Advice on moving to Spain

The below section provides details on what to do before and after you buy a property in Spain, providing advice and guidance of areas to contemplate and decide upon.

Guide to moving to Spain

All property in Spain is registered in the Registro de Propiedad that denotes who owns the property for sale, its exact size and if there are any mortgages on it.  Only the people named on the title deed have the right to sell the property.

Before the purchase of a property in Spain is made official, it is advisable to have an English-speaking lawyer examine the agreement that sets out the terms of purchase of the property and that will have been drawn up by a Spanish notary (lawyer)

If the buyer of property withdraws from the purchase after signing the agreement, he loses any deposit paid.  If the seller changes his mind, in some cases, he will have to pay twice the amount, depending on the wording of the agreement.  The signing of the sales contract will be undertaken before a notary in the form of a public deed.

The buyer of the property in Spain is liable for the property transfer tax (IVA), which is currently 7%, 0.5% stamp duty, and a fee (allow E300 {£210}) to register the property deed in his name.

In total you should allow 10% of the purchase price for costs, including IVA, stamp duty, property registration and notary fees.

When buying a property in Spain from a developer, you should receive the following documents:

• Deed of declaration of new construction
• Occupancy permit
• Certificate of rateable value of the property

Each country has its own particular take on the legal aspect of property buying, and Spain is no exception, for a quick run-through of some of the Spanish legal jargon please click on the link below.

Legal jargon to consider when buying a property in Spain

Basic advice when moving to Spain

Generally, when buying a property in Spain the advice is to do your homework thoroughly, visit as many places as possible, both in and out of season, and make sure you get the property that is right for you.  Remember that a quiet little villa on the coast of Spain in October could be bustling in the summer. Conversely, the cool hillside hacienda in June could be a bleak wind-swept cold box in February. Consider the bigger picture and you can’t go wrong.

Also remember that when considering where and whether to buy a property in Spain that it is a very big country and there are a variety of locations each with a very different charm. Most Brits who visit the Iberian peninsular cling to the Mediterranean coast like limpets to a rock but there is a fascinating and beautiful country to explore with fabulous historic cities like Madrid, Seville and Cordoba.  These cities are also thriving modern commercial centres with plenty to offer.

After a search of our Spanish properties you will note that the majority of our holiday houses for sale are located to the east along the Mediterranean coastline.  If you would rather sample the real Spain and prefer the rugged Atlantic coastline than the package holiday locations along the Mediterranean coast then you may want to keep your eyes peeled for properties in Bilbao to in the north of Spain and La Coruňa on the north west corner of Spain.

Finally when moving to Spain our advice is that, it is not only wise but necessary to make a will in the country where you are purchasing, making sure you detail what is to become of the property if you die.  A British will passing on all your property and chattels to your next of kin will not stand up in a Spanish court (and also many other countries). You and, most of all, your dependants don’t want the embarrassment of discovering that your property investment in Spain of several tens of thousands of pounds has suddenly become the property of the Spanish government.

If you are unsure of the area in Spain where you would like to buy a property, then you may like to rent a Spanish holiday home close to the resort in which you have most interest.  Our partner site DaltonsHolidays.com has a similar search facility to DaltonsProperty.com and can assist you in finding a suitable Holiday rental in Spain including Hotels and Bed and Breakfasts.

For further information on buying a property in Spain click on the following link for a list of useful telephone numbers:
Useful telephone numbers when buying a property in Spain.

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