The Buvivo Blog

Straight-talking guides for buying, renting, and selling property in Spain.

June 13, 2026·11 min readPadrónBuying in Spain
Empadronamiento in Spain: the 2026 padrón guide for foreign property owners
The certificado de empadronamiento is the most underrated piece of paper in Spanish admin. It gates public healthcare, school places, the residency card, the driving licence exchange, even reduced museum tickets — and it's tied to the address of your Spanish property, not your nationality. The 2026 guide to getting padrón'd: who can apply, what to bring, how the appointment really works, the renewal trap that catches non-EU owners, and the small mistakes that send foreign owners back to the queue.
Read more →
June 12, 2026·12 min readBuying in SpainPost-completion
Your first 30 days as a Spanish property owner: the foreign buyer's 2026 playbook
You've signed at the notary, you have the keys, the seller has driven away — and suddenly the work begins. The 2026 playbook for the first 30 days in your new Spanish home: switching utilities into your name, the bills that auto-arrive (and the ones you have to chase), padrón, IBI, Modelo 210, insurance, the cuadro eléctrico nobody explained, and the small mistakes that cost foreign owners thousands in year one.
Read more →
June 11, 2026·13 min readBuying in SpainAuctions
Buying property in Spain at auction in 2026: the subasta guide for foreign bargain hunters
Spanish property auctions promise 20–40% discounts — and deliver them about as often as they deliver disasters. The 2026 foreign buyer's guide to subasta judicial, notarial auctions, bank repossessions, the deposit you can lose, and the occupied-flat trap nobody warned you about.
Read more →
June 10, 2026·13 min readBuying in SpainCoastal
Ley de Costas: Spain's coastal law and what it means for beachfront buyers in 2026
The cheapest sea-view villa on the market is usually cheap for a reason. A practical guide to Spain's Ley de Costas — the four zones, concession status, the certificate that flags trouble, and the regions where it bites hardest.
Read more →
June 9, 2026·13 min readCosta CálidaMurcia
Buying property on the Costa Cálida in 2026: Mar Menor, Cartagena, Mazarrón and the rest
The Costa Cálida buyer's guide for 2026 — what the Mar Menor crisis actually means for buyers, town-by-town prices, the British/Norwegian/Irish mix, and the Polaris World legacy you need to understand before you sign.
Read more →
June 8, 2026·14 min readSolarEnergy
Solar panels in Spain in 2026: the foreign property owner's complete guide
Spain has Europe's best sun and some of its highest grid prices — yet most foreign buyers still get installations wrong. The real 2026 numbers on costs, subsidies, IBI rebates, surplus compensation and the permission traps that catch out non-resident owners.
Read more →
June 7, 2026·14 min readBuying in SpainCosts
The hidden costs of buying property in Spain in 2026: every fee, tax and surprise charge
Most foreign buyers budget for the asking price and the taxes, then get blindsided by another 4–6% in fees nobody mentioned. Here is the full list — with real 2026 numbers and a worked example on a €350,000 flat.
Read more →
June 6, 2026·13 min readSevilleAndalusia
Buying property in Seville: neighbourhoods, prices, process (2026)
A foreign buyer's guide to Andalusia's capital — barrio-by-barrio prices, the 7% ITP advantage, tourist-licence rules in the casco antiguo, and why Seville is the most underrated big-city buy in Spain right now.
Read more →
June 5, 2026·14 min readInternational schoolsLiving in Spain
International schools in Spain: the 2026 guide for foreign families buying property
British, American, IB, French, German, bilingual — which Spanish school system actually fits your kids, what it costs in 2026, where the good schools cluster, and how to buy a property that puts you in the right catchment.
Read more →
June 4, 2026·13 min readHealthcareLiving in Spain
Healthcare in Spain for foreign property owners: the 2026 guide
Public or private? EHIC, S1, Convenio Especial or Sanitas? What your visa requires and what your home country still covers? Here's the practical 2026 answer to every healthcare question foreign property owners in Spain actually ask.
Read more →
June 3, 2026·14 min readSelf-buildBuying land
Building your own home in Spain: a foreign buyer's guide to buying land and self-building in 2026
A 30,000 m² plot in Andalucía for €120,000 looks like the dream — until you discover you can't build on it. Here's how foreign buyers should approach buying land and building from scratch in Spain in 2026: the land classifications, the licences, the team, the realistic budget, and the timeline.
Read more →
June 2, 2026·12 min readTaxesNon-residents
Modelo 210 explained: the Spanish non-resident tax every foreign property owner must file in 2026
If you own a property in Spain and live somewhere else, Spain wants a tax return from you every year — even when the place sits empty. The complete 2026 guide to Modelo 210: who files, when, how much, the EU/EEA rate trap, the new annual return for rentals, and the penalty schedule if you ignore it.
