Buy With Clarity
The steps, in order
1. Start with the location, not the property
This is the step most people skip, and the one that matters most.
It's tempting to fall in love with a property first. But a beautiful home in the wrong area can quietly make everyday life harder. Choose where you want to live first, then look at homes within it.
Our area guides in Find Your Place are written for exactly this: to help you understand what daily life really looks like in each town before you narrow down a property.
2. If you'll need a mortgage, check it before you start looking
If you plan to borrow to fund part of the purchase, find out what a Spanish lender will actually offer you before you view properties - not after.
As a non-resident, the amount you can borrow may be different from what you'd expect at home, which changes your real budget. Knowing your figure first means you look at the right homes from the start and avoid falling for something you can't finance.
3. Work with an agent
A good buyer-focused agent guides you through areas and properties, arranges viewings, and helps you understand the local reality.
An experienced agent can open the door to almost any property on the market, whether they list it themselves or collaborate with the agent who does. The seller pays the commission - so having someone on your side costs you nothing. Find someone you trust and let them do the searching.
4. Appoint your own independent lawyer
Separate from the agent, you appoint your own lawyer who acts only for you. They carry out the legal checks (due diligence), review every contract before you sign, and guide completion.
Choose a lawyer who is independent of the seller and the agent, and appoint them early — ideally before you sign anything, including a reservation. A good lawyer is the best investment you'll make.
5. Reserve the property
When you find the right property, your agent can help you prepare and negotiate an offer. Once an offer is accepted, buyers are often asked to sign a reservation agreement and pay a reservation deposit. Your lawyer should complete the necessary legal checks before you move forward with the purchase.
6. Sign the purchase contract
Only once your lawyer has completed the legal checks do you sign the private purchase contract and pay the deposit (usually 10%). The contract should clearly state the agreed price, payment schedule, completion date and conditions of the sale.
7. Complete the purchase at the notary
The final purchase is completed at the notary. Sign the title deed, pay the balance, and receive the keys. The home is yours.
What happens after the purchase?
Owning a property in Spain also comes with ongoing responsibilities:
Registration and taxes. After completion, the purchase is registered and the purchase taxes are paid — usually handled or guided by your lawyer.
Annual property tax (IBI). A local property tax paid to the town hall each year.
Community fees, if your property is part of a building or urbanisation, towards shared costs like maintenance, gardens and pools.
Utilities and insurance. Electricity, water and home insurance put into your name.
Non-resident obligations. If you won't live in Spain full-time, you may still have an annual Spanish tax obligation as a non-resident owner - worth checking your specific situation with an adviser.
We'll cover each of these in more detail in future guides.
Where to start
Where to start
If you're at the beginning, read these first
Mortgages for Non-Residents
How borrowing in Spain works if you're not resident.
Buying a New-Build or Off-Plan Property
How new and under-construction purchases differ.
Five Essential Buying Guides
Then, when you're closer to a specific property
Reservation and Contracts
Legal Checks and Due Diligence
What you sign, and in what order.
How to make sure what you're buying is what you think it is.
The Costs of Owning a Property
What to budget for once you own a property in Spain.