I’ve been a lurker for a while, and now it’s finally my turn to share! Our family is planning to apply for the non-lucrative visa, so my husband recently flew to Spain alone to start the house-hunting process. It was truly an exciting yet exhausting journey. I wanted to organize our experience to serve as a reference for others with similar plans, hoping it helps you avoid some of the pitfalls we encountered.
We primarily focused on two cities: Madrid and Barcelona. Before he left, we spent nearly two months browsing properties on Idealista and Fotocasa, compiling a list of our favorite listings. Then, we started contacting agents to schedule viewings one to two weeks in advance. This step is crucial! Many good properties get snapped up quickly, and you won’t get a viewing slot without booking ahead. Also, when it comes to buying property in Spain, you need to be mentally prepared for the fact that many agents reply very slowly, or even leave you on ‘read’… It can be really frustrating.
Once my husband arrived in Spain, his schedule was packed. Viewing properties in person is a world of difference from looking at photos online! Some places look gorgeous in pictures but have all sorts of issues on-site: awkward layouts, intense afternoon sun from a west-facing exposure, or noise from a busy road. We encountered one apartment that looked stunning online, but it was located in an inner courtyard with almost no natural light. It was an immediate pass. So, seeing it with your own eyes is absolutely crucial!
Key Points for Property Viewings
We’ve summarized a few key things my husband made sure to check on-site. Here they are in a table for clarity:
| Checklist Item | Things to Note |
|---|
| Property Title (Nota Simple) | Are there any debts or illegal constructions? Always have a lawyer review it. |
| Community Fees (Comunidad) | How much per month? What services are included? Are there any outstanding payments? |
| IBI (Property Tax) | What’s the approximate annual amount? Has the previous owner paid it in full? |
| Orientation & Natural Light | Is there sufficient natural light? How is the ventilation? |
| Neighborhood & Noise | How convenient is transport, supermarkets, and schools? What are the neighbors like? |
In particular, you must have a lawyer review the title report (Nota Simple); never sign any documents you don’t understand on your own! We were almost pressured by an agent into signing a reservation agreement we couldn’t read. Luckily, my husband insisted on waiting for our lawyer’s confirmation and dodged a bullet.
All in all, while my husband’s solo house-hunting trip was tough, it was ultimately successful. We’ve now paid the deposit and are proceeding with the next steps. The whole process is a combination of an information battle and a physical marathon. I hope our humble sharing can be of some help to you all. We also welcome any veterans and future neighbors to share more tips and experiences about settling in Spain!
