Costa del Sol vs Costa Blanca
Costa del SolvsCosta Blanca
Premium international market with year-round infrastructure vs better value and stronger seasonality.
The independent intelligence layer for buying property in Spain
Buy property in Spain with confidence
Independent, data-driven guidance for international buyers — area fit, real prices, taxes, mortgages and legal status, all in one place. Know more than your agent before the first viewing.
4
Launch regions
22
Curated destinations
~9 steps
From offer to notary
100%
International-buyer focus
Why BuyaProp
A platform built for confident decisions
Not a listing portal. A smart buyer guidance and transaction platform — designed end-to-end for international buyers in Spain.
Independent buyer-side intelligence
Agents represent the seller. We represent your decision — every recommendation is data-driven, not commission-driven.
Mortgage & affordability clarity
Understand what you can borrow as a non-resident and what your real monthly commitment looks like.
True buying-cost transparency
Taxes, notary, registry, legal, IBI, community fees — modelled upfront, before you fall in love with a property.
Built for international buyers
NIE, non-resident mortgages, currency, fiscal residency — the specifics that local portals ignore, simplified.
Know more than your agent
Walk into every viewing with the full picture: area benchmarks, yield, legal status, future supply, lifestyle fit.
End-to-end buying roadmap
From first idea to notary day — every step, document and milestone tracked in one premium dashboard.
The essentials
Buying property in Spain — what you actually need to know
- Any foreigner can buy. No nationality restrictions. You need a Spanish tax ID (NIE) and a Spanish bank account.
- Budget 10–14% on top of the price. Taxes, notary, registry and independent legal fees.
- Resale tax is ITP (6–10%); new build is 10% IVA plus AJD stamp duty (0.5–1.5%).
- Non-resident mortgages typically finance 60–70% LTV on 20–25 year terms.
- The full purchase can be done remotely with a Power of Attorney to your Spanish lawyer.
- Independent legal due diligence — separate from any agent — eliminates almost all common risks.
- Timeline: 6–12 weeks from accepted offer to notary, depending on financing.
- Owning property does not grant residency. That is a separate legal process.
Key terms
The Spanish property terms every buyer should know
Concise, factual definitions of the terms you'll meet at reservation, due diligence and notary. See the full glossary for more.
- NIE NumberSpanish foreigner tax identification number.
- The Número de Identificación de Extranjero (NIE) is a personal Spanish tax ID required to buy property, open a bank account, sign at the notary or pay taxes in Spain. Non-residents can obtain it in Spain or at a Spanish consulate abroad.
- Nota SimpleOfficial Land Registry extract for a property.
- A Nota Simple is the official summary issued by the Registro de la Propiedad showing the current legal owner, registered surface area, charges, mortgages and encumbrances of a specific property. It is the single most important document to review before making an offer.
- ITP (Transfer Tax)Regional transfer tax on resale properties.
- Impuesto sobre Transmisiones Patrimoniales (ITP) applies to the purchase of resale (second-hand) property. Rates are set regionally and typically range from 6% to 10% of the declared purchase price.
- AJD (Stamp Duty)Stamp duty on new-build purchases and mortgages.
- Actos Jurídicos Documentados (AJD) is a documentary stamp duty applied to new-build purchases (in addition to 10% IVA) and to notarised mortgage deeds. It is set regionally and generally ranges from 0.5% to 1.5%.
- Reservation ContractInitial deposit that removes a property from the market.
- A reservation contract (contrato de reserva) is a short private agreement in which the buyer pays a small deposit — usually €3,000 to €10,000 — to take the property off the market for a defined period while due diligence and financing are arranged.
- Notary (Escritura)Public deed of sale signed before a Spanish notary.
- The escritura pública de compraventa is the public deed of sale. Both parties sign it before a Spanish notary, who verifies identities, confirms funds and taxes, and forwards the deed to the Land Registry for registration in the buyer's name.
- Due DiligenceIndependent legal and technical check before purchase.
- Property due diligence in Spain covers the Nota Simple, planning status, cadastral records, community fees, IBI, outstanding utilities, energy certificate, occupancy licence and any charges. It is normally carried out by an independent lawyer acting only for the buyer.
- IBIAnnual local property tax.
- Impuesto sobre Bienes Inmuebles (IBI) is the annual municipal property tax based on the cadastral value. Rates vary by municipality and typically fall between 0.4% and 1.1% of the cadastral value per year.
