The vocabulary of Spanish real estate

A tax guarantee attached to the property that can answer for unpaid taxes linked to the sale.

Stamp duty on certain notarial deeds, varying by autonomous community.

Official release of an already-repaid mortgage, to be struck from the registry.

Charges and debts encumbering a property, such as a mortgage or a seizure, entered in the registry.

The tax cadastre describing properties and serving as the basis for the cadastral value.

A certificate attesting that a dwelling is habitable, required in some regions.

The energy assessment required to put a property up for sale.

The estate agency's fee, in Spain usually paid by the seller.

A homeowners' association grouping the owners of a building to manage the common areas.

A preliminary sale contract with a deposit (often 10%) that binds both parties.

The legal, technical and tax checks on a property before committing.

Registration on your municipality's list of residents, used to prove where you live.

The authentic deed of sale signed before a notary that transfers ownership.

The European reference rate used as the index for variable-rate mortgages.

A mandate entrusting the sale to a single agency for a set period.

A capital gains exemption on the main home for sellers over 65.

A capital gains exemption when the proceeds are reinvested in a new main home.

Community fees paid by the owner for the upkeep of the common areas.

A firm that handles the administrative and tax formalities of the transaction.

A loan secured on the property, registered until it is fully repaid.

Styling a home to speed up the sale and improve the price.

The annual property tax owed by whoever owns the property on 1 January.

Annual tax on net wealth above a threshold, varying by region.

Spanish tax on the gain made by a non-resident seller (19% for the EU/EEA).

A mandatory periodic technical inspection of older buildings to check their condition.

The purchase tax on resale homes, paid by the buyer, at a rate that varies by region.

Spanish VAT due on the purchase of a new-build home, generally 10%.

A municipal authorisation confirming that a new dwelling may be occupied in line with its permit.

The non-residents' tax return in Spain, notably for the gain on a sale.

The Spanish tax number required for any foreigner buying or selling a property.

The tax status of a seller or buyer who is not a tax resident in Spain.

An official extract from the Land Registry: owner, description and charges on the property.

A public officer who authenticates the deed of sale and guarantees its legality.

Ownership of a property without the right to use it, which belongs to the usufructuary.

A formal purchase offer in which a buyer proposes a price and conditions.

Local tax on the increase in land value, paid by the seller to the town hall.

A notarised power of attorney allowing a third party to sign on your behalf.

An advance paid to the notary or gestoría to cover taxes and fees.

A unique 20-character identifier assigned to each property in the cadastre.

Official public register recording the owners and the charges on a property.

A 3% withholding on the price, taken at the deed when the seller is a non-resident.

A right burdening one property for the benefit of another, such as a right of way, a view or a pipe.

Transfer of an existing mortgage loan, either to the buyer or to another bank.

The home's utilities — water, electricity and gas — to be transferred or cancelled at the sale.

The all-in annual rate of a loan, including interest and compulsory fees.

A pre-emption right allowing a third party, a tenant or a public body, to buy in priority.

An official valuation of the property, required by the bank before granting a loan.

The right to use and enjoy a property whose bare ownership belongs to someone else.

The administrative value of the property set by the cadastre, used as the base for several taxes.