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In this episode of Spainly Living, Michelle speaks with Hector Vidal, an Alicante based lawyer with experience in law, business economics, real estate and immigration, about buying property in Spain safely and confidently.

Hector explains what international buyers need to know before buying a home, holiday apartment, investment property or relocation property in Alicante, the Valencian region or elsewhere in Spain. This episode is especially useful for buyers from the UK, US, EU and other countries who want to understand the Spanish property purchase process before signing contracts or transferring money.

Michelle and Hector discuss when to speak to a lawyer or gestor, what checks should be carried out before buying, and why property purchases in Spain can feel very different from other countries. Hector explains key Spanish property documents and checks, including the nota simple, land registry, catastro, city council position, energy efficiency certificate, community of owners certificate and community debts.

They also cover legal due diligence, technical property checks and why an architect’s report can be valuable, especially for rural properties, older homes, renovated apartments, high value purchases or properties affected by planning issues, damp, mould, hidden defects, infrastructure problems or community rules.

The episode walks through the main stages of buying property in Spain, including making an offer, paying a reservation deposit, signing the contrato de arras, preparing for the notary appointment, paying the balance, signing the purchase deed, receiving the keys, paying property transfer tax and registering ownership with the land registry.

Hector also explains the risks of paying a reservation deposit too quickly, what to check before transferring money, why refund rights should be clear, and what red flags to watch for when dealing with estate agents, agencies or private sellers.

Michelle and Hector discuss the main costs and taxes when buying property in the Valencian region, including ITP property transfer tax, VAT on new builds, notary fees, land registry fees, gestor fees, IBI property tax, rubbish collection tax and the 3 percent withholding where the seller is a non resident. They also explain why buyers should budget beyond the purchase price and should not assume that a cash purchase will be simple or instant.

The conversation also covers resale property versus new build property in Spain, including different tax treatment, staged payments, developer contracts, community rules, warranties and why new builds may not yet have the same documentary history as existing homes.

For non Spanish buyers, Hector explains why an NIE is essential, why a Spanish bank account may be needed, why anti money laundering checks matter when transferring funds into Spain, and why mortgage conditions can differ for residents and non residents.

This is a practical and reassuring episode for anyone dreaming of buying property in Alicante, relocating to Spain, purchasing a holiday home, investing in Spanish real estate or simply trying to understand how the Spanish property process works. It will help you understand what to check, what to ask, what to budget for and when to get professional help before buying property in Spain.