FAQ

It is true that technological advances have eliminated many barriers, the buying and selling processes can be complicated for some, especially if it is someone who does not reside in the country or does not speak the language and does not know the legislative and fiscal matters with which have to comply. It is very important to have a professional in the sector by our side to guide us and not have to worry about anything.

A real estate consultant is in charge of:

• Guide you according to your economic possibilities and needs when buying
• Helps you to have all the documentation in order
• Negotiate the purchase or sale price for you
• Is in charge of managing reservation and purchase contracts
• Manages the signature at the notary
• Provides after-sales services
• Manage legal and tax procedures

The only essential requirement to buy a home in Spain is to obtain the NIE (Foreign Identification Number). It is a personal and unique number, essential to carry out any transaction in the country, from opening a business to buying a property.

It is not mandatory to open a bank account in Spain but it will facilitate the payment of taxes and expenses.

Buying a home is subject to various taxes, which on average increase the price of the home substantially. Among them are:

• Value Added Tax (VAT), in the case of new homes or first transmission. Tax rate of 10%. In the Canary Islands it is 7%
• The Property Transfer Tax (ITP), in the case of second-hand residences or second transmission. The tax rate is between 6 and 10% depending on the Autonomous Community where the property is located. In the Canary Islands it is 6.5%.
• Tax on Documented Legal Acts (AJD). It must be paid if the home is purchased and VAT is applied and if it is purchased by mortgage.
  In addition, there are other expenses that must be taken into account:
• Public deed at the notary’s office.
• Registration of the deed in the Property Registry.
• In case it is necessary to ask for a mortgage, it is necessary to include the appraisal, the mortgage taxes and the registration of the deed to the Property Registry.

During the year you will also have to pay other taxes, such as the Real Estate Tax (IBI), the Wealth Tax -if applicable-, the Personal Income Tax (IRPF) or, if you do not live in Spanish territory permanently, you will have to pay the Non-Resident Income Tax.

The declaration of non-residents will be at a tax rate between 19% and 24%, according to the type of income and country where you reside. For the calculation, the income obtained in Spain from economic activities, possession of a second residence, pensions and real estate capital income are taken.

Those who are not tax residents in Spain must also pay an annual Housing Tax of 2% on their Catastral value.

Electricity

The new owner of the house is in charge of requesting and making the change of ownership of the electricity, with the marketer that the seller has contracted. Normally, it is a procedure that can be carried out by telephone.

It depends on the electricity trading company, but to make the change they usually require the data of the previous owner and the new one, the CUPS (Universal Supply Point Code), address and bank account to direct payments. We recommend getting a previous invoice from the seller to have all the data at hand.

Water

If the supplier is a company, we must go to the office and request the change in person. Normally they ask for the data of the new owner, the current reading and the payment methods to pay the invoices.

If the water is managed by the consortium, we must go to the office responsible for each municipality.

Trash

It depends on each municipality but normally we must go to the town hall to request the change.

Community

If the purchased home has a community of owners, we also need to manage the changes with the president of the community or with the administration of the community. They will ask us for our personal information, the method of payment of the monthly payment and a copy of the deeds of sale to prove that we are the new owners.