Read more →
June 1, 2026·13 min readGermansBuying in Spain
Buying property in Spain as a German citizen: the complete 2026 guide
Germans buy more Spanish property than any other foreign nationality except the British. Here's the honest 2026 playbook for German buyers — the EU advantages, the Spain–Germany tax treaty traps, financing across borders, and the specifically-German mistakes that cost real money.
Read more →
May 31, 2026·13 min readBritishBrexit
Buying property in Spain as a British citizen: the 2026 post-Brexit guide
British buyers are still Spain's largest single foreign nationality — but the rules changed in 2021 and most online guides are still wrong. The honest 2026 playbook: visas, tax, mortgages, healthcare and the Brexit-specific mistakes that cost UK buyers thousands.
Read more →
May 30, 2026·11 min readBuying in SpainLegal
Signing day at the Spanish notario: what foreign buyers actually do when the deed is signed
The Spanish notary is the gatekeeper to property ownership — and the moment foreign buyers feel most lost. Here is what really happens in the notario's office, what to bring, what to read, what gets paid, and what to do when the language barrier hits.
Read more →
May 29, 2026·10 min readBuying in SpainGuide
How long does it take to buy a property in Spain? The realistic timeline for foreign buyers in 2026
From first viewing to keys in hand, a week-by-week timeline of buying property in Spain as a foreign buyer — including the steps everyone underestimates, where remote buyers lose months, and how to compress the process without cutting corners.
Read more →
May 28, 2026·12 min readAmericansBuying in Spain
Buying property in Spain as an American: the complete 2026 guide
Americans are now the fastest-growing nationality buying homes in Spain. Here's the practical 2026 playbook — visas, FATCA, double taxation, financing, and the specifically-American mistakes to avoid.
Read more →
May 27, 2026·12 min readCosta BravaGirona
Buying property on the Costa Brava in 2026: Cadaqués, Begur, Palafrugell and the rest
The Costa Brava buyer's guide for 2026 — north vs south, town-by-town prices, the French and Catalan buyer mix, planning rules that catch foreigners off guard, and where the real value still hides.
Read more →
May 26, 2026·11 min readRural SpainEspaña vaciada
Buying a village house in rural Spain: the foreign buyer's handbook for 2026
€40,000 for a stone house with a balcony, or €15,000 for a shell that swallows your savings? The honest 2026 guide to buying in la España vaciada — Teruel, Soria, Cuenca, Zamora and the interior nobody at a coastal agency will tell you about.
Read more →
May 25, 2026·12 min readBuying in SpainNegotiation
How to negotiate the price of a Spanish property: a foreign buyer's playbook for 2026
Spanish asking prices are negotiable — but only if you know which numbers to question, when to push, and when to walk. Here's how foreign buyers should approach negotiation in 2026.
Read more →
May 24, 2026·10 min readBuying in SpainLegal
Squatters (okupas) in Spain in 2026: the real risk to foreign property buyers, separated from the headlines
Worried about okupas before buying in Spain? Here's what's actually true in 2026 after the express-eviction reform, where the real risk sits, and the simple checks that put almost every foreign buyer firmly out of harm's way.
Read more →
May 23, 2026·10 min readBuying in SpainLegal
Nota simple: the 7-euro document that protects you from buying the wrong Spanish property
Spain's land-registry extract decoded line by line — what to check before you sign arras, how to pull one yourself, and the red flags that have killed deals we've seen.
Read more →
May 22, 2026·12 min readBuying in SpainCommunity of owners
The comunidad de propietarios: the Spanish community of owners explained for foreign buyers (2026)
Buy an apartment or a home on an urbanización in Spain and you don't just buy the property — you join its comunidad de propietarios. Here's what community fees, derramas, voting rights and the April 2025 tourist-rental reform actually mean for foreign buyers in 2026.
Read more →
May 21, 2026·11 min readTaxesBuying in Spain
Spanish inheritance tax and wills for foreign property owners: the 2026 guide
If you own — or are about to own — a home in Spain as a foreigner, two questions decide what happens when you die: which country's succession law applies, and how much Spanish inheritance tax your heirs will pay. Here's the practical 2026 answer.
Read more →
May 20, 2026·13 min readSelling in SpainTaxes
Selling property in Spain as a non-resident: the 2026 guide
How to sell a Spanish property as a non-resident in 2026: the 3% retention, capital gains tax, plusvalía, paperwork, timelines and the mistakes that cost foreign sellers the most money.
