Property

Buying property in Spain

A practical guide to the legal, financial and cross-border questions international buyers should review before purchasing in Spain.

From legal checks and financing to currency, completion and ongoing ownership.

Madrid city centre in warm late-afternoon light

The property may be in Spain, but the purchase can still involve your home-country banking, tax, estate planning and currency decisions.

Buying in Spain involves property search, legal due diligence, taxes, identification requirements, finance, currency and completion — often with different specialists responsible for each part.

Buying in Spain while you still live elsewhere is common. It is a foreign legal system, a currency decision and, often, a tax event in more than one country. Autonomous communities add a local layer to some taxes and housing rules. This page is a map of the questions. It is not a statement of the current law, and it does not state a rate or a fee.

A shorter sequence for UK residents is the guide Buying property in Spain as a UK resident. The country overview is Spain.

Purpose

Location, use, budget and whether you plan to become resident

A holiday house, a future move and a rental share a legal outline and not a tax outline. How often you use the property, whether you let it, and whether you later become resident in Spain all change the picture. Financing and the currency of your savings belong in that first note, before a reservation.

01
Purpose and budget
02
Independent lawyer
03
Title and planning checks
04
Reservation terms
05
Mortgage or funds
06
Completion before a notary
07
Registration and records

From abroad

Non-resident buyers still complete under Spanish formalities

A purchase typically involves a lawyer of your own, checks on the property and the seller, and completion before a notary. Costs and taxes vary by region, by value and by whether you are resident. Non-residents can sometimes bank in Spain. The checks are stricter, and an account is often easier once you have a local identification number and an address. Ask what this purchase requires. Spain taxes residents on a broad basis and non-residents on Spanish-source income, including some property income. That is a description from the country guide, not a calculation.

Your lawyer

Instruct a lawyer in Spain who is independent of the seller

You need a lawyer who acts for you, in Spain, and who is independent of the agent and the seller. You may also use a buyer’s agent. You will deal with a notary at completion. If you are borrowing, the lender will have their own requirements and valuation. A solicitor at home who does not practise Spanish property law is not a substitute. They may still be useful for how the purchase sits with affairs at home — a will, or the source of the deposit.

The property

Checks before a payment you cannot recover

Who owns it, and are debts registered against it?
Does the land registry describe the property you think you are buying?
Are there planning, community or tourist-licence issues?
What does the community charge, and are there arrears?
If it is new-build, what is the payment schedule and what happens if it is late?

Money first

Know whether a reservation payment is refundable

Reservation fees are sometimes poorly worded. Ask in which circumstances you get the money back, and what the next contract will say, before you send it. A reservation is not the same document as the purchase contract.

New or existing

New build and resale raise different practical questions

The comparison is about process. It is not a preference, and it is not a tax table. Which taxes apply, and at what rate, depends on the property, the region and whether it is new. Ask the lawyer for this contract.

New buildResale

New build. You may pay in stages. Ask what happens if completion is late.

Resale. You are usually buying from the current owner. Ask who that is on the register.

New build. Ask which licences and planning papers exist before you pay the next stage.

Resale. Ask about community arrears, debts on the title and the condition of the building.

New build. The tax on a new property can differ from the tax on a resale. Get a figure for this one.

Resale. The tax can differ by region and by the property. Get a figure for this one.

Borrowing

A mortgage decision at home is not a Spanish offer

Some lenders will consider a person who lives outside Spain. They will look at income, other debts, the property and the deposit. Compare the currency of any loan with the currency of your income. The borrower questions are on expat mortgages.

Sterling and euro

The euro price can move while you are under offer

If your savings are in another currency, the amount you must send changes with the rate. Some buyers convert in stages. Some use a forward contract from a firm they have checked. Either way, look at the rate you are actually given, and leave time for questions about source of funds. This page does not name a firm and does not suggest timing the market.

Moving money across borders and the FX cost comparison are for the payment.

Completion

Completion is a notarial step, with funds that have already cleared

You will deal with a notary at completion. Ask what must be signed, who must be present or represented, and when the money has to be in place. Registration follows. Keep the completion documents with the contract and the cost schedule.

