Do you want to become an estate agent in Spain? Do you need qualifications to be an estate agent in Spain? Do you need a licence to be an estate agent in Spain? We have the answers. No registration or formal qualifications are required to become a real estate agent in Spain, which has led to it being seen as a safe haven profession in difficult times. However, although there are no requirements to become a real estate agent, it is advisable to have (or train) certain basic qualities to become a professional real estate agent. We explain everything in this guide on how to become a real estate agent in Spain.
Working as an estate agent in Spain
Working as an estate agent in Spain isn't just all about showing people around properties and finding potential buyers. There are 3 main aspects to this profession: commercial, management and negotiation. The usual tasks will be answering emails, making calls, visiting clients and properties, attending meetings and preparing reports, while you'll be the middleman between buyers and sellers, as well as responsible for handling the relevant documentation and guiding buyers or sellers through the whole process from start to finish. It's your job as an estate agent to help both buyers and sellers when it comes to the pitfalls of buying property in Spain and to navigate through the process of selling property in Spain.
How much do real estate agents make in Spain?
Working in Spanish real estate is often a career path that requires you to start at the bottom and work your way to the top. This means that to begin with, real estate agents might not make much money, but with experience and more success, the salary of a real estate agent will increase. Commissions also vary by region, type of property, and over time. According to Salary Explorer, the online salary comparison website, A person working as a Real Estate Agent in Spain typically earns around 2,510 euros per month (30,100 euros per year). Salaries range from 1,230 euros (lowest) to 3,910 euros (highest), although bonuses and extra commissions can also further increase the salary of an estate agent in Spain.
Can foreigners become real estate agents in Spain?
Foreigners can indeed become real estate agents in Spain, and given how easy it is to set up an estate agency in Spain, there is an increasing number of foreign owned-and-run estate agents in Spain. This is a good opportunity to focus on your strengths and work with buyers from your country of origin, especially for language reasons (although as an agent you'll also need to know Spanish in order to liaise with sellers and other clients).
Be a successful estate agent in Spain
Anyone can work as a real estate agent, but not everyone will get good results. These are the main skills and qualities that will get you on your way to success:
Skills and qualifications to become a real estate agent in Spain
- Marketing: your main mission is to bring value to property owners and buyers. Experience and knowledge of both traditional and digital marketing will be highly valuable if you want to be successful. Take advantage of new technologies, social media and online marketing to gain a competitive advantage.
- Law and procedures: real estate and its transactions are governed by several laws from different branches of law in Spain (civil, urban, tax...). As a real estate agent in Spain, you must know the basics of real estate law and the administrative procedures necessary to provide a good service to your clients.
- Finance and mortgages: buying a home is one of the biggest decisions people make in their lives, and knowing financial basics will transmit confidence and will differentiate you from other estate agents. In addition, the vast majority of real estate transactions are closed with mortgages, so you should also know their characteristics in Spain and the best offers on the market.
- Real estate valuations: one of your main functions is to find a fair market price for the properties you sell. You will need to know what parameters are involved in the valuation of a property and be able to explain them to your clients.
- Knowledge of the real estate sector in Spain: you don't need to know what is happening in the real estate sector on the other side of the world, but you do need to become an expert on what is happening in your area and in Spain in general: supply, demand, prices, urban planning etc..
Qualities to become a real estate agent in Spain
- Commercial spirit: without a doubt, you must have the qualities of a good salesperson: communication, negotiation, solid sales techniques etc.. Some people are born with them, but if you don't have them, don't worry: there's always time to learn and improve.
- Empathy: this is a fundamental skill for a real estate agent, as they have to put themselves in the shoes of both parties (seller and buyer) and strive to reach satisfactory agreement for both
- Social intelligence: being able to weave relationships will help you in your career as an estate agent. It's not really about real estate and properties, it's about relationships and people
- Proactivity: opportunities don't just come out of the blue, you have to go looking for them. Anticipating your competition, being change-oriented and looking for the right solutions are a must for any real estate agent in Spain.
- Resilience: real estate brokerage is one of the most beautiful professions as you are helping to create homes. But it is a long-distance race with obstacles. Facing them and coming out stronger will help you to be a successful real estate agent in Spain.
Another way to turn your talent into success as a real estate agent in Spain is by signing up to one of idealista's real estate courses. Courses include a wide selection of workshops and webinars, aimed at real estate professionals who want to learn the best practices in the industry.
Setting up an estate agency in Spain
To set up your own agency in Spain, the minimal requirement is to be registered in Spain's Self-Employed Regime where you will have to identify as an "autónomo". As mentioned, there are no official qualifications required to become an estate agent in Spain. In spite of this, there are a range of Spanish organisations that offer a type of real estate license in Spain. These include API (Agente de la Propiedad Inmobiliaria) and GIPE (Gestor Intermediario de Promociones y Edificaciones) for which agents need to take a real estate course and pass an exam to get a certificate. This is not necessary but may make your business seem more trustworthy and give more peace of mind to clients.
How to sell property in Spain as an estate agent
The best agents in Spain advertise their properties on idealista, and if you're working as a real estate agent in Spain, idealista is here to help. Whether you're already working as an estate agent in Spain or are just setting up an estate agency, we have a range of tools at your disposal to help you on your way to success.
- Advertise your agency's properties on idealista
- Manage all your properties on one simple platform with idealista/tools
- Increase your knowledge of the Spanish real estate market with idealista/data
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