Yes, you can get mortgage advice in English in Spain, and you do not need to speak Spanish to buy with a loan. A registered broker (a real estate credit intermediary) compares lenders, prepares your file and deals with the bank in Spanish on your behalf. The lender then decides, and you sign at a notary. This guide explains what help is available, how to check that an adviser is legitimate, what you will need to bring and what to budget.
TL;DR
- Spanish mortgages are granted only by licensed lenders. Brokers do not lend: they search for and negotiate credit for you, according to the Banco de España.
- Before you hire anyone, check that they are on the official register. Advice from an unregistered entity leaves you without access to the Banco de España complaints service.
- Plan for a loan of roughly 50% to 70% of the property value, a deposit, and extra purchase costs. Banks look at where you are tax resident, not your passport.
- You must receive the bank’s binding offer at least 10 days before signing. Use that time.
- We offer English-language support, a free assessment and a €795 sign-up fee that is refundable if pre-approval fails.
Table of Contents
- What English-speaking mortgage help actually covers
- Check who you are dealing with
- Can you get a mortgage as a non-resident or recent arrival?
- Documents you will need
- Deposit, loan size and the real budget
- From first call to the notary
- Borrow with your eyes open
- Our perspective
- Start with a free assessment
- FAQ
- Sources
What English-speaking mortgage help actually covers
The help you will find falls into three groups.
Bank staff who speak English. Some large banks run international desks or English guides for foreign buyers. This is useful, but you get one bank’s products only.
Independent brokers. A broker works across several banks, finds which ones lend to your profile and negotiates terms. The Banco de España explains that intermediaries do not lend money directly: they search for and negotiate the best credit with lenders.
Lawyers and gestores. They handle the NIE, the purchase contract and the notary. They are essential for the legal side of the purchase, but they are not a substitute for a financing specialist.
What the right broker takes off your plate:
- Working out which banks lend to non-residents and to your nationality and income type.
- Listing the documents and getting them in the form the bank wants.
- Submitting the file, answering the bank’s questions in Spanish and chasing decisions.
- Explaining the offer in plain English before you sign.
If you want the full picture of the market first, our non-resident mortgage guide goes deeper.
Check who you are dealing with
This step matters more than any other. The Banco de España states that intermediaries and real estate lenders must be registered with it if they operate across Spain or in more than one region, or in the public register of an autonomous region if they work in only one.
The regulator also warns that intermediation in real estate credit, including advice, can only be provided by authorized or registered persons and companies. If you contract with one that is not, you cannot take a complaint to the Banco de España’s Complaints Service. Its Cliente Bancario team adds that an unregistered person can cost you money for conditions that never materialize and leave you outside the transparency rules for real estate lending.
A short checklist before you pay anyone:
- Ask for their registration and look them up in the Banco de España register (or the regional one).
- Ask how they are paid: a fee from you, a commission from the bank, or both. Get it in writing.
- Ask which banks they work with and whether you get several offers.
- Ask what happens to any upfront fee if the bank says no.
- Make sure documents and explanations will be in a language you fully understand.
On point 4, here is how we handle it. Our fees page sets out a free assessment, a one-off sign-up fee of €795 that is refundable if pre-approval is not secured, and a success fee of 0.70% on successfully arranged mortgages.
Can you get a mortgage as a non-resident or recent arrival?
In most cases, yes. A non-resident mortgage is a normal Spanish mortgage granted to someone whose tax residence is outside Spain, and most large Spanish banks and several international banks with a Spanish presence offer it. For banking purposes, what matters is tax residence, not nationality.
That is good news for US buyers, digital nomads and people on a non-lucrative visa: your situation is judged on income, savings, debts and credit history, wherever those sit. Our eligibility guide walks through different profiles.
Not every bank says yes, though. Bankinter explains that conditions are tighter for non-residents because, if a borrower cannot pay, the property is the only collateral a bank can reach, especially for non-EU borrowers. That is a good reason to approach several lenders through one intermediary instead of knocking on doors one by one.