Lawyer’s report is finished
Funds are traced and timed
Insurance is arranged
Notary appointment is understood
Registration is on the list for afterwards
A will question has been asked

Afterwards

Community fees, local taxes, insurance and utilities continue

Budget for those as ownership costs, separate from the price. If the home is empty for long periods, tell the insurer. A policy that assumes you live there may not respond. Utilities and any local tax registration are part of the first weeks, not an afterthought.

Letting

Rent is a local rule and, often, a filing in more than one country

Tourist-licence questions belong in the checks before you buy, not after the first booking. If you let the property, expect to declare the income in Spain and to ask whether the country where you are resident also expects a report. Insurance for a let property is a different wording. Regional rules differ, and they change. Confirm the current position locally.

Living there

Owning a property does not, by itself, decide residence

Time spent in Spain, a visa or residence permit, and registration with local authorities are related and separate. The test for tax residence is not always the same as immigration status. Keep a record of days and ties. Residency and tax residency are the wider pages.

Wills

A will at home may not deal cleanly with Spanish property

This is a short conversation with a lawyer and a poor thing to leave until it is urgent. Wealth and inheritance rules can also be relevant, and regional differences matter. The tax and document questions are on cross-border estate planning.

A later sale

Selling raises tax, currency and the records you kept

A gain, any local withholding, and a report where you are resident are questions for that year, not for a blog average. Improvements and acquisition costs are easier to evidence if you kept the invoices. Property tax sets out the categories. It does not calculate a bill.

Due diligence

Questions worth asking before you reserve

01Will you act only for me, independently of the agent and the seller?

A lawyer in Spain who acts for you is the starting point in the project’s Spain material. A home-country solicitor who does not practise Spanish property law is not a substitute, though they may still help with a will or the source of the deposit.

02What identification or tax number will this purchase require?

Opening an account in Spain is often easier with a local identification number and an address. Ask what this purchase and this bank actually require. Do not rely on a general list.

03What does the land registry show?

Ask whether the description matches the property, and what debts or charges are registered.

04Is any payment I make now refundable?

Reservation fees are sometimes poorly worded. Know the circumstances before you send money.

05Is this a new build or a resale, and what does that change?

Ask about the payment schedule, who you contract with, and which taxes may apply. Rates depend on the property, the region and whether it is new. Ask for this purchase.

06What costs sit on top of the price?

Transfer taxes or VAT, notary and registry fees, and legal fees can sit on top. Your lawyer should give a figure for the property in front of you, not a national average.

07Can I borrow, and is any existing decision an offer on this house?

Some lenders will consider a buyer who lives elsewhere. They look at income, other debts, the property and the deposit. A decision in principle on a different house is not an offer on this one.

08In which currency is the price, and in which currency am I paid?

If savings are in sterling, a euro price can move while you are under offer. Compare the currency of any loan with the currency of your income.

09What will completion involve?

Completion is before a notary. Ask who must attend, what is signed, and when the funds must be with the right party.

10What are the community fees and local taxes after I own it?

Ask for the current charge, any arrears, and the local taxes that continue. They vary.

11If I let it, where is the income declared?

If you let the property, you will have income to declare, very likely in Spain and possibly where you are tax resident as well. Confirm both.

12Does owning this property make me resident?

Property ownership does not, by itself, determine immigration status or tax residence. Those are separate tests.

13Will a will from home deal with this property?

A will made at home may not deal cleanly with Spanish property. Ask before completion, not after a death.

14What should I keep for a later sale?

Contracts, costs, improvement invoices and tax papers. Regional rules can matter, and they can change.

Watch for

Reasons to pause

Pressure to reserve immediately
No independent legal review
Planning or licence status that is unclear
Rental income presented as assured
Debts or community arrears not in writing
Documents that do not match the property you viewed

Local rules and taxes can change. Confirm current requirements with appropriately qualified Spanish legal and tax professionals.

Compare buying-in-Spain providers

Different providers help with very different parts of a Spanish property purchase

Buying in Spain involves property search, legal due diligence, taxes, identification requirements, finance, currency and completion — often with different specialists responsible for each part.

