Selling property in Spain in 2025 – Your complete guide

Picture of Roar Haug

Roar Haug

Soleada Real Estate

Selling a home in Spain can seem overwhelming, but with the right agent and some insight into the process, you'll be well on your way to a profitable and smooth process. We've created a complete guide to help answer all your questions about selling a property in Spain. In this guide you'll find information about the entire sales process, calculating the costs of selling a property and calculating tax on property sales. We've also developed a calculator that estimates the costs associated with the sale.

Table of contents

The sales process, step by step

Choice of real estate agent

The first step is to engage a real estate agency. A real estate agency is important to ensure good marketing of your property, so you reach all potential buyers. The real estate agency also takes care of the entire sales process for you, arranging everything from obtaining documents, marketing, viewings and settlements.

When considering a real estate agent, it’s important to look at the real estate agency’s references and how they market their properties. Good marketing is expensive, but effective. Many don’t use a professional photographer and only market locally and on certain property portals. Don’t leave anything to chance, ask to see a presentation of their latest sales assignment and ask how they market.

In Comunidad Valenciana, where you will find Alicante province, and popular areas such as Torrevieja, Altea, Orihuela Costa, real estate agent is a protected title and it is forbidden to work with the sale of property without authorization. Therefore, check if the real estate agent is authorized. It is also a great advantage if they use a lawyer specializing in real estate for the paperwork. Feel free to ask the real estate agent for the API number in the college for real estate agents. Invite the estate agent to inspect your property and preferably meet the agent in person.

Our customer references
Sell your home with Soleada

Inspection, valuation and contract

The estate agent will carry out an inspection and assess the standard and location of the property. An experienced real estate agent can also tell you if your property has any legal issues, such as illegal additions, and advise you if anything needs to be repaired. A lawyer is the one who arranges the paperwork, but the real estate agent is the one who visits the property and assesses whether it corresponds to what is stated in official registers. An experienced real estate agent can therefore save you from unpleasant surprises, which in the worst case can lead to the buyer withdrawing. The vast majority of cases of illegal extensions are easily resolved with an architect and a lawyer, but it is crucial that this is addressed before the property is put up for sale. The valuation is based on inspection, legal and construction assessments and the sales history in the local area.

When a real estate agent comes for an inspection, it’s a great opportunity to ask questions and get to know what the real estate agency can offer and how they work. Prepare questions about the sales process, the housing market, what the agent can offer and how they market.

Once you’ve found a real estate agent you want to engage, an assignment agreement is drawn up. Broadly speaking, this agreement describes who the seller and the real estate agency are, which property is involved, the sales price, the real estate agency fee, the size of the deposit and the duration of the assignment.

Lawyer

We recommend using a lawyer to take care of the legal aspects of the sale. A real estate agent can assist with obtaining the necessary documents for the sale of the property, but registration, payment of tax, settlement, etc. should preferably be handled by a lawyer. Normally, the real estate agency has a lawyer you can use, but this cost is additional. With us at Soleada Eiendom, a lawyer is included when signing an exclusive assignment agreement.

A good lawyer will ensure that you don’t pay more than necessary and will in many cases save their own costs many times over.

If you do not wish to appear in person for the signing of documents in Spain, you can authorize your lawyer to appear on your behalf. Power of attorney can be arranged in Norway and Spain.

Photography and marketing of your property

Good property marketing starts with professional photos, videos and floor plans to present the property in the best possible way.

We recommend making the property as presentable as possible prior to the photo shoot. If necessary, the real estate agent will advise you on what needs to be done before the viewing. These are often simple measures such as clearing away certain pieces of furniture, painting walls and going over tiles and facades in outdoor areas.

Once the photos, video and floor plans are ready, the next step is to market the property. It’s important that the estate agent has a good marketing plan and knows which target group is most relevant to your property. The property is marketed widely to reach all potential buyers in several countries.

Feel free to ask us about how we market our homes.

Viewings

Viewings are often arranged at short notice, so it’s common for the estate agent to have keys readily available in order to be able to show the property quickly. Private viewings are the norm and it is not normal for estate agents to charge extra per viewing.

