Top 3 steps for buying a property in Spain: A quick foreigner’s guide

To streamline finding and buying a property in Spain in 2025, there are a few key steps you’ll need to follow to ensure everything runs smoothly. No matter where you are in the world, take a look at this quick foreigner’s guide to ensure you have everything in hand, ready for a simple move and your new life on the Costa Del Sol

All ex-pats hoping to move to Spain in 2025 will need to:

1. Find the right local real estate agent

It’s no secret that not all real estate agents will be created equal, so finding the right one can be imperative. Some property specialists may only offer property listings, while others may give the impression of being local without actually operating in your chosen area. You’ll want to find an expert with in-depth services and knowledge, for example, www.hometailor.com offers everything from an extensive collection of luxury properties, dedicated muti-lingual support and comprehensive property-buying advice to take the hard work out of finding a property, understanding the legalities and filling out the correct paperwork.

2. Open a Spanish bank account and get an NIE identification number (Número de Identificación de Extranjero)

Before relocating to Spain, you will need to open a Spanish bank account and obtain an NIE identification number. Both will allow foreign individuals to make significant financial transactions in the country and will be necessary for a myriad of activities, such as property buying, filing taxes, paying for services and even setting up utilities.

3. Visit the local land registry

Once you have found a property you’d like to buy, visiting the local land registry will be essential. Here, you can verify the legal status of the property, as well as ensure that it is debt-free, that the sale will have no hidden charges and that the property isn’t subject to embargoes. A key consideration is that not all sellers will hold the legal right to sell, so be sure to request a ‘nota simple’ to check these kinds of legalities.

Don’t wait; a luxury Spanish property is right around the corner

Spain is a particularly attractive destination for buyers all over the world for everything from retirement homes to investment properties because of its fantastic climate, friendly locals, great food and gorgeous landscapes and attractions. With help from the right estate agent, your dream Spanish home could be yours in no time at all.