Selling Property in Spain: The Process, Taxes and Costs Explained

Selling a home in Spain is straightforward when it's prepared properly, and frustrating when it isn't. Most delays we see come from paperwork that surfaces late — an unregistered extension, a missing certificate, an old mortgage still showing on the registry. This guide covers the process, the taxes and the documents, in the order you'll need them.

1. Valuation: Pricing to Sell

The asking price does more work than any advert. Buyers on Costa Del Sol compare dozens of homes online; one priced above the evidence simply doesn't get viewed, and then carries the stigma of a long listing. A good valuation looks at recent sales nearby, the homes you'll be competing with today, and what makes yours different — views, orientation, plot, condition, community.

We give every owner an honest figure and the evidence behind it. Request a free valuation.

2. The Documents to Prepare

Gather these before you launch, not when a buyer's lawyer asks for them:

• Title deed (escritura) and your NIE or DNI.
• Energy performance certificate (certificado energético) — mandatory for a sale, and the rating must appear in adverts. An accredited architect or engineer issues it after a short visit.
• Latest IBI receipt (council tax) and basura (rubbish) receipt.
• Community of owners certificate confirming fees are paid up to date, signed by the administrator.
• Recent utility bills (electricity, water) showing the supply details.
• If there's a mortgage, the bank's statement of the amount to repay — it's cancelled at completion from the sale proceeds.
• Plans, licences and completion documents for any extension, pool or major works.

Andalucía doesn't use a cédula de habitabilidad. New builds are occupied under a first-occupation licence or, under the current planning law, a declaración responsable; buyers and their banks often ask to see it for resale homes too, so have it to hand if you can.

3. Presentation and Marketing

Presentation shapes both the price and the speed of a sale. Small things — paint, lighting, a tidy garden, a working pool, clear surfaces — photograph dramatically better. Sometimes a light refresh is worth doing; a full renovation rarely pays for itself before a sale. Our project management team can handle either.

Then comes the launch: professional photography and film, a clear floor plan, and a presentation that reaches buyers at home and abroad. You can see how we approach it on our sell page.

4. Offers, Contracts and Completion

1. 1Offer and reservation. The buyer pays a reservation deposit while their lawyer carries out checks.
2. 2Private contract. Usually within a few weeks, the buyer signs a private purchase contract and brings the deposit to around 10% of the price. With a standard arras contract, a buyer who withdraws loses the deposit, and a seller who withdraws must return it doubled — so only sign when you're sure.
3. 3Completion. At the notary the balance is paid, any mortgage is cancelled, and you hand over the keys. If you're abroad, a lawyer with your power of attorney can sign for you.

5. Taxes When you Sell

Capital Gains Tax

Tax is due on the gain: the sale price less your purchase price, the costs of buying and selling, and documented improvements. How it's taxed depends on where you're tax-resident.

Residents may be exempt if they reinvest the proceeds in a new main home, and over-65s selling their main home can be exempt too — ask your adviser whether you qualify.

The 3% Retention for Non-resident Sellers

If you're not tax-resident in Spain, the buyer must withhold 3% of the price at completion and pay it to the tax office (form 211) within a month. It's a payment on account: you then file your own return (form 210) to settle the actual capital gains tax, and reclaim any difference if the 3% was more than you owe.

Plusvalía Municipal

The town hall charges plusvalía (IIVTNU) on the increase in the value of the land. Since the 2021 reform you can choose the lower of two calculations — one based on the cadastral land value and statutory coefficients, the other on the actual gain — and if there was no gain, there's no plusvalía. It's normally the seller's to pay.

Other Costs

• Estate agency commission, agreed before you list.
• Your lawyer's fees, if you instruct one (recommended, especially if you're abroad).
• The energy certificate, and cancelling any mortgage at the notary.

6. Selling While you Live Abroad

Many owners on this coast live elsewhere. It isn't a problem: we handle viewings and keep you updated, your lawyer checks the contracts, and completion can be signed under a power of attorney. The one thing to plan for is the 3% retention and your non-resident tax return, so the timing of the proceeds is clear.