Buying in Spain
Spain property buying process
Process
The Spanish purchase process runs in five stages: offer, reservation contract with deposit, due diligence by your lawyer, private purchase contract (Arras) with 10% deposit, notary completion (escritura) and registration.
How the process actually works
Total timeline from accepted offer to keys: typically 6–10 weeks for a clean resale, longer for off-plan.
Costs and timeline
Allow 10–13% of purchase price for transaction costs (resale; new-build is slightly higher). Reservation deposit at offer (€6,000–30,000 typical), 10% deposit at exchange (Arras contract), balance at notary completion. Total timeline from accepted offer to keys: 6–10 weeks clean resale.
Who you actually need
An independent lawyer (not the one the agent or seller recommends), a gestor for tax and admin, an FX broker if you're transferring from outside the euro, and an agent who actually transacts in the specific micro-market. Skip any of these and you will pay for it later.
Frequently asked questions
- Can I buy without being a resident?
- Yes. Non-residents buy freely. Only the annual tax treatment differs (Modelo 210).
- Is the deposit refundable?
- The 10% Arras deposit is double-or-nothing under standard Spanish contract law — buyer walks, buyer loses 10%; seller walks, seller pays back 20%.
- Do I need a Spanish bank account?
- Yes — for utilities, community fees, taxes and the mortgage if applicable. Opening takes a week or two with NIE in hand.
- Can the lawyer act remotely?
- Yes. A Power of Attorney (Poder) signed at the Spanish consulate in your home country or by apostille lets the lawyer complete on your behalf without you flying in.
