Buyer's guide

Everything you need to know
before buying in Spain.

Independent, practical guides for foreign buyers. From ordering a Nota Simple to understanding your tax liabilities — no sales copy, no legal jargon, just what you actually need to know.

Start here

What is a Nota Simple in Spain? How to order one and what to look for.

The Nota Simple Informativa is the single most important document any foreign buyer can obtain before purchasing property in Spain. It costs €9.02, takes 48 hours to arrive, and tells you who really owns the property and what is registered against it. Most buyers never order one before signing the arras contract.

Start here 7 min read April 2026
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What you'll learn

  • What the Nota Simple contains
  • How to order one yourself for €9.02
  • The 6 things every buyer must check
  • When the document is out of date
  • What to do with what you find
Guide

How to read a Nota Simple — what foreign buyers need to look for

You have the document in front of you. Now what? A section-by-section walkthrough: ownership, charges, Catastro, and the three lines where most problems hide.

6 min read · April 2026
 Legal

How to check if a Spanish property has debts before you buy

Embargos, IBI arrears, community-of-owners debts, unpaid plusvalía. In Spain, some of these pass to the new owner. Here's how to find and neutralise them before signing.

7 min read · April 2026
 Legal

The arras contract in Spain — what to do before you sign

The moment of maximum exposure. A 10% deposit, no escrow, a penalty clause if you back out. Three things to verify before you ever put pen to paper.

8 min read · March 2026
 Costa Blanca

Buying property on the Costa Blanca — the legal checklist

Alicante, Jávea, Calpe, Moraira, Altea, Torrevieja. The region-specific risks foreign buyers run into on Spain's southern Mediterranean coast — and how to avoid them.

10 min read · March 2026
 Costa del Sol

Buying property on the Costa del Sol — the legal checklist

Marbella, Estepona, Málaga, Benahavís. The Junta de Andalucía's rules, AFO procedures, and the specific traps that catch foreign buyers on the Costa del Sol.

10 min read · April 2026
 Tax

Spanish property taxes for foreign buyers — the complete breakdown

ITP, IVA, AJD, plusvalía, IBI, non-resident income tax, wealth tax. What you pay at purchase, what you pay every year, and how non-resident status changes the numbers.

9 min read · April 2026

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