Hello everyone, recently I’ve seen a lot of discussions on the forum about buying property. Someone asked how many times you actually need to go to the notary, and since I’ve just been through it, I’d like to share my experience today. I hope this helps those of you who are currently house-hunting or preparing to sign the papers.
Notary Visits for Property Purchase: It Depends
Many people assume that buying a house just involves one final trip to the notary to sign a document, but that’s not always the case. Based on my experience and my lawyer’s advice, the number of visits really depends on your transaction process and personal circumstances. It generally falls into one of the following scenarios:
Scenario 1: The Ideal Case - Just One Visit
This is the most straightforward situation. If you and the seller have agreed on all terms and you don’t need a bank loan, you can theoretically just schedule a single appointment. You’ll bring all the necessary documents, meet the seller at the notary’s office, and sign the final property purchase deed (Escritura). After the notary verifies all documents and the identities of both parties, you sign on the spot, make the payment, and you get the keys! This one-step process is the most hassle-free.
Scenario 2: The Most Common Case - Two Visits
This is the route most people take. Before signing the final deed, it’s common to first sign a preliminary sales contract (Contrato de Arras) and pay a deposit. While this Arras contract can be signed privately, many people choose to have it notarized for extra security. This way, if either party defaults, the notarized contract serves as powerful legal proof. So, for the signing at the notary, the first visit is to notarize the Arras contract, and the second is to sign the final Escritura. Spending a little extra on notary fees for peace of mind is absolutely worth it.
Scenario 3: Special Circumstances - Three or More Visits
This situation usually involves granting a power of attorney (Poder). For example, if you are not in Spain for an extended period or are unavailable on the signing day, you’ll need to visit the Spanish property purchase notary in advance to execute a power of attorney. This authorizes your lawyer, a family member, or a trusted person to act as your representative for all property purchase procedures, including the final signing. In this case, your notary visits would look like this: You visit to grant power of attorney + Your agent signs the Arras + Your agent signs the Escritura.
To make it clearer, here’s a simple table summarizing the process:
| Step | Notarization Required? | Purpose |
|---|
| Preliminary Contract (Arras) | No | To secure the deposit and define rights/responsibilities |
| Power of Attorney (Poder) | Yes | To legally empower an agent to sign on your behalf |
| Final Deed (Escritura) | Yes | To complete the official transfer of property ownership |
The number of visits to the notary when buying a property in Spain can range from one to three. My advice is that unless you are extremely confident in the seller and the entire process, it’s best to have the preliminary sales contract notarized. After all, buying a house is a major life event, and having that extra layer of legal protection can save you from a lot of potential trouble down the road.
Has anyone had a different experience? Feel free to share and discuss in the comments below!
