Buying a house in Spain – step by step

1. Set a realistic total budget

Budget for the purchase price plus roughly 10–14 per cent in taxes, notary, registration and legal fees. New builds are taxed differently from resale homes, so the cost depends on what you buy. Decide too how much you want to spend on furnishing and any renovation.

2. Choose the area before the property

The difference between towns on the Costa del Sol is bigger than the difference between two apartments on the same street. Travel time from the airport, whether the town lives in January, access to Scandinavian services and price per square metre all vary. Read our four area guides and pick two towns to visit.

3. Get a NIE and a Spanish bank account

The NIE is your Spanish tax and identity number, required for the purchase, utilities and taxes. You can apply at the Spanish consulate in Sweden or in Spain, and a power of attorney to your lawyer makes it smoother. A Spanish account is needed for running costs.

4. Go on a viewing trip

Set aside two to three days and see six to ten properties in your chosen areas. View them in daylight and in the evening, and walk the same route to the beach, the shop and the restaurant you would use day to day. Photograph the view, the parking and the shared areas.

5. Hire your own lawyer

Use an independent Spanish lawyer who is not connected to the seller or the agent. The lawyer confirms that the seller owns the property, that it is free of debts and mortgages, that permits and registered areas match reality, and that community fees are paid.

6. Reservation and private contract

First you pay a small reservation fee so the property leaves the market. Then comes the private contract, where you normally pay 10 per cent of the price. It is binding — walking away without valid grounds costs you the deposit, and the seller carries the mirror-image liability.

7. Notary, payment and keys

Completion happens at the notary, where the balance is paid and you receive the title deed. The purchase is then registered, and utilities and community fees are transferred to you. If you cannot attend, your lawyer can sign under a power of attorney.

8. After the purchase

As an owner you pay municipal property tax (IBI), refuse charges, community fees and an annual Spanish tax return even if you do not let the home. If you do let it, Andalusia normally requires a tourist licence number, and rental income is declared in both Spain and Sweden.

9. Price levels town by town

Price per square metre varies sharply between towns, and that is usually where the budget is decided. In Marbella a two or three bedroom in a good location sits around EUR 280k–750k, Nueva Andalucía around EUR 330k–650k in golf-side complexes, Estepona around EUR 230k–520k and Fuengirola around EUR 190k–370k. For a villa, Estepona starts near EUR 650k while Marbella and Nueva Andalucía start nearer EUR 900k–1.1M. Read the area guides before fixing your bracket.

10. Seven mistakes buyers make

Most problems we see can be avoided with a few simple rules.

• Signing the private contract before an independent lawyer has reviewed the papers.
• Budgeting only the price and forgetting the 10–14 per cent in costs.
• Choosing the property before the town, then finding the area shuts in January.
• Not checking the community fee, finances and letting rules.
• Assuming the registered area matches reality without checking.
• Applying for the NIE too late, pushing back the notary date.
• Only seeing the home in summer light, never on a grey winter day.

11. A timeline in weeks

A typical purchase of a resale home takes about three months from first contact to keys.

• Week 1–2: budget, area choice and contact with an agent partner.
• Week 2–4: NIE application and mortgage pre-approval started.
• Week 4–6: viewing trip and choosing the home.
• Week 6–7: reservation, legal review and private contract with 10 per cent.
• Week 10–14: notary, final payment, registration and keys.