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Diccionario
inmobiliario

Términos clave del mundo inmobiliario explicados con claridad, en varios idiomas.

Contratos

Alquiler con opción a compra: A double contract: an ordinary rental and, attached to it, the tenant's right to buy the home within an agreed period at a price fixed from the start. While the option is alive, the owner cannot sell to a third party. Its essential terms must be in writing: purchase price, duration of the option, initial premium if any, and what part of the rent paid is deducted from the price if the tenant buys — a freely negotiable percentage. Raised to a public deed, the option can be registered at the Land Registry, protecting it against third parties. It is useful for those who cannot yet finance the purchase (waiting to sell another property, for example) and for the owner, who secures a tenant with the vocation of a buyer.
Arras: Amount the buyer hands to the seller when signing the pre-contract of sale, as a deposit and guarantee that the deal will close. Around 10% of the price is usual. There are three types, and the difference matters: penitential arras (article 1454 of the Civil Code) allow either party to walk away — the buyer losing what was paid, the seller returning double; confirmatory arras are just an advance on the price and give no right to withdraw: the other party can demand completion; and penal arras fix compensation for breach. The classic trap: if the contract says only 'arras' with no surname, courts treat them as confirmatory. Whoever wants an exit must write 'penitential arras' expressly, and agree the deadline for the deed, the closed price and what happens if the mortgage does not come through.
Contrato de arrendamiento: Private or public document by which the owner (landlord) grants use of a property to a tenant in exchange for rent. Regulated by the Urban Leases Act (LAU): minimum 5 years (7 if landlord is a legal entity) for habitual housing, with rent updates capped at CPI. Different from seasonal contracts (1–11 months) or tourist (1–30 days, subject to specific regulations).
Contrato de compraventa: Agreement by which the seller undertakes to deliver a property to the buyer in exchange for a certain price. It can be private (signed between parties without notary) or public (notarised deed). Only the notarised deed allows registration in the Land Registry, an essential requirement for ownership to be fully effective against third parties. In practice, the typical process is: deposit contract → public deed.
Exclusiva: Agreement by which the owner appoints a single real estate agency to sell the property for a defined period (typically 3–6 months). In exchange, the agency commits to an intensive marketing plan: professional photography, video, home staging if applicable, publication on premium portals and partner network. Exclusivity usually achieves a better sale price and shorter time on market than open listings, by concentrating expert effort.
Mandato de venta: Contract by which the owner formally entrusts a real estate agency with the management of the sale of their property. It defines conditions: duration, exclusivity or not, minimum acceptable price, fees, marketing plan, exclusions (the owner's own buyers) and information obligations. A professional mandate protects the owner (management transparency) and the agent (right to fees if an efficient cause exists). Always recommended in writing.
Señal / Reserva: Small amount (typically €3,000–€6,000) that the buyer delivers to the seller or agency to reserve the property for a short period (7–15 days) while the deposit contract is prepared. The reservation temporarily takes the property off the market. Usually refundable if the parties do not sign the deposit contract within the term, unless the buyer withdraws without justified cause. Private document, no notary required.
Vicios ocultos: Defects in the home that were not noticeable at the time of purchase and which, had they been known, would have led the buyer not to buy or to pay less: structural damp, aluminosis, faulty installations behind the finishes. For resale homes the Civil Code applies: the buyer has six months from delivery to claim repair, a price reduction or contract termination from the seller — a short period that makes a technical inspection before signing advisable. For new builds the periods of the Building Act apply: one year for finishing defects, three for those affecting habitability (damp, insulation, installations) and ten for structural ones, the latter covered by the developer's ten-year insurance.