Read more →
May 19, 2026·10 min readBuying in SpainLegal
Buying property in Spain without flying out: how power of attorney really works
You don't have to be in Spain to buy in Spain. Here's exactly how a power of attorney (poder notarial) lets your lawyer sign for you in 2026 — what it should and shouldn't authorise, where to sign it, what it costs, and the traps that turn a convenience into a liability.
Read more →
May 18, 2026·10 min readVisasBuying in Spain
The 90/180-day rule: how long you can actually stay in your Spanish home as a non-EU owner
You bought the Spanish holiday home — now how long are you legally allowed to use it? The 90/180-day Schengen rule explained in plain English for British, American and other non-EU owners, with the counting trick everyone gets wrong and the legal ways to stay longer.
Read more →
May 17, 2026·9 min readBankingBuying in Spain
Opening a Spanish bank account as a non-resident: the 2026 guide
You can't really buy property in Spain without one. Here's exactly how to open a Spanish non-resident bank account in 2026 — the documents, the fees nobody warns you about, online vs branch, and how to avoid the classic delays that stall a purchase.
Read more →
May 16, 2026·11 min readTaxesBuying in Spain
Spain's 100% tax on non-EU buyers: what's real, what's not, and what to do in 2026
Spain proposed a tax of up to 100% of the purchase price on homes bought by non-EU non-residents. Here's where the measure actually stands in 2026, who it would hit, the routes around it, and how to plan your purchase without panicking.
Read more →
May 15, 2026·12 min readHoliday rentalTourist licence
Tourist rental licences in Spain in 2026: what foreign buyers must check before they buy to let
Buying a Spanish property to rent on Airbnb in 2026? The licence rules have been rewritten in every major region since 2024. Here's what VUT, VFT, VV and VT actually mean — and the four checks that decide whether a property can ever legally pay you back.
Read more →
May 14, 2026·13 min readIbizaFormentera
Buying property in Ibiza and Formentera in 2026: the foreign buyer's guide
A practical, zone-by-zone guide to buying in the Pitiüses in 2026 — current prices, the rental moratorium that quietly rewrote the market, the rural-build trap, and what no mainland lawyer will warn you about.
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May 13, 2026·14 min readBarcelonaCity guide
Buying property in Barcelona in 2026: the foreign buyer's guide
A district-by-district guide to buying in Barcelona — current prices, the tax setup that makes Catalonia tougher than Madrid, the tourist-rental rules every foreign buyer underestimates, and how to actually find a flat in the city's tightest neighbourhoods.
Read more →
May 12, 2026·13 min readReformasRenovation
Renovating a Spanish property: the foreign buyer's reformas guide for 2026
Costs per square metre, the licences nobody warns you about, how to read a builder's quote, and the ten mistakes foreign buyers keep making when refurbishing a Spanish home.
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May 10, 2026·12 min readBuying in SpainLegal
14 red flags every foreign buyer should spot before signing for a Spanish property
The deals that hurt foreign buyers in Spain rarely look risky on the listing — they look cheap. Here are the 14 warning signs that should make you slow down, ask questions, or walk away entirely.
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May 9, 2026·13 min readMadridCity guide
Buying property in Madrid in 2026: the foreign buyer's guide
A district-by-district guide to buying in Madrid — current prices, where Latin American, American and European buyers are actually putting their money, the tax advantages that make Madrid different, and the local quirks of the process.
Read more →
May 8, 2026·12 min readCost of LivingLiving in Spain
The real cost of living in Spain in 2026: monthly numbers for foreign residents
What does it actually cost to live in Spain as a foreign property owner in 2026? Honest monthly budgets for Madrid, Valencia, Málaga, Mallorca and the smaller towns — rent, utilities, groceries, healthcare, transport, taxes, and the line items new arrivals always forget.
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May 7, 2026·10 min readBuying in SpainLegal
Hiring a Spanish property lawyer: what they really do, what to pay, and the conflict-of-interest trap
Independent legal advice is the single best money a foreign buyer spends in Spain — but most people pick the wrong lawyer for the wrong reason. Here is what an abogado actually does, what it costs, and the trap to avoid.
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May 6, 2026·13 min readGreen SpainAsturias
Green Spain in 2026: the foreign buyer's guide to Asturias, Galicia, Cantabria and the Basque Country
The northern coast is the fastest-growing corner of the Spanish property market in 2026. Here's where prices actually sit, why buyers are leaving the Costa del Sol for Bilbao and Llanes, and what nobody tells you about ITP, hórreos and the foral tax system.
