I’ve just finished the major task of buying a house and finally got the Escritura (deed) – what a relief! I’ve seen many discussions on forums about the various costs involved, so today I’m creating a dedicated post to talk about one of those unavoidable expenses: the notary fee. I hope this can help those of you who are currently house-hunting or preparing for the closing process.
What Are Notary Fees?
So, who do you pay this notary fee to? It goes to the Notario (notary). In Spain, the transfer of property ownership must be witnessed and the public deed signed by a notary. This process is mandatory and ensures the legality and security of the transaction. The notary’s duties include verifying the identities of the buyer and seller, confirming the property is free of debts and liens, and drafting and reading out the terms of the deed. Therefore, this is a cost you can’t avoid, as it’s a crucial step in protecting our rights as buyers.
How Are Notary Fees Calculated?
So how exactly are notary fees calculated? Many people assume it’s a fixed percentage, but it’s not. In Spain, notary fees are regulated by a national tariff. It’s not a simple percentage but a tiered system based on the property’s purchase price. The higher the price, the lower the percentage rate applied to that bracket. However, this is just the base fee; the final cost will include other items. I took a look at my own invoice, and a notary bill typically includes the following parts:
| Item | Description |
|---|
| Derechos por la cuantía | This is the main component of the Spanish property notary fees, a base fee calculated on a sliding scale according to the purchase price. |
| Folios de la matriz | Fee for the number of pages in the original deed, typically around €3 per page. |
| Copias autorizadas | Fee for authorized copies. |
| Copias simples | Fee for simple copies. |
| IVA (VAT) | Value Added Tax (21%) applied to the total of all service fees. |
For my apartment, which I bought for €200,000, the final notary fee came to about €950. This amount isn’t fixed, as the final price is affected by factors like the number of pages in the deed and the number of copies required. A friend of mine bought a more expensive house, but the deed had fewer pages, so their notary fee was only around €1,200. So, when budgeting, it’s safe to estimate the cost to be between 0.5% and 1% of the purchase price. Additionally, although the fees are state-regulated, the law allows notaries to offer a discount of up to 10% on the standard rate. Not every notary office offers this, but when you’re choosing one, you can always politely ask – you might get lucky!
The notary fee is a clear and transparent expense in the home-buying process, unlike some agency fees which can be more ambiguous. When you receive the bill from the notary’s office, be sure to review the itemized list carefully and ask about anything you don’t understand right away. I hope my experience is helpful to you all! How much did you pay for your notary fees? Feel free to share and discuss in the comments below!