Derechos reales

Derecho de tanteo y retracto: Preferential acquisition rights: they allow certain people to buy a property with priority over any third party, at the same price. The tanteo operates before the sale (the owner must notify the conditions and await the answer) and the retracto afterwards (the beneficiary undoes the completed sale and steps into the buyer's place). The cases that matter most in practice: the tenant with a housing lease, unless expressly waived in the contract; the co-owners, if one sells their share to a stranger; the neighbouring owners of small rural plots; and the Administration in protected housing and in areas where regional rules reserve it. The deadlines are very short — thirty calendar days in tenancies — and notifications must be reliably documented: skipping them exposes the buyer to losing the home.
Dominio: Most complete property right over an asset: includes the right to use it, enjoy its fruits and dispose of it (sell, donate, mortgage). In full ownership, the holder has all powers over the property. It may be divided into bare ownership (title without use) and usufruct (use and enjoyment), which reunite when the latter ends.
Extinción de condominio: Operation by which a home with several owners becomes the property of just one, who compensates the others in money for their share. It is the usual way out after a divorce or an inheritance among siblings, when the property is indivisible and one of them wants to keep it. Its great advantage is fiscal: it is not a sale, so the person awarded the home does not pay ITP (10% in the Valencian Community) but only AJD (1.5%), a difference of thousands of euros. It requires a notarial deed and the agreement of all co-owners; the compensation must be in money and proportional to the value of the share acquired, because a badly structured excess award can be taxed as a gift or a transfer. If there is also a mortgage, the bank must agree to release the departing co-owner.
Nuda propiedad: Ownership of a property without the right to use or enjoy it: that right — the usufruct — belongs to someone else. The bare owner is the owner, may sell or mortgage their right, but cannot move in or collect rent while the usufruct exists. It is the key piece of an increasingly common operation: an elderly owner sells the bare ownership of their home, gets paid today (lump sum or annuity) and keeps a life usufruct to go on living there until the end. The price is calculated by deducting the value of the usufruct, which depends on the seller's age (for tax purposes, 89 minus their age, as a percentage). When the usufructuary dies, the bare owner automatically consolidates full ownership, settling at that point the tax on the usufruct part.
Proindiviso: Situation in which a property belongs to several people by quotas — two siblings at 50%, three heirs in equal shares — without any of them being able to point to which physical part is theirs. Each co-owner pays expenses according to their quota and important decisions require agreement. The law forces no one to remain in co-ownership: any co-owner may request the division at any time. The exits, from best to worst: selling the whole property by common agreement, one buying out the others through a termination of co-ownership, selling one's own share to a third party (at a heavy discount, and the other co-owners hold a right of first refusal), or going to court, which faced with an indivisible asset will end up ordering an auction — the worst possible price. Selling by agreement almost always wins.
Propiedad horizontal: Legal regime applicable to buildings divided into flats or premises belonging to different owners, with common areas (stairs, facade, roof, installations). Regulated by the Horizontal Property Act (LPH). Defines the rights and obligations of the owners, how the community works (meetings, agreements, president, administrator), the division of expenses by participation share and the limits on individual owner's freedom of use.
Servidumbre: Property right that burdens one estate (servient) for the benefit of another (dominant) or of a person. Typical examples: right of way (crossing a property to access another), views, light, aqueduct (water passage), electrical line easement. Easements are recorded in the Land Registry and are an encumbrance that the buyer inherits when acquiring the servient estate. Before buying, always check the existing easements in the nota simple.
Usufructo: The right to use someone else's property and keep its fruits — living in it or collecting its rent — without owning it: ownership belongs to the bare owner. It can be for life (most common: the widowed spouse who inherits the usufruct of the family home) or temporary. Its tax value follows fixed rules: a life usufruct is worth 89 minus the usufructuary's age (as a percentage of the property's value, minimum 10%, maximum 70%); a temporary one, 2% per year of duration, capped at 70%. The usufructuary pays ordinary expenses, the IBI and upkeep repairs; extraordinary works fall to the bare owner. They may rent the property out and keep the income, but not sell it. The right ends with death or the agreed term, and the bare owner then recovers full ownership.

