“I live in Spain and I would like to buy a house – how do I do it?” is a question many people ask. Congratulations on doing the sensible thing and renting, or staying with family, while making the decision. Taking your time to get to know an area and making sure that the move is right for you and your family, will make everything easier and will give you a much higher chance of settling happily in Spain.

So, if I live in Spain and I would like to buy a house, what do I do? Well, every country has its own property buying process and the Spanish process is bound to be different to that of your native country.

Hopefully, you've spent your time in Spain researching the process and choosing an area, now you just need to get on with buying.

Here is an overview of the property purchase procedure in Spain:

• Choose your perfect property.
• Hire an abogado to check whether the property is fully legal and that it has all of the relevant paperwork. Choose an abogado yourself, by asking other expats for recommendations and choose a bilingual abogado if you do not speak Spanish. Do not use the abogado recommended by the builder or estate agent – you want the abogado to be objective and to be working for you.
• Signing of “contrato privado de compraventa”, the purchase contract and payment of a deposit. You must make sure that your abogado has checked all of the legalities and is happy with the property's paperwork before you sign this contract and hand over the deposit. This contract is legally binding and the deposit is non-refundable. Make sure that any money you pay is put into an escrow account and does not go directly to the seller.
•  Some estate agents will want you to sign a reservation contract, “documento de reserva”, prior to the purchase contract, to take the property off the market. Take advice from your abogado.
• The final contract is prepared – The “escritura de compraventa” is drawn up.
• Notary appointment – The notary is responsible for drawing up the property deeds and making sure that everyone understands the deeds. You will be given an appointment to appear in front of the notary with your abogado, the seller and their abogado. The notary will read out the property deed, your abogado or an interpretor should translate it, then you and the seller will sign it in front of the notary. If you are using a mortgage, a bank representative will also attend the appointment.
• The notary registers the property in your name with the Registro de la Propiedad.
• Fees and taxes will be paid – These are either paid at the notary appointment or shortly afterwards. The seller usually pays the notary fees and Plus Valia tax and you will pay the property registry fee and transfer tax. However, this is negotiable and should be sorted out between you and the seller prior to the appointment. You should budget approximately 10% of the property cost for fees and costs, which also include your legal fees.
• Move in – Congratulations, you are now the owner of a Spanish property.

Enjoy your new life in Spain.