Youtube Saidia http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GCf8_MW2PH

Hi everybody,

I am a student of International Business in The Netherlands. At this moment I'm doing a research for my thesis about the prospect of morrocan properties. Anyone who has information about Morrocan properties or have bought one of the properties are welcome to contact me. I need some information for my research, and as a return, I will provide my end and torough analysis about investing in Morrocan Real Estate.

I will appreciate any kind of help.


Thanks.

This is good news. They do not have a good reputation with those who have used them to buy property. Flats they sold in Mirador Golf were advertised as 65m2, not one flat was this size, all below, mine were 59m2, so having bought two I am minus one whole room. They say serenely that it is legal in Morocco for a property to be up to ten percent smaller than described, no other comment or apology. Many of the bedrooms will only accomodate bunk beds if you wish two people to sleep there and also open the doors of the concrete fitted cupboard. I was charged £400 to remove this cupboard. The compex is a year late in completion, the tennis court, playground, courtesy bus and supermarket promised never appeared. The company will only allow buyers to go through their Canadian lawyers and is registered in Barbados, you need to be a big player to attempt legal remedy and they do not reply to any emails or letters of complaint.

They do not have a good reputation with those who have used them to buy property.

How do you know ?

Flats they sold in Mirador Golf were advertised as 65m2, not one flat was this size, all below, mine were 59m2, so having bought two I am minus one whole room. They say serenely that it is legal in Morocco for a property to be up to ten percent smaller than described,

A good company does not hide behind law & takes law in good faith.

no other comment or apology.

Why should they apologise. An apology does not bring dead man alive.


Many of the bedrooms will only accomodate bunk beds if you wish two people to sleep there and also open the doors of the concrete fitted cupboard.

I was charged £400 to remove this cupboard.

Why did you pay.

The compex is a year late in completion,

This is normal in most Countries.

the tennis court, playground, courtesy bus and supermarket promised never appeared.

You were nieve to believe it will.

The company will only allow buyers to go through their Canadian lawyers

I will not agree to this as a buyer, as I am not buying in Canada.
and is registered in Barbados,

This could be for tax reasons.
you need to be a big player to attempt legal remedy and they do not reply to any emails or
letters of complaint

Why should they do it. Its quite obvious what they are upto and if as a buyer you still buy from them and the likes of similar developers than you are only encouraging them. vote with your feet.

Camel not sure what your point is?

If you read my message you will know that I 'know' from experience ( and as it happens that of other buyers at Mirador Golf from Compass, the only seller of the flats.)

Surely this forum is for helping advising and warning other users, or would you rather leave the unadorned commendation of Compass without any comment from their customers?

I paid the ransom £400.00 for the cupboard removal, £350 more than the cost, because having bought the flat it would be difficult to rent with only bunks in one bedroom. What would you suggest I should do?

How would you suggest that one should confirm the actual size of the delivered flat when buying off plan? How should one check the day the complex is finished until that day arrives? If it is naive to believe that amenities listed will be built, swimming pool, tennis court etc, how can you compare different investments? I think you smear developers to say that it is internationally normal to complete a year late.

Of course you can decide only to buy something ready built with all the papers. Another way is to ask around and read forums such as this and evaluate what is written.

Are you condemning all who buy off plan? or if not, can I ask you to make the point of your reply more clear?

Camel not sure what your point is?

My point is that when you buy off plan, you really need to do further work than just the view from the windows.

If you read my message you will know that I 'know' from experience ( and as it happens that of other buyers at Mirador Golf from Compass, the only seller of the flats.)

I am not denying it. I know that you are informing others.

Surely this forum is for helping advising and warning other users,

I, agree that this and other forums, although agents will high jack the issues at times.

or would you rather leave the unadorned commendation of Compass without any comment from their customers?

Far from it. Compass are not the only from squeaky clean developers in Morocco.

I paid the ransom £400.00 for the cupboard removal, £350 more than the cost,

I agree it was a ransom and Developers like Compass know that that they have got the buyers by the b..ls

because having bought the flat it would be difficult to rent with only bunks in one bedroom. What would you suggest I should do?

Personally, once I had the keys I would have got a local builder to do it for me at a fraction of the price & make Compass realise that there are people who could not black mailed.


How would you suggest that one should confirm the actual size of the delivered flat when buying off plan?