Documentos

Adjudicación de herencia: The process that turns heirs into owners of the deceased's assets. The chain of steps: death certificate, certificate of last wills, copy of the will (or declaration of heirs before a notary if there is none), inventory and distribution in the deed of adjudication, settlement of taxes and registration at the Land Registry. Deadlines matter: inheritance tax is settled within six months of the death (extendable by six more if requested within the first five), as is the municipal capital gains tax. In the Valencian Community the bill has dropped drastically: a 99% relief between spouses, parents and children. Until the inheritance is adjudicated and registered, the inherited home cannot be sold: it is the first formality to resolve, not the last.
Carga registral: Any limitation, encumbrance or restriction on a property recorded in the Land Registry. Typical examples: mortgage, lien, easement, resolutory condition, right of first refusal or tax affection. Before signing the deposit contract, it is essential to request an updated nota simple to verify all encumbrances. Encumbrances follow the property, not the owner: if you buy a property with an uncancelled lien, you inherit it.
Cédula de habitabilidad: Administrative document certifying that a dwelling meets the minimum requirements to be inhabited: usable surface, ceiling height, ventilation and lighting, kitchen and bathroom equipment. Each autonomous community regulates it under its own name — in the Valencian Community the equivalent figure is the occupation licence (first or second), nowadays often processed as a responsible declaration. In practice it is needed to contract water and electricity or change their holder, to rent long-term and for holiday rentals. It is valid for ten years, after which it must be renewed. When buying, check that it exists and is still in force: a dwelling that cannot obtain it — due to planning infringements or failing the conditions — is a dwelling that cannot legally be lived in, and that must be discovered before signing, not after.
Cédula urbanística: Document issued by the town hall containing the urban planning status of a property: land classification, buildability, permitted uses, alignment, setbacks and urban easements. Different from the habitability certificate. Essential for developers, investors and buyers planning to renovate, extend or change the property's use.
Certificado energético: Mandatory official document for sale and rental that classifies the property's energy efficiency on a scale from A (most efficient) to G (least efficient), assessing energy consumption and CO₂ emissions. Required to register the sale and must appear in any listing. On the Costa Blanca, properties prior to 2007 typically rate E, F or G; new builds since 2020 must reach class A or B. Lower class means higher energy bills.
Embargo: Judicial or administrative measure that links an asset (typically a property) to the payment of a debt. The lien is recorded in the Land Registry and limits the power to dispose of the asset until the debt is settled or the measure lifted. Before purchasing, an updated nota simple reveals active liens. Buying a property with an active lien exposes the buyer to enforcement by the creditor.
Escritura pública: Notarial document that records an act or contract — in a property sale, the definitive agreement between seller and buyer — and gives it public faith: the notary verifies the identity and capacity of the parties, the ownership, the charges and the payments. A sale in a private contract is valid between the parties, but only the public deed allows the purchase to be registered at the Land Registry, protected against third parties and mortgaged; that is why every financed purchase goes through a notary. The buyer has the right to choose the notary. Costs are split by law (the original deed to the seller, the first copy to the buyer), although it is common to agree that the buyer bears them all.
Licencia de ocupación (primera y segunda): Municipal authorisation certifying that a dwelling meets the conditions to be inhabited. In the Valencian Community, the first occupation licence is required for new builds: the developer must obtain it to hand over the homes, and without it utilities cannot be contracted. The second occupation licence — now processed as a responsible declaration — is requested on transfers and new rentals once the previous one has expired: it is valid for ten years. It is also a requirement for using the home as a holiday rental. When buying, ask for the licence in force or, failing that, check with the town hall that the dwelling can obtain one: its absence may reveal an unlicensed construction or pending planning infringements.
