Selling property in Spain in 2026 – Your complete guide

The sales process, step by step

Choice of broker

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

When considering a broker, it’s important to look at the broker’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 broker 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.

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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 broker 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 broker comes for an inspection, it’s a great opportunity to ask questions and get to know what the broker 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 broker you want to engage, an assignment agreement is drawn up. Broadly speaking, this agreement describes who the seller and the broker are, which property is involved, the sales price, the brokerage 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 broker 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 broker 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.

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 brokerage houses to collaborate on the sale of homes. If a brokerage house has a sales assignment for a property, another brokerage house 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 brokerage houses 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.

Once the parties agree on a price, a reservation contract is drawn up and signed by both the buyer and seller. The buyer then pays a deposit that binds the parties to the sale. The deposit is normally 10% of the sale price. If the buyer withdraws from the sale, the deposit is forfeited to the seller. If the seller withdraws, the deposit must be repaid to the buyer. In such cases, the buyer can also demand that the seller pays an additional amount equivalent to the deposit. Deposits are regulated by Spanish Civil Law No. 1454

The parties are free to choose how much time they need for the handover. The most common practice is to sign a 3-month contract, as the mortgage process in Spain can easily take more than 2 months. However, if the buyer does not require financing and the seller is willing to move out quickly, this can happen in just 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.

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Costs of selling a home in Spain

In this section, we look at the various expenses associated with selling a property in Spain in 2025 and which documents and certificates are required. Prices are described with + IVA, which is the equivalent of VAT. There is 21% VAT on services in Spain.

What is the cost of a broker in Spain

The agent’s commission is normally 4-5% + IVA of the sale price and is usually only paid upon completion of the sale. For the sale of high-end properties, a lower percentage may be possible. The agent is expected to advertise widely in several countries and cover all costs for advertising, marketing materials, and all expenses related to viewings. Read more about what’s included when you sell your home with us.

Please NOTE that some agents charge the buyer for all or part of the fee. This deviates from tradition and is perceived by many potential buyers as dishonest marketing; you may lose potential buyers when they are hit with a large unexpected cost. This is why you sometimes see online ads stating “no agent fees,” where the agent specifies that the price shown is the price of the home and nothing extra will be added except for the closing costs of approximately 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 . The energy certificate is issued by an architect and must not be older than 10 years when the property is sold. New EU requirements state that by 2030, homes must meet energy class E or higher, and by 2033, homes must have energy class D or higher. Be aware that a home with low energy efficiency can affect the valuation, as a buyer must consider that they will need to renovate shortly to be allowed to resell or rent it out.

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

Certificate of residence

A habitation certificate (Cedula de Habitabilidad) is not required by law, but it is common for the seller to pay for this. The habitation certificate proves that the property complies with the municipality’s residency requirements and is issued by an architect for approx. 250€ + IVA . Practice varies depending on the municipality where the property is located. Some approve it for 5 years, others for 10 years. Some water suppliers also require this certificate to set up a contract, and it must then be in the buyer’s name. A local architect is usually familiar with the different practices in the various municipalities.

Certificate from the condominium

A certificate from the community of owners (comunidad) stating that you have no outstanding debt normally costs 50€. NOTE: If you have outstanding debt to the community and the buyer is financing through a bank, the bank will not complete the purchase until the debt is paid. If the buyer is using their own funds, a common solution is for the outstanding amount to be withheld by a lawyer during the settlement and paid to the community upon 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.

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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.

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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.

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Sell your home with Soleada

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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 the same country

Should I choose a broker based on who has the highest price for my property?

No, this is not a good reason for choosing a broker. 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 broker you want to use and agree on the sales price.

Why do the fees of the different brokerage houses 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 brokerage, 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 is a protected title and it is forbidden to work with the sale of property without authorization. Therefore, check if the broker is authorized and ask for their API number.

Do encumbrances follow the property when it is sold?

Yes, encumbrances such as unpaid community fees follow the property. Encumbrances can be checked by obtaining a simplified deed (Nota Simple) from the property register. This is normally done by your agent or lawyer before the sale is completed. If a property has encumbrances, these can be cleared at the time of handover and deducted from the sale price.

What is the difference between an exclusive and non-exclusive sales agreement with a brokerage house?

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 brokerages can still show the property, but everything is arranged through the brokerage 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.