Spanish Real Estate Glossary

A definitive English-language reference for the Spanish real estate terminology you will encounter buying property on the Costa del Sol - from arras and NIE to plusvalía and nota simple. Every term has its own page, written for buyers, not for Google.

30 terms · 14 letters

A

6 terms

Arras A holding deposit and the contract that governs it Documents Arras penitenciales Deposit allowing both parties to withdraw with a penalty Documents AJD — Actos Jurídicos Documentados Stamp duty on notarised documents (new-build, mortgages) Tax Agencia inmobiliaria Real estate agency Professionals API — Agente de la Propiedad Inmobiliaria Officially registered estate agent (the Spanish licence) Professionals Aval bancario A bank-issued guarantee Financing

B

2 terms

Bien inmueble Real property (immovable asset) Legal Branded residences Apartments operated under a luxury hotel or fashion brand Property types

C

5 terms

Catastro The Spanish cadastre — official property registry for tax Documents Cédula de habitabilidad Habitability certificate (required to occupy or sell) Documents Certificado de eficiencia energética Energy performance certificate (EPC) Documents Comunidad de propietarios The legal community of owners of a building or development Legal Contrato de compraventa A purchase-and-sale transaction (or its deed) Buying

E

2 terms

Escritura pública The notarised deed of sale — conveys ownership Documents Euribor The benchmark rate for most Spanish variable mortgages Financing

G

1 term

Golden Visa Residency permit obtained through property investment of €500,000+ Legal

H

1 term

Hipoteca Mortgage Financing

I

3 terms

IBI — Impuesto sobre Bienes Inmuebles Annual property tax (equivalent to UK council tax) Tax ITP — Impuesto sobre Transmisiones Patrimoniales Transfer tax on resale property purchases Tax IVA — Impuesto sobre el Valor Añadido VAT on new-build property purchases (10%) Tax

L

1 term

Licencia de primera ocupación First occupation licence (required before moving in) Documents

N

3 terms

NIE — Número de Identidad de Extranjero Tax ID number required by all foreign property buyers in Spain Legal Nota simple Official Land Registry extract showing ownership, charges and encumbrances Documents Notario Public official who certifies the deeds of sale Professionals

O

1 term

Off-plan Property purchased before construction is complete Buying

P

1 term

Plusvalía Municipal capital gains tax on the increase in cadastral land value Tax

R

2 terms

Referencia catastral The cadastral reference number identifying a property in the tax register Documents Registro de la Propiedad The Spanish Land Registry — official record of property ownership Documents

T

1 term

Tasación Official property valuation required for a mortgage Financing

V

1 term

VPO — Vivienda de Protección Oficial Subsidised affordable housing with price controls Buying