Read more →
May 5, 2026·12 min readOff-planBuying in Spain
Buying off-plan property in Spain in 2026: bank guarantees, milestone payments, and the risks foreign buyers miss
Off-plan (obra nueva) is the fastest-growing slice of the Spanish market in 2026 — here's how the milestone payments work, why Law 38/1999 bank guarantees are non-negotiable, and the timeline traps that catch foreign buyers off guard.
Read more →
May 4, 2026·12 min readCanary IslandsTenerife
Buying property in the Canary Islands in 2026: the foreign buyer's guide
Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, Fuerteventura — what foreigners actually pay in 2026, the IGIC tax break that catches most buyers off guard, and the rental-licence rules that decide whether a property pays for itself.
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May 3, 2026·9 min readBuying in SpainLegal
The arras contract in Spain: how the 10% deposit works (and the clause that decides who keeps the money)
Spain's binding 10% pre-purchase deposit explained — the three types of arras, the clauses that matter, and how to avoid losing your money if the deal falls through.
Read more →
May 2, 2026·13 min readCosta BlancaAlicante
Buying property on the Costa Blanca in 2026: Alicante, Torrevieja, Jávea, Dénia and the rest
The Costa Blanca buyer's guide for 2026 — north vs south, town-by-town prices, urbanización quirks, the British/Belgian/Norwegian buyer mix, and the traps that catch first-timers.
Read more →
May 1, 2026·9 min readBuying in SpainCurrency
Currency exchange when buying property in Spain: how to save thousands on the FX in 2026
Foreign buyers routinely lose 2–4% of their purchase price to bad exchange rates. Here's how spot transfers, forward contracts and FX brokers really compare — with worked numbers on a €350,000 purchase.
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April 27, 2026·12 min readVisasBuying in Spain
Spain visas for property buyers in 2026: Digital Nomad, Non-Lucrative, and life after the Golden Visa
The Golden Visa is gone. Here are the visa routes that still work for foreign property buyers in Spain in 2026 — what each one costs, what income you need, and how long it really takes.
Read more →
April 24, 2026·10 min readMortgagesBuying in Spain
Spanish mortgages for non-residents: LTV, rates and documents (2026)
How much you can actually borrow in Spain as a non-resident, what the application really costs, which banks to approach, and the document pack that gets you approved the first time.
Read more →
April 18, 2026·12 min readMallorcaBalearic Islands
Buying property in Mallorca in 2026: the foreign buyer's guide
A practical, region-by-region guide to buying a home in Mallorca — current prices, the parts of the island worth knowing, the rental-licence trap, and the process from NIE to keys.
Read more →
April 14, 2026·11 min readCitiesExpats
The best cities to buy property in Spain for expats in 2026
Nine Spanish cities compared on price, climate, transport, healthcare and expat community — to help you decide where to put down roots.
Read more →
April 9, 2026·10 min readRentingTenant rights
Renting long-term in Spain: deposits, contracts, and tenant rights
What foreigners need to know about long-term rentals in Spain in 2026 — contract types, deposits, the LAU, rent caps, notice periods and the traps landlords hope you don't spot.
Read more →
March 26, 2026·11 min readMálagaCosta del Sol
Buying property in Málaga and Costa del Sol: 2026 market guide
Málaga city, Marbella, Estepona, Fuengirola, Benalmádena — where foreigners actually buy on the Costa del Sol in 2026, how prices compare, and what to watch out for.
Read more →
March 12, 2026·12 min readValenciaCity guide
Buying property in Valencia: neighbourhoods, prices, process (2026)
A neighbourhood-by-neighbourhood guide to buying in Valencia — current prices, the process from NIE to completion, and which barrios actually fit foreign buyers.
Read more →
February 26, 2026·10 min readTaxesBuying in Spain
Spain property taxes explained: ITP, IVA, IBI and plusvalía
The four Spanish property taxes every buyer needs to understand — who pays what, when, and how much — with 2026 regional rates.
Read more →
February 12, 2026·8 min readNIEBuying in Spain
NIE number for property buyers: the complete 2026 application guide
Everything you need to know about getting a Spanish NIE for property purchase: where to apply, what documents to bring, how long it takes, and what to do if you hit delays.
Read more →
January 29, 2026·14 min readBuying in SpainExpats
How to buy property in Spain as a foreigner: the 2026 guide
A step-by-step guide for non-residents buying property in Spain in 2026: NIE, mortgages, taxes, legal checks, and how to avoid the most common traps.
Read more →
January 15, 2026·5 min readBuvivoProduct
Reverse property search: how Buvivo flips the process on its head
Property portals put the buyer to work. Buvivo reverses it: tell us what you're looking for, and matching agents come to you. Here's how it works and why it's different.
