Stage 02 of 08
The buying process
From NIE number to notary, step by step, with the people you need around you.
What is an NIE number and how do you get one?
The Spanish identification number every foreign buyer needs, where to apply from the UK and how long it takes.
What do the agent, the lawyer and the notary each do?
Three parties, three very different roles, and why the notary does not protect you the way a UK solicitor would.
Step-by-step: buying a property in Spain
The whole process from first orientation to handover of the keys, in seven steps.
Every cost explained: what does buying in Spain actually cost?
Purchase costs, transfer costs and the annual bills, with realistic figures for each.
Documents and translations: what is compulsory?
Which papers you need, which have to be officially translated, and when an apostille is required.
How does reserving a property in Spain work?
What a reservation contract commits you to, what you pay, and what happens if either side walks away.
Legal checks before you buy: avoiding nasty surprises
What due diligence covers in Spain, and why it sits with your lawyer rather than the notary.
Buying from the UK without travelling: how it works
Powers of attorney, video viewings and the risks of completing a purchase without being there.
How long does the buying process take?
Six to ten weeks from reservation to completion, and what makes the difference between the two ends of that range.
Do you always need a lawyer in Spain?
Not legally, but here is what the notary does not check and what you take on if nobody else does.
Next: Mortgages and finance
What British buyers can borrow in Spain, what you need up front and how to plan the transfer.