What lenders assess
Before lending, the bank carries out a viability study of your current and foreseeable income, assets, expenses and commitments. It also appraises the property and runs a credit check, including the Central Credit Register (CIRBE) and bad-debt registries.
Banco Sabadell lists stable employment, few existing debts, a NIE or valid passport, a tax residence certificate, good credit history in your country of tax residence and a Spanish bank account as advisable for non-residents. It also says the mortgage payment should generally not exceed 30% of income, and that the loan should end before you turn 75.
Because the bank is verifying income and obligations abroad, a non-resident file is heavier than a resident one. Expect more paperwork, and expect it to be well organized before it goes in.
Documents you will need
Bankinter’s English FAQ gives a representative list for foreign applicants. Banks differ in the details, so treat it as a starting point:
- Passport or NIE, and a tax residence certificate.
- Employment contract and last three payslips.
- Tax return for the last fiscal year.
- One year of bank statements.
- Last three receipts for any direct debits on existing debts.
- A register of current assets.
- A nota simple for the property and the sale contract or earnest money contract.
- For non-residents, a credit risk report.
The same bank notes that all documents must be translated by a sworn translator, at your cost. Budget for that early, because translations are often what slows a file down. Our guide to the NIE and mortgage documents covers the order to collect them in.
If you also plan to rent the property out, it is worth reviewing the legal side before you commit. A pre-purchase check such as rental compliance audits for Spanish properties looks at community bylaws, municipal licensing and regional rental rules, in English or Spanish. It sits alongside your mortgage file, so you know the property can do what your plan needs.
Deposit, loan size and the real budget
Here are the figures two sources give for foreign buyers.
| What | Bankinter (English FAQ) | Fotocasa guide (Feb 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Loan as share of price | Up to 70% (versus up to 80% for Spanish buyers) | Typically 50% to 70% of appraisal or price, whichever is lower |
| Deposit | 20% to 40%, plus about 10% for purchase costs | Implied by the loan share |
| Monthly debt limit | 35% of normal income | Not stated |
| Term | 20 to 30 years maximum | Commonly 20 to 25 years |
Sources: Bankinter and Fotocasa. The Fotocasa guide also notes that non-resident rates tend to be higher than resident ones and that there is less flexibility on linked products.
So a rough example: for a €300,000 home, a 70% loan means €210,000 borrowed and €90,000 of your own money, before purchase costs. This is an illustration of the arithmetic, not an offer.
Taxes and fees on top
The tax depends on the type of property and the region. According to a 2026 calculator guide, resale homes pay regional transfer tax (ITP) of 4% in the Basque Country up to 13% in the top brackets of the Balearic Islands and Catalonia, with most regions between 6% and 10%. New builds pay 10% VAT (7% IGIC in the Canary Islands) plus stamp duty (AJD) of 0.25% to 2%. The same source says that under Law 5/2019 the bank pays the mortgage notary, registry and administration fees.
For a full breakdown, see our guides on the real cost of buying and purchase taxes, and use our mortgage calculator to test monthly payments.
From first call to the notary
Timings vary with the bank and how quickly your documents arrive. Our average pre-approval time is 14 days. The stages usually look like this:
- Free assessment. You share your income, savings, residency and the price range you have in mind. We tell you which banks are realistic.
- Document collection. You gather the items above, translated where needed.
- Pre-approval. We submit to the banks that suit your profile and you receive a written pre-approval, so you can negotiate with sellers with a clear budget.
- Property and valuation. Once you find a property, the bank appraises it and confirms the final amount.
- Binding offer. The bank gives you the FEIN (European Standardised Information Sheet) and a warnings sheet. Under Law 5/2019, Article 14, you must receive them, with the draft contract, at least 10 calendar days before signing, and the FEIN binds the bank for at least 10 days.
- Notary and signing. CaixaBank’s English guide mentions a 10-day reflection period (14 days in Catalonia) before signing. It also recommends a NIE and a Spanish bank account.
Our process timeline and How It Works page show each stage in more detail.
Compare offers on total cost
The Banco de España advises comparing the total cost of each offer: interest rate, bank fees and charges, the instalment, the term, the currency, and whether better conditions depend on extra products. The rate type matters too, so read our comparison of fixed vs variable mortgages.