Read more →

The Buvivo Blog

Straight-talking guides for buying, renting, and selling property in Spain.

June 13, 2026·11 min readPadrónBuying in Spain
Empadronamiento in Spain: the 2026 padrón guide for foreign property owners
The certificado de empadronamiento is the most underrated piece of paper in Spanish admin. It gates public healthcare, school places, the residency card, the driving licence exchange, even reduced museum tickets — and it's tied to the address of your Spanish property, not your nationality. The 2026 guide to getting padrón'd: who can apply, what to bring, how the appointment really works, the renewal trap that catches non-EU owners, and the small mistakes that send foreign owners back to the queue.
Read more →
June 12, 2026·12 min readBuying in SpainPost-completion
Your first 30 days as a Spanish property owner: the foreign buyer's 2026 playbook
You've signed at the notary, you have the keys, the seller has driven away — and suddenly the work begins. The 2026 playbook for the first 30 days in your new Spanish home: switching utilities into your name, the bills that auto-arrive (and the ones you have to chase), padrón, IBI, Modelo 210, insurance, the cuadro eléctrico nobody explained, and the small mistakes that cost foreign owners thousands in year one.
Read more →
June 11, 2026·13 min readBuying in SpainAuctions
Buying property in Spain at auction in 2026: the subasta guide for foreign bargain hunters
Spanish property auctions promise 20–40% discounts — and deliver them about as often as they deliver disasters. The 2026 foreign buyer's guide to subasta judicial, notarial auctions, bank repossessions, the deposit you can lose, and the occupied-flat trap nobody warned you about.
Read more →
June 10, 2026·13 min readBuying in SpainCoastal
Ley de Costas: Spain's coastal law and what it means for beachfront buyers in 2026
The cheapest sea-view villa on the market is usually cheap for a reason. A practical guide to Spain's Ley de Costas — the four zones, concession status, the certificate that flags trouble, and the regions where it bites hardest.
Read more →
June 9, 2026·13 min readCosta CálidaMurcia
Buying property on the Costa Cálida in 2026: Mar Menor, Cartagena, Mazarrón and the rest
The Costa Cálida buyer's guide for 2026 — what the Mar Menor crisis actually means for buyers, town-by-town prices, the British/Norwegian/Irish mix, and the Polaris World legacy you need to understand before you sign.
Read more →
June 8, 2026·14 min readSolarEnergy
Solar panels in Spain in 2026: the foreign property owner's complete guide
Spain has Europe's best sun and some of its highest grid prices — yet most foreign buyers still get installations wrong. The real 2026 numbers on costs, subsidies, IBI rebates, surplus compensation and the permission traps that catch out non-resident owners.
Read more →
June 7, 2026·14 min readBuying in SpainCosts
The hidden costs of buying property in Spain in 2026: every fee, tax and surprise charge
Most foreign buyers budget for the asking price and the taxes, then get blindsided by another 4–6% in fees nobody mentioned. Here is the full list — with real 2026 numbers and a worked example on a €350,000 flat.
Read more →
June 6, 2026·13 min readSevilleAndalusia
Buying property in Seville: neighbourhoods, prices, process (2026)
A foreign buyer's guide to Andalusia's capital — barrio-by-barrio prices, the 7% ITP advantage, tourist-licence rules in the casco antiguo, and why Seville is the most underrated big-city buy in Spain right now.
Read more →
June 5, 2026·14 min readInternational schoolsLiving in Spain
International schools in Spain: the 2026 guide for foreign families buying property
British, American, IB, French, German, bilingual — which Spanish school system actually fits your kids, what it costs in 2026, where the good schools cluster, and how to buy a property that puts you in the right catchment.
Read more →
June 4, 2026·13 min readHealthcareLiving in Spain
Healthcare in Spain for foreign property owners: the 2026 guide
Public or private? EHIC, S1, Convenio Especial or Sanitas? What your visa requires and what your home country still covers? Here's the practical 2026 answer to every healthcare question foreign property owners in Spain actually ask.
Read more →
June 3, 2026·14 min readSelf-buildBuying land
Building your own home in Spain: a foreign buyer's guide to buying land and self-building in 2026
A 30,000 m² plot in Andalucía for €120,000 looks like the dream — until you discover you can't build on it. Here's how foreign buyers should approach buying land and building from scratch in Spain in 2026: the land classifications, the licences, the team, the realistic budget, and the timeline.