In Spain, it is common for real estate agencies to collaborate on the sale of homes. If a real estate agency has a sales assignment for a property, another agency can ask to show the property to its client. Such collaboration makes the property available to more potential buyers and is positive for the seller. If the property is sold in such a case, the two real estate agencies share the fee.

Negotiation, deposit and reservation contract

If there is interest in your property, a closed bidding round is held between you as the seller and the potential buyer. Bids are communicated in writing or by telephone, and it is up to you to decide whether to make a counteroffer, rejection or acceptance.

When the parties agree on a price, a reservation contract is signed by the buyer and seller. The buyer then pays a deposit that locks the parties into the sale. The deposit is normally 10% of the sales price. If the buyer withdraws from the sale, the deposit will go to the seller. If the seller withdraws, the deposit will be refunded to the buyer. The buyer can then also demand that the seller must pay an amount equivalent to the deposit. The deposit is regulated in Spanish Civil Code no. 1454.

The parties are free to choose how long they need to take possession. The most common is to sign a contract in 3 months, as a loan process in Spain can quickly take more than 2 months, but if the buyer does not need financing and the seller is willing to move out quickly, this can happen in a few days.

Takeover and settlement

The seller and buyer, or their representatives, meet at the notary’s office to settle the sale when all parties have what they need. The new title deed is signed and the notary informs the property register of the transfer. Any encumbrances on the property are investigated in advance by the buyer’s lawyer and, if necessary, money is withheld from the settlement to delete the encumbrances. This may include bank loans, tax, unpaid condominium fees, electricity and water bills, etc. The seller receives the remaining settlement, either by bank remittance or bank transfer, and the buyer is handed the keys.

Sell with Soleada Eiendom

We work tirelessly to improve ourselves and be a leading player in Costa Blanca and Costa Calida in the sales and marketing of real estate. We keep up to date with trends and tools to be able to market our sales assignments in the best possible way. Below you’ll find an example of the quality of our property ads. Read more about selling property with Soleada Eiendom.


Costs of selling a home in Spain

In this section, we look at the various expenses associated with selling a property in Spain in 2024 and what documents and certificates are required. Prices are described with + IVA which is equivalent to VAT. There is 21% VAT on services in Spain.

What is the cost of a real estate agent in Spain

Real estate agent fees are normally 4-5% + IVA of the sales price and are normally only paid on completion of the sale. In the case of sales of expensive properties, a lower percentage rate is possible. The real estate agent is expected to advertise widely in several countries and to cover all expenses for advertising, marketing materials and all expenses for viewings. Read more about what’s included when you sell your home with us.

Be aware that some estate agents charge the buyer, either all or part of the fee. This breaks with tradition and is perceived by many potential buyers as dishonest marketing, and you lose potential buyers when they are hit with a large extra cost. That’s why you sometimes see ads online that say “without commission”, where the real estate agent clarifies that this is the price of the property and there is nothing extra besides the purchase costs of about 12-13%.

We strongly recommend that the estate agent’s fee and the maximum price for which the property will be advertised are set out in the contract. It’s easy to be tempted by simple marketing tricks such as “we’ll sell your property for free” or that they operate with low fees of 2-3%, where they then invoice the buyer in addition so that they achieve the fee they want. This will probably result in you being left with less for your property, as this practice causes you to lose potential buyers along the way, and once a buyer arrives, they will demand that they get the property at the advertised price and then you as the seller will have to reduce the price anyway.

Therefore, be aware of this when you receive an offer of less than 4% and ask them directly if they invoice the buyer in addition, and if this is the case, we recommend steering clear.

Legal fees when selling a home in Spain

A good lawyer will ensure that you don’t pay more than necessary and will in many cases save their own costs many times over. The normal fee for a lawyer in connection with the sale of a property is €1500 + IVA. This cost is covered by us by signing an exclusive assignment agreement.

