If you are planning to buy a property in Spain, it is recommended that a lawyer is engaged before an offer is made. The fact that an offer accepted by the seller is binding as any other contract makes the intervention of the lawyer appropriate at that time in order that the terms and conditions of the offer are correct and favourable to the buyer. The lawyer will also help the buyer find out what the ongoing taxes are on the property if the real estate agent fails to do so.

Once the terms of the purchase-sale have been discussed, and offer is submitted to the real estate agent who in turn will inform the seller of the details of the offer. If the seller accepts the offer, a binding agreement is born. It is normal practice in Spain to include with the offer a sum of money to reserve the property prior to the exchange of private purchase contracts, in order to show the seller that there is a real intention to purchase.

After that you will need to make private purchase contracts. If the legal representation of both parties deem necessary the exchange of private purchase contracts, this is verified against payment of normally a 10% of the purchase price. This documents sets out the agreed terms and conditions of the transaction and sets out the date for final completion before the Notary Public.

After the reservation deposit has been lodged with the real estate agent and prior to the signing of the private purchase contract, the appointed lawyer will have completed the legal searches and investigations of the property.

Any debt or charge attached to the property will be reflected in the private purchase document. These will have to cancelled prior to completion. If not, the buyer will be entitled to either withdraw from the proposed deal and claim damages or deduct the amount of the debt together with the cancellation costs, if any.

The purchase is formally completed when the public title deeds of purchase-sale are signed before a Notary Public, the agreed payment of the price paid and the possession given to the buyer. Unless agreed otherwise, the public deed always stipulates that the property is sold free from charges and encumbrances, up to date in all the different payments and free from tenants and occupants.

Four or five days after completion, the deed is collected from the Notary´s office. With the original deed, all the relevant transfer taxes are paid in the different tax offices and eventually the deed is taken to the Land Registry in order to procure formal registration of the title to the property. Registration is not mandatory, although highly recommendable.

Similarly, the lawyer will arrange for the transfer of accounts with the local suppliers of utility services and organise a direct debit on a current account of a local bank.

Depending on the Land Registry of the area, registration may take from 15 days to 3 months. The Land Registry will then give notice to the lawyer that the registration has been completed and the deeds are available for collection. Land Registry fees are paid then.

During the interval the purchaser can have a copy of the records by requesting from the Notary Public a ´copia simple´. The lawyer will need a couple of copies in order to complete all the legal formalities.