The Premier Guide to buying in Spain

All prices shown on the site exclude taxes and legal costs. On top of the purchase price, buyers should budget for:

• Either 8% ITP (property transfer tax) on a resale property, or 10% IVA (VAT) on a new-build/off-plan property that has never been owned before
• 1-2% for land registry and notary costs
• Solicitor/legal fees, typically €1,000-€1,500 plus VAT
• 1-2% stamp duty, applicable to new-build/off-plan properties
• Possible extra costs at completion, such as the first year's insurance or the first quarter's community fees
• If using a Spanish mortgage: additional set-up fees and life insurance

Example cost breakdown for a €100,000 resale property:

• €100,000 – Agreed price
• €8,000 – ITP
• €1,700 – Land registry & notary costs
• €1,700 – Solicitor fees
• €600 – Other associated costs
• €112,000 – Approximate total

‍Note: ITP is a regional tax and applies to about 99% of properties on the site. If a property is brand new and sold directly by a developer, it's taxed nationally instead — 10% IVA applies rather than 8% ITP.

Foreign buyers need an NIE number (equivalent to a National Insurance number), which is issued by the local police station. Granting your solicitor Power of Attorney allows them to collect this certificate on your behalf. Independent legal representation is strongly recommended, and many local solicitors are multilingual, including English speakers. With Power of Attorney in place, a solicitor can also open a bank account and set up utilities — though they'll only act once you've given written approval — meaning buyers don't need to keep flying back to Spain throughout the process. Solicitor fees generally range from 1-1.5% of the purchase price, with a minimum of €1,000-€1,500.

Completion typically takes up to 12 weeks from the date the initial reservation deposit is paid, with roughly two more weeks added if a Spanish mortgage is involved. With Power of Attorney granted to your solicitor, you don't need to be physically present at completion. Once you have the keys, guidance is available on local key holders who can manage cleaning, laundry, and general maintenance, and ongoing support is available afterward for recommendations on upkeep services. For those looking to rent out their property, advice is available on holiday rentals along with introductions to the entities needed to secure a rental license.