Buying and Selling with Duquesa Living

BUYING

Buying a home with us is a straightforward experience. We offer unlimited viewings with zero agency fees for buyers, scouring the entire coastline to ensure we find exactly what you’re looking for.

The Buying Process

Once you’ve found the right home, the first step is a reservation contract. Once signed and paired with a small deposit, the property is pulled from the market for 30 days.

  • The Private Contract: Usually within 15 days of the reservation, you’ll sign the Private Contract. Your legal representative will review all terms, including your expected completion date.
  • Completion: On the final date, we meet at the Public Notary. Whether you are there in person or represented by a legal proxy, the notary verifies that all legal requirements, taxes, and maintenance fees are settled.
  • Clear Title: Any debts or outstanding costs previously identified will be deducted from the final purchase price at this stage, ensuring your new home is debt-free.
  • Handover: You’ll walk away from the notary with a provisional title deed. The Land Registry typically takes 2–3 months to complete the final registration.

Ongoing Running Costs

After you get the keys, you’ll need to budget for regular maintenance and taxes:

  • Community Fees: These cover the upkeep of shared areas like pools, gardens, and elevators. These are generally paid monthly and don't usually apply to standalone villas.
  • IBI & Rubbish Collection: This is your annual council tax paid to the local town hall. The cost varies based on the size and location of your home.
  • Taxes: Owning property in Spain involves certain tax obligations. We provide in-house advice to help you navigate the Spanish tax system.
  • Utilities: Monthly costs for water and electricity depend entirely on your personal usage.

Note: We provide a full breakdown of these costs for every property we show you.

Understanding the Purchase Costs

As a general rule, you should budget for roughly 10% on top of the purchase price to cover the following:

  • Property Tax: 7% for resale properties (10% for brand-new or off-plan builds).
  • Legal Fees: 1% + IVA.
  • Admin: Notary and Land Registry fees.

A Note on Tax Valuations:

Occasionally, the Spanish tax authorities may decide the purchase price was below market value. If this happens, they may issue a demand for 7% of the difference between your price and their valuation. We can calculate the likelihood of this before you buy so it’s included in your budget. If a demand is issued, you have one month to file an appeal.

SELLING

“How to get started”

To ensure a seamless transition and get your home on the market quickly, we’ve put together a checklist of the essentials. Having these documents ready allows us to verify the property details and provide prospective buyers with total peace of mind.

Required Documentation

To list and successfully close the sale of your property, we will need copies of the following:

  • Proof of Ownership: A recent Nota Simple (Property Registry extract) and a copy of the original Title Deed (Escritura).
  • Identification: Valid passports and local tax identification numbers (NIE) for all registered owners.
  • Tax Records: The most recent receipt for the local Property Tax (IBI).
  • Building Certification: A valid Energy Performance Certificate (EPC), which is a legal requirement for marketing the home.
  • Community Details: If your property is part of a complex, the contact details for the Community of Owners and a recent receipt for community fees.
  • Utility Bills: Recent copies of water, electricity, and gas bills to verify descriptions and facilitate the transfer to the new owner.
  • Occupancy License: The Licencia de Primera Ocupación or a certificate of habitability.

Our Partnership

Once we have these details, we can finalize your preferred agreement—whether exclusive for maximum dedicated marketing or non-exclusive for broader flexibility. From there, we handle the heavy lifting: listing on international portals and coordinating with our network of coastal agents to find your buyer.

If you are missing any documents above, we can help you obtain these.