Buying a house in Spain: the complete cost overview

If you buy a resale property, you pay transfer tax (Impuesto de Transmisiones Patrimoniales, ITP). Since 2021, Andalusia applies a flat rate of 7% on the purchase price or on the land registry's fiscal reference value, if that's higher than the purchase price.

If you buy from a developer, you don't pay ITP but 10% VAT (IVA) on the purchase price, plus 1.2% stamp duty (Actos Jurídicos Documentados, AJD) in Andalusia. For a building plot or a commercial unit, 21% VAT applies instead of 10%.

The notary works with a statutory tariff, in practice around 0.5 to 1% of the purchase price. Registering the property in the property register (Registro de la Propiedad) costs roughly 0.3 to 0.5%.

A lawyer who guides the purchase and checks the file typically charges around 1% of the purchase price plus VAT. This isn't a mandatory cost like the notary, but we always recommend it: the notary checks the deed, not your interests.

For a resale property worth €400,000 in Andalusia, you'll pay roughly: 7% ITP (€28,000), around 0.6% notary (€2,400), around 1.21% legal fees (€4,840), and a fixed land registry fee of around €650. Total: roughly €35,900, or nearly 9% on top of the purchase price.

For new build of the same value, 10% VAT (€40,000) and 1.5% stamp duty (€6,000) replace the ITP, with the same notary, land registry, and legal fees on top. Total: roughly €53,900, or just over 13%.

Besides the one-off purchase costs, you pay annual municipal property tax (IBI), and as a non-resident you file non-resident income tax (IRNR, modelo 210), even if you don't rent out the property. If you live in an apartment complex, community fees are added for the upkeep of shared facilities.

We lay out these costs for you before you sign, so you have a realistic total budget and don't run into surprises afterwards.