Licencia turística: Official authorisation issued by the Valencia regional government —called VV (Vacation Housing)— required to legally rent a property to tourists (stays of 1 to 30 days). Without a VV licence, tourist rental is illegal: fines from €2,000 to €600,000. Applied for via responsible declaration, fee €65.11, processing time 5–15 working days. Before buying for tourist rental, verify that the community statutes do not prohibit it.
NIE (Número de Identidad de Extranjero): Personal, unique and permanent number that Spain assigns to foreigners for any economic or administrative matter: buying a property, opening a bank account, signing up for utilities or paying taxes. Without an NIE you cannot sign the deed or settle the purchase taxes. It is applied for in Spain (at National Police stations, by appointment) or at the Spanish consulate in your country of residence, and it can also be obtained by a representative with power of attorney, common among foreign buyers. It does not expire and does not imply residency: it is only an identifier. It should not be confused with the TIE, the physical card of those who actually reside in Spain, nor with the EU citizen registration certificate.
Nota simple: Document issued by the Land Registry containing updated information about a property: ownership (who is the legal owner), registry description, current encumbrances (mortgages, liens, easements), marginal notes. Essential to obtain before signing the deposit contract: it lets you verify the seller is the true owner and the property is free of undisclosed encumbrances. Cost: €9.02 online at the Registry's website.
Poder notarial: Public document granted before a notary by which one person (grantor) authorises another (attorney) to act on their behalf in certain legal matters. Widely used by foreign buyers who cannot travel to Spain to sign: the power of attorney allows a lawyer or representative to sign the purchase, the mortgage or any procedure on their behalf. Requires the Hague Apostille if granted outside Spain + sworn translation if in another language. Typical cost €80–€250 at a Spanish notary, more at consulates.
Referencia catastral: Twenty-character alphanumeric code that the Cadastre assigns to every property, identifying it unequivocally: where it is, its surface area and its attributed use. It appears on the IBI receipt and in the deed, and anyone can use it at the Cadastre's online office to look up the property's physical data. When buying, check that the cadastral reference matches the registered plot being purchased: the Cadastre and the Land Registry are separate bodies and their data do not always agree (different surface areas, undeclared extensions, boundaries). Spotting the discrepancy before signing allows it to be corrected through the rectification procedure and avoids problems when reselling, mortgaging or inheriting.
Registro de la Propiedad: Official public institution that registers the ownership and encumbrances of properties in Spain. Registration provides legal certainty to the buyer: after the public deed before notary, the purchase must be registered for the buyer to be recognised as owner against third parties. There are Registries by territorial demarcation; each property is registered in a specific one. Procedures such as the nota simple, mortgage registration and cancellation of encumbrances are managed here.
Tasación: Technical valuation of the market price of a property carried out by an appraisal company approved by the Bank of Spain. Mandatory for granting a mortgage: the bank finances up to 70–80% of the lower of appraised value and purchase price. Cost: €300–€500 paid by the mortgage applicant. Different from the technical inspection (which evaluates the physical condition). Valid for 6 months from issue.
Vivienda de uso turístico (VUT): Administrative category designating a property intended for short-stay tourist rental (1–30 days). In the Valencia region, equivalent to the VV (Vacation Housing) licence. Requirements: habitability certificate, minimum equipment, energy certificate, complaint form, not being in a declared saturated zone, and no prohibition in the community statutes. The massive presence of VUT in specific areas has generated debate about tourism saturation and housing prices for local residents.