Read more →
June 2, 2026·12 min readTaxesNon-residents
Modelo 210 explained: the Spanish non-resident tax every foreign property owner must file in 2026
If you own a property in Spain and live somewhere else, Spain wants a tax return from you every year — even when the place sits empty. The complete 2026 guide to Modelo 210: who files, when, how much, the EU/EEA rate trap, the new annual return for rentals, and the penalty schedule if you ignore it.
Read more →
June 1, 2026·13 min readGermansBuying in Spain
Buying property in Spain as a German citizen: the complete 2026 guide
Germans buy more Spanish property than any other foreign nationality except the British. Here's the honest 2026 playbook for German buyers — the EU advantages, the Spain–Germany tax treaty traps, financing across borders, and the specifically-German mistakes that cost real money.
Read more →
May 31, 2026·13 min readBritishBrexit
Buying property in Spain as a British citizen: the 2026 post-Brexit guide
British buyers are still Spain's largest single foreign nationality — but the rules changed in 2021 and most online guides are still wrong. The honest 2026 playbook: visas, tax, mortgages, healthcare and the Brexit-specific mistakes that cost UK buyers thousands.
Read more →
May 30, 2026·11 min readBuying in SpainLegal
Signing day at the Spanish notario: what foreign buyers actually do when the deed is signed
The Spanish notary is the gatekeeper to property ownership — and the moment foreign buyers feel most lost. Here is what really happens in the notario's office, what to bring, what to read, what gets paid, and what to do when the language barrier hits.
Read more →
May 29, 2026·10 min readBuying in SpainGuide
How long does it take to buy a property in Spain? The realistic timeline for foreign buyers in 2026
From first viewing to keys in hand, a week-by-week timeline of buying property in Spain as a foreign buyer — including the steps everyone underestimates, where remote buyers lose months, and how to compress the process without cutting corners.
Read more →
May 28, 2026·12 min readAmericansBuying in Spain
Buying property in Spain as an American: the complete 2026 guide
Americans are now the fastest-growing nationality buying homes in Spain. Here's the practical 2026 playbook — visas, FATCA, double taxation, financing, and the specifically-American mistakes to avoid.
Read more →
May 27, 2026·12 min readCosta BravaGirona
Buying property on the Costa Brava in 2026: Cadaqués, Begur, Palafrugell and the rest
The Costa Brava buyer's guide for 2026 — north vs south, town-by-town prices, the French and Catalan buyer mix, planning rules that catch foreigners off guard, and where the real value still hides.
Read more →
May 26, 2026·11 min readRural SpainEspaña vaciada
Buying a village house in rural Spain: the foreign buyer's handbook for 2026
€40,000 for a stone house with a balcony, or €15,000 for a shell that swallows your savings? The honest 2026 guide to buying in la España vaciada — Teruel, Soria, Cuenca, Zamora and the interior nobody at a coastal agency will tell you about.
Read more →
May 25, 2026·12 min readBuying in SpainNegotiation
How to negotiate the price of a Spanish property: a foreign buyer's playbook for 2026
Spanish asking prices are negotiable — but only if you know which numbers to question, when to push, and when to walk. Here's how foreign buyers should approach negotiation in 2026.
Read more →
May 24, 2026·10 min readBuying in SpainLegal
Squatters (okupas) in Spain in 2026: the real risk to foreign property buyers, separated from the headlines
Worried about okupas before buying in Spain? Here's what's actually true in 2026 after the express-eviction reform, where the real risk sits, and the simple checks that put almost every foreign buyer firmly out of harm's way.
Read more →
May 23, 2026·10 min readBuying in SpainLegal
Nota simple: the 7-euro document that protects you from buying the wrong Spanish property
Spain's land-registry extract decoded line by line — what to check before you sign arras, how to pull one yourself, and the red flags that have killed deals we've seen.
Read more →
May 22, 2026·12 min readBuying in SpainCommunity of owners
The comunidad de propietarios: the Spanish community of owners explained for foreign buyers (2026)
Buy an apartment or a home on an urbanización in Spain and you don't just buy the property — you join its comunidad de propietarios. Here's what community fees, derramas, voting rights and the April 2025 tourist-rental reform actually mean for foreign buyers in 2026.
Read more →
May 21, 2026·11 min readTaxesBuying in Spain
Spanish inheritance tax and wills for foreign property owners: the 2026 guide
If you own — or are about to own — a home in Spain as a foreigner, two questions decide what happens when you die: which country's succession law applies, and how much Spanish inheritance tax your heirs will pay. Here's the practical 2026 answer.
Read more →
May 20, 2026·13 min readSelling in SpainTaxes
Selling property in Spain as a non-resident: the 2026 guide
How to sell a Spanish property as a non-resident in 2026: the 3% retention, capital gains tax, plusvalía, paperwork, timelines and the mistakes that cost foreign sellers the most money.
