Finding suitable properties in Spain
The Spanish property market is incredibly diverse. There’s a wide variety of different property types, some needing renovation and some brand new. There are properties to suit all budgets, spanning a range of different locations. Modern apartments, fixer-upper townhouses, luxury villas, rural retreats or exciting city pads – whatever takes your fancy. There’s a property for everyone in Spain.
To understand what’s right for you, start by taking a look at what’s out there. Property portals are a great start, and you can compare different regions, property types and prices easily across thousands of listings. If you see something you like you can make that first connection with an estate agent in Spain.
Some property portals to consider are:
Searching for a Spanish property online
Finding a Spanish property will usually start with an online search. If you are uncertain of where to buy in Spain, then you can read up on different areas to buy in Spain here. Spain Property Guides regularly publishes articles that do a deep dive into places to live and provide insights on various towns and cities from the perspective of buyers and the property market.
The Your Overseas Home property portal has over 40,000 properties listed for sale in Spain. If you are sure of where you want to buy in Spain, then you can pop that area into the search bar and view properties for sale there.
Filter your search by budget, number of bedrooms and property type (apartment, house, villa). Additionally, you can search for specific features, such as rural, golf, new build and more.
The great benefit of searching these days is being able to do so much online. From checking out the local area on Google Earth, the social scene on MeetUp, Facebook or myriad of online forums, to reading reviews of local cafes and bars.
Booking a viewing trip
A key step in finding your ideal property in Spain is to head out there to view properties in person. While you can often view floor plans, photographs and even have virtual tours from home, it is strongly advised to book a trip to see your chosen properties in person.
While you can view available properties all year long, most buyers will set off for their viewing trip in spring or autumn to avoid the heat and crowds of summer. If you are planning to rent out a property you could also make a trip during the peak season to assess how busy the town or street you wish to buy a property in is. If you wish to generate rental income from this property, seeing the area during peak season will help give you a perspective on potential earnings.
The length and itinerary of your viewing trip is directly dependent on how many agents and properties you wish to view and how far apart they are. So, ensure that you allow a few days for your own area research in addition to the few days with your estate agent to visit your shortlisted, chosen properties. Allow an estate agent a few weeks to prepare for your trip as resale properties may still be occupied or they might need to get permission from the seller to enter them. This will take time to arrange.
There are three types of viewing trip:
Viewing trip with an estate agent
Before heading out on your viewing trip, you and your estate agent will have become familiar over the phone, email or video calls. Ensure that your estate agent has a good grasp of what you are looking for in a Spanish property and will show you ones that you liked online and possibly new ones that fit your requirements. Many estate agents might be local to the area as well, and some of them might also be expats, so they will often show you the area and its local amenities and provide you with extra information such as the local golf club or the nearest international school.
On the final day of your viewing trip, you will hopefully have found your ideal Spanish home and be ready to sort out your reservation contract.
It isn’t unusual for property buyers to make more than one visit or take time after the trip itself (often when back home) to consider their next steps. It is possible to proceed with the property purchase once you are back home.
Inspection trip with a developer
An inspection trip is when a developer subsidises the cost of a three-day trip to Spain for prospective buyers to look at properties. They might even assist with your flights and accommodation too. The downside of these trips is that you might struggle to find the time to view alternative properties or do much exploring alone.
Organising a viewing trip on your own
You can make your own arrangements to visit various developers and/or estate agents without making prior arrangements directly with them. In this instance, they will often agree to meet you at your hotel or accommodation and drive you to new development sites or resale properties. While this method means you will have to do more research yourself, you get to take things at your own pace.
Please note that property market in Spain is buoyant and it is advisable to prepare for a viewing trip and give estate agent as much notice as possible about your trip dates, your place of stay so that they can truly assist you while you are visiting the local area and you will also be able to view more properties and get the most out of your visit.
Things to consider when looking for a property
From your online property search to virtual property walkthroughs, there are many important things to consider, so that you can narrow down what the perfect property for you will look like:
- What type of property would you like?
- How many bedrooms will you need?
- Do you need a view?
- How far is the nearest airport?
- What are the nearest towns like?
- How are the local schools?
- How far is the nearest beach?
- What other local amenities exist and how far are they?
In summary, working with an estate agent or developer in advance of your trip is strongly advisable as they can help you visit as many properties as you wish. It is also helpful to have your list of property features divided into a “must have” list and a “nice to have” list. This will allow you and your estate agent to focus on the properties that really fit your requirements.
If you wish to arrange a viewing trip and don’t know where to start, simply reach out to our property consultants.
For any property viewing trip in Spain we suggest you download our Viewing Trip Guide full of tips and checklists to take with you as a point of reference.
Talking to a property consultant can save you time
If you can’t find what you are looking for on property portals, or you don’t want to spend hours browsing online, researching estate agents and their reputation, we have done some of the homework for you. Our team of consultants can help you navigate the property market in Spain and offer a helpful guiding hand and a range of must-have experts through personal introductions.
Over last 15 years they have helped thousands of international property buyers start and progress their Spain property plans. A consultation can save you time browsing, answer burning questions you might have and often results in a personal introduction tailored to your needs to local or subject matter experts that can help you with the entire property purchase.
How does it work?
By detailing your property plans, such as where you would like to buy, the type of property and your budget, our property consultants will be able to connect you with overseas partners best suited to help you. For example, this could be connecting you with an estate agent located in the Costa Blanca who is experienced at assisting British buyers with finding a holiday home there.
Your property consultant will also be able to connect you with a Spanish-based lawyer, a currency specialist, a tax advisor, visa specialist and other services to make buying stress free.
Even if your property plans are less concrete – you might be torn between Almería and Málaga, or unsure if you want to rent out your property or just use it as a personal holiday home – it is still worth giving our property consultants a call. They can answer questions and offer guidance based on their expertise.