Dirty trick?

@Auntieflow I suppose @Framilode's friend could put in a better offer to ''snatch it from under her nose''.

My gut feeling is that there might be a possibility framilode's friend doesn't know about the house framilode intends to buy, and might think @framilode wants another one in the same area. But if @framilode's friend knows about the house framilode wants to buy, then that can't be the case, and will conclude that framilode's friend isn't a true friend after all.

That is not what a friend does. Tell her exactly what you think of her despicable action then dump her. Find somewhere else away from this person.

Playing devils advocate here, is there ANY way she thinks you might have known that she origionally wanted to buy your house? Then you bought it from under her nose? Did you hear about this complex through het?. (And there's a thread just like this about you somewhere?)

I'd let her have it, end the friendship and start looking for another property...but don't tell her anything about it.

The loose lipped agent is an idiot. He (or she) could have had two sales but is now only going to have one.

What a awful thing to do to a friend.

Framilode. You know, this enforced pause she has created in your plans to buy abroad may have come at a perfect time for you! With the (here comes the foul language of which I disapprove) Brexit (sorry! bad language) situation so precarious right now, you might be saved from making a terribly unwise or ill-judged move. It could be that to hold on for a at least a month or more, would place you in a much stronger position from which to make your decision.

And do not buy a property near Miss Stab-you-in-the-back!

Another thought, too, is she might be doing this because she doesn’t want you on the same complex?

That friendship has gone, you must have trust in a good friend and her actions clearly demonstrate that she is not to be trusted. I am so sorry such an exciting time for you has been spoiled.

I agree with the posters who have already posted. It’s an underhand trick to pull, and a true friend would not do it. Do you really think that you would be able to holiday in the same resort now, even if she backed off trying to buy the property you want, knowing that she would resent you for having the place she wanted? Would you want to be in close proximity to someone as devious as she is proving herself to be? I think it would completely knock the shine off your holiday home, knowing she was so close by?
I think MagicWand sums the situation up well.
I’m sorry that this is happening to you, but I really don’t think this friendship can survive this, even if she pulls out of trying to gazump you - she has nailed her true colours to the mast, and you will be better off keeping well away from her.

I would not buy on the same complex now, as it wouldn't work. I think your friend has probably made a point of finding out which house you had chosen out of curiosity once you told her you were also buying there. I think you have had a lucky escape really. Imagine if you hadn't told her in advance that you were also buying there, and then she signed up to the one that was to be hers on Wednesday! Once she found out that you had got the one she would have liked if it had first been available, you would never have heard the end of it, and your holidays could be marred by her harping on. Look elsewhere for your new holiday home and distance yourself from her.

Framilode. I disapprove of foul language but I'd still like to use it to describe this so-called friend! (I will spare you all though!)

She is egregiously, disgustingly immoral, unscrupulous, selfish and very nasty!

What a good thing you found out before you bought a house abroad near her, where she might have done very nasty things to you!

I am so very sorry you are going through this awful shock and terrible disappointment.

I really would like to encourage you not to think this is the end of your hopes and dreams. Please - there are other places and probably better places! Just try to be patient and keep looking. Sometimes what appears as bad news turns out to have been for the best. I can give you many examples of this from my life and other people I have known. You may end up with a truly lovely place and make wonderful friends and never have to think of this episode or her again. So never give up. There is always hope. That "even-better place" is out there. Good luck!

Your 'very good friend's' action is a game changer, a line drawn that signifies the point you can identify as being the reason for the demise of your friendship.

Whatever happens, you can never go back to the relationship you had before, can never unknow what you have found out about her character, can never forget that she is ultimately willing to sacrifice your friendship over this issue.

Even if you make the position clear before the sale goes through, as others have suggested, this friendship is now realistically dead in the water.

Either YOU will have the house she originally wanted (but which wasn't on the market when she started looking) and she will be forever resentful that it belongs to you or SHE will have the house you want and you will be forever resentful that it belongs to her.

My advice, for what it's worth, is to look somewhere else as this house is a poisoned chalice that comes (to whoever ends up buying it) with a price tag that includes the loss of a friendship. It will probably never now be the dream holiday home either of you once hoped for as it comes with too much collateral damage, it's just a very sad situation.

As the thread started on April 1st, it isn't an April Fool wind-up, is it? On the part of the 'friend', I mean?

If that was me I'd let her have that house and not bother buying at all. You'd not want to find yourself on holiday with her in the same "small complex" would you. Wait a year and then reassess whether you want a holiday home in spain, and where. I get the impression you were only choosing that place because you thought it would be nice to holiday near your friend. But it won't be - only one of you can have that particular unit and the other will always be peeved about it.

My sister's 'best friend' went to see a council exchange house with her. My sister told her she was going to go ahead with the exchange when she returned fron a week's holiday. While she was away her 'best friend' had the people view her home and agreed to exchange with her instead. Sister was gutted and never spoke to her since. People like this are not friends.

I would certainly take her off my Christmas card list, a true friend wouldn't.

I don't think I would ever trust her again. I would be looking for somewhere else and leave her to it.

Every single post tells you to forget this woman. No true friend would ever do this sort of thing. Do not go and stay with her. You will only be unhappy.

What stage have you got to in the purchase? Have you signed anything, or paid a deposit?
I think house purchase in Spain is similar to that in France, and if you've formally agreed to buy, and the seller has agreed to sell at that price then it's difficult for either to back out.

This woman has not got an ounce of integrity. As everyone says she is no friend. Never was and never will be. I think you should make it plain to her that she is behaving in a despicable manner and if she continues to do so then you will want nothing more to do with the kind of person she evidently is.

With friends like that you dont need enemies. Get shut whether she goes for it or not. She is no friend. That is appalling

Just an afterthought, is it wise to be buying a property in Europe during such turbulent times ? What if the Spanish decide that they don’t want Brits buying property in their country ? Do you have any guarantees regarding your status post Brexit ?

Your so-called friend is a pig. Forget her. There are millions of properties for sale in Spain. I am sure you can find one to your liking elsewhere, maybe even in a better location.
All the best.

That's not a friend, it's a rival!

I cannot understand why you would choose to buy a holiday home on the same complex as your friend. You say it is a small complex so even worse. Is your friend annoyed that you are following her when there are so many other places you could have chosen to buy.
Personally if I had chosen a property abroad to buy and then found that my friend was copying me I would not be happy. Do you usually copy what she does ?