How to find a property in Spain

Guide to finding a property in Spain

13 October 2017, 12:34

So you’ve decided to buy property in Spain. Now what? What with everything being in Spanish and the property market being so different, it can be quite daunting for first-time expat buyers. Fear not! Here’s our handy guide to all the different ways of finding your dream home:

Firstly, you'll need to ask yourself some vital preliminary questions: What kind of property are you looking for? Will it be a permanent residence or a holiday home? What kind of features are indispensable for you? The more you can specify what you want, the easier it will be to find.

Where? Spain has all kinds of landscapes and regions - mountains, beaches, cities, the dry south, the green north … which is best for you?

Of course, it’s also a must to have a budget in mind before you start looking. How much are you willing to spend to make your Spanish dream come true?

How to go about it

Go through an estate agent or inmobiliaria as they’re called in Spain. This is very handy if you know the exact area you want to buy in as the estate agents know the local properties like the back of their hands. That said, a lot of them are set up to meet the needs of native Spanish citizens, not foreigners, so be sure you find the right one for you.

Cut out the middle-man by using property websites like idealista, a portal where sellers post their houses directly. It’s easy to use, with loads of options to select the perfect type of property for you, from Country Homes and Penthouse apartments to plots of land for development. Alternatively, you can search by region, price, size, publication date and many more, and on top of all this, the site offers all sorts of mortgage services and advice for ex-pats, so you really can’t go wrong. Better yet, it’s in English!

It’s also advisable, once you’ve found a potential property, to visit it in person before you buy, in which case you’ll want to stay in a hotel for a while. This also gives you a chance to get to know better the area in which you’re going to be buying, to know if it’s right for you.

Happy hunting!