Energy certificate

Energy certificates are required by law and cost approx. 200€ + IVA . Energisertifikatet utstedes av arkitekt og må ikke være eldre enn 10 år når boligen selges. Det er nå kommet nye krav fra EU om at innen 2030 må boligen tilfredsstille energiklasse E eller høyere, og innen 2033 må boligen ha energiklasse D eller høyere, så vær obs på at en lite energieffektiv bolig kan påvirke verdivurderingen, da en kjøper må ta stilling til at de må pusse opp innen kort tid for å få lov til å selge den videre eller leie den ut.

Do you want a quick overview of sales costs? Try our home sale calculator.

Certificate of residence

A certificate of occupancy is not required by law, but it is common for the seller to pay for it. Residency certificate shows that the property complies with the municipality’s residency requirements and is issued by the architect for ca. 250€ + IVA . Praksisen avhenger av kommunen boligen ligger i. Noen godkjenner for 5 år, andre for 10 år. Noen vannleverandører krever også dette sertifikatet for å tegne kontrakt og da må det stå i navnet til kjøper. En lokal arkitekt kjenner som regel til den ulike praksisen i kommunene.

Certificate from the condominium

A certificate from the co-ownership stating that you have no outstanding debts normally costs €50. ATTENTION: If you have outstanding debts to the condominium and the buyer finances with a bank, the bank will not complete the purchase until the outstanding debt is paid. If the buyer finances with their own funds, it is also a common solution that the amount owed is retained by a lawyer in connection with the settlement and paid to the condominium at the change of ownership.

Plusvalía

Plusvalia is a type of property tax that is calculated based on the increase in value of a property from acquisition until you sell.

How much you should pay depends on 3 conditions:

  • Tax value of the land at the time of sale. If you have an apartment or terraced house, your share of the plot of the entire housing cooperative is used as a basis.
  • How many years you have been the owner of the home
  • the municipality where the home is located

There are several approved methods for calculating Plusvalía and a good lawyer will always choose the method that is most favorable to you and you can quickly save many hundreds of euros on this.

Calculator for sales costs

In our calculator for selling a home in Spain, you can quickly estimate sales costs based on the sale price of your home. Please contact us if you would like a free valuation of your property and an accurate calculation of selling costs.

Calculate sales costs





Tax on the sale of property in Spain

In this section, we take a closer look at tax on the sale of property in Spain. There are many factors that affect the amount of tax payable on the sale of a property, but it is possible to calculate an estimate.

Non-resident means that the person is not resident in Spain for tax purposes and is therefore liable for tax in another country.

Capital gains tax on the sale of property

Capital gains tax on the sale of property in Spain is 19% for non-residents.
The formula for calculating capital gains tax is:

Sales price minus expenses on sale
Deduction from purchase price including costs and upgrades

Example of capital gains tax:

Purchase price of property incl. costs and upgrades: 250.000,00 €
Sale price property = 300.000,00 €
Expenses on sale = 21.565 €
Remaining = 278.435,00 €

Profit = 28.435 €
Tax 19% = 5.402,65 €

Net gain on sale = 23.032,35 €

Tax for non-residents of 3% of the sales price

In Spain, the law states that if the seller is non-resident, the buyer is required to withhold 3% of the sales price and pay this as a deposit pending the calculation of capital gains tax. If the capital gains tax is lower than 3% of the sales price, the seller can apply for a refund. See example.

Example of tax refund for non-residents

In the example for capital gains tax, the tax amounted to €5,402.65 on a gain of €28,435.
The tax for non-residents of 3% of the sales price of €300,000 is in this case €9,000 and is paid in before calculation of the actual capital gains tax. Since too much has been paid, a refund can be applied for on the difference.

9.000 € – 5402,65 € = 3.597,35 €

When you sell a property with us, we take care of applications for refunds of overpaid tax. It is very important that this application is submitted shortly after the sale of the property, otherwise this right will lapse. It is not automatic that the lawyer will do this on your behalf, so be vigilant here. Here, too, a good lawyer will be able to save you large sums of money.


Conclusion

There’s a lot to keep track of when you’re selling your home, but with a little preparation and the right agent on your team, it’s entirely possible to make it an orderly and positive experience.

