When you have decided on a property to buy in Spain, be it luxury villa, apartment or finca, the process is always the same and you should always make sure you take the following steps.
The seller should give you a nota simple informativa del Registro de la Propiedad, which allows you to find out of the property belongs to the person who is selling it. It also gives a full description of the property, including the boundaries, and confirms whether or not the property is free from debts.
Once you have confirmed it is safe to proceed with the purchase, a contract must be put in place until the more formal deed of purchase is ready. This is usually a simple document where both purchaser and seller express intent to transfer the property and it confirms the price and the conditions agreed to. At this time, the buyer also gives to the seller a deposit – a percentage of the agreed-upon price. If the buyer should decide to back out of the contract, they will lose the deposit but if the seller decides to back out, they have to pay double.
Finally, it is necessary for the property transfer to be certified by a Public Notary. When the Notary reads the deed of purchase and the parties involved agree to the contents of the deed, it will then be given to the buyer. It is also necessary to present proof of identity of both parties, the seller’s title of the property and the buyer’s payment. Both parties then sign the contract and the notary will sign beneath their signatures. The notary will stamp the document and the deed is complete.
NIE (Número de Identidad de Extranjero): This number is issued by the immigration office once you are granted residency. Your ID number is required for taxes, new businesses, bank accounts amongst many other forms a legal agreements.
DNI (Documento Nacional de Identidad): This ID number is for Spanish citizens and is also used for their driver’s license.
NIF (Número de Identificación Fiscal): Tax ID number for individuals.
CIF (Certificado de Identificación Fiscal): This is the ID number for companies.
Social Security Number:
Your employer applies for this number when you start your first job in Spain. This number then stays with you for all subsequent jobs. If you are self-employed, you apply yourself for this number.
Citizenship
After you have been a resident of Spain for two to ten years (depending on the circumstances under which you got your residency), you have the right to apply for citizenship. Once your application is approved, you swear allegiance to the King and to the Spanish Constitution. The public body in charge of citizenship is the Ministerio de Justicia and the place to apply is the Registro Civil. You must technically renounce citizenship with your country of origin (unless you’re from Latin America, Portugal, Philippines, Equatorial Guinea, Andorra, or you’re a Sephardic Jew). In practice, countries do not generally exchange this information, so as long as you don’t show both passports at the airport, you won’t get in trouble.
Is it worth getting citizenship?
The main difference is you can get a passport and the right to vote, though there are many minor advantages (EU citizen rates for museums, etc.)
Interested in the Costa del Sol? Which Area Is Best For You?
Once you have decided to come to the Costa del Sol, either for a holiday or to live, you are still left having to choose which resort to go to. There are many places along the coastline, each with their own individual feel and atmosphere, and you will find while you don’t like one particular town or village, you will fall in love with another. If you do intend to move to the Costa del Sol, it would be worthwhile visiting a number of the resorts before you come, in order to decide which you prefer. Below is a brief guide to some of the resorts on offer.
BENALMÁDENA
Benalmádena is a purpose built tourist resort, and as such contains numerous attractive bars, restaurants and shops. Midway between Malaga and Torremolinos, it is divided into three main parts, Benalmadena Pueblo, Benalmadena Costa and Arroyo de la Miel. The resort is massively popular during the tourist season, and is particularly noted for its beautiful marina.
FUENGIROLA
Fuengirola is a smaller seaside resort, particularly popular with Spanish nationals. Its relatively compact size means that it has more to offer as a town, with less emphasis on the typical tourist merchandise found in the bigger resorts. The town is situated in the centre of the Costa del Sol, and as such makes a good base for getting out and exploring the rest of the coastline, as well as offering five miles of high quality beaches in its own right.
MALAGA
Malaga can be seen as the capital of the Costa del Sol, and as such can be regarded as distinctive from any of the other resorts along the coastline. As the 5th largest urban area in Spain, it is by no means directed solely towards the tourist industry, containing, as it does, all the cultural and commercial resources to be expected from a big city. With its airport and transport network, Malaga provides the best access from the Costa del Sol to the rest of Spain.