Compare Spain property providers by buyer-side representation, property sourcing, legal coordination, mortgage support, tax and NIE support, international-buyer capability and post-purchase services.

A buyer’s agent, mortgage broker, tax specialist, listing platform and estate agency may all appear in the same purchase — but they should not be compared as if they perform the same role.

Start with the buying need

What do you need help with in Spain?

What to compare

The right Spain provider depends on which part of the purchase you need help with

01
Buyer role
Does the provider represent the buyer, the seller, a lender, or simply introduce?
02
Property search
Do they actively source property, or only provide listings?
03
Legal coordination
Can they support or introduce independent Spanish lawyers?
04
Mortgage
Can they arrange non-resident finance?
05
Tax / NIE
Can they help with Spanish tax or administrative requirements?
06
Post-purchase
Can they help with ongoing non-resident obligations?
07
Fees
Who pays the provider, and how are the charges described?
08
International support
Is the service designed for foreign or non-resident buyers?

Filter Buying in Spain providers

6 providers listed for comparison.

I need help with

Provider type

Buyer stage

Buyer type

Service model

Sort

Estity
Spanish property-owner tax and document platform
Spanish property tax, declarations and document management for foreign owners. Property search and mortgages are not part of the service.
Best aligned with
Foreign owners
Coverage
Spain
Primary audience
Foreign homeowners and buyers who need ongoing tax and document administration
Buyer role
Tax and document platform
Property search
Not offered
Legal / purchase support
Not conveyancing
Mortgage
Not offered
Tax / NIE
Core
Currency
Not offered
After completion
Owner documents
International buyers
International owners
Commercial model
Subscription
Pricing model
Subscription
The provider states it is an authorised partner of the Spanish tax authority. Confirm the exact status and the filings included.
View provider Visit provider
Foxes
Spanish non-resident mortgage and legal service
Mortgage brokerage and Spanish legal or conveyancing work for foreign buyers, with NIE support described alongside. Property search is not the core service.
Best aligned with
Non-resident mortgage and legal
Coverage
Spain nationwide
Primary audience
Foreign and non-resident buyers needing mortgage and legal support
Buyer role
Mortgage and legal specialist
Property search
Not core
Legal / purchase support
Core
Mortgage
Core
Tax / NIE
NIE support
Currency
Not core
After completion
Legal and immigration
International buyers
English and Spanish
Commercial model
Charged on acceptance
Pricing model
Charged on acceptance
Registered with the Bank of Spain (D470). Mortgage advice and legal services are different work and should be instructed separately.
View provider Visit provider
Inmoconnect
Spanish property referral and listing platform
Verified Spanish property listings and buyer-lead referral. The transaction is handled by agents or developers. This is not buyer-side representation.
Best aligned with
Audiences discovering listings
Coverage
Spain
Primary audience
International audiences discovering Spanish property through referred listings
Buyer role
Referral platform
Property search
Strong
Legal / purchase support
Not core
Mortgage
Not core
Tax / NIE
Not core
Currency
Not core
After completion
Not core
International buyers
International referral
Commercial model
Referral infrastructure
Pricing model
Referral platform
Listings are referred to agents and developers. This is not a Spanish estate agency, and WiT Access is not the selling agent.
View provider Visit provider
Selectia PSI
Selectia PSI
Independent buyer-side Spanish property search
Property search, validation, negotiation and acquisition support for the buyer. The published model is buyer-side by contract, not an estate-agency listing service.
Best aligned with
Buyers wanting representation
Coverage
Spain
Primary audience
International buyers seeking independent buyer representation in Spain
Buyer role
Buyer-side
Property search
Core
Legal / purchase support
Coordinates professionals
Mortgage
Partner-supported
Tax / NIE
Partner-supported
Currency
Not core
After completion
Related coordination
International buyers
International buyers
Commercial model
Buyer-side fee
Pricing model
Published fee tiers
Buyer-side service. Partner terms restrict acting as a Spanish broker or advertising individual properties under a referral arrangement.
View provider Visit provider
SpainFiscal
SpainFiscal
Spanish property tax and compliance specialist
Spanish tax compliance for foreign property owners, including non-resident tax, tax representation and owner filings. This is not a property search or a mortgage service.
Best aligned with
Foreign owners and buyers
Coverage
Spain
Primary audience
Foreign owners, buyers and landlords with Spanish tax obligations
Buyer role
Tax specialist
Property search
Not offered
Legal / purchase support
Not conveyancing
Mortgage
Not offered
Tax / NIE
Core tax
Currency
Not offered
After completion
Tax compliance
International buyers
Several languages
Commercial model
Tax-service fee
Pricing model
Tax-service fee
Tax specialist, not a property agent or a mortgage provider. Describe the advice within the actual service scope.
View provider Visit provider
Your Overseas Home
Spain property guidance and expert-introduction platform
Buying-journey guidance, listings, webinars and introductions to agents, lawyers, mortgage, tax, currency and relocation specialists. This is not a direct Spanish estate agency.
Best aligned with
International buyers · relocators
Coverage
Major buyer regions
Primary audience
Foreign buyers, retirees, relocators and second-home purchasers
Buyer role
Guidance and introductions
Property search
Strong
Legal / purchase support
Specialist introductions
Mortgage
Specialist introductions
Tax / NIE
Partner support
Currency
Strong
After completion
Relocation support
International buyers
International-buyer focused
Commercial model
Guidance and introductions
Pricing model
Buyer guidance free
Partner relationships are commercial. Specialist advice remains with the relevant professional.
View provider Visit provider

