A cofee with… Fred Van Krimpen Elite inmobiliaria boss

Dear reader we welcome you with an announce: there is much more likelihood that a Dutch national choose this version instead of Spanish or Catalan one, therefore, - even knowing that in Netherlands English is spoken by nearly 95% of population- you have the attached with original Dutch version attached: "voel je thuis net als is Holland dankzij het initiatief van Finques Feliu... en natuurlijk dankzij Fred van Krimpen." (we've been very kind with Dutch readers by saying: 'Feel at home like in Netherlands thanks to Finques Feliu initiative and of course thanks to Fred van Krimpen'.  

Finques Feliu has headquaters in Barcelona - Via Augusta 143, 3rd floor and real estate store in Via Augusta 147- and Sant Cugat -Calle Pont de can Vernet 12-.

Throughout more than 80 years, our team has built its experience selling, renting and managing properties. Our work involves interacting with very different clients. How we've always work? By being proactive when we listen clients' requests, advising them on what are the trends in the real estate sector at all times or accurately write, through our legal team, the contracts they need.

Do you want to know more about our firm? Click on this link and access our new website.

We could be vain and believe that other Real Estate sector colleagues can contribute very little to us... But that thought is not in our firm culture'! We continue being a company with the curiosity of one who knows that there is always something to learn. Are these just fine words? No, and the proof is that this is an article starring our colleague Alfred van Krimpen.

We met Mr. Alfred van Krimpen personally at the Barcelona Meeting Point in 2018, since then for Finques Feliu he has been a strong supporter in our social media. In fact, in 2021 he already advised us to write "10 Things you need to know to live on a boat". 

Is Fred the chosen to answer our question because we know him? No, although obviously, trust makes it much easier to ask for the interview, the decisive fact is his professional profile.

Namely, he is a Dutch real estate agent who has been living on the Costa del Sol for 45 years. He specializes mainly in central and northern European clients. Given his extensive experience and the fact that he is a national of another European Union state, these two circumstances combined give him, on the one hand, a privileged outlook and, on the other hand, the perfect emotional connection with his clients, who are also nationals of other EU member states, to properly answer to our question today.

Fred, we know you have an extremely busy schedule, so we thank you for giving us a part of your day. In order to make things as easy as possible for you and, at the same time, as a sign of courtesy, we have written the question in Spanish... But the Google-translator did it in Dutch. Afterwards we have polished the result and translated it back in the most faithful way (in the English version is slighthly different because oure contence curator wrote in English) In this way, dear readers, no nuance of what Fred expresses in his native language is lost.

Finques Feliu: What astonishes the most a foreign client when he/she buys or rents a property in Spain?

Fred van Krimpen: The most surprising thing for a foreign client when buying or renting a house in Spain is the settlement process. This is because, from the central or northern European national point of view, in Spain this process is chaotic. In addition, of course, to the commission system. It should be borne in mind that, in my clients' home country, settlement is much more pleasant because the whole process is easier, so, in short, there are fewer misunderstandings. 

Another completely different case is that of real estate sales. In the transaction process in: Spain, Portugal, Italy, France and I think Greece, the Municipal Capital Gains tax bursts in -from Finques Feliu we remind you that, upon payment to the City Council, you can appeal to the Spanish courts-. This tax does not exist in the center and north of Europe, therefore, I have to explain to you in an extensive and detailed way by virtue of which taxable event you must pay it.

Great Fred! "Zeer begrijpelijk, het interview was een plezier voor Finques Feliu" (we told him very understandable, the interview was a pleasure for Finques Feliu.