Finding a Spanish estate agent
You will need a good and reliable estate agent by your side when buying a property in Spain. The right estate agent will ensure the success of your property purchase and will often give you a valuable insight to local life in their corner of Spain. Be careful of less reputable estate agents, who could waste your time and money by not focusing on the right properties or area to suit your needs, rather focusing purely on making a sale at any cost.
According to the research conducted by Ibisworld there are approximately 35,786 real estate agencies in Spain as of 2024. This number alone could make choosing an estate agent right for you very challenging. When you factor in the vast number of properties being sold by these agents, the task becomes even more daunting. In 2023 alone, there were over 583,000 properties sold in Spain according to Spanish Land Registry report from Registradores.org.
The good news is that, unlike many traditional estate agents, Spanish agents tend to have a more hands-on approach. A good agent will know how the requirements of international buyers are differ to local buyers, and will be able to help you accordingly.
Researching and choosing an estate agent in Spain
There are over 35,000 registered estate agents in Spain. You can do a quick check that your estate agent is reputable by looking at their professional associations. While estate agents do not need a qualification to practice in Spain, some will have them, such as the API (Agentes de la Propiedad Inmobiliaria) or GIPE (Gestores Intermediario en Promociones de Edificaciones).
In 2022 the Valencia region introduced a specific law to protect the buyers by requiring estate agents to be registered and to meet certain standards.
Estate agents in some areas of Spain can have access to properties that are not directly listed with them. Therefore, in some areas of Spain you do not need to make appointments with multiple agents. Find one you like, one that speaks English and is known to help foreign buyers, and they should be able to find suitable properties even outside their immediate neighbourhood.
You can save yourself time on extensive online research and the risk of finding a disreputable agent by speaking to one of our property consultants. We’ve already done the research for you and have narrowed down estate agents and developers to those who are set up to service foreign buyers, can speak English and who have helped buyers like you before.
Alternatively, you can meet a variety of estate agents at our virtual events taking place twice a year, and regular webinars happening throughout the year. These online events are the place to gather all the information you need. You can arrange virtual appointments with a selection of trusted and vetted estate agents that we believe can help foreign buyers. An hour of your time from comfort of your home, could save you a trip to Spain and can help you establish a good connection with a reliable and reputable English-speaking estate agent.
All events are free to register and attend, and many foreign buyers find them helpful with a range of seminar topics covered on the day and on demand. At our virtual events we also have virtual stands, live chat with the experts, and appointments available on the day.
The importance of a reliable estate agent
A good estate agent will be your guide to Spain; a fount of knowledge about the area, knowing the best places to eat, public transport routes, schools and hospitals, and more.
Your agent should be proactive and eager to help. Contact them with a brief early on and see how long it takes them to reply. Is the information they send relevant to your requirements?
Building an honest and open relationship with your estate agent is important, so they can gauge what you are really looking for in a Spanish home. After all, sometimes its difficult to imagine what you want exactly, until you see it.
The estate agent’s role in property search and negotiation
The more information your agent has to work with, the more they will be able to assist you. They might even be able to show you properties that have yet to be marketed.
Once they are confident in what you are looking for in a Spanish property, your estate agent may make some out-of-the-box suggestions. For example, they could direct you to a property somewhere a little out of your area of interest, but it might tick more boxes on your “must-have” list in terms of the type of property you are after. Trust their expertise and take a look. However, if your estate agent consistently sources properties that are out of budget or don’t meet your requirements at all or are little unresponsive, do not feel that you need stay with them.
After you have selected properties online, chatted to your property consultant and made a connection with an estate agent via email, phone or virtual chat at virtual event, you should discuss your plans, timings and budgets and proceed to the next step – which is to book a viewing trip to Spain.
Before you go, ask your estate agent what documents you will need to bring with you in case you proceed to make an offer on a property you like. Some agents will require proof of funds prior to your trip to Spain – it is understandable that they want to ensure you can afford to pay for a property should you wish to proceed.