This is where a good/etihical developrs come into place. a certain cenimeters +/- are acceptable as tolerance in all the Countries. Again its a question of good faith on both sides when you are paying for something you cant see or touch.

How should one check the day the complex is finished until that day arrives? If it is naive to believe that amenities listed will be built, swimming pool, tennis court etc, how can you compare different investments?

You can compare by the developers other finished products & speaking to people who have bought there.

I think you smear developers to say that it is internationally normal to complete a year late.

Its not a smear. Construction project are subject to weather, labour, material shortages and as a result they get delayed.

Of course you can decide only to buy something ready built with all the papers.

Yes, I however feel that even with off plan, you can close the unknowns down. By
electing the right developer with reputation & reputation to protect.


Another way is to ask around and read forums such as this and evaluate what is written.

Yes, agree this forum & all sources. Even sitting in bar having a beer talk to locals. As the case is for Fadesa in the Saidia area.

Are you condemning all who buy off plan? or if not, can I ask you to make the point of your reply more clear?

I hope that I have made my point clear. I am not condemng anyone all I am saying that if you buy from a developer with no track record, chanes lawyers & chose a lawyer in Canada with Company set up in Barbados. THe question comes is, why ? other developers has not taken this route in so far as their Coperate structure. Not replying to e.mails etc further shows that we want your money & dont ask anything & accept what we provide you. A customer is buyinmg a property & not recieving a charity.

Even if you want to sue them any breaches, they will have no assets in Morocco. If a developer is honest & working in good faith they would not hide behind the stated.

So, my friend I was not against off plan buying I have bought off plan in Spain, France & Morocco and is more than happy with them. I got what I was promised & have recommended the developers to others.

You have bought a flat in Morocco and eventually the complex is ready for it to be let. Speaking French but little Arabic, you go out to furnish and prepare it.
Do you
a)spend the available week asking taxi drivers, passers by or the town hall (because you do not have Moroccan friends) for names of relaible builders willing to do a few hours work with no notice, speak to them and bargain a price having asked to see an example of their work elsewhere. Wait til the plaster has dried an rejoice that you have resisted blackmail. Oh bother , the flat still lacks furniture and anything else.
or
b) Hand over the ransom £400.00, get the flat set up, warn other people ?

To be fair, the complex is in a delightful place, ideally placed for golf, water park, riding, nearby restaurants, Marjane,golden beach (though not on the front line) etc. That is why it is a pity there are shortcomings - why spoil the ship for a ha'porth of tar?
I bought at the beginning through English lawyers who decided not to go on doing business with Compass, then Compass switched to Canadian lawyers.

I agree with what you say. Yes, buying in places where you don't speak the Lingo etc is always challenging & fun in my books.

My comments are not directed towards you. They are for the forum users. The events have there span e.g when you bought the lawyers were English & than the lawyers changed. Not much you could do. But the prospective buyers need to ask a question as to why a firm of lawyers would let a client go.

I decided to stay well clear of all Compass products. Their corporate structure leaves a lot to be desired.

You can still get thrown in amongst the wolves over there even if you DO speak the lingo (fluently in our case as we are an Anglo/Moroccan couple) Just accept that corruption is rife - you will not get anything done as it should be done, even at Government departments (especially at Government departments) without paying bribes to everyone from the highest to the lowest official. Even the doorman! Well, you can still get things done but you will wait forever - and they know damn well you are pushed for time so sit around with your dossier on the desk and do nothing. This is a fact - and it is high time prospective purchasers were given all of the relevant information before making the decision to purchase. Our sale completed in March 2008 and we are still waiting to get paid in full! In my opinion Morocco is NOT a place for UK buyers to invest in property. They are too used to everything being done in the UK on the straight and narrow, when involved in matters of property transactions. Morocco is a million miles away from 'straight and narrow'. They see a foreigner over there and the only thing on their mind is rich pickings. In fact - after 30 years of spending a fair bit of time over there I realy do think things are getting worse - not better - as a few years ago the bribes they were asking for were a pittance, but now they have got really greedy. As for renting - BE VERY CAREFUL!!!!!!!!! I personally know a Moroccan lady who is still trying to get a tenant out of her apartment after THREE years of unpaid rent. She is Moroccan (the owner) It is a minefield and you just cannot trust anyone to handle your letting for you while you are abroad. Be warned!