Buying property in Spain
Guides for buyers
Everything you want to know before you buy a home on the Costa del Sol or the Costa Blanca, with today’s rates and market figures.
Buying property in Spain
Buying property in Spain follows fixed steps: you set a budget that includes buying costs, get an NIE number and open a Spanish bank account, view homes, make an offer, have a lawyer check the property, sign a purchase contract with a deposit and complete the deed at the notary. Allow two to three months.
Costs of buying property in Spain
The costs of buying property in Spain come on top of the price: tax plus fees. For a resale home in Andalusia that is currently around 8.5%, for a new build around 12.7%. On the Costa Blanca it is around 10.5% and 12.9%. Tax is the largest part; notary, registry and lawyer together come to just over 1%.
Spanish property tax
Spanish property tax falls at three moments. On buying, transfer tax or VAT. Every year, the municipal IBI and, if you do not live in Spain, non-resident income tax on an imputed rental income. On selling, the plusvalía municipal and tax on your gain. Your home country may also take the property into account.
NIE number in Spain
The NIE number (Número de Identidad de Extranjero) is your Spanish tax and identity number as a foreigner. You need it to buy a home, open a bank account and pay tax. You apply at the Policía Nacional in Spain, at a Spanish consulate in your country, or through someone with power of attorney.
Spanish mortgage for non-residents
If you do not live in Spain, you can still get a Spanish mortgage, usually up to 60 to 70% of the price or the valuation, whichever is lower. You need an NIE number, a Spanish bank account and proof of income. You pay the buying costs and the rest of the price yourself.
Notary and lawyer in Spain
When you buy in Spain you need a notary and, sensibly, your own Spanish property lawyer. The notary is impartial: they check the identity of buyer and seller and record the sale in the deed. Your lawyer works for you and checks that the home is free of debts, legally built and that all taxes have been paid.
Buying a holiday home in Spain
Choose a holiday home in Spain on location, how easy it is to reach and its running costs. Besides the price, allow for buying costs, IBI, community of owners’ fees, insurance and non-resident tax. If you want to let to tourists, check before you buy that it is allowed in that town and that building.
Moving to Spain
Buying property in Spain after Brexit is open to everyone, but owning a home does not give you residency. EU citizens may live in Spain freely and register after three months. UK and other non-EU citizens can stay 90 days in any 180 without a visa; to live there, they need one, such as the non-lucrative or digital nomad visa.
Inheritance tax in Spain
A home in Spain falls under Spanish inheritance and gift tax, even if your heirs live abroad. The region where the home is located often gives large reductions to partners and children. A Spanish will, and within the EU the European Certificate of Succession, make settling the estate quicker.
House prices in Spain
House prices on the Spanish coast differ widely from town to town. Below are the typical price and the price per square metre for the towns with the most homes for sale on the Costa del Sol and the Costa Blanca, measured from the homes on the market now. The figures are recalculated with every update of the site.
Golden visa in Spain
Spain ended the golden visa for real estate investment: applications under that route closed on 3 April 2025. Buying a property no longer gives you a residence permit. You can still buy as before; to live in Spain as a non-EU citizen, you now need another route, such as the non-lucrative visa or the digital nomad visa.