Spanish mortgage questions, answered.

Yes! Spain is one of the most accessible European markets for international property buyers. Non-residents from most nationalities can secure a mortgage to purchase property in Spain. Lenders typically offer up to 60–70% of the property value (loan-to-value) for non-residents, with terms up to 25 years depending on your age and profile. Our team works with 15+ Spanish lenders to find the best terms for your specific situation.

Most nationalities are accepted, and you do not need to be an EU citizen. Spanish lenders regularly finance buyers from the UK, US, Germany, France, the Netherlands, Scandinavia, the Gulf states, Australia and beyond. Requirements vary a little by lender. That is where comparing 15+ of them pays off.

Not necessarily. Our multilingual team manages the process remotely for buyers in 10+ countries, and most stages happen online: document preparation, lender negotiation and pre-approval. For completion at the notary, many clients grant power of attorney to their Spanish solicitor so they don't need to fly in.

Yes. Lenders assess affordability on your income, whatever its source: pensions and investment income for retirees, or business accounts for the self-employed. Terms depend on your age and profile. Presenting the file correctly matters, and we prepare it for you.

As a general guide, non-residents should plan for a deposit of 30–40% of the property value. On top of this, you should budget approximately 10–13% for purchase costs. So for a €300,000 property, you'd need approximately €90,000–€120,000 as deposit plus €30,000–€39,000 for costs. We'll give you a precise breakdown during your free consultation.

Budget approximately 10–13% of the purchase price: property transfer tax (ITP) on resale homes or VAT on new builds, notary fees, land registry fees, and legal fees. We give you a line-by-line breakdown for your target property, and our deposits and costs guide walks through a worked example.

Some lenders charge a property valuation fee and an arrangement (opening) fee; both vary by lender and are disclosed up front in your offer. Because we compare 15+ lenders, fees are part of what we negotiate on your behalf.

Your initial assessment and mortgage quote are free, and our advice is 100% independent. If you proceed, we charge a €795 sign-up fee, refunded in full if we can't secure your pre-approval, plus a 0.70% success fee (0.65% on mortgages of €650,000 or more) once your official pre-approval is issued. We then continue managing your case through to completion at no extra cost. See our full fee breakdown.

Typically you'll need: a valid passport, NIE number (we can help you obtain this), proof of income (employment contract, recent payslips, or business accounts for self-employed), bank statements for the last 6–12 months, your latest tax return, and a credit report from your home country. We prepare all documentation for submission and ensure it's presented correctly to maximise your chances of approval.

The NIE (Número de Identificación de Extranjero) is the Spanish identification number for foreigners. You need it to buy property, open a bank account, and sign a mortgage. It can be obtained in Spain or via a Spanish consulate in your home country, and we can help you arrange it. Read our NIE and documents guide for the full picture.

Yes. Your mortgage payments are collected from a Spanish account, so you'll open one during the process. Opening the account is straightforward with your NIE and passport, and we guide you to options that suit non-residents.

From initial application to mortgage offer, the process typically takes 4–8 weeks, depending on the lender and complexity of your financial profile. Our lender relationships help speed things up. See the step-by-step timeline.

A pre-approval is a written indication of what you can borrow, based on your verified documents. We deliver one within 14 days of your paperwork being submitted in full. It sharpens your budget, strengthens your position when negotiating with sellers and agents, and speeds up the formal application once you find a property.

Both options are available. Variable rates are linked to the Euribor (Euro Interbank Offered Rate) and typically start lower but can fluctuate. Fixed rates offer payment certainty for the entire term. Some lenders also offer hybrid (mixed) mortgages: fixed for the first years, then variable. Our fixed vs variable guide compares them in detail.

Non-residents can typically access terms of up to 25 years, depending on your age at the end of the term and your overall profile. We model different term lengths with you so the monthly payment fits your plans.

Yes. Spanish mortgage law allows early repayment, in part or in full, and caps what lenders can charge for it. In practice the costs are modest and always disclosed in your offer. We flag the exact conditions of each lender's offer before you sign.

Yes, this is one of the key advantages of financing a Spanish property purchase. A mortgage is considered a debt and reduces your net worth for Wealth Tax (Impuesto sobre el Patrimonio) and Inheritance Tax purposes. Depending on the region and property value, this can result in significant annual savings. We work alongside tax advisors, and our wealth tax guide explains how it works.

Yes. If you already own property in Spain, we can benchmark your current terms against the whole market and help you refinance to better rates, release equity, or restructure your mortgage. Because we're independent, we'll tell you honestly whether switching is worth it.