Financiación

Aval bancario: A commitment by which a bank guarantees it will pay an obligation of its client if the client fails to. In real estate it appears in three scenarios: the developer who collects stage payments for a home under construction is legally obliged to secure them with a bank guarantee or surety insurance — if the build is not delivered, the buyer recovers the money with interest by enforcing the guarantee; the tenant who reinforces their solvency by guaranteeing several months' rent; and the buyer who secures deferred payment of part of the price. For off-plan buyers it is the key document: demand the guarantee or the individual insurance certificate with every payment, and keep them. A guarantee costs the guaranteed party money (opening and quarterly fees, and often a pledged deposit), which is why nobody gives one away.
Cancelación registral de hipoteca: Finishing paying the mortgage does not erase it from the Land Registry: the charge remains on record until it is formally cancelled, and it will show up in the nota simple when you want to sell. Registry cancellation is that pending formality many homes drag along for years. Steps: ask the bank for the zero-debt certificate (free), sign the cancellation deed — the bank's representative attends the notary without being able to charge for it — and file it at the Registry. Notary and Registry fees are borne by the owner, a few hundred euros; a gestoría can handle it or you can do it yourself. Doing nothing has an expiry date: the charge lapses at the Registry twenty-one years after maturity. In practice, when selling it is resolved at the same signing by retaining the necessary amount from the price.
Cap Rate: Capitalisation rate: key metric in real estate investment measuring the annual net return of a property relative to its purchase price. Calculated as (Net annual income / Purchase price) × 100. On the Costa Blanca, typical Cap Rates range between 4–6% for long-term rentals and 6–8% for vacation rentals. It is the fundamental metric for comparing investment opportunities.
Cashflow inmobiliario: Net cash flow generated by a rental property: rental income minus all expenses (mortgage, IBI, community fees, maintenance, insurance, taxes, management, vacancy). It can be positive (the property generates monthly profit) or negative (the owner contributes capital expecting future appreciation). On the Costa Blanca, modest positive cash flow is achievable with moderate financing in high-demand vacation rental areas such as Torrevieja or Calpe.
Dación en pago: Legal mechanism by which the debtor delivers an asset (typically a property) to the creditor to settle a debt, usually a mortgage. In Spain it is not automatic: the bank must accept it and there are specific conditions regulated by the Code of Good Practices (insolvency exclusion threshold). Different from eviction: here the debtor voluntarily delivers the property and the debt is fully cancelled. Useful when the property value covers the outstanding debt.
Euríbor: Interbank interest rate at which major European banks lend money to each other in euros. It is the most widely used benchmark for variable-rate mortgages in Spain. Your variable monthly mortgage payment is calculated as Euribor + spread (typically +1% to +1.8%). Published daily and reviewed every 6 or 12 months according to the contract. In 2026 the 12-month Euribor stands around 2.5–3%, after peaks above 4% in 2023.
FEIN (Ficha Europea de Información Normalizada): Document the bank must give the client at least ten calendar days before signing a mortgage, containing the personalised, binding offer: amount, term, interest rate, APR, instalment schedule, combined products, fees and early repayment costs. Binding means the bank cannot worsen those conditions afterwards. It comes with the FiAE, which summarises the most relevant clauses (reference index, early termination clauses, cost allocation). With both, the client visits the notary of their choice for a free prior deed in which the notary checks that they understand what they are signing; without that step the mortgage cannot be authorised. Its format is identical across Europe, designed to compare offers from different banks box by box.
Hipoteca fija, variable o mixta: The three main mortgage types in Spain. Fixed: constant interest rate throughout the loan's life, predictable instalment (2026 APR between 3.2% and 4.5%). Variable: instalment tied to Euribor + spread, reviewed every 6 or 12 months (riskier if rates rise). Mixed: fixed rate for the first 5–10 years + variable thereafter. The choice depends on your time horizon, risk tolerance and rate expectations.
Hipoteca para extranjeros: Mortgage loan offered by Spanish banks to individuals without Spanish tax residence. More conservative conditions than for residents: up to 70% of appraised value or purchase price for EU/EEA non-residents, up to 60–65% for non-residents from other countries. Fixed rates in 2026 between 3.8% and 4.5%. Enhanced documentation: NIE, income proof, asset statement, tax residence certificate.
Rentabilidad bruta: Basic performance indicator of a real estate investment: annual rental income divided by the purchase price, expressed as a percentage. Does not deduct expenses (IBI, community fees, maintenance, management, taxes). On the Costa Blanca, average gross yields in 2026 are: Torrevieja 7.4%, Pilar de la Horadada 6.2%, Calpe 5.1%, Moraira 3.8%. Useful for comparing opportunities quickly, but net yield is the decisive metric for real investment.
Rentabilidad neta: Real return indicator of a real estate investment: annual rental income minus all expenses (IBI, community fees, utilities, cleaning, maintenance, insurance, management, taxes), divided by the total acquisition cost (price + taxes + purchase costs). On the Costa Blanca, typical net yield is 50–70% of gross. A bungalow in Torrevieja with 7.4% gross may yield 3–3.5% net. This is the metric that tells you how much you actually earn.
Subrogación de hipoteca: A change of one of the parties to a live mortgage, without cancelling it or creating a new one. It has two variants. Creditor subrogation: the client moves their mortgage to another bank offering better conditions; the original bank may match the offer to keep them, and fees are capped by law. And debtor subrogation: the buyer takes over the mortgage already on the home — typical in new builds, where the buyer can step into the developer's loan. Its advantages over creating a new mortgage: part of the formalisation costs are saved and the process is quicker. In return, the bank must approve the new debtor's solvency, and the inherited conditions are not always the market's best: compare before accepting a subrogation out of inertia.
TIN y TAE: The TIN (nominal interest rate) is the annual price the bank charges for lending the money, nothing more. The TAE (APR) adds to the TIN the fees and the effect of linked products, expressing the real annual cost of the loan: it is the figure to use when comparing offers. A typical example: a mortgage with a low TIN but compulsory life and home insurance can end up more expensive than one with a higher TIN and no ties — the APR reveals it. On variable mortgages the APR is only indicative ('variable APR'), because it assumes the Euribor will not change over the life of the loan. Each bank's FEIN shows both figures in the same boxes, allowing rigorous comparison before choosing.