Buying costs
What buying a Spanish property really costs
Indicative ranges for the fees and taxes on top of the purchase price. Actual figures depend on region, property type and financing.
| Cost | Typical range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| ITP (resale) | 6% – 10% | Regional transfer tax on the purchase price. |
| IVA (new build) | 10% | VAT on new-build residential purchases. |
| AJD (new build / mortgage) | 0.5% – 1.5% | Stamp duty on new builds and mortgage deeds. |
| Notary fees | 0.1% – 0.5% | Set by regulated tariff; depends on price and complexity. |
| Land Registry | 0.1% – 0.25% | Registration of the deed in your name. |
| Independent lawyer | 0.5% – 1.5% | Buyer-side legal representation and due diligence. |
| Mortgage arrangement | 0.5% – 1.5% | Bank opening fee; valuation typically €300–€600. |
Launch regions
Spain's most sought-after coastlines
Costa del Sol
Year-round sun, golf and a polished international community.
21 curated areas
Costa Tropical
Granada's subtropical coast — mild winters and authentic pueblos.
4 curated areas
Costa de Almería
Driest climate in Europe, strong yields and exceptional value.
6 curated areas
Costa Blanca
Authentic Mediterranean villages and exceptional value.
13 curated areas
Mallorca
Refined island living from Palma to the Tramuntana.
10 curated areas
Ibiza
Iconic beaches, design villas and trophy investments.
6 curated areas
Gran Canaria
Year-round 22°C climate, dunes, marinas and strong winter yields.
7 curated areas
Featured destinations
Where international buyers are looking
Costa del Sol€€€€
Marbella
Luxury living · Investors · Families
Glamorous coastal capital with year-round sun, world-class dining and a polished international community.
Lifestyle9.4
Investment8.6
Family8.5
Luxury9.5
€/m² avg€5,800
Rental yield5.4%
40 min to Málaga (AGP)
Costa del Sol€€€
Estepona
Families · Long-term residents
Charming old town, blooming flower-lined streets and a maturing luxury beachfront.
Lifestyle8.6
Investment8.5
Family8.8
Luxury8.2
€/m² avg€4,200
Rental yield5.7%
1h to AGP
Mallorca€€€€
Palma
Urban luxury · Investors
Sophisticated capital — Gothic cathedral, design hotels, marina and serious capital appreciation.
Lifestyle9.2
Investment9.0
Family8.4
Luxury9.2
€/m² avg€5,200
Rental yield5.0%
15 min to PMI
Mallorca€€€€
Port Andratx
Trophy assets · Privacy
Postcard fishing harbour turned ultra-prime enclave with hillside villas overlooking superyachts.
Lifestyle9.2
Investment8.4
Family8.4
Luxury9.7
€/m² avg€7,800
Rental yield4.0%
40 min to PMI
Ibiza€€€€
Ibiza Town
Lifestyle · Short-let investors
UNESCO Dalt Vila, marina nightlife and the island's commercial and cultural heart.
Lifestyle9.0
Investment8.8
Family7.4
Luxury9.2
€/m² avg€6,500
Rental yield5.8%
10 min to IBZ
Ibiza€€€€
Santa Eulalia
Families · Year-round residents
The island's family capital — palm-lined promenade, marina and excellent restaurants.
Lifestyle8.8
Investment8.2
Family9.2
Luxury8.8
€/m² avg€5,800
Rental yield5.2%
25 min to IBZ
How it works
Six elegant steps from idea to keys
01
Tell us your goals
Lifestyle, budget, timeline and intent — in minutes.
02
Discover ideal destinations
AI shortlists Spanish regions and areas that match you.
03
Understand affordability
See realistic budgets, costs and total cash needed.
04
Estimate mortgage options
Model down payments, rates and monthly commitments.
05
Curated property guidance
Receive guidance on the right neighbourhoods and stock.
06
Navigate the purchase digitally
From offer to notary, every step tracked in one dashboard.
Our data
Built on the data sources that actually move a Spanish deal
We are not a portal recycling listings. BuyaProp combines official, market and advisory data into one decision layer — transparently sourced and continuously expanding.
Colegio de Registradores de España
PlannedOfficial property registry. Closest source to ground truth for completed Spanish property sales.
