Property lawyer in Valencia, Spain
Buying, selling and renting safely in Valencia — with particular care for foreign and non-resident buyers, and a firm defence when things go wrong.
When to call a property lawyer
If any of these sound familiar, let’s talkYou have reserved a property and are about to sign the purchase contract with arras: you want someone to read the small print first.
You co-own a property in undivided shares and want out without a fight.
Your tenant is not paying, or your landlord will not return the deposit.
Buying property in Valencia as a foreign buyer
Buying in Spain follows an order you may not know: first the reservation with the agency, then the checks, then the purchase contract with arras and, finally, the notary — who does not review everything. These are the steps of a purchase in Valencia city or anywhere in Valencia province, and what I do at each one. Throughout, I negotiate and deal directly with the agency and the seller to defend your interests.
Your NIE
The NIE is the identification number every foreigner needs to buy, sign before the notary and pay the taxes of the purchase. Without it, nothing moves.
What I do. My team takes care of it: a trusted colleague who specialises in NIE and immigration paperwork handles the application, so it does not hold up the purchase.
A Spanish bank account
You will need it to pay the price, the taxes and, later, the community fees, utilities and local property tax.
What I do. I tell you what the bank will ask a non-resident for and coordinate so the money is in place on signing day, not the day after.
Reservation agreement with the agency
When you tell the agency you want the property, it usually asks you to sign its reservation agreement and pay a holding deposit, so the property comes off the market. It is not the purchase contract: that comes later, with the arras.
What I do. The agency usually has you sign this form before you have a lawyer. If you have not signed it yet, send it to me first and I will tell you what it commits you to.
Due diligence: registry, planning and debts
That the seller is entitled to sell, that there are no mortgages, charges or seizures, that the property matches the Land Registry, the cadastre and the planning rules, and that there are no unpaid community fees, approved levies or local property tax (IBI) owing.
What I do. I check it all and give you a clear verdict: go ahead, negotiate the price or walk away. The nine checks, explained.
Purchase contract with arras
Once the checks are done, buyer and seller sign the private purchase contract and the buyer hands over the arras. The type of arras decides what happens if either side pulls out: with the usual kind, a buyer who withdraws loses the arras and a seller who withdraws returns them doubled.
What I do. I negotiate it with the agency and the seller, draft or review it, and make completion conditional on anything still pending, such as cancelling a mortgage or settling a debt.
Signing before the notary
The sale is signed as a public deed before a Spanish notary. Your matrimonial property regime affects how the deed is written.
What I do. I review the draft deed beforehand, check how the price is paid, and attend with you — or sign on your behalf with a power of attorney.
Registration at the Land Registry
Registering the deed is what protects your ownership against third parties.
What I do. I follow the deed through to registration and send you the result, so you know the file is really closed.
Taxes and costs of the purchase
A resale home pays transfer tax (ITP); a new build pays VAT plus stamp duty (AJD). On top come notary, Land Registry and, where applicable, the agency.
What I do. I give you the full cost in writing before you commit, so the budget has no surprises.
Do you need to be in Spain?
It is up to you. If you give me a power of attorney — you can sign it in your own country or here in Spain — I can take every step for you, including signing the deed. If you prefer to be there yourself, I go with you through the whole process.
Found a property, or about to sign the arras contract? Let’s look at it together.
How we work
You tell me about your case
Video call, phone or in person in Valencia city and across Valencia province. I also see clients in Madrid. No commitment, no legalese.
I tell you your options
With the timeline, cost and risk of each route. In plain words, in writing if you prefer.
We see it through
You always deal with me, never with an intern. I negotiate with the agency and the other side — seller or buyer — to defend your interests, and I flag every step before taking it.
Property lawyer FAQs
Do I need to be in Spain to buy a property in Valencia?+
It is up to you. If you give me a power of attorney — which you can sign in your own country or here in Spain — I can act for you at every step, including signing before the notary, while we work by video call and email. If you prefer to sign yourself, I go with you through the whole process.
What should I check before signing the arras contract?+
That the seller is entitled to sell, that there are no charges, seizures or unpaid community fees, that the planning position matches what you are told, and what the arras clauses say. The checks belong between the agency’s reservation and the arras contract: it is when finding a problem costs least — you walk away, or you negotiate the price.
What taxes do I pay when buying a property in Spain?+
On a resale home, transfer tax (ITP); on a new build, VAT plus stamp duty (AJD). Then notary, Land Registry and, if there is one, the agency. Before you commit I give you the full figure in writing.
Can you act for me with a power of attorney?+
Yes. I tell you exactly what the power needs to cover — usually the NIE, the bank, the purchase and the taxes — so it is no broader than necessary, and you can revoke it at any time.
Can a non-resident get a mortgage in Spain?+
Yes, Spanish banks lend to non-residents, usually for a smaller share of the price than for residents. I review the binding offer with you before you sign, because that is where the fees, the interest and the early repayment terms are.
Is it worth reviewing the contract before signing the arras?+
It almost always costs less than fixing it afterwards. A review picks up charges, occupants, unlicensed building work or clauses that leave the penalty entirely on your side.
How long does an eviction for non-payment take?+
It depends on the court, but the key is the prior formal demand and filing a well-documented claim. The cleaner the contract and the payment records, the shorter it runs.
Can I force the sale of a house inherited between siblings?+
Nobody is obliged to remain a co-owner: you can apply to end the co-ownership. Before going to court there are usually negotiated ways out — one co-owner buying out the others, a joint sale — that cost considerably less.
Tell me about your case and I’ll tell you where to start
We talk with no commitment and no legalese, by video call or in person in Valencia.
When something important is being decided, there is already plenty at stake. My job is to keep the paperwork and the hard decisions from becoming a problem of their own.
Miriam Acerete — ICAV member no. 20213