Category · updated 13.07.2026
Property in Spain: renting, buying, mortgages and choosing a region
Housing is the second most important relocation question after legal status, and the two are best tackled together. You need an address for empadronamiento (municipal residence registration) and the TIE card (the physical residence card), a rental contract or escritura (title deed) proves where you live when renewing a residence permit, and owning property affects your taxes.
Buying a home no longer grants a residence permit. The investor “golden visa” was abolished on 03.04.2025. The legal routes to residency are the digital nomad visa (DNV), residence permit without the right to work (NLV) and the other grounds covered in the guide “How to Get a Residence Permit in Spain”.
This category brings together practical breakdowns: how a foreigner can rent a flat without losing the deposit, how a purchase works with an NIE (foreigner identification number) and a notary, on what terms banks give mortgages to non-residents, how the regions differ for everyday life and what utility bills come to. For the tax side of owning a home, see the separate article on taxes in Spain, and short answers to related questions are in the “Questions and Answers” section.
Articles in this category
Renting a Home in Spain: Contract, Deposit and What Foreigners Should Check
Contrato de arrendamiento (rental contract), the fianza deposit and a bank aval (guarantee), tenant rights under the LAU law: how to search for a flat, what to check before signing and how to avoid scammers.
Read the article BuyingBuying Property in Spain as a Foreigner: Steps, Taxes and the NIE
NIE, a bank account, the arras deposit, the notary and the Registro de la Propiedad (Land Registry). ITP and IVA taxes by region and a full breakdown of associated costs — step by step.
Read RegionsWhere to Live in Spain: Comparing Regions for Relocation
Valencia, Catalonia, Andalusia, Madrid and the Canary Islands: climate, rent benchmarks, the Russian-speaking community and infrastructure — which region suits whom.
Read MortgagesMortgages in Spain for Non-Residents and Residents: Bank Conditions
LTV of 60–70% for non-residents and up to 80% for residents with a residence permit, banks' income requirements, the document package, deal stages and borrower protection under Ley 5/2019.
Read Daily life and billsUtilities and Bills in Spain: Electricity, Water, Internet
How to set up electricity, water, gas and internet, who the main providers are, average bills for a flat, direct debits from a Spanish IBAN and ways to save that actually work.
ReadHousing is closely tied to the other steps of relocation: residency grounds and paperwork are covered in the category “Residence Permit in Spain”, settling into everyday life after moving in — in the section “Living in Spain”, and starting your own business — in the category “Business in Spain”.
What to arrange before a housing deal
Renting, a mortgage and utility direct debits all come down to two things: a clear legal status and a Spanish bank account. The bureau's dedicated pages for these steps:
The bureau's fees are paid in stages, just like the legalization itself: one turnkey package and three payments. Half the amount when your case is launched, another quarter once our part of the document work is done, and the final quarter only after the result — once your residency has been granted.
Disclaimer: Spain's rental rules, property taxes and housing legislation change regularly — the current rules are published in the BOE (the official state gazette), and some matters are regulated by the autonomous communities (comunidades autónomas). The materials in this category are for reference only: before a deal or any decisions on your case, you need an individual consultation.