Compare Buying in Spain providers

Short published facts only. These labels describe the provider’s own materials. They are not ratings.

A buyer’s agent, a mortgage and legal service, a listings platform and a tax specialist do not do the same job.

Buying in Spain providers compared by published scope.
Provider	Provider type	Best aligned with	Buyer role	Property search	Legal support	Mortgage	Tax / NIE	Pricing model	View
Estity	Owner tax and documents	Foreign owners	Tax and document platform	Not offered	Not conveyancing	Not offered	Core	Subscription	View
Foxes	Mortgage and legal	Non-resident mortgage and legal	Mortgage and legal specialist	Not core	Core	Core	NIE support	Charged on acceptance	View
Inmoconnect	Referral and listings	Audiences discovering listings	Referral platform	Strong	Not core	Not core	Not core	Referral platform	View
Selectia PSI Selectia PSI	Buyer-side search	Buyers wanting representation	Buyer-side	Core	Coordinates professionals	Partner-supported	Partner-supported	Published fee tiers	View
SpainFiscal SpainFiscal	Tax and compliance	Foreign owners and buyers	Tax specialist	Not offered	Not conveyancing	Not offered	Core tax	Tax-service fee	View
Your Overseas Home	Guidance and introductions	International buyers · relocators	Guidance and introductions	Strong	Specialist introductions	Specialist introductions	Partner support	Buyer guidance free	View

Buying in Spain providers compared by published scope.
Provider	Best aligned with	Buyer role	Property search	Mortgage	View
Estity	Foreign owners	Tax and document platform	Not offered	Not offered	View
Foxes	Non-resident mortgage and legal	Mortgage and legal specialist	Not core	Core	View
Inmoconnect	Audiences discovering listings	Referral platform	Strong	Not core	View
Selectia PSI Selectia PSI	Buyers wanting representation	Buyer-side	Core	Partner-supported	View
SpainFiscal SpainFiscal	Foreign owners and buyers	Tax specialist	Not offered	Not offered	View
Your Overseas Home	International buyers · relocators	Guidance and introductions	Strong	Specialist introductions	View

