Buying guide · Costa del Sol
Buying property in Spain — the complete guide
Buying property on the Costa del Sol is well-regulated and predictable — once you know what to do, in what order, and which mistakes to avoid. This is the same playbook our concierge team uses with British, Scandinavian, German and American buyers.
The 8-step roadmap
From first viewing to settled in
- 01 9 min
The buying process from offer to keys
Buying property in Spain is well-regulated and predictable when you follow the right order. Most international buyers complete in 6–12 weeks from accepted offer to notary signing. …
Read chapter - 02 7 min
NIE, residency and the Golden Visa
Every property buyer in Spain needs an NIE — the foreigner's tax identification number. Whether you also need residency depends on how much time you'll spend in the country. Here's…
Read chapter - 03 8 min
Lawyer, due diligence and the contract
Spain's property market is well-regulated but every buyer needs an independent lawyer. Not the seller's lawyer, not the agent's recommended lawyer if they share an office, but a fu…
Read chapter - 04 10 min
Taxes and costs of buying in Spain
Budget 11–14% on top of the purchase price for total acquisition costs in Andalucía. The biggest item is transfer tax (or VAT for new builds), but there are several smaller items t…
Read chapter - 05 8 min
Spanish mortgages for foreign buyers
Most international buyers can get a Spanish mortgage, but the loan-to-value ratio is lower than in their home country. Non-residents typically borrow 60–70% of the lower of the ban…
Read chapter - 06 6 min
Banking, currency and money transfers
You'll need a Spanish bank account before completion — utilities, IBI and community fees all go by direct debit. You'll also be transferring six or seven figures from your home cou…
Read chapter - 07 7 min
After completion — utilities, comunidad, insurance
The keys are yours — now there's a checklist of practical things to organise in the first 30 days. Most can be handled by your lawyer or a property management company, but it's use…
Read chapter - 08 8 min
10 mistakes foreign buyers make
After 20+ years and thousands of transactions, the mistakes follow a pattern. Most are avoidable with one rule: slow down, get an independent lawyer, and never sign anything withou…
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