Are you thinking of selling your home and would like our assistance? Contact us and we’ll help you get started.

Our customer references
Sell your home with Soleada


Frequently asked questions

How long does it take to sell a property in Spain?

This varies and it will also have a lot to do with when the property is put up for sale, as the housing market in Spain is seasonal. There is most activity in the spring and fall, so we recommend putting your home up for sale then. With the right price and good marketing in a normal housing market, the property is normally sold within 3 months.

How long is the takeover period from when the property is sold?

This is agreed based on what is possible for the buyer and seller. The buyer may need to arrange things such as a NIE number, bank account and mortgage, so it can take up to 3 months. If both buyer and seller have everything ready, the takeover can take place in less than 1 month.

Can sales proceeds be transferred directly from buyer to seller in countries other than Spain?

No, the actual settlement and transfer must be carried out in Spain to and from a Spanish account, even if both buyer and seller live in, for example, Norway. In short, this is not allowed by the notary. Please contact us for more information.

Should I choose a real estate agent based on who has the highest price for my property?

No, this is not a good reason for choosing a real estate agent. Estate agents often set the asking price higher to try to secure the sale. Instead, use common sense and look at the agent’s references and property listings and ask questions about the sales process, legal services, marketing and what they can offer you. We also recommend meeting the agent in person. As the seller, you decide what price you want to sell for. Discuss with the real estate agent you want to use and agree on the sales price.

Why do the fees of the different real estate agencies vary?

The biggest reason for this is that the quality of the work done by estate agents varies greatly. The cheapest real estate agencies do almost no marketing and often have poor quality photos and property ads. A good real estate agency spends a lot of resources on marketing to reach all potential buyers and ensures high quality photos and videos. This is crucial for generating interest in the property on the international market. With a professional real estate agent, you can also expect good legal support throughout the sales process. With us, we include legal fees on exclusive sales assignments.

Is real estate agent a protected title in Spain?

Answer. In the province of Alicante, real estate agent is a protected title and it is forbidden to work with the sale of property without authorization. Therefore, check if the real estate agent is authorized and ask for their API number.

Do encumbrances follow the property when it is sold?

Yes, encumbrances such as unpaid shared costs follow the property. Encumbrances can be checked by printing out a simplified title deed from the property register. This is normally done by your estate agent or lawyer before the sale is completed. If a property has encumbrances, these can be deleted at the time of takeover and deducted from the sales price.

Do I have to pay tax on the sale of my Spanish property to Norway?

If you’re resident in Norway for tax purposes, you must generally pay tax on any gain on the sale of your property in Spain. You will receive a deduction for the tax you’ve already paid in Spain, so you won’t be taxed twice.

What is the difference between an exclusive and non-exclusive sales agreement with a real estate agency?

An exclusive sales agreement means that the estate agent is the only one who can sell the property for the duration of the sales contract. The advantage of this is that the agency can spend more time and resources on marketing the property without risking losing the sale. Other real estate agents can still show the property, but everything is arranged through the real estate agency with the sales agreement.

A non-exclusive agreement means that it is open to other people to sell the property. In such cases, the seller often signs an agreement with several estate agents. The risk with this is that the estate agents cannot spend resources on marketing as it is likely that they will not get the sale in the end. It will also be difficult to keep track of keys and viewings in such cases. The result is often low quality photos and ads and less interest.

Contact Us

    We do not share your personal data with third parties. Read more on our privacy policy

    Roar Haug

    Roar Haug

    CMO - Real estate advisor

    Customer references

    We are proud to have many satisfied customers. Read feedback from our customers

    here

    Terje Hofvind

    Purchase and sale 2023

    I have used Hans Kristian as a real estate agent on three occasions. All three trades have gone smoothly.

    Bente Valo

    Home purchase 2023

    Can’t help but praise Hans Kristian for our search for our first resort.

    Hanne Solheim

    Home purchase 2023

    Good follow-up from the first contact to taking over the apartment and afterwards with documents and taxes.

    Compare Listings