Buying in Spain is a fairly straightforward process as long as you have done your homework in advance with regards to the different stages of the buying process and the various fees involved.
We always advise that prospective buyers prepare everything in advance as there is nothing more frustrating than losing a property because the NIE (tax number) wasn’t obtained in time, a Spanish bank account wasn’t opened in time, the funds still had to be transferred to the Spanish bank account or your finances were not in order. In a multiple offer situation or for a property that has very recently entered the market it is essential to be prepared in order to seal the deal as quickly as possible.
Buying costs vary from region to region and whether also it is a new or re-sale home. VAT (IVA, Impuesto sobre Valor Añadido) and Stamp Duty (AJD, Actos Jurídicos Documentados) are applicable for properties that have never previously been occupied and plots. At present VAT is 10% of the purchase price for new residential properties and 21% for plots. Stamp Duty is a percentage of the purchase price which varies depending on the region, but the base rate is between 0.5% and 1.5%.
When buying a re-sale property from a private individual, Transfer Tax (ITP, Impuesto sobre Transmisiones Patrimoniales) applies. The general ITP rate in Catalunya region is a 10% .
Legal fees can vary due to the amount of work required by the solicitor but as a rough guide they can be anything between €1,000 and €3000. Some lawyers bases their fees on a percentage of the property value. Notary and Land Registry fees can also vary depending on purchase price and the complexity of the deed. But you are looking at approximate costs of €750 for Land Registry fees and €1,000 for Notary fees.
The ITP must be added to the purchase in second-hand homes, in New Construction homes the VAT and AJD and in both cases the notary and registration fees.
The offer price may be modified or canceled without prior notice. All the exposed data are merely indicative
