Many people visiting Costa de la Luz are looking to buy a property and the area is certainly an up-and-coming one. On this page you will find all the information you need to buy property in the Costa de la Luz, Spain. Buying property in the Costa de la Luz, Spain is quite a simple process and we hope you find our Buyers Guide useful. At the top of this page you will also find properties / property for sale in the Costa de la Luz Spain and links to estate agents in the area, we have even added links to some useful books on this subject below.
Are you an owner wanting to sell your property privately? If so then contact us about putting an advert on this popular Costa de la Luz Buyers page - one low annual fee, no commission.
Costa de la Luz Buyers Guide - Everything you need to know about buying property in the Costa de la Luz, Spain
The buying process in Spain is really quite simple and is a lot quicker than in the UK with purchases going through as quickly as 2 weeks! It pays to make sure you have everything ready for when you find your dream property as properties are being snapped up quickly.
Before you leave for Costa de la Luz make sure you have researched which area of Costa de la Luz you would like to buy in and what your budget is. You will then need to make sure you have at least a 10% deposit ready.
You will need to to set up a non-resident bank account in Spain to buy a property. When you have this available you can use a professional currency exchange company such as Currencies Direct or FX Solutions (see link below) so that you can save £100’s with an exchange rate that will be much better than the tourist rate. You will also need to get an NIE number so that you can register the property and register for tax. You can usually arrange this at the main police station (Guardia).
When you have found the area of Costa de la Luz that you are interested in contact Estate Agents / Inmobiliaria to arrange viewing appointments whilst in the area. Make sure you leave time in your schedule to look around local Estate Agents in the Costa de la Luz. You may find that you will have more control over viewing properties and of your time if you book travel & accommodation independently. Why not use Costa-Luz-Holiday.com to book your holiday accommodation in Costa de la Luz?
Once you have found your perfect property you will need to agree a price with the owner. You can try to offer a reduced amount but in Spain the Spanish are perfectly happy to set the price they want and wait for the market to catch up. My moto is ‘if you don’t ask you don’t get’ so why not ask and if the owner is in a rush you may be lucky but don’t expect a reduced price especially whilst the Costa Luz property market is doing so well.
The next step is to sign a Private Contract. This will usually happen within a few days of the owner accepting your offer. This is when you pay the deposit which is usually around 6 - 10% of the total price but will depend on what has been agreed between you and the owner. It is on the Private Contract that the true purchase price is shown. On all other paperwork regarding the sale the declared price is shown. This difference is basically to reduce the amount of capital gains tax that the seller has to pay and is quite normal. If you do not complete the sale then you will lose the deposit but if the seller pulls out of the sale then they have to pay you back double the amount of the deposit as compensation.
You are nearly there!! Now it gets exciting. Your agent will now be contacting the Notaria to arrange the Signing of the Deeds (Escritura Publica de Compraventa) and therefore completing the sale. You will need to make sure that you have a translator to attend with you unless you speak fluent Spanish (your agent will probably arrange this for you). This meeting can be as soon as 2 weeks after signing the Private Contract but it is usually around 4 weeks. Once your agent has arranged an appointment you can either go and sign the contact in person or if you cannot attend you can set up a Power of Attorney so that someone can do this on your behalf. This is when you will need to pay the balance of the purchase including taxes and Notary’s fees.
All you have to do now is register the property in your name at the Property Registry Office (Registro de la Propiedad) and then register the property for tax purposes in the tax office (which is usually the same office as the Property Registry Office)
This article does not cover all aspects of the legal process of buying properties in Spain and is not a substitute for professional advice. The above information will differ if you are buying an off-plan property.
Tips on how to make sure the property you are buying is legal Kindly supplied by David from Cadiz Builders
Before parting with any money or signing any private contracts there are some basic steps you should take.
This will ensure that you can have an electricity meter and a legal registered property.
1. Proof of ownership by way of escritura together with an up to date nota simple with the vendors name on it.
2. Status of the property in the Property Register. Check that the property is registered in the vendors name, and that there are no outstanding debts or charges on the property. This check can be carried out by the Nota Simple or even better a Certificacion Catastral which gives greater guarantee to the buyer.
