THE LLAVETE BUYER’S GUIDE
Buying property in Spain, one clear step at a time.
A place by the Mediterranean starts with a little planning. Get to know the process, the people involved and the costs to consider — with Llavete as your personal point of contact.
Discover the buying process For international buyers · Focus on Andalucía
THE PATH TO YOUR PROPERTY
These are the usual stages. Your property, financing and contract will shape the exact timetable.
START WITH YOUR PLANS
Tell Llavete what matters to you: an apartment or villa, outdoor space, holiday plans and your preferred budget. Allow for purchase taxes and professional fees alongside the property price. If you need finance, speak to a lender early so your search reflects the funds available.
MAKE IT YOUR CHOICE
Once you have chosen a property, the reservation document sets out the unit, deposit and agreed holding period. Your lawyer can explain the refund and cancellation terms before you sign or pay. The reservation is €6,000; Llavete will take you through the terms for your chosen property.
PUT THE DETAILS IN PLACE
An independent lawyer reviews the title, registered charges, planning position and purchase documents. A Land Registry extract, known as a nota simple, identifies the registered owner and charges. For a new development, the review also covers building documentation and the arrangements protecting advance payments.
As an overseas buyer, organise your Spanish tax identification early, normally a NIE. For a tourist-licence property, your adviser will also explain its authorised use and the resort agreement.
YOUR CONTACT IN SPAIN
Llavete helps you explore the homes and understand the information for your chosen property, while your independent lawyer handles the legal advice.
Tell us what you’re looking forAGREE THE WAY FORWARD
The contract records the property, price, payment stages and completion arrangements. New-build purchases may involve payments during construction. Your lawyer explains the obligations and payment protection, and you receive a schedule to plan around. Llavete will share this development’s agreed payment schedule for your chosen home, including how the reservation is credited.
THE SIGNING DAY
You and the seller, or authorised representatives, sign the public purchase deed, the escritura. The notary checks identity, authority to sign and the relevant registry information, and explains the deed. Final funds and the agreed handover are coordinated for completion.
The notary’s roleWELCOME TO YOUR NEXT CHAPTER
Your appointed adviser arranges the applicable tax filings and submission to the Land Registry. Handover is also the moment to organise keys, utilities, insurance and any resort arrangements. Keep a copy of the deed, tax receipts and registration documents for your records.
In Andalucía, the general Model 600 filing and payment period is two months from the day after the taxable event. Your adviser identifies the relevant date and any other deadlines.
Andalucía filing guidanceSEE THE WHOLE PICTURE
A clear cost breakdown makes it easier to choose confidently. Start with the project’s planning figures below. Ask Llavete for a property-specific breakdown alongside your price and payment schedule.
Estimated purchase costs to budget for on top of the property price.
Reserve your chosen property with €6,000, credited towards the purchase price under the agreed terms.
Financing of 50% of the purchase price, subject to the bank’s assessment and approval.
Your resort purchase, calculated individually. Allow an estimated 14–18% of the purchase price for taxes and purchase costs. Llavete will help you obtain the detailed breakdown for your selected unit and its applicable tax treatment.
These examples cover different property categories. They are not a tax quotation for this resort and should not be added together. Your selected unit’s classification determines its applicable treatment.
| Item | Indicative amount | At a glance |
|---|---|---|
| New dwelling VATIVA | 10% | General rate for qualifying new dwellings. Other property categories generally attract 21%; confirm the classification of tourist accommodation.Official VAT guidance |
| Stamp dutyAJD · Andalucía | 1.2% | General rate on qualifying notarial documents, typically alongside VAT. Reliefs may apply.Andalucía tax guidance |
| Resale purchase taxITP · Alternative tax route | 7% | General Andalucía rate for purchases subject to ITP. Do not add this to the typical new-build VAT calculation.Andalucía tax guidance |
| NotaryPurchase deed | €600–€1,200 | Planning estimate; the deed and transaction determine the final fee. |
| Land RegistryOwnership registration | €300–€650 | Planning estimate for registering the purchase. |
| Legal adviceIndependent lawyer | Around 1% | Of the purchase price, or an agreed fixed fee. Confirm VAT and the services included. |
| ValuationIf financing is required | €250–€600 | Indicative valuation fee, normally paid by the borrower. |
| Mortgage arrangementIf charged by the lender | 0–1% | Illustrative range, not a legal cap. Some offers have no arrangement fee; your offer sets the actual amount. |
| Purchase administrationIf separately commissioned | €300–€500 | Indicative allowance. Check whether this is already included in your lawyer’s quote. |
Fee ranges are planning estimates, not fixed tariffs or a quote. Confirm VAT, the taxable base and included services. Currency transfers, insurance and optional services may add costs. The lender pays mortgage deed, registry, tax and administration costs for loans covered by Spain’s mortgage-credit law; purchase costs remain separate. Bank of Spain guidance
PUT THE PERCENTAGES IN CONTEXT
Estimated additional costs using the 14–18% budget range. This is a planning example; your selected property’s breakdown will confirm the total. Reservation and contract payments are part of the price, not extra fees.
WHEREVER YOU CALL HOME
You can start the conversation from home. Here are the practical points international buyers often ask about.
YOUR FIRST STEP CAN BE A CONVERSATION
Explore the homes, ask your questions and discover what the next step could look like for you.
Talk to Llavete about buying Explore the apartments & villas