Impuestos

Actos Jurídicos Documentados (AJD): Regional tax on notarial documents with economic content that can be registered: new-build declarations, horizontal division, termination of co-ownership, mortgage loans or purchases subject to VAT. In the Valencian Community the general rate is 1.5%. In practice: the buyer of a new build pays it together with VAT (resale homes pay ITP instead of AJD); on mortgage loans the bank has borne it since November 2018; and in a termination of co-ownership it is the only tax paid by the co-owner who keeps the property, which makes it far cheaper than a sale between co-owners. It is settled with form 600 within the month following signature.
IBI (Impuesto sobre Bienes Inmuebles): Annual municipal tax on property ownership. It is paid by whoever owns the property on 1 January — even if you sell in February, the whole year's bill is yours, although the Supreme Court allows the sale contract to apportion it by each party's days of ownership, and it is common practice. It is calculated by applying the rate set by each town hall (between 0.4% and 1.1% for urban property) to the cadastral value, so it varies greatly between municipalities. It is usually charged between August and October and is worth paying by direct debit, as many municipalities offer discounts for it. When buying, ask for the latest receipts: IBI debts from the previous four years follow the property, not the former owner, and the new owner answers for them with the home.
Impuesto sobre el Patrimonio (no residentes): Non-residents are taxed in Spain under 'real obligation': only on assets located in Spanish territory, essentially their properties, minus the debts attached to them — a mortgage on the Spanish home reduces the base. The state exempt minimum is €700,000 per holder (a couple buying 50/50 doubles the threshold), and the main-home allowance does not apply to non-residents, as the property is not their residence. Since 2021 non-residents may opt for the rules of the region where their assets lie; comparing pays off, because some regions apply generous relief while others, like the Valencian Community, set a lower exempt minimum. Above 3 million euros the Solidarity Tax on Large Fortunes also applies. It is declared with form 714.
ITP (Impuesto de Transmisiones Patrimoniales): Regional tax levied on the purchase of second-hand properties. In the Valencia region, the general rate is 10% on the registered price. Reduced rates apply in some cases: 8% for habitual housing for buyers under 35 (with max price €180,000), 4% for large families and disabled persons. Paid by the buyer within 30 days of signing. Not applicable to new builds (which pay VAT + AJD).
IVA en la compra de vivienda: The first delivery of a finished home — the one the developer sells to the first buyer — is taxed with 10% VAT, plus AJD (1.5% in the Valencian Community). Up to two parking spaces and the annexes transferred together with the home also qualify for the 10%; commercial premises and plots pay 21%. VAT is paid to the developer on every invoice, including stage payments during construction, while AJD is settled when the deed is signed. Resale homes carry no VAT: they pay ITP instead (general rate of 10% in the Valencian Community, with reduced rates for young buyers, large families or protected housing). The tax cost of new build and resale thus ends up very similar: around 11.5% versus 10%.
Plusvalía estatal (IRPF): Tax on the capital gain obtained from selling a property, managed by the State Tax Agency. For tax residents it is integrated into the IRPF at 19–26% according to the scale. For non-residents (form 210/211) the rate is 19% (EU residents) or 24% (other countries). If the seller is non-resident, the buyer withholds 3% of the price (form 211) as a payment on account. Exemptions exist for reinvestment in habitual housing (residents) and persons over 65.
Plusvalía municipal: Local tax (Tax on the Increase in Value of Urban Land) levied on the transfer of urban properties. Paid by the seller (unless otherwise agreed) within 30 days of signing. Calculated on the cadastral value of the land and years of ownership. Following the 2021 Constitutional Court ruling, it only applies if there is a real increase in value between purchase and sale; the taxpayer can choose between the objective and real methods.
Residencia fiscal en España: The status that determines where a person is taxed on their worldwide income. You are a tax resident in Spain if any of these applies: staying more than 183 days of the calendar year in Spanish territory (sporadic absences count as presence unless tax residence in another country is proven), having your main centre of economic interests here, or your spouse and minor children habitually residing in Spain, which creates a presumption of residence. Buying a home does not make you a tax resident: a non-resident is taxed only on Spanish-source income (IRNR), while a resident pays IRPF on worldwide income. Double taxation treaties resolve conflicts between two countries. It is wise to plan a change of residence before exceeding the 183 days.
Retención del 3 % a no residentes: When the seller of a property is not a tax resident in Spain, the law obliges the buyer to withhold 3% of the agreed price and pay it to the tax office using form 211 within the month following signature. It is not an extra tax but a payment on account of the seller's tax on their gain. The seller then files form 210 declaring the actual gain on the sale: if the 3% withheld exceeds the tax due, they claim a refund of the difference; if it falls short, they pay the rest. For the buyer the step is not optional: without the withholding, the property itself remains liable for the seller's tax. It pays to gather early the invoices proving the acquisition cost and improvements, as they reduce the taxable gain.
Valor catastral: Administrative value assigned to each property by the General Directorate of the Cadastre, based on objective criteria (location, surface area, age, construction quality). It serves as the basis for calculating several taxes: IBI, municipal capital gains, imputed income (form 210 for non-residents). Typically between 40% and 60% of real market value. Updated periodically through municipal valuation reports. Found in the latest IBI letter or consultable online at the Cadastre's electronic office.

