The legal process for foreign buyers
NIE numbers, mortgages for non-residents, the notary, the land registry — what actually happens, in what order, and where buyers get caught out.
Guía de compra
The buying guide
Buying in Spain is not complicated once someone explains it properly. This guide is that explanation — the process, the taxes, the timeline, and the traps, written for buyers rather than for search engines.
Taxes, explained
ITP versus IVA, plusvalía, IBI, and the annual running costs nobody mentions in the sales brochure.
The areas, in depth
Torremolinos to Estepona, town by town: who buys there, what it costs, and what it is like in February — not just in July.
Common mistakes and how to avoid them
Reserving before the lawyer has seen the nota simple. Trusting the agent's valuation. Underestimating community fees. The patterns repeat.
From first viewing to keys: the timeline
Week by week, what a well-run purchase looks like — offer, reservation, arras, escritura — and how long each stage really takes.
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