Estity
Provider type
Owner tax and documents
Best aligned with
Foreign owners
Buyer role
Tax and document platform
Property search
Not offered
Legal / purchase support
Not conveyancing
Mortgage
Not offered
Tax / NIE
Core
View provider
Foxes
Provider type
Mortgage and legal
Best aligned with
Non-resident mortgage and legal
Buyer role
Mortgage and legal specialist
Property search
Not core
Legal / purchase support
Core
Mortgage
Core
Tax / NIE
NIE support
View provider
Inmoconnect
Provider type
Referral and listings
Best aligned with
Audiences discovering listings
Buyer role
Referral platform
Property search
Strong
Legal / purchase support
Not core
Mortgage
Not core
Tax / NIE
Not core
View provider
Selectia PSI
Selectia PSI
Provider type
Buyer-side search
Best aligned with
Buyers wanting representation
Buyer role
Buyer-side
Property search
Core
Legal / purchase support
Coordinates professionals
Mortgage
Partner-supported
Tax / NIE
Partner-supported
View provider
SpainFiscal
SpainFiscal
Provider type
Tax and compliance
Best aligned with
Foreign owners and buyers
Buyer role
Tax specialist
Property search
Not offered
Legal / purchase support
Not conveyancing
Mortgage
Not offered
Tax / NIE
Core tax
View provider
Your Overseas Home
Provider type
Guidance and introductions
Best aligned with
International buyers · relocators
Buyer role
Guidance and introductions
Property search
Strong
Legal / purchase support
Specialist introductions
Mortgage
Specialist introductions
Tax / NIE
Partner support
View provider

Different Spain property providers solve different parts of the purchase

Buyer-side property search
Acts for the buyer to find, assess and negotiate property. In this comparison: Selectia PSI.
Estate agency
Markets and sells property and may coordinate a transaction. None of the providers in this public comparison is presented as a prime Spanish estate agency.
Mortgage and legal specialist
Supports non-resident finance and conveyancing. In this comparison: Foxes. The two services are distinct.
Property portal
Helps people search listings and may offer mortgage services. In this comparison the listing route is Inmoconnect, which refers the transaction to agents or developers.
Tax and compliance specialist
Handles Spanish tax obligations before or after purchase. In this comparison: SpainFiscal, and Estity for ongoing owner tax and documents.
Guidance and introduction platform
Provides education and introduces specialist providers. In this comparison: Your Overseas Home.

Choose the provider model based on which parts of the transaction you need help with — not simply brand familiarity.

Common scenarios

Which Spain-buying situation is closest to yours?

Tools

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These tools compare a transfer cost or organise a move. They do not price a property or a mortgage.

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Get an independent lawyer’s figure for this purchase before you treat a reservation as a formality.

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WiT Access provides general information and comparison resources. Spanish property law, taxes, mortgage criteria, conveyancing requirements and ongoing ownership obligations depend on the property, region, buyer and circumstances. Nothing on this page constitutes legal, tax, mortgage, financial or investment advice.

WiT Access does not verify the legal title, planning status, condition, suitability or investment merits of individual Spanish properties.

Independent Spanish legal advice should be obtained before signing contracts or paying material non-refundable sums.

Buying property in Spain

The property may be in Spain, but the purchase can still involve your home-country banking, tax, estate planning and currency decisions.

Location, use, budget and whether you plan to become resident

Non-resident buyers still complete under Spanish formalities

Instruct a lawyer in Spain who is independent of the seller

Checks before a payment you cannot recover

Know whether a reservation payment is refundable

New build and resale raise different practical questions

A mortgage decision at home is not a Spanish offer

The euro price can move while you are under offer

Completion is a notarial step, with funds that have already cleared

Community fees, local taxes, insurance and utilities continue

Rent is a local rule and, often, a filing in more than one country

Owning a property does not, by itself, decide residence

A will at home may not deal cleanly with Spanish property

Selling raises tax, currency and the records you kept

Questions worth asking before you reserve

Reasons to pause

Different providers help with very different parts of a Spanish property purchase

What do you need help with in Spain?

The right Spain provider depends on which part of the purchase you need help with

Buyer role

Property search

Legal coordination

Mortgage

Tax / NIE

Post-purchase

Fees

International support

Filter Buying in Spain providers

Compare Buying in Spain providers

Different Spain property providers solve different parts of the purchase

Buyer-side property search

Estate agency

Mortgage and legal specialist

Property portal

Tax and compliance specialist

Guidance and introduction platform

Which Spain-buying situation is closest to yours?

Related tools

Related guides

Explore other property topics

Looking at a property in Spain?