Consejo General del Notariado
PlannedNotarial deed data — actual signed transaction prices, mortgage usage and non-resident buyer behaviour.
INE — Instituto Nacional de Estadística
PlannedNational statistics: demographics, migration, tourism and property transfer data.
Banco de España
PlannedCentral bank data: mortgage market, interest rates, credit conditions and affordability.
Idealista Data
RoadmapThe most comprehensive real-time Spanish market source — asking prices, demand and rental yields per micro-market.
Savills Spain Research
RoadmapPrime and luxury market intelligence with strong Costa del Sol and Balearic coverage.
BuyaProp is buyer-side and free for buyers. We don't represent sellers and you never pay us a commission. When you're ready, we introduce you to vetted local agents and partners — and they pay us a referral fee only if a deal completes. Our recommendations are based on fit, not who pays the most.
Decision frameworks
The trade-offs every Spanish buyer weighs
Quick, honest comparisons — not sales pitches — for the decisions that shape your purchase.
Marbella vs Estepona
MarbellavsEstepona
Established prestige and liquidity vs faster growth, newer stock and better €/m² today.
Apartment vs Villa
ApartmentvsVilla
Lower entry price, community services and lock-and-leave vs privacy, land and long-term capital growth.
New build vs Resale
New buildvsResale
10% IVA + AJD, modern spec, staged payments vs 6–10% ITP, established communities, immediate move-in.
Mortgage vs Cash
Non-resident mortgagevsCash purchase
Capital efficiency and FX flexibility vs faster closing, lower fees and stronger negotiation position.
Agent vs Independent buyer representation
Estate agentvsIndependent buyer rep
Represents the seller and earns commission on the sale vs represents only the buyer's interests.
Buying property in Spain — quick answers
Can foreigners buy property in Spain?
Yes. There are no restrictions on non-EU or non-resident foreigners owning residential property in Spain. You will need a Spanish tax ID (NIE) and a Spanish bank account to complete the purchase.
What is the total cost of buying a property in Spain?
Budget roughly 10–14% on top of the purchase price. That typically includes ITP or IVA + AJD, notary and Land Registry fees, independent legal fees and — if applicable — mortgage arrangement and valuation costs.
Do I need to be in Spain to buy a property?
No. The full purchase can be completed remotely by granting a Power of Attorney to your Spanish lawyer, who can then sign the deed at the notary on your behalf.
How much deposit do I need as a non-resident?
Non-resident mortgages in Spain typically finance 60–70% of the lower of purchase price or bank valuation. You should plan for 30–40% deposit plus 10–14% in taxes and fees.
How long does it take to buy a property in Spain?
From accepted offer to notary signing is usually 6 to 12 weeks — faster for a cash purchase, longer where a non-resident mortgage or complex due diligence is involved.
What taxes do I pay when buying a Spanish property?
On a resale you pay ITP (6–10% depending on region). On a new build you pay 10% IVA plus AJD (0.5–1.5%). Ongoing you pay annual IBI, non-resident income tax (IRNR) and — if applicable — wealth tax.
Do I need a Spanish lawyer to buy a property?
It is strongly recommended. An independent Spanish lawyer represents only your interests, reviews the Nota Simple and planning status, checks debts and community fees, and protects your reservation deposit.
What is a Nota Simple and why does it matter?
The Nota Simple is the Land Registry extract showing the current legal owner, surface area, charges and encumbrances on a property. Reviewing it is the first legal check before any offer or deposit.
Can I get a mortgage in Spain as a non-resident?
Yes. Most major Spanish banks offer non-resident mortgages, typically at 60–70% LTV on 20–25 year terms, with income and debt-to-income requirements broadly comparable to your home country.
Do I need residency to buy property in Spain?
No. You can buy as a non-resident with just an NIE number. Residency is a separate legal process related to living in Spain, not to owning property.
Is buying property in Spain a good investment?
Historically, prime coastal Spanish property has delivered stable capital growth and 3–6% gross rental yields, with strong international demand. Returns vary sharply by location, property type and buying costs — model both before committing.
What are the biggest risks when buying property in Spain?
The most common risks are undisclosed debts or charges, unregistered extensions, expired occupancy licences, coastal-law affectations and unclear tourist-rental status. Independent legal due diligence eliminates almost all of them.
From discovery to deed — one trusted platform.
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