Reference

Spanish Real Estate Glossary

45 key terms explained for foreign buyers

A

AJD: Regional stamp duty levied on notarial documents. On new-build purchases it ranges from 0.5% to 1.5% of the purchase price depending on the autonomous community — in the Valencian Community (Costa Blanca) it is 1.4% from June 2026.
ARRAS: A private pre-sale agreement in which the buyer pays a reservation deposit (typically 10% of the purchase price). Under the most common form (arras penitenciales), the buyer forfeits the deposit if they pull out; the seller must return double if they withdraw.

B

BANCO-DE-ESPANA: The official register maintained by Spain's central bank listing all authorised lenders and financial intermediaries. Always verify that any mortgage broker or bank appears here before signing any loan offer.
BLOCKCHAIN: A distributed digital ledger where each entry is permanent and tamper-proof. In Spanish property transactions, the SHA-256 hash of every signed contract is anchored on the Polygon blockchain — creating a public, immutable record that proves the document has not been altered since signing.

C

CATASTRO: The administrative register managed by Spain's Ministry of Finance that describes all urban and rural real estate. The cadastral value assigned to each property is the tax base for IBI and several other fiscal obligations.
CIRBE: A central database recording all loans, credits and guarantees held by financial institutions in Spain. Lenders query it to assess creditworthiness when approving a mortgage for non-residents.
COMUNIDAD: The governing body of a building or residential complex under Spain's Horizontal Property Act. It manages shared areas, sets the monthly service charge and approves works by majority vote at the annual general meeting.
COMPRAVENTA: The contract — private or public — by which seller and buyer agree to transfer ownership. A private contract precedes the final notarial deed (escritura pública), which is the document that provides full legal protection.
CUOTA-COMUNIDAD: The monthly or quarterly fee each owner pays to cover shared building costs: cleaning, pool maintenance, landscaping, lifts. The amount is proportional to each unit's participation coefficient in the building.

D

DERRAMA: An extraordinary charge approved by the owners' community to fund unexpected repairs or improvements not covered by the reserve fund. Always check for pending derramas before completing a purchase.

E

EIDAS: EU Regulation 910/2014 that establishes the legal framework for electronic signatures across all member states. An advanced eIDAS signature has the same legal standing as a handwritten signature in Spain and is fully admissible in Spanish courts — including for non-EU buyers after Brexit.
ENERGIA: Mandatory for any property sale or rental in Spain. It rates the building's energy consumption from A (most efficient) to G. Modern new-builds typically achieve A or B ratings.
ESCRITURA: The official document signed before a notary that formalises the sale and enables the buyer to register their ownership in the Property Registry. It carries full legal validity and is enforceable against third parties.
ESCRITURA-OBRA-NUEVA: A notarial deed by which the developer formally declares the existence of a new construction and registers it in the Property Registry. It is a prerequisite before the final sale deed can be signed with the buyer.

F

FONDO-RESERVA: A mandatory financial buffer that every owners' community must maintain (at least 10% of the annual budget) to cover emergency repairs or unforeseen expenditure in the building.

G

GESTORIA: A professional firm that handles post-completion paperwork: paying property transfer taxes (ITP or VAT+AJD) and registering the deed in the Property Registry. It acts as intermediary between the notary, the Tax Agency and the Registry.
GOLDEN-VISA: Spain's investor visa programme that granted residency to non-EU nationals purchasing real estate worth €500,000 or more. The Spanish Government announced its abolition for residential investments in 2024.

H

HASH-SHA256: A mathematical function that converts any document into a unique 64-character string. If a single character in the document changes, the hash changes completely. Used in property document protection to prove that a signed contract has not been altered after signing.
HIPOTECA-NO-RESIDENTE: A Spanish mortgage for buyers without tax residency in Spain. Banks typically finance 60–70% of the appraised value (versus 80% for residents) and require proof of overseas income. Specialist brokers can improve terms significantly.

I

IBI: Annual municipal property tax levied on all property owners in Spain. Calculated by applying the local rate (typically 0.4%–1.3%) to the cadastral value. Paid directly to the town hall, usually by direct debit in autumn.
ITP: Regional tax charged on resale property purchases. In the Valencian Community it is 10% of the declared purchase price for residential properties. It does not apply to new builds (which are subject to VAT instead).
IVA: New residential properties (first sale from developer to buyer) are subject to reduced VAT at 10%. Garages and storage rooms sold separately are charged at 21%. VAT is added on top of the purchase price at the time of signing.

L

LPO: The municipal certificate confirming that a new-build property meets all technical and planning requirements to be occupied. It is mandatory before signing the completion deed and before connecting utilities (water, electricity, gas).