Contact a currency specialist first too, so you know your budget in euros. Having a currency specialist on your side before a trip, could indicate to an estate agent that you are serious about the purchase and that you are in control of your financial situation. It can all help in the negotiation stage later.
You can allow your estate agent to arrange as much or as little of your viewing trip as you are comfortable with. For example, they may offer to save you a car hire by collecting you from the airport, checking you into a hotel and driving you to each property. But if you would prefer a more hands-off approach your estate agent should respect that. Never feel pressured by an estate agent.
Key Questions to ask your estate agent
While you are viewing properties, ask your estate agent lots of questions. Have some ready before you go if possible. Having a good dialogue with your agent may mean that you don’t write off a property needlessly. And, after all, this is a big investment that you want to get right.
Good questions to gauge whether the price is right or whether there may be room for negotiation include:
- How long has it been on the market and have there been any offers?
- Has the price been reduced?
- Have there been any similar properties sold nearby recently?
- Why are the owners selling?
- How long have the current owners been there?
- Have there been any recent renovations?
- What would the estate agent do with it if he or she were buying it?
- How much are the community fees?
- Are there any restrictions on rental?
- What are the local amenities like?
Ready to buy and your estate agent’s role
If you like what you see, you can make an offer right away. You should build a good relationship with your estate agent, but do not let that get in the way of negotiating a fair price for your property. Be firm, charming and crucially, well-researched on local prices, so that you can ask for the right price.
In many instances you won’t be able to know the exact price per square metre locally, but as a good reference here are some regional prices per square metre paid by foreigners in 2023 in various regions of Spain according to a Spanish Land Registry report:
- Illes Balears: 3,267 €/m²
- Comunidad de Madrid: 3,267 €/m²
- País Vasco: 2,960 €/m²
- Cataluña: 2,446 €/m²
- Gipuzkoa: 3,429 €/m²
- Bizkaia: 2,811 €/m²
- Barcelona: 2,804 €/m²
- Málaga: 2,483 €/m²
Once your estate agent has helped you secure a property by paying a deposit to take it off the market, you will then need to open a local bank account and get your NIE if you haven’t got one yet (tax identification number for foreigners).
You should also contact your currency specialist to start planning how to pay for the property and the best way to transfer euros to Spain. Usually, this can all be done during a viewing trip before your return to the UK, safe in the knowledge that everything is in place for your sale to proceed towards completion, even in your absence.
How else can your Spanish estate agent assist your buying journey?
Here are five of the most common ways good Spanish estate agents help out clients when they’ve just taken possession of a property.
Introduce you to a local insurance company
Buildings and contents insurance is a must for property owners in Spain. If the property will be left vacant for long periods – as many second homes are – or let to holidaymakers, owners must ensure they have adequate cover. Good estate agents can assist with insuring properties through an English-speaking, UK-based insurer or a local Spanish insurer.
Arrange changing the locks
It is not uncommon for security-conscious foreign owners to change the locks of their Spanish property. Your estate agent will be able to assist with arranging a locksmith to visit a property or purchase replacement locks.
TV, phone and internet connections and utilities
Buyers should not take it for granted that all properties are sold with telephone, broadband or satellite TV connections in place. As a new owner, your estate agent should help you get connected or put up a satellite dish, as well as suggest suitable service providers. You should always request information from your estate agent about utilities such as gas, water electricity so that you can be aware in advance of the providers and necessary changes needed to be made. In most cases, your lawyer can also assist you with this process.
Air conditioning
The hot Spanish summers mean air conditioning is a common requirement for many foreign buyers. If a property is without it or the existing units need replacing or repairing, a good estate agent should be able to suggest a reliable local firm that they have used before.
Property improvements
Redecorating, replacing a kitchen, re-tiling the patio or having a swimming pool put in – it’s common for new owners to have improvement plans for their Spanish property. An established estate agent should be able to recommend a selection of local building firms, as well as suggest suitable places to purchase white goods and furniture.