3. IBI (Impuestos de Bienes Inmuebles) similar to rates, this can sometimes be referred to as Contribucion Urbana. Every property owner must pay IBI on any property they own. The buyer must ascertain that the contributions are in the sellers name and have been paid.
4. If you are buying or building a new property on land that has recently been urbanised you must make sure there are no outstanding debts on the land or urbanisation. If there are any debts these have to be paid for by the developer, however if the developer does not pay the burden falls directly on the property owners.
5. Building Licence: If you are buying property of recent construction ask the ayuntamiento for a copy of the Licencia de Obras. This is document gives the property legal status, and is essential for the next step.
6. Licencia de Primera Ocupacion is a document that assures that the property has been constructed correctly meeting all necessary legal and building requirements. Without this document the property is not considered habitable by law and is therefore not permitted to have electricity or other mains services.
The last point may come as a shock to some. However it appears to be the underlying problem behind many of the illegal properties. Without the Licencia de Primera Ocupacion, Endesa are not permitted to supply electricity.
An owners experience of buying a property in the Costa de la Luz, Andalucia Spain
‘Annie’s buying a house in Spain’ muttered my mother to my father over marmalade and oatcakes one morning.’ What on earth would she want to do that for?’ he replied with his usual Scottish canniness.
Exactly 3 years on, it’s turned out to be the very best decision I’ve ever made
If you are looking at properties in the Costa de la Luz then you may find the companies below useful. There are some wonderful links to help you buy property in the area:
Estate Agents/Inmobiliaria - just click on the company logo to view properties and Estate Agents web-site
With thousands of properties in 22 countries around the globe coupled with excellent customer service. You're just one click away from finding your perfect overseas property.
View Costa de la Luz/Eastern Algarve in a laid back and pressure free manor and see for yourself why Channel 4's Living in the Sun programme recently voted it the Number 1 place in the World to Buy
Specialize in property for sale in the Costa del la Luz, one of the most attractive coastal areas in Andalucia. Browse their website at leisure and contact them should you have any queries regarding finance/sales procedures/their properties.
A real estate in Costa de la Luz for all your needs, come and view our range of properties, we are Medina Sidonia’s original real estate agent.
Secret Spain has a lovely website offering properties all around Costa de la Luz
Andaluz Homes offer a friendly and professional service for those who are looking for their perfect home on the Costa de la Luz. Visit our website for a large selection of properties in many areas.
Lacasanova offers individuals the opportunity to purchase property on the Costa del Sol region of southern Spain, whether for investment purposes, for holiday homes, or for retirement/semi-retirement.
Specialising in all types of Properties and Plots of Land, Fluent in English, German and Spanish, Luz Properties offers all what you could want in a professional yet friendly Estate Agency on the Costa de la Luz.
Spanish inland, rural & country properties. We specialise in the sale and restoration of cave houses, cortijos and village homes in the Granada Province of Northern Andalusia, Spain.
Elite Algarve Properties - Buy Algarve Property For Sale - Visit the Algarve Property Specialists Today. View Our Large Online Portfolio of Algarve & Costa de la Luz Apartments, Villas and Houses
Books about Buying Property in the Costa de la Luz & Spain
Here are a selection of books that we thought you may find useful in your property search. Just click on the book to be taken to the site where you can buy them. You will find even more books on the area in our Book/Music Shop - just click on the link to this page to your left.
1st Move International Overseas Removals UK. International removals and shipping for personal and household effects. Weekly shipping from the UK to over 5000 destinations. Book online.
If you have a company linked to buying property in the Costa de la Luz that you think our visitors will find useful please don't hesitate to contact us regarding link exchange.
Before you leave for Costa de la Luz make sure you have researched which area of Costa de la Luz you would like to buy in and what your budget is. You will then need to make sure you have at least a 10% deposit ready. 
happen within a few days of the owner accepting your offer. This is when you pay the deposit which is usually around 6 - 10% of the total price but will depend on what has been agreed between you and the owner. It is on the Private Contract that the true purchase price is shown. On all other paperwork regarding the sale the declared price is shown. This difference is basically to reduce the amount of capital gains tax that the seller has to pay and is quite normal. If you do not complete the sale then you will lose the deposit but if the seller pulls out of the sale then they have to pay you back double the amount of the deposit as compensation.
