Spain Explained

A guide for foreigners on every aspect of safe property ownership in Spain

Posts filtered by Property buying and selling

Hand in Hand

For more than 25 years, Ábaco has offered empathy, support and emotional help to those who have lost a loved one and are going through the inheritance process in Spain. We consider it to be an important part of our role to accompany you and take the bureaucratic burden off your shoulders. Here we explain […]

Read more

An essential tool to determine what renovations you can make to your future home

Purchasing a home is undoubtedly one of the most significant and expensive decisions anyone can make in their life. If you’re at that stage and plan to carry out renovations—whether to create extra living space, build a pool, or add a garage—it’s crucial to consult the urban planning certificate of the property before moving forward. […]

Read more

Avoid Surprises, protect your investment: The importance of requesting an Urban Certificate before buying a property in Spain

Buying a property is one of the most important decisions in anyone’s life. Beyond considering factors such as price, location, or condition, there is a crucial element that often doesn’t get the attention it deserves: the legal compliance of the property. Many buyers are unaware of whether the property they are purchasing meets urban planning […]

Read more

New year, new look!

Building Licenses

Thinking about improvements or extensions to your property? We outline what you need to know.   As we begin 2025, many homeowners may be considering property improvements—whether it’s adding a pool, updating a kitchen, or enclosing a terrace. While these changes can add value, you must also be aware of what the legal implications are. […]

Read more

Cybersecurity in Spain when buying property

Cybersecurity buying home in Spain

Purchasing property in a foreign country can be an exciting yet complex process. Spain, known for its beautiful landscapes, rich culture, and favorable climate, attracts numerous foreign buyers. However, with the increasing reliance on the internet, ensuring cybersecurity during your property purchase is crucial. This article provides advice on safeguarding your financial and personal information […]

Read more

Spanish Inheritance Law: integral support in the process

Spanish Inheritance Law

As you know, Ábaco offers an inheritance service to complete the necessary formalities when someone dies and has property in Spain. Here, the transfer of ownership is not automatic in the same way that it is in other countries. We understand that Spanish inheritance law can be complex. Our website has numerous articles detailing the […]

Read more

The Energy Performance Certificate in Spain

Energy Performance Certificate in Spain

We all know how important it is for our own pockets and the environment, to be energy savvy. The energy performance certificate in Spain is one way in which you can check that a property you are buying, or selling, is energy efficient. In this article we explain what it is, how to get one […]

Read more

The Spanish Land Registry

Property in Spain should be registered on the Land Registry or ‘Registro de la Propiedad’. This is an official record of who the owners are and contains other important pieces of information. But what is the purpose of this register and how does it work in practice? The Registro de la propiedad or Land Registry […]

Read more

The Spanish Notary: What it is, role and fees

spanish-notary

Last updated on February 1st, 2024 at 02:16 pm. Not all countries have a notary to verify documents as they do in Spain. Here the Spanish notary is a very much respected individual whose office carries a clearly recognised ‘Notary’ sign and who trains for several additional years to qualify for the title. Most people […]

Read more

Estate agent regulations: What are they?

Regulations for Estate Agents

¿There are any estate agent regulations? Until recently, there was no official regulation required for estate agents in Spain. Now this is changing in some regions. In this article we explain what the new expectations will be, how your local agent will be held accountable and what this means for buyers and sellers. Estate agents […]

Read more

How to obtain an NIE document in Spain: all you need to know

NIE card in Spain

Last updated on March 27th, 2024 at 05:00 pm. The NIE is essential for any major transaction you wish to carry out in Spain. It is your tax number and you will need it for buying a house, car, or even collecting your mail on occasions. In this article we explain in more detail about […]

Read more

What is the cost of buying property in Spain?

cost of buying property in Spain

As you gaze into the estate agents’ window it’s easy to forget that the price you are seeing there is only part of the overall cost to you. It’s important that you take into account the additional fees that will come your way. In this article we outline what buying property in Spain costs overall. […]

Read more

Where are the cheapest regions in Spain?

cheapest region in spain

Last updated on April 19th, 2023 at 02:57 pm. Everyone likes a bargain and it’s true to say that Spanish property is well-priced in comparison with many other countries. However, there are big differences when it comes to different areas. In this article we look to different areas of the country to find the cheapest […]

Read more

Your guide to becoming an expat in Spain

becoming an expat in spain

Last updated on April 19th, 2023 at 02:57 pm. Are you thinking of becoming an expat in Spain? You might be on the verge of retirement and wanting a fresh start somewhere warm and sunny. Perhaps you are a remote worker who would enjoy the Spanish lifestyle of outdoor living and fiestas. Spain has many […]

Read more

Spanish property prices – time to invest?

