Glossary
Spanish property & relocation glossary
The Spanish property and bureaucracy terms every foreign buyer runs into — in plain English.
- NIE
- Número de Identidad de Extranjero — the foreigner tax ID you need to buy property, open a bank account or sign a mortgage in Spain.
- Gestoría
- A licensed administrative agency that handles bureaucratic paperwork — taxes, registrations, the NIE — on your behalf.
- IBI
- Impuesto sobre Bienes Inmuebles — the annual municipal property tax, comparable to council tax.
- Escritura
- The public title deed, signed before a notary, that transfers ownership of a property.
- Nota simple
- An official land-registry extract showing a property's ownership, size and any charges or debts.
- Plusvalía
- A municipal tax on the increase in land value since the last sale, usually paid by the seller.
- Modelo 600
- The tax form for Transfer Tax (ITP), due when buying a resale (second-hand) property.
- Arras
- A deposit contract reserving a property: if the buyer pulls out they lose it; if the seller pulls out they repay double.
- Comunidad de propietarios
- The homeowners' association for a building or development that manages shared areas and fees.
- Non-resident mortgage
- A Spanish mortgage for buyers living abroad — banks typically lend 60–70% of the property value.