Answers · for foreign buyers
Buying in Spain, answered straight.
The questions foreigners actually ask before buying — each answered in the first sentence, sourced to the official record, and free of the spin a marketplace can’t avoid.
Buying basics
Is it safe to buy property in Spain as a foreigner?→What is the arras (deposit) contract — is it safe to sign?→How much deposit do I need to buy a property in Spain?→Do I need a lawyer to buy property in Spain?→Can I buy property in Spain without travelling there?→How long does it take to buy property in Spain?→
Legal checks
What is a nota simple and do I need one before buying?→What's the difference between the Catastro and the Registro de la Propiedad?→How do I check a property has no debts, liens or charges?→What is the escritura in a Spanish property purchase?→What is the cadastral reference (referencia catastral)?→What is the energy certificate (certificado energético)?→
Taxes & costs
What taxes do I pay on a resale home in Catalonia?→What taxes do I pay on a new-build in Spain?→What's the total cost on top of the price to buy in Spain?→What is the plusvalía municipal tax, and who pays it?→What is IBI, the annual property tax in Spain?→What tax does a non-resident owner pay in Spain (modelo 210)?→Do I withhold 3% when buying from a non-resident seller?→
Money & mortgage
Rules & licences
Have a specific property in mind?
Stop reading general answers and check the actual listing — cadastre, registry, rent control and the real taxes.