Related Services
We refer the services you need to make the purchase and manage your property. Having one contact saves a lot of time. Arquitect Carlos Casablancas and I inspecting an apartment for water damage.
Related Services
Mortgage
Spanish banks love lending to foreigners, but the process takes time. Contact some banks and send them your financial documents to get ‘pre-approval’ before or while you’re visiting properties. If you need help, we recommend the mortgage broker, Mortgage Direct.
Banks focus on your current monthly income and monthly debts. They want your last six monthly paycheck stubs, or similar proof, your latest income tax return, and your monthly debt payments. If these debt payments exceed 35% of your monthly income, you could be denied.
Amount Granted. For a Spanish tax resident, or someone who files a tax return in Spain, the cap is normally 80% of the lower between the purchase price and the property assessment. Some go as high as 90%. For a non-Spanish tax resident, the cap ranges from 50% to 70%. A few lenders might exceed this. The interest rates as of Feb. 2026 range from 2.5% to 4% fixed for 30 years. A good time to borrow.
Mortgage Direct. They’re an intermediate between you and the bank. You send them your financial documents and they search the market for the best terms. They’ve helped a lot of our clients.
Spanish NIE
A NIE is a tax ID number and is needed to apply for a mortgage and to sign the property deed. It’s best to apply at a Spanish Consulate in your home country. If you apply in Barcelona, we recommend ‘NIE Barcelona’. Our clients have given us positive feedback about them.
Tax Advice
Before you become a tax resident of Spain, you must know your tax liability in Spain. Taxes in Spain are high and it’s a tricky subject. We can recommend some tax attorneys. Here are some key points:
1) A Spanish tax resident is someone who meets one of the following:
- You live in Spain for more than 183 days in a calendar year. They don’t have to be consecutive or ‘in a row’.
- Your main source of income comes from Spain or
- Your spouse and/or minor children live in Spain.
2) If you are a Spanish tax resident, you must report your worldwide income in Spain and pay taxes on it. This includes the capital gain from property or stock you sell in your home country, any money gifts or inheritance you receive, and other increases to your wealth. It does not matter where you realize the gain or receive the gift. Once you get it, it’s a tax event in Spain.
3) Best Advice: Sell your property or stock and receive your give in the year prior to residing in Spain for more than 183 days. If you acquire the money as a Spanish tax resident, you’ll be subject to a Spanish tax. For capital gains or gift it’s app. 20% and up. Please talk to a qualified tax advisor.
Spanish Bank Account
You must have a bank account in Spain to pay property taxes and other bills by direct debit. It’s also best to pay for the property from a Spanish bank. For some banks, you just need your passport to open the account and you can start making small transfers immediately. You will have to go into the bank and sign for it within a reasonable time. We work with two of Spain’s largest banks.
Real Estate Agents
In Spain, you don’t need a license to sell real estate, anyone can do it. Further, some ‘agents’ charge the buyer normally 3% of the purchase price + 21% VAT, but omit this fee from the listed price; so the price you see online is wrong. We work with true and tested agents that we can recommend. To do so, please complete the search criteria form below and send it to us. We won’t send you spam.
Power Of Attorney
If you can’t be in Barcelona to sign the deed, apply for a NIE, pay a tax, or for almost anything else, we can do it for you via a power of attorney. It’s best to sign it in Barcelona or at the nearest Spanish consulate.
Money Transfer
User a currency broker, such as ‘Currencies Direct’, to transfer funds to Spain saves you a lot of money. They use a much better exchange rate than banks and specialize in large transfers for real estate purchases. An agent will call you personally to walk you through the process. Having someone on the phone is important if needed to track your transfer. Click on the box below to request a free quote.
How do currency brokers work? They open accounts for you in two different banks: one in your country and one in Spain. You transfer money to the bank in your country. When you want to transfer to Spain, the broker simply transfers the funds in euros from their bank in Spain to your bank in Spain. So there’s no transfer. This is one reason they cost less than banks, who really do transfer.
Property Inspection
It’s best to hire a property inspection of the flat and maybe the building before you commit to buy; especially in a building 50 years of older or in Barcelona’s Gothic Quarter. To save on the purchase price, consider buying a flat that needs some renovating. We work with several experienced local architects and renovation experts who can assist. They inspect for structural defects, water leaks, advise on taking out walls, installing a new kitchen, and related issues.
Post-Purchase Services
After you sign the deed, you’ll need to change the name on the utility bills, install internet, maybe an alarm, etc. If you plan to rent, you’ll need to consult a property management company, draft binding leases, screen tenants and/or hire someone to watch the place while you’re away. We can recommend services for all these common requests.
Get A Mortgage
Do you know how to apply for a mortgage in Spain? Here you have some tips.
The Spanish NIE
Understanding the Spanish tax ID number
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