Frequently asked questions

It can be. Lenders want a quick, certain sale, so prices are often realistic, and most repossessions can be bought with an ordinary mortgage. They're sold as seen, though, so a survey and a good solicitor matter more than usual.

No. Most homes here are sold through an agent and you simply make an offer. Court and auction sales are clearly labelled, with the date and the lowest bid the court accepts.

Their mortgage is paid off from the sale. Some things can stay with the property, such as unpaid service charges on a flat or, in Italy, condominium charges for the last two years. Our 'Things to check' tab and the court report panel flag what we find.

Why it's cheap, its condition, the legal position, who lives there, the total cost and how easily you could sell it again.

Each home's page has a cost calculator for purchase taxes, legal fees and a survey, so you can see the full cost before you offer.

If you're moving within the UK or the US, yes: our sister service Reloca8 (also run by Gratia Nova) sorts the moving-house admin for free, from energy and broadband to council tax or utilities, post redirection and more. It doesn't cover moves to or within Spain, Italy, Portugal or Germany.

They're our deal rating. Strong value: well below its value, easy to resell and few legal worries. Good value: a clear saving with manageable checks. Fair value: some saving, but something needs a closer look or we're missing information. Take care: little saving or real risks, best left to experienced buyers. The small AAA / AA / A / B badge is the same rating in shorthand.

Every home gets a score out of 100 from four checks: how the price compares with its value, how easy it would be to sell or rent, how clean the paperwork is, and the room to add value. Open "How we rated it" on any listing to see how it did on each one.

The best independent figure we have: the court's own valuation for court sales, or an estimate based on recent sales nearby for homes on the open market. Each listing says which it is. If there's no valuation yet, we say so and the rating stays cautious.

It shows how much information the rating is based on, such as a valuation, the floor area, the energy rating and, for court sales, whether we've read the court's report. If important information is missing, we cap the rating (at Good value or Fair value) and list what's missing.

Our estimate of how far below the asking price offers often start, based on the sale rules and the listing's history (for example, a lender selling, price cuts or a long time on the market). For Italian and German court sales it shows the legal minimum bid. It's a guide, not advice.

For Italian and Spanish court sales we read the official report and pick out things buyers need to know, like whether someone lives there, unpaid service charges or missing permits, each with the exact quote and page. Always read the full report and get legal advice before bidding.

They're our opinion from official and licensed data, not financial advice. Every rating is worked out the same way and each listing shows the reasons behind it, so you can judge it for yourself.

From official sources, such as court and government sale notices, and from licensed property data providers and partners such as auction houses and receivers. We only use information that's published so buyers can find these sales, under each source's terms.

We refresh every home every night, update exchange rates and take down homes that have sold or whose sale date has passed. Sales can be postponed or withdrawn at short notice, so always check the official notice before you bid.

We translate every notice into plain English so you can compare homes easily. Translated listings are labelled and let you read the original, which is the official version.

Only when the seller has shared their own photos with us. Most official notices don't include photos, so we show a picture of a similar kind of home, always labelled "Illustration, not this home".

No. Names and personal details of the people involved in a sale are removed before anything is stored, and we check this automatically every night.

To protect the people connected to a sale, the public site shows only the area. Members can see the full address, one home at a time.

We keep only what we need to run your account and membership, and never sell it. Our privacy notice explains your rights under UK and EU data protection law.

Use the "Request removal" link at the bottom of the listing, or the privacy request form. The listing is hidden straight away while we review it, usually within 72 hours. You can also complain to the ICO (UK) or your EU supervisory authority.

Yes. Use the privacy request form or email our privacy team, and we'll send you a copy of what we hold or close your account (which also ends any membership). We answer within one month.

No. We use only strictly necessary cookies for sign-in and security, plus a local setting that remembers your currency. There are no analytics, advertising or social trackers.

Explorer is free for as long as you like. You can open 2 homes a day and see the first 12 results of each search, with ratings, running costs and court bidding rules, one free unlock, and one saved area that shows what’s new each time you visit. Email alerts start with a paid plan or the 7-day trial. Paid plans remove the daily limit and add everything else; each starts with a 7-day trial.

For each home we answer four questions in plain English: will any old debts pass to you, is anyone living there, what could be left over if you do it up, and what you could make renting it out, in your own currency. Everyone can see the questions; the answers about debts and occupancy come with any paid plan, and the renovation and rental figures (with tax notes for owners who live abroad) with Pro and Premium. They're our rough estimates from typical costs and general rules, not advice. Always get builders' quotes, a survey and legal and tax advice.

Home Buyer and Pro start with 7 days for £1.99 ($1.99 / €1.99). If you don't cancel before the 7 days are up, it continues at the price you chose, monthly, every 3 months or yearly, until you cancel. We email you before it renews. One trial per person. Premium starts straight away at its normal price.

When we list a new home, Premium members see it straight away. Everyone else sees it 48 hours later: until then it shows blurred, with what it's rated and when it opens. Court sales happening within 3 days are never held back, so nobody misses a sale date because of it.

Yes, with Premium. Tap "Watch for price cuts" on any home and we'll email you when its price is cut or its sale date moves. You can stop watching from the home's page or your account.

Go to Account and press Cancel membership. It takes two clicks, with no phone call. You keep access until the end of the period you've paid for.

Listings show the town and an approximate location. Unlocking a home shows its full address, who is selling it (agent, lender or court) and the case or lot number. A free account includes one unlock to try it, in any country. Every paid plan unlocks every home, within a fair-use limit of 1,000 a month, and homes you've unlocked stay unlocked.

UK and EU consumers can cancel within 14 days. Because the service starts straight away, a refund may be reduced to reflect the days you've used. Contact support@casaalphadeals.com.

Generally yes, but you will usually need a Spanish tax identification number (NIE) and a digital certificate or an authorised representative to bid on the Portal de Subastas, plus a deposit (consignación) that is typically 5% of the valuation. A local abogado can act for you; the Colegio de Abogados in each province lists English-speaking members.

Sales are run by a court-appointed delegate. Bidders file an offer with a deposit (cauzione), usually at least 10% of the offered price. The offer can be as low as 75% of the base price (offerta minima). An avvocato can review the perizia (court valuation report) and file on your behalf.

Ask a solicitor or licensed conveyancer to read the legal pack before you bid: the title at HM Land Registry, searches, any lease, planning, and the auction's special conditions (which can add fees). Once you exchange at auction you're committed, usually with 28 days to complete.

It's strongly advised. Repossessions are sold as seen and may have been empty for months. A Level 2 survey from a chartered surveyor (RICS) suits most homes in reasonable condition; a Level 3 (building survey) suits older homes or ones needing work. Book it before you exchange or bid. On US homes, book a licensed home inspector during your option period.

Banks often add a 2–4% margin to the exchange rate on EUR wires. Services like Wise convert at the mid-market rate with a clear fee, which can save thousands on a six-figure deposit. If we ever link to one as a partner, the link is labelled and it doesn't change what you pay.

No. We're not a lender or broker. For UK homes we may introduce you to a broker authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), and we always name the broker and our fee first. In the US, finance partners can only appear as clearly labelled sponsors paid a fixed fee. Our free guides explain the options.