M

MODELO210: The Spanish tax form for non-residents with income from Spain — either rental income or the deemed rental income on properties not let out. Filed annually with Spain's Tax Agency (Agencia Tributaria).
MODELO720: An informational declaration filed with the Spanish Tax Agency by tax residents in Spain, disclosing assets and rights held abroad (including real estate) valued above €50,000. Required once you become a Spanish tax resident.

N

NIE: Spain's foreigner identification number — an absolute requirement for any financial transaction in Spain: buying a property, opening a bank account, signing utility contracts or filing tax returns. Obtained from a Spanish consulate or national police station.
NOTA-SIMPLE: A document issued by the Property Registry confirming the current owner, any charges (mortgages, liens) and the property's registered characteristics. Costs around €9 and is essential due-diligence before signing any deposit contract.
NOTARIO: A state-appointed public official who oversees the signing of the completion deed, verifies the identity of all parties and confirms the legality of the transaction. Notary fees (aranceles) are regulated by law and are not negotiable.

O

OBRA-NUEVA: A property on its first sale from a developer — never previously lived in. Taxed at 10% VAT (not ITP) plus AJD stamp duty. Comes with statutory construction warranties: 1 year (finishes), 3 years (habitability defects), 10 years (structural).
OBRA-NUEVA-TIMELINE: The construction period of a development. The buyer signs the reservation or deposit contract at launch and completes the purchase (signs the escritura) once the developer obtains the First Occupation Licence (LPO) on completion.

P

PLUSVALIA: A municipal tax on the increase in urban land value since the last ownership transfer. In Spain it is paid by the seller, though it can be negotiated. In inheritance or gift cases it is paid by the recipient.
PODER-NOTARIAL: A notarised document authorising a representative (apoderado) to act on the buyer's behalf in Spain — signing the deed, applying for NIE, managing taxes or completing mortgage formalities without the buyer being physically present.
POLYGON: A public blockchain network compatible with Ethereum, used by Legado Inmobiliaria to anchor signed contract hashes. Polygon provides fast confirmation (seconds), low cost and a permanent public explorer (Polygonscan) where any anchored record can be independently verified — no account required.
PROMOTOR: The company or individual that funds and manages a residential development for sale. In new-build purchases, the developer is the direct counterparty who also carries the statutory construction warranties.

R

REGISTRO-PROPIEDAD: The official public register in Spain where real estate rights are recorded. Registering your completed purchase protects you against third-party claims and publicly establishes your ownership — a critical step after signing the deed.
RESIDENCIA-FISCAL: Acquired when a person spends more than 183 days per year in Spain, or when the core of their economic activities is based there. Tax residents are liable to Spanish income tax on their worldwide income.
RESIDENCIA-NO-LUCRATIVA: A Spanish residence permit for non-EU nationals with sufficient financial means who do not work in Spain. A popular first step for retirees and investors buying property on the Costa Blanca.

S

SEGURO: A comprehensive home insurance policy covering both the building structure and contents against fire, water damage, breakage and theft. Spanish banks require it as a condition of any mortgage approval.
SUELO: Urban land (suelo urbano) is already zoned for building with services in place. Developable land (suelo urbanizable) requires a planning process before construction can begin. Always verify land classification in the Cadastre and local plan before purchasing.

T

TASACION: An official property valuation carried out by a Bank-of-Spain-approved surveyor. The bank bases its mortgage offer on the lower of the purchase price or the valuation figure. The buyer typically pays the valuation fee (€300–600).
TIN-TAE: TIN (Tipo de Interés Nominal) is the headline interest rate. TAE (Tasa Anual Equivalente / APR) includes all fees and costs, making it the true comparator when evaluating mortgage offers from different Spanish lenders.

U

URBANIZACION: A residential development sharing common infrastructure — roads, gardens, pools, sports facilities. Gated urbanizaciones with 24-hour security are common in the Costa Blanca premium segment and command higher service charges.

V

VALOR-CATASTRAL: The official value assigned to a property by the Cadastre, generally below market value. Used as the tax base for IBI, for calculating deemed rental income under non-resident tax rules, and for other fiscal purposes.
VIVIENDA-HABITUAL: A primary residence qualifies for specific tax deductions for Spanish tax residents. A second home triggers deemed rental income tax under IRNR rules for non-residents, or under IRPF for residents who do not rent it out.

Z

ZONA-COSTERA: Spain's 1988 Coastal Act establishes a 100-metre protected strip from the shoreline that cannot be built on. Front-line beach properties must have a valid concession or pre-date the law. Always verify the coastal boundary demarcation (deslinde) before purchasing.

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