Buying property in Spain, answered

Yes. There is no restriction on non-residents buying property in Spain, whether you are British, Norwegian, Swedish, Danish, Finnish, Italian, Polish or from anywhere else. You will need a NIE (foreigner identification number), a Spanish bank account and a lawyer who is independent of the seller and the agency. We introduce every client to English-speaking lawyers we have used ourselves.

No. Most of our clients buy as non-residents and spend part of the year in Spain. Post-Brexit, British buyers can stay 90 days in any 180-day period on a tourist basis; longer stays need a visa such as the non-lucrative visa. EU citizens from Poland, Italy, Sweden, Denmark or Finland can register for residency freely.

The NIE is your Spanish tax identification number and is required for any purchase. You can apply at a Spanish consulate in your home country or in person in Spain, and your lawyer can also apply on your behalf with a power of attorney — which is what most of our overseas clients choose.

Spanish banks typically lend non-residents 60–70% of the valuation, so plan for a 30–40% deposit plus costs. Residents can often borrow up to 80%. Lenders assess your income wherever you earn it, so UK, Nordic, Italian and Polish salaries are all acceptable with the right paperwork.

Budget roughly 10–14% on top of the purchase price. That covers transfer tax (ITP, typically 7% in Andalucía for resales) or 10% VAT plus 1.2% stamp duty on new-builds, notary and land registry fees, and legal fees of around 1% plus VAT.

From accepted offer to keys is usually six to twelve weeks for a cash purchase and around three months with a Spanish mortgage. A reservation contract takes the property off the market while your lawyer runs due diligence.

Annual council tax (IBI), community fees if the property is in a complex, and non-resident income tax. If you let the property, EU and EEA residents — including buyers from Spain, Italy, Poland and Scandinavia — are taxed at 19% on net rental profit; UK owners are now taxed at 24% on gross rental income, so structure matters.

Long-term lets on the Costa del Sol typically return 4–6% gross, while well-run holiday lets in Málaga, Marbella and Torrevieja can reach 6–9% gross in strong seasons. A tourist licence (VUT registration) is required for short-term letting in Andalucía and the Valencian Community.

A classic timeshare is a holiday product, not an investment — it rarely appreciates and can carry rising maintenance fees. Fractional ownership, where you hold a registered share of the freehold, is a genuine asset and can suit women who want a Spanish base without full ownership costs. We will tell you honestly which one you are being sold.

We work mostly across Andalucía — the Costa del Sol, Málaga, the Serranía de Ronda and the white villages — but not only. We also advise on Costa Blanca, Sevilla and international buy-to-let for women building portfolios across several markets.

Yes, and it is a large part of what we do. Buying solo, buying after a separation or buying with a group of women all have their own legal and emotional considerations. We slow the process down, explain every document, and never pressure you into an offer.

No. Our search and advisory work is paid by the selling side, so you get an independent guide at no extra cost. Interior design is quoted separately and transparently before any work begins.

We work in English and Spanish, and our network of lawyers and notaries includes speakers of Italian, Polish and the Scandinavian languages. All documentation is explained to you in English before you sign.

Yes. Our interior design studio handles everything from a single-room refresh to a full renovation and rental-ready furnishing package, so a property bought remotely from London, Stockholm, Milan or Warsaw is liveable the day you land.