Purchasing a property in Spain is a wonderful prospect, but the legal and fiscal landscape differs substantially from that in the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada... Furthermore, different tax rates apply depending on the autonomous region. At ImmoMoment, we understand that you want to focus on realizing your dream, without the administrative hassle. We take away all your worries and manage the entire process from A to Z. In cooperation with our permanent, independent lawyers, we carry out all necessary checks, request the correct documents, and guide you until long after the key handover. Below you will find a detailed step-by-step plan of the entire purchasing process, followed by an accurate cost calculation for a resale property and a new-build property of €500.000, broken down by region: 

The Costa del Sol (Málaga region), the Costa Blanca (Alicante region), and the Costa Cálida (Murcia region).

The Step-by-Step Plan from A to Z: The purchasing process via ImmoMoment Once you have found your dream home through ImmoMoment, a tightly managed process begins in which our lawyers monitor every step.

Step 1: The reservation contract (Contrato de Reserva) As soon as you reach a verbal agreement with the seller, a reservation contract is drawn up. This takes the property off the market. You pay a reservation fee (usually between €3.000 and €6.000) which is placed into a secure escrow account. ImmoMoment ensures that this deposit is contractually protected in case the seller fails to meet their obligations.

Step 2: Legal research and checks (Due Diligence) This is the most critical phase, carried out entirely by our partner agents and lawyers. Before you transfer larger sums of money, we verify the following: Property rights (Nota Simple): We check the land registry to ensure the seller is indeed the rightful owner and that no debts, mortgages, or liens rest on the property. Town planning check: We check with the town hall whether the property was legally built, possesses the correct licenses (such as the Licencia de Primera Ocupación), and has no outstanding building violations. Financial baseline check: We verify whether the property tax (IBI), community fees (Comunidad), and utility bills for water and electricity have been fully paid by the previous owner. Any outstanding balances are withheld from the purchase price at the notary.

Step 3: Application for the NIE number and a Spanish bank account You cannot own real estate in Spain without an NIE number (Número de Identidad de Extranjero). This is your Spanish fiscal identification number. Our lawyers prepare the complete application and submit it to the Spanish government or consulate. If you are interested in opening a Spanish bank account, although this is not strictly necessary for paying for the property or for subsequent direct debits for utilities, we would be happy to assist you.

Step 4: The private purchase contract (Contrato de Arras) Within approximately two to four weeks after the reservation, once all legal checks are successfully completed, the formal private purchase contract is signed. This document states all definitive conditions, the final completion date, and the inventory list. Upon signing, you usually pay 10% of the purchase price (minus the reservation fee already paid). Under Spanish law, if the seller withdraws from this contract without a valid reason, they must refund you double the amount of this deposit.

Step 5: Completion at the notary (Escritura Pública) On the agreed day, all parties gather at the Spanish notary. Our lawyer is present to check the deed beforehand and translate the text for you, ensuring you know exactly what you are signing. The remaining 90% of the purchase price is handed to the seller via guaranteed bank checks. After signing, you receive the keys.

Step 6: Registration and aftercare (Utilities) After the deed is signed, our lawyer handles the payment of the applicable taxes and registers the property in the Land Registry (Registro de la Propiedad). Simultaneously, ImmoMoment takes care of the practical aftercare: we arrange the transfer of the contracts for water, electricity, internet, and the community of owners to your name and link them to your Spanish bank account. Only when everything runs and works flawlessly is our task complete, allowing you to move into your home worry-free.

Cost Calculation per Region for a property of €500.000 The general rule of thumb in Spain is that you should budget approximately 11% to 14% in extra costs on top of the purchase price. This is made up of fixed costs (notary, lawyer, land registry) and regional taxes. For resale properties, you pay transfer tax (Impuesto sobre Transmisiones Patrimoniales - ITP). For new builds, you pay 10% VAT (IVA) plus a stamp duty (Actos Jurídicos Documentados - AJD). The lawyer's fee amounts to 1% of the purchase price plus 21% VAT. The fixed costs, which are identical for every region at a purchase price of €500.000, are structured as follows: LAWYER'S FEE: €5.000 + 21% VAT = €6.050 NOTARY FEES: approx. €900 LAND REGISTRY: approx. €600 ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS (Gestoría): approx. €500 TOTAL FIXED COSTS: approx. €8.050 Below is the specific fiscal breakdown per region.

1. Málaga Region: Costa del Sol In the Andalusia region, the transfer tax for resale properties is a fixed and favorable rate. Resale property of €500.000 Purchase price: €500.000 Transfer tax (ITP) in Andalusia is a fixed rate of 7%: €35.000 Fixed costs (Notary, Registry, Lawyer with VAT, Gestoría): approx. €8.050 Total buyer costs: approx. €43.050 Total investment: €543.050 New-build property of €500.000 Purchase price: €500.000 VAT (IVA) is nationally fixed at 10%: €50.000 Stamp duty (AJD) in Andalusia amounts to 1,2%: €6.000 Fixed costs (Notary, Registry, Lawyer with VAT, Gestoría): approx. €8.050 Total buyer costs: approx. €64.050 Total investment: €564.050
2. Alicante Region: Costa Blanca The government of the Valencian Community has adjusted its legislation (Law 5/2025). As a result, the standard tax rate changes from June 1st to 9% for resale properties, and the stamp duty (AJD) for new builds drops to 1,4%. Resale property of €500.000 Purchase price: €500.000 Transfer tax (ITP) on the Costa Blanca amounts to 9%: €45.000 Fixed costs (Notary, Registry, Lawyer with VAT, Gestoría): approx. €8.050 Total buyer costs: approx. €53.050 Total investment: €553.050 New-build property of €500.000 Purchase price: €500.000 VAT (IVA) is nationally fixed at 10%: €50.000 Stamp duty (AJD) on the Costa Blanca amounts to 1,4%: €7.000 Fixed costs (Notary, Registry, Lawyer with VAT, Gestoría): approx. €8.050 Total buyer costs: approx. €65.050 Total investment: €565.050
3. Murcia Region: Costa Cálida The Murcia region applies its own rates, which have remained stable compared to neighboring regions. Resale property of €500.000 Purchase price: €500.000 Transfer tax (ITP) in the Murcia region amounts to 8%: €40.000 Fixed costs (Notary, Registry, Lawyer with VAT, Gestoría): approx. €8.050 Total buyer costs: approx. €48.050 Total investment: €548.050 New-build property of €500.000 Purchase price: €500.000 VAT (IVA) is nationally fixed at 10%: €50.000 Stamp duty (AJD) in the Murcia region amounts to 1,5%: €7.500 Fixed costs (Notary, Registry, Lawyer with VAT, Gestoría): approx. €8.050 Total buyer costs: approx. €65.550 Total investment: €565.550

Summary of the peace of mind provided by ImmoMoment As you can see from the figures, choosing a specific region or opting for resale versus a new build can make a significant difference to the total investment. What remains unchanged in every region, however, is the premium guidance provided by ImmoMoment. We ensure that Spanish bureaucracy does not become an obstacle. From the moment you sign the reservation until the moment you enjoy your first Spanish evening on your terrace with perfectly functioning air conditioning, water, and electricity, we take care of everything. We monitor your budget, verify legality, and guarantee a safe, transparent, and worry-free purchase.