Otros

Agente inmobiliario: Authorised professional who acts as intermediary between buyer and seller (or landlord and tenant) in real estate transactions. In the Valencia region, the activity is regulated by the Real Estate Agents Registry (RAIC). Registered agents must hold mandatory professional liability insurance and accredited training. Clients can verify the agent's RAIC number before hiring.
Due diligence inmobiliaria: A complete review of a property before buying it, to know exactly what is being bought and with what risks. The legal part: nota simple (ownership, mortgages, seizures, easements), planning status at the town hall (licences, infringement files, non-conforming status), occupation licence and consistency between Registry and Cadastre. The economic part: debts with the community and approved special levies — the administrator's certificate is compulsory in a sale —, IBI and refuse tax up to date, and tenants with a right to stay or to buy. The technical part: the real condition of structure and installations. On the Costa Blanca it makes particular sense for villas on rural land, old extensions and homes intended for holiday rental. It is done by a lawyer or surveyor independent of the seller, before the deposit contract: afterwards, whatever is found can no longer be negotiated.
Empadronamiento: Registration on the padrón, the municipal census of residents kept by each town hall. It is the official proof of living in that municipality and the gateway to services and procedures: enrolling children in school, obtaining the health card, exchanging a driving licence, proving residence in immigration procedures or accessing municipal aid. It is done at the town hall by presenting the deed or rental contract and identification; it is free, and anyone living more than six months a year in the municipality is obliged to register. It does not by itself make you a tax resident, but it is an indication the tax office weighs, so those who do not wish to be one should handle it judiciously. The certificate is usually required to be less than three months old.
Gastos de comunidad: Monthly fees paid by owners in a building or development for the maintenance of common areas and services: cleaning, gardening, pool, lift, concierge, administration, community insurance, reserve fund. On the Costa Blanca they range from €30 (simple building) to €250/month (premium development with all services). Before buying, request the administrator's certificate with current fees and any pending levies.
Gestoría: A professional office that handles administrative and tax paperwork on behalf of the client. In purchases with a mortgage it almost always appears: the bank appoints a gestoría to settle the taxes and register the deed, withholding a provision of funds whose surplus is returned afterwards. For the foreign buyer it is an especially useful figure beyond the signing: it obtains the NIE, changes the utilities into the new name, sets up direct debits for IBI and community fees, and files form 210 each year for the non-resident's imputed income. It should not be confused with a lawyer, who gives legal advice and reviews contracts, nor with the notary, who provides public faith: the gestoría executes procedures. Its fees are unregulated, so ask for a quote.
Home staging: Technique for preparing a property to optimise its sale or rental: depersonalisation, furniture reorganisation, minor aesthetic improvements, neutral lighting and decor designed to appeal to the maximum number of buyers. Professional studies in Spain show that a home-staged property sells 15–30% faster and at a price 3–8% higher. Typical investment: €800–€2,500 for an average home.
Seguro decenal: Compulsory insurance covering a residential building's structural damage for ten years: foundations, beams, floor slabs, load-bearing walls. The developer takes it out before selling, and without it the notary and the Registry will not accept the new-build declaration: it is a filter protecting buyers. The important exception is the self-developer: whoever builds a single-family home for their own use is not obliged to take it out. But if that house is sold before ten years have passed since completion, the seller must contract the insurance unless the buyer expressly releases them knowing the situation. Anyone buying a villa under ten years old built by its owner should examine this point closely: releasing means waiving the structural guarantee, and banks may be reluctant to finance the purchase.