Read more →
May 19, 2026·10 min readBuying in SpainLegal
Buying property in Spain without flying out: how power of attorney really works
You don't have to be in Spain to buy in Spain. Here's exactly how a power of attorney (poder notarial) lets your lawyer sign for you in 2026 — what it should and shouldn't authorise, where to sign it, what it costs, and the traps that turn a convenience into a liability.
Read more →
May 18, 2026·10 min readVisasBuying in Spain
The 90/180-day rule: how long you can actually stay in your Spanish home as a non-EU owner
You bought the Spanish holiday home — now how long are you legally allowed to use it? The 90/180-day Schengen rule explained in plain English for British, American and other non-EU owners, with the counting trick everyone gets wrong and the legal ways to stay longer.
Read more →
May 17, 2026·9 min readBankingBuying in Spain
Opening a Spanish bank account as a non-resident: the 2026 guide
You can't really buy property in Spain without one. Here's exactly how to open a Spanish non-resident bank account in 2026 — the documents, the fees nobody warns you about, online vs branch, and how to avoid the classic delays that stall a purchase.
Read more →
May 16, 2026·11 min readTaxesBuying in Spain
Spain's 100% tax on non-EU buyers: what's real, what's not, and what to do in 2026
Spain proposed a tax of up to 100% of the purchase price on homes bought by non-EU non-residents. Here's where the measure actually stands in 2026, who it would hit, the routes around it, and how to plan your purchase without panicking.
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May 15, 2026·12 min readHoliday rentalTourist licence
Tourist rental licences in Spain in 2026: what foreign buyers must check before they buy to let
Buying a Spanish property to rent on Airbnb in 2026? The licence rules have been rewritten in every major region since 2024. Here's what VUT, VFT, VV and VT actually mean — and the four checks that decide whether a property can ever legally pay you back.
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May 14, 2026·13 min readIbizaFormentera
Buying property in Ibiza and Formentera in 2026: the foreign buyer's guide
A practical, zone-by-zone guide to buying in the Pitiüses in 2026 — current prices, the rental moratorium that quietly rewrote the market, the rural-build trap, and what no mainland lawyer will warn you about.
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May 13, 2026·14 min readBarcelonaCity guide
Buying property in Barcelona in 2026: the foreign buyer's guide
A district-by-district guide to buying in Barcelona — current prices, the tax setup that makes Catalonia tougher than Madrid, the tourist-rental rules every foreign buyer underestimates, and how to actually find a flat in the city's tightest neighbourhoods.
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May 12, 2026·13 min readReformasRenovation
Renovating a Spanish property: the foreign buyer's reformas guide for 2026
Costs per square metre, the licences nobody warns you about, how to read a builder's quote, and the ten mistakes foreign buyers keep making when refurbishing a Spanish home.
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May 10, 2026·12 min readBuying in SpainLegal
14 red flags every foreign buyer should spot before signing for a Spanish property
The deals that hurt foreign buyers in Spain rarely look risky on the listing — they look cheap. Here are the 14 warning signs that should make you slow down, ask questions, or walk away entirely.
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May 9, 2026·13 min readMadridCity guide
Buying property in Madrid in 2026: the foreign buyer's guide
A district-by-district guide to buying in Madrid — current prices, where Latin American, American and European buyers are actually putting their money, the tax advantages that make Madrid different, and the local quirks of the process.
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May 8, 2026·12 min readCost of LivingLiving in Spain
The real cost of living in Spain in 2026: monthly numbers for foreign residents
What does it actually cost to live in Spain as a foreign property owner in 2026? Honest monthly budgets for Madrid, Valencia, Málaga, Mallorca and the smaller towns — rent, utilities, groceries, healthcare, transport, taxes, and the line items new arrivals always forget.
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May 7, 2026·10 min readBuying in SpainLegal
Hiring a Spanish property lawyer: what they really do, what to pay, and the conflict-of-interest trap
Independent legal advice is the single best money a foreign buyer spends in Spain — but most people pick the wrong lawyer for the wrong reason. Here is what an abogado actually does, what it costs, and the trap to avoid.
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May 6, 2026·13 min readGreen SpainAsturias
Green Spain in 2026: the foreign buyer's guide to Asturias, Galicia, Cantabria and the Basque Country
The northern coast is the fastest-growing corner of the Spanish property market in 2026. Here's where prices actually sit, why buyers are leaving the Costa del Sol for Bilbao and Llanes, and what nobody tells you about ITP, hórreos and the foral tax system.
