{"id":9053,"date":"2022-08-05T15:09:00","date_gmt":"2022-08-05T13:09:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/reyns-advocaten.be\/?p=1244"},"modified":"2026-06-26T11:35:59","modified_gmt":"2026-06-26T09:35:59","slug":"stappenplan-voor-de-aankoop-van-een-onroerend-goed-in-spanje-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/reyns-advocaten.be\/en\/stappenplan-voor-de-aankoop-van-een-onroerend-goed-in-spanje-2\/","title":{"rendered":"A \u201cstep-by-step plan\u201d for purchasing real estate in Spain"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Written by<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Christian Stoop<\/a><\/p>\n <\/div>\n

Expertise<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n Real estate<\/a>\n <\/div>\n

Publication<\/strong><\/p>\n

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5 August 2022<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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During the summer months, people traditionally head abroad. One family opts to go camping in a tent or caravan, while another prefers to book a hotel room. Every year, more and more people decide to rent a holiday home abroad. Booking accommodation often represents a substantial investment year after year, which is why an increasing number of people are considering investing in a second home. At Reyns Advocaten, we are pleased to assist you with all your questions about purchasing real estate in Spain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mr. Christian Stoop, Senior Partner at Reyns Advocaten, assists fellow nationals on a daily basis with the purchase of property in Spain. He guides you through the steps required to become the owner of a property in Spain without difficulties:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Choosing a property<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

First and foremost, it is advisable to form a clear idea of the type of property you are looking for (apartment, villa, …) and the region you prefer. It is worthwhile to make a thorough visit to the region of your choice beforehand. After all, a purchase involves a significant investment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Contacting a real estate agent<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

A real estate agent can be very useful.\u00a0They can present you with a wide range of properties. Caution is nevertheless required. In Spain, the profession of real estate agent is neither protected nor regulated. We therefore recommend engaging a reliable agent with sufficient experience to assist you in selecting properties.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Making an offer<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Once you have made your choice, you can make an offer. In Spain, it is customary to pay a deposit, a kind of reservation fee,\u00a0of \u20ac6,000 to \u20ac10,000 to take the property off the market. This is done by means of a ‘reservation agreement’. In principle, the amount is non-refundable. It is, however, advisable to engage a lawyer already at this stage.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unlike a Belgian notary, a Spanish notary has only a very limited duty of verification. The lawyer will carry out the preliminary searches and review the documents. The preliminary searches relate, on the one hand, to town-planning aspects and, on the other hand, to the identification of the owner. It will also be checked whether the property is free of mortgages or attachments. This gives you a clear picture of what you are buying, the possible risks, and any additional costs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Private agreement\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The next step usually follows when signing a private agreement, meaning without the involvement of a notary. In Spain, this may take the form of a purchase agreement, an option contract, or an \u2018arras\u2019 contract.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

An \u2018arras\u2019 agreement provides that the seller may still unilaterally cancel the sale, provided the buyer is paid double the deposit already paid by the buyer. These agreements must include the following necessary details:<\/p>\n\n\n\n