Spanish Property Insight is a property information website run by Mark Stücklin, author of the Spanish Property Doctor Column in The Sunday Times (2005-2008), and the book ‘Need to Know: Buying Property in Spain’ published by Collins. (Buy from Amazon)
This website offers you the latest Spanish property market news, data and analysis, plus guides explaining the procedures and costs for buying, owning and selling real estate in Spain. Spanish Property Insight is recommended by the British Government.
Spanish Property Insight for owners and vendors
In early 2025 we are building a smart tool powered by AI to:
- Help property owners in Spain manage their homes like experts—unlocking insights, staying organised, and making property ownership easier than ever.
- Help vendors understand the market, get their property sale-ready, organise all the right documents, and work with estate agents from a position of strength. If you want to sell your home in Spain, this service will help you get your ducks in a row and sell like a pro.
Sign up for the SPI news bulletin to be kept informed of progress and be the first to know when the service is launched.
Spanish Property Insight For house hunters
Buying a property in Spain can be an enriching affair, both financially and in terms of enhancing your happiness and quality of life, but only if you go in with eyes wide open, aware of the risks and costs, and get the purchase right.
Getting the purchase right means buying the right property for the right reasons, in the right way, and at the right time (for you at least). It means approaching your purchase in a structured and organised way whilst understanding the purchase process in Spain. It means understanding the risks involved in making one of the biggest investments of your life in a foreign country whilst dealing with people who don’t necessarily have your best interests at heart. Most of all, it means being well informed, as information is empowering, and the more you know, the harder it will be for others to take advantage of you. So this website is designed to arm you with information to help you take informed decisions and buy safely in Spain (or decide against buying as the case may be).
It follows that the purpose of this website is not to “sell the dream” but to point out the risks and realities of pursuing the dream. This inevitably means focusing on the problems, risks, costs, and other negative issues that may make you wonder whether buying a property in Spain is such a good idea after all. That is certainly a question you should ask yourself, as for some people the answer will be NO, and it is better to find this out before proceeding to buy. But for the rest, learn from these pages, but don’t let them dampen your enthusiasm if your dreams are realistic.
A few words of advice for house hunters in Spain
- Always conduct your own research before purchasing real estate in Spain. This includes understanding how the conveyancing process works in Spain and identifying the main risks involved. It also means researching local market prices to gain a realistic idea of property values, which will help guide your decision. Buyers who fail to research the market are likely to overpay for property and take unnecessary risks.
- The dream of owning property in Spain must be balanced by practical considerations. Be honest with yourself when deciding what type of property you truly need. Wishful thinking alone often leads to poor decisions.
- Approach the purchase in a structured and organised manner, and remain vigilant at all times. Pursuing the dream of owning property in Spain is no excuse for making rash or risky decisions that you would not consider at home.
- Always begin by creating a clear, written brief of your property requirements to guide your search.
- Engaging an independent, competent Spanish lawyer is almost always a good idea if you are on unfamiliar ground. If you do need a lawyer it is essential to avoid one with conflicts of interest, so never ask anyone involved in selling you a property to recommend a lawyer. Additionally, never use the in-house lawyer of an estate agent or developer.
- Try to deal only with reputable companies. Research any company thoroughly before proceeding. Never sign a contract or pay a deposit without first carrying out appropriate due diligence and receiving confirmation from your lawyer that it is safe to proceed. Due diligence varies depending on the circumstances, but as a general rule, never buy a resale property unless it is accurately described in the notarised title deeds and is free from debts and encumbrances. When purchasing off-plan, always ensure that a building licence has been granted by the local town hall, that your stage payments are properly guaranteed, and that the contract you sign is watertight. Never sign the deeds for an off-plan property until the first occupancy licence (licencia de primera ocupación) has been granted.
- Maintain a healthy sense of scepticism regarding any claims made by those trying to sell you property. This is particularly important when considering off-plan investments. Never invest in off-plan property unless you have the financial means to withstand a worst-case scenario.
- Never allow yourself to be pressured into making a decision.
- Always ensure that your financial position is clear before paying a deposit. Failure to do so may result in the loss of your deposit.
- Make sure you fully understand your fiscal obligations after purchasing property in Spain. In particular, be aware of the high transaction costs involved.
- Finally, ask yourself: do you really need to buy a property in Spain?
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