Borrow with your eyes open
Two safety points apply to anyone financing a Spanish purchase. First, if you stop paying, the bank can repossess the property. Second, GOV.UK warns that if the property is worth less than the debt, the bank may pursue assets in the UK using a European Enforcement Order. It advises speaking to your bank immediately, before you default, to discuss options. If you are not a UK resident, ask a Spanish lawyer how enforcement could work in your own country. Borrowing at a level you can carry comfortably, below the 30% to 35% income limits banks use, is the best protection.
Our perspective
Most international buyers do not struggle with the idea of a Spanish mortgage. They struggle with the unknowns: which banks will even look at their file, what the paperwork should look like, and who is accountable if something goes wrong.
That is why we built our service around clarity, choice and care. We work with several top Spanish banks that lend to international buyers, so you compare options instead of accepting the first one. We explain every step in English and handle documentation with you, so nothing arrives at the bank half-prepared.
We also think pricing should be easy to read. You pay a sign-up fee, we refund it if we cannot secure pre-approval, and our success fee applies only once a mortgage is arranged. Our aim is a buyer who signs at the notary knowing exactly what they agreed to.
Mirelle Leguia
Start with a free assessment
If you are planning to buy in Spain with a loan, we can tell you quickly where you stand. Our free assessment shows which banks fit your profile. If you go ahead, the €795 sign-up fee is refundable if pre-approval is not secured, and the 0.70% success fee applies on successfully arranged mortgages. See the details on our fees page or explore our purchase, refinancing and construction mortgages.
We also work locally with buyers in areas such as Madrid, Murcia and Cantabria. If you want to start from the numbers, our homepage has the way in.
FAQ
Do I need to speak Spanish to get a mortgage in Spain?
Not if you work with an English-speaking broker, who communicates with the bank for you. The contract and the notary deed will be in Spanish, so make sure you get a clear explanation of every clause before you sign. The bank must also give you its written offer at least 10 days ahead, which leaves time for that review.
Is mortgage advice in English free?
It depends on the adviser. Some brokers charge you, some are paid by banks, and some do both. Ask for the fee structure in writing. With us, the assessment is free, and the sign-up fee of €795 is refundable if pre-approval fails.
How do I know a mortgage broker is legitimate?
Check the Banco de España register, or the regional register if they operate in only one region. Only authorized or registered entities may provide intermediation and advice on real estate credit. Using an unregistered one means you cannot use the Banco de España complaints service.
Can a US citizen or digital nomad get a Spanish mortgage?
Often yes. Banks focus on tax residence, income, savings and credit history, not on nationality. Expect a smaller loan than a resident would get, a larger deposit, and more documents to prove your finances abroad.
How much deposit will I need?
Bankinter says foreign buyers usually need 20% to 40% down plus about 10% for purchase costs. Other lenders may finance a different share, so the exact figure depends on your profile and the bank.
Sources
- Who is really behind your mortgage? (Banco de España, Cliente Bancario)
- Las entidades no autorizadas (Banco de España)
- Taking out a mortgage (Banco de España, Cliente Bancario)
- Ley 5/2019 (BOE)
- Getting a Spanish Mortgage as a Non-Resident (Salama Legal)
- Hipotecas para no residentes (Banco Sabadell)
- Mortgages for foreigners and non-residents (Bankinter)
- Mortgage Requirements in Spain for Non-Residents (Fotocasa)
- Spanish Mortgage Calculator 2026 (Tecalculo)
- Home Guide (CaixaBank)
- Spain: buying and renting property (GOV.UK)
- Rental compliance audits for Spanish properties (QuickLease)
Recommended
- UK Citizen Mortgage in Spain: How It Works in 2026
- US Citizen Mortgage in Spain: How to Get One in 2026
- Mortgage Eligibility in Spain: Can You Qualify as a Non-Resident?
- Non-Resident Mortgage Guide 2026
This article was produced with AI assistance and reviewed for accuracy by Mirelle Leguia, and expert in the Spanish mortgage space.