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May 5, 2026·12 min readOff-planBuying in Spain
Buying off-plan property in Spain in 2026: bank guarantees, milestone payments, and the risks foreign buyers miss
Off-plan (obra nueva) is the fastest-growing slice of the Spanish market in 2026 — here's how the milestone payments work, why Law 38/1999 bank guarantees are non-negotiable, and the timeline traps that catch foreign buyers off guard.
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May 4, 2026·12 min readCanary IslandsTenerife
Buying property in the Canary Islands in 2026: the foreign buyer's guide
Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, Fuerteventura — what foreigners actually pay in 2026, the IGIC tax break that catches most buyers off guard, and the rental-licence rules that decide whether a property pays for itself.
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May 3, 2026·9 min readBuying in SpainLegal
The arras contract in Spain: how the 10% deposit works (and the clause that decides who keeps the money)
Spain's binding 10% pre-purchase deposit explained — the three types of arras, the clauses that matter, and how to avoid losing your money if the deal falls through.
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May 2, 2026·13 min readCosta BlancaAlicante
Buying property on the Costa Blanca in 2026: Alicante, Torrevieja, Jávea, Dénia and the rest
The Costa Blanca buyer's guide for 2026 — north vs south, town-by-town prices, urbanización quirks, the British/Belgian/Norwegian buyer mix, and the traps that catch first-timers.
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May 1, 2026·9 min readBuying in SpainCurrency
Currency exchange when buying property in Spain: how to save thousands on the FX in 2026
Foreign buyers routinely lose 2–4% of their purchase price to bad exchange rates. Here's how spot transfers, forward contracts and FX brokers really compare — with worked numbers on a €350,000 purchase.
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April 27, 2026·12 min readVisasBuying in Spain
Spain visas for property buyers in 2026: Digital Nomad, Non-Lucrative, and life after the Golden Visa
The Golden Visa is gone. Here are the visa routes that still work for foreign property buyers in Spain in 2026 — what each one costs, what income you need, and how long it really takes.
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April 24, 2026·10 min readMortgagesBuying in Spain
Spanish mortgages for non-residents: LTV, rates and documents (2026)
How much you can actually borrow in Spain as a non-resident, what the application really costs, which banks to approach, and the document pack that gets you approved the first time.
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April 18, 2026·12 min readMallorcaBalearic Islands
Buying property in Mallorca in 2026: the foreign buyer's guide
A practical, region-by-region guide to buying a home in Mallorca — current prices, the parts of the island worth knowing, the rental-licence trap, and the process from NIE to keys.
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April 14, 2026·11 min readCitiesExpats
The best cities to buy property in Spain for expats in 2026
Nine Spanish cities compared on price, climate, transport, healthcare and expat community — to help you decide where to put down roots.
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April 9, 2026·10 min readRentingTenant rights
Renting long-term in Spain: deposits, contracts, and tenant rights
What foreigners need to know about long-term rentals in Spain in 2026 — contract types, deposits, the LAU, rent caps, notice periods and the traps landlords hope you don't spot.
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March 26, 2026·11 min readMálagaCosta del Sol
Buying property in Málaga and Costa del Sol: 2026 market guide
Málaga city, Marbella, Estepona, Fuengirola, Benalmádena — where foreigners actually buy on the Costa del Sol in 2026, how prices compare, and what to watch out for.
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March 12, 2026·12 min readValenciaCity guide
Buying property in Valencia: neighbourhoods, prices, process (2026)
A neighbourhood-by-neighbourhood guide to buying in Valencia — current prices, the process from NIE to completion, and which barrios actually fit foreign buyers.
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February 26, 2026·10 min readTaxesBuying in Spain
Spain property taxes explained: ITP, IVA, IBI and plusvalía
The four Spanish property taxes every buyer needs to understand — who pays what, when, and how much — with 2026 regional rates.
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February 12, 2026·8 min readNIEBuying in Spain
NIE number for property buyers: the complete 2026 application guide
Everything you need to know about getting a Spanish NIE for property purchase: where to apply, what documents to bring, how long it takes, and what to do if you hit delays.
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January 29, 2026·14 min readBuying in SpainExpats
How to buy property in Spain as a foreigner: the 2026 guide
A step-by-step guide for non-residents buying property in Spain in 2026: NIE, mortgages, taxes, legal checks, and how to avoid the most common traps.
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January 15, 2026·5 min readBuvivoProduct
Reverse property search: how Buvivo flips the process on its head
Property portals put the buyer to work. Buvivo reverses it: tell us what you're looking for, and matching agents come to you. Here's how it works and why it's different.
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