Spanish Property Prices

The past few years have had their ups and downs but where are we now when it comes to Spanish property prices? In this article we look at the trends and consider whether it’s a good time to buy property in Spain. Spain, like most European countries, is feeling the pinch. There are expectations that […]

Read more

Find the best casa rural in Spain

casa rural spain

If you’re looking for a tranquil, sun-drenched holiday, then look no further than a casa rural in Spain. After all, it’s not news that the days of the package holiday are well and truly gone. Now, most people prefer to build their dream holiday from scratch. Instead, tourists will book their flights and accommodation separately […]

Read more

Real estate investment in Spain – Basic guidelines for property landlords

Real Estate investment in Spain

Last updated on March 13th, 2023 at 01:21 pm. What do you do if you have some money to spare and you want a safe return on it? Real estate investment in Spain is a good option if you want to see your money work for you and not sit around in a bank account. […]

Read more

The Golden Visa in Spain – Invest and obtain residency

golden visa in spain

The Golden Visa in Spain provides non-EU citizens with an opportunity to obtain residency through investment. Spain introduced the Golden Visa scheme in 2012 in order to encourage entrepreneurship, investment, and internationalism. However, the principal aim of the Golden Visa initiative is to stimulate the Spanish economy. By attracting entrepreneurs and investors to the country, […]

Read more

IBI – the Spanish council tax

Spanish tax forms

More or less every country has a procedure for collecting taxes to pay for the local infrastructure. Every day we are using facilities that need maintaining and replacing. In Spain, the tax that is charged to pay for these is called IBI. Many of the roads that you drive on, the lights that illuminate them, […]

Read more

How long does it take to buy a house in Spain?

How long does it take to buy a house in Spain?

Last updated on November 2nd, 2022 at 05:13 pm. You’ve seen the house of your dreams, made your offer and it’s been accepted. It should all be plain sailing from here? Not necessarily. So much depends upon the owner’s paperwork management and if they’ve kept up with their taxes. So, how long does it take […]

Read more

Investing in rental in Spain – the safe way

Investing in rental

Last updated on October 24th, 2022 at 12:20 pm. With poor interest rates and uncertainty around currencies, people with money to invest can often choose to purchase property to rent in Spain. It can be a good investment that provides you with a return on your capital now and the prospect of a home for […]

Read more

Changes to property transfer tax – New reference value in Spain

New reference value in Spain

When property is transferred from one person to another in Spain there is a tax to pay. From January 2022, inheritance, donation and transfer tax, will all be affected by the new ‘reference value’ in Spain, in Spanish it is called Valor de Referencia. If you have property in Spain or are considering buying somewhere, […]

Read more

Legal advice in Spain, let the professionals help you

Let the professionals help you

Changing ownership of property in Spain is an important process that must be done correctly. Make sure to have legal advice in Spain, our professional lawyers and legal experts are here to help you. There are a number of reasons why you might want to transfer the ownership of a property into someone else’s name. […]

Read more

Transferring a property to your spouse in Spain

Transferring a property to your spouse in Spain

Many people are unaware that there are significant differences in the way that the inheritance process works when transferring a property to your spouse in Spain. In this article we outline what you should know and how you might prepare. For many people, owning a property in Spain is a dream come true. The purchase […]

Read more

Cautious optimism within the housing market

Housing market

People with a house to sell and those thinking of buying shouldn’t expect the same level of slump within the housing market post COVID as there was in 2008. The situation is proving to be quite different with some types of housing more, not less, in demand than before. It’s still a bitter memory. The […]

Read more