We recommend that you use a lawyer when buying in Spain. They will explain in detail the process and costs involved. However here is a summary of the 8 essential steps.

1. Get your Número de Identidad de Extranjero (NIE).
   In order to buy a property in Spain you will need an NIE. This is an identity card number that all foreigners should have. You will be unable to sign legal documents or open a bank account without a NIE.

There are two ways to obtain a NIE:
a) Go to any police station in Spain, in person, with your passport and two passport size photographs. There is no cost through this route.
b) Through the Spanish consulate in London. The cost for the application is £20 and the waiting period is approximately 4 weeks.

2. Decide your budget and where you would like to live
   Most people who buy in Spain have visited the area they wish to buy a few times and we recommend you do the same. As with all property purchases your budget will have some impact on the area you choose. Some areas in the Costa del Sol for example have seen very huge rises in recent years putting once affordable prices beyond the reach of many.
    
3. Speak to Estate agents and visit properties
   We recommend you speak to a few real estate agents as this will give you a feel for prices and products on offer in the area of your choice. We suggest you select an agent who is bi-lingual and one you feel comfortable with. The agent often does a large part of the conveyancing and it is very important that you feel comfortable and trust them. Visit several properties before choosing the property you like. Inspect your final choice and make sure you have the see the property during the day as well as at night, as some quiet areas in the day become lively at night. You should also ask your agent for details of the outgoings payable every year to maintain the property, such as the annual real estate tax (IBI), community fees, etc (see section on “The costs” involved)
    
4. Start arranging financing
   If you are a non cash buyer you should start arranging a mortgage once you have an idea of you what property you would like to buy. This is because you will frequently be required to put down a reservation deposit, which is often non-refundable. It is therefore a good idea to have an idea of what a bank is likely to lend you for the purchase before placing any reservation deposits or signing any documents. Several UK and Spanish banks now offer mortgages of up to 70%-80% of the value of the property. The process of arranging a mortgage will take around 6 weeks so you will need to start this early. (see also the section on “Services we offer”)
    
5. Engage a lawyer and present an offer in writing
   Once you have identified the property you like we recommend you engage a bi-lingual lawyer to do the conveyancing. Get your lawyer to present an offer in writing to the vendor through your estate agent. This is a non-binding agreement that includes the terms and timings of payments and the deposit you are willing to make. Although it is not essential to engage a lawyer, since the estate agents in Spain are able to carry out conveyancing, we strongly recommend it.
    
6. Get a “Nota Simple” from the Land Registry
   This is a one-page Title Deed stating who the owner of the property is. It establishes that the person selling the property or land is the person with the right to do so. It will also state if there are any outstanding debts on the land or property.
    
7. Sign the Contract
   This is the most important step in purchasing a property. Get your lawyer to draft a contract for the purchase of the property. This document will be in Spanish but you should get your lawyer to provide a version in English for you.
    
8. Make an appointment to see a Notario
   In Spain all deeds for properties are drawn up by public Notarios, qualified lawyers who have studied to become notaries. The end product of the visit to the Notarios is the Escritura, a hard back copy of the deed covered in official stamps signatures and writing. Signing with the Notarios is the Spanish equivalent of “completion” in the UK.