation that I own property in the homeland. On the day of transaction in the office of the notary gathered all parties: seller, buyer and a Bank that lends.
Today, the house is in my ownership, but under pledge of Bank. A mortgage issued for 20 years at 3% in the amount of €112 thousand Each month I reduce your debt: for the first time paid €616, the second — €597, the third is €588. I considered that in 20 years an overpayment for a house will amount to €36 thousand this amount is large enough. True, and the right of early redemption for me no one took, says mathematics Alex.
With the experience of buying an apartment in Belarus, and now in Sunny Spain a young man has something to compare.
— Impressions from seen all the options were the best. That relates directly to my house, it all was initially made so that to alter anything and do not want. Performed all the trimmings, and not budget materials. For me it was a shock and a revelation that the builders can immediately provide a convenient location of switches, sockets, lamps. To the great joy, did not have to suffer with the equipment in the kitchen and the bathrooms: all were in their places. It’s nice that never stick wires and pipes. Communications are hidden, but have easy access: for example, to turn off the water in the apartment, enough to turn a neat chrome faucet, is impressed by the simple pleasures of life Minsker.
Since almost all of the available money Alexey has spent on the purchase of housing, purchase of the main furniture pieces had to be postponed. The young man says that the developer has provided the environment for €9000, but the design of the proposed interior with no success:
— While I was in Spain, rode through furniture stores. The choice is huge: from IKEA to designer Italian furniture. Something bought. The couch on the first floor cost me less than €100, bed — in €200. Actually, you can just come to a specialty store, specify the size, number and purpose of rooms, and specialists will choose the situation, including paintings, textiles, decor, and, if we like it, will complement housing.
— Ceilings in the duplex is sufficiently high, under three meters and total living area (excluding balconies and terraces) — just over 80 square meters. This area me and family will be enough. I don’t understand the complaint that in Europe the rooms in the apartments are small. Given the weather and the pools, kids will be just not to drive home: at the same time more interesting, — Alexey.
Just last month, the Belarusians were in disarray, looking at their fresh feeding: in the other apartments the cost of utilities has increased two and a half times. Therefore, we could not help but talk about sore with the owner of a Spanish property.
— “Kommunalka” is paid automatically, — says the young man. — Money deducted from a personal Bank account tied to the address of the house. Your only job is to time to replenish the account. Of all payroll in paper form only comes from the account of communicate management residential complex organization. Yes, common area costs money: in a normal month is around €60, but if your familiar works add pool cleaning — €100. But we always flowering lawns, neat paths and no dirt and debris. In General, green urbanization with lots of plantings and costs more at purchase, and maintenance. Plus we have little houses. If in the complex of two hundred apartments, and spending would be shared proportionally. To pay for common area need regardless of where you live now in the house or not.
To connect to the power grid was worth around €200 is a lump sum payment. Home phones no one sets useless. To conduct in home Internet cost €50, €28 a month I pay on contract is a good speed, but not cheap (the fiber in our town has not yet come). For a month and a half that I lived in a new house, the bill for water and electricity of €57, despite the fact that I, unlike those Europeans took a bath every other day. I think if you eliminate the habit of doing “the swim”, the score can be reduced to €30-35. And if you divide the price of electricity on day and night, to wash and to wash the dishes after sunset, we can all get funny final figures. Now, when the duplex nobody is living and working only the fridge, in the month including the rent of meters from my account debit €10 for utilities. Let me clarify: the score from kommunedata comes separately and is not included in the total payments.
These figures seem all the more strange that the Minsk apartment, rates on which, according to officials, more than half are compensated by the state, I paid 1 200 000 rubles. It’ll be the same €50, which Spain no one subsidizes me. It is clear that, when the townhouse will live the whole family, the account will change, but still…
On the balcony you can put a few tables
Rear courtyard with Parking space
I have to pay an annual land tax on a property and to pay insurance. All together about €500, and the sum is withdrawn gradually and not once. Spanish visa I have. I’m sure at the end to open a new by providing documents that I have in this country have property, is not difficult, both for me and my family.
— Are you planning to live in Spain permanently, sell or even rent a home just is not going to. Want to enjoy this purchase in full. What I would do, if you miss the snow? Sit in the car and go to the mountains: the Sierra Nevada (the southernmost ski resort in Europe) only 300 miles from my house. Well, or will arrive in Minsk. The benefit of convenient flights a day, and the cost of a ticket from Minsk and Moscow is about €100-155 in one direction — ready to radically change Alex.
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Belarusians very active interest in foreign real estate, — commented on the situation the specialist overseas property company “Business house” Olesya Nedvetskaya. — People know the conditions of purchase of housing in different countries, especially the possession and use of objects, studying cultural and business potential. The growth of demand for foreign realty among Belarusians affected by different factors: the availability of information about the process of buying objects, the possibility of attracting credit resources in the foreign Bank, the shift in demand from expensive real estate to objects of an average price segment. In addition, the unstable Belarusian economy many see overseas property as a form of additional investment or liquid asset.
The highest percentage of transactions with foreign real estate accounts for property located in Spain. The priority of this country form the following criteria: the cost of housing and the cost of its maintenance (the prices — from €40 thousand, the amount of mandatory payments for housing and payment of property tax per year is on average €250), good lending conditions to Spanish banks (up to 50-70% of the value of the object just under 3% annual for the term up to 25 years), the high quality of the property. In addition, Spain is the European country with the relevant opportunities and prospects, which are attractive tourist destination with a great climate, stunning sea and mountain views, unique culture, great infrastructure and service. There is the possibility of obtaining high-quality school education in accordance with European standards, which subsequently greatly increases the chances of admission to top Western universities.
It is noteworthy that payments to the estate Agency are absent. As a General rule, the Commission fee comes from the seller or from the company-Builder. Buyer when purchasing Spanish property is exempt from payment of any commissions and fees.
When deciding on the purchase of foreign real estate Belarusians need to remember a few main points. In addition to the cost of the property, the payment will be subject to applicable taxes and expenses at registration of the transaction of purchase and sale. The amount of taxes and expenditures can come close to 17-18% of the cost of the property itself.
The acquisition of foreign real estate assumes some responsibility for its content. When you select an object, you must specify information about the amount of the annual cost of its maintenance and to remember the terms of payment.
In accordance with the current legislation of the Republic of Belarus, you must obtain the permission of the National Bank of the Republic of Belarus on carrying out currency operations connected with capital flow on acquisition of property located outside the Republic of Belarus.
