Buying guides for purchasing property in Spain

As a foreign buyer you may need several documents that are best obtained early in the process.

One of the most important is the NIE — Número de Identidad de Extranjero — the Spanish identification number for foreigners. Alongside it you may need:

The NIE is the unique identification number for foreigners handling economic or official matters in Spain.

Many parts of a property purchase depend on it, so it is worth applying early. Our dedicated guide covers:

Many buyers ask this. A Spanish bank account can make not only the purchase itself but also the running costs afterwards considerably easier.

Electricity, water and internet bills, insurance, community fees and local taxes are all simpler to pay from a local account.

Our guides set out how to open a Spanish bank account, which documents banks most often ask for, and what to watch for as a foreign client.

When buying in Spain it is essential not to budget on the advertised price alone. A purchase can also involve:

New builds are taxed differently from resale properties. The exact burden depends on several factors: the type of property, the autonomous community it sits in, and the form the transaction takes.

Our dedicated guides cover:

How much you need up front depends greatly on whether you are buying with your own funds or with bank financing.

For foreign and non-resident buyers, Spanish banks' lending conditions can differ from those offered to Spanish residents.

Bear in mind, too, that the taxes and other costs of buying generally cannot be financed in full by a mortgage. Our guides look separately at how Spanish mortgages work and what financing is available to foreign buyers.

Once you have found the right apartment or villa, the next step is usually to reserve it.

A reservation takes the chosen property off the active market while the next steps of the purchase take place. Before signing the reservation document it is important to understand exactly:

In Spain it is entirely normal for new builds to be sold before construction is complete. Buying off-plan does, however, call for particular care.

The buyer has to consider not only the property itself but also the developer, the project documentation, the contract terms, the payment schedule and the proper protection of the sums paid in advance.

Our guides deal separately with the advantages and risks of buying off-plan, and with the checks that matter most.

When buying a new build, looking at the renders and the floor plan is not enough. It can be important to check:

On a new-build project the full price is generally not paid in one sum, and the payment structure varies from development to development.

Commonly the buyer pays a reservation fee first, with a further instalment when the purchase contract is signed.

On a project still under construction there may be additional instalments, with the balance usually settled at handover and at the notarial deed. Each development's payment schedule has to be checked individually.

When buying a new home that is still being built, protecting the sums paid in advance is a particularly important question.

So the review of contractual and legal documentation should also establish what guarantee or insurance covers the buyer's payments made during construction. We cover this in a dedicated guide.

As construction nears its end, the purchase enters another important phase, and the property should be inspected technically.

This is the point for a so-called snagging inspection — identifying the defects, omissions and items requiring correction in a new-build property.

After that the documents required for handover have to be checked, and the final notarial deed prepared.

One of the most important moments of the purchase is the signing before a Spanish notary, where the final public deed — the escritura pública de compraventa — is executed.

This is normally when the balance of the price is settled and possession of the property is transferred.

After signing, ownership has to be registered in the Spanish property register.

Independent legal representation is strongly recommended when buying property in Spain. The lawyer acts for the buyer and can review, among other things:

Yes. Foreign buyers commonly handle a substantial part of the process remotely.

With an appropriate power of attorney, many official and legal matters can be dealt with through a representative. That is particularly useful for buyers who want to travel to Spain only a few times during the purchase.

The Costa Blanca is one of Spain's most popular property markets among foreign buyers. Along more than 200 kilometres of Mediterranean coast in the province of Alicante the choice is remarkably varied.

From modern beachfront apartments to villas with private pools, there is a wide range of new-build developments to choose from.

There can be significant differences between the northern and southern Costa Blanca, so a dedicated guide sets out the main towns and what distinguishes them.

The Mediterranean coastline of the Murcia region, the Costa Cálida, is also growing in popularity among international buyers.

Its new-build offering often represents good value, while the Mar Menor, the Mediterranean beaches, the golf courses and the proximity of the city of Murcia make for a varied lifestyle.

The Costa del Sol is one of Spain's best-known international property markets. Málaga, Marbella, Estepona, Benalmádena, Fuengirola and the surrounding towns offer an exceptionally wide choice of new builds.

The region is especially popular with buyers looking for premium property, an investment, or a Mediterranean life all year round.

Many people buy Spanish property for more than their own use. A new build in the right location can suit long-term letting or, in some cases, short-term rental.

An investment decision, though, takes more than comparing the purchase price with the expected rent. You also have to weigh:

The same property is not necessarily ideal both as a holiday home and as a permanent one.

For a holiday home, proximity to the beach, easy upkeep and access to an airport may matter most.

For a permanent move, schools, healthcare, shopping, transport, services and year-round local life all become important. We help you match your search criteria to your actual situation from the outset.