Before the appointment
- We review the draft deed against the contract and our due diligence.
- We confirm the outstanding mortgage with the seller's bank and the amount needed to cancel it.
- We prepare a completion statement: price, deposit paid, retentions, apportioned IBI and community fees, and funds needed.
- We coordinate the arrival of your funds and the banker's drafts.
At the notary
The notary checks identities, powers, the registry on the day and the means of payment, and reads or explains the deed. Buyer and seller, or their attorneys, sign; the seller receives the price and hands over the keys. The notary sends an electronic copy to the Land Registry the same day, which protects the buyer against later entries. Read what happens at the notary for the detail.
After the notary
| Task | Usual timing |
|---|---|
| Electronic presentation to the Land Registry | Same day |
| 3% retention for a non-resident seller (Form 211) | Within one month |
| Transfer tax, or VAT and stamp duty | Within one month |
| Plusvalía when the seller is a non-resident individual | Within 30 working days |
| Registration of your title | Usually within weeks after taxes |
| IBI, utilities and community records in your name | Following weeks |
Our guide to purchase costs and taxes explains the budget, and completion day explains how the money moves.
When you cannot attend
With a power of attorney, we sign on your behalf, confirm every payment in writing and send you copies of the deed and the registry certificate when the file is closed.
Completion with a mortgage
If you finance the purchase, the mortgage deed is signed straight after the purchase deed, and the bank pays the loan directly to the seller. Spanish law requires the binding offer to be delivered at least ten days before signing and a free meeting with the notary to explain the loan. These timings must be planned so that completion is not delayed.
Sellers
For sellers we prepare the documents, coordinate the mortgage cancellation, calculate the buyer's retentions and file the capital gains return. See our services for sellers. We are part of the Castell group in Palma; for other legal matters in English, see Castell.law.
Before you pay a deposit, ask a lawyer
Send us the listing or the document you have been asked to sign. An English-speaking property lawyer will tell you what needs checking and what it could cost you not to.
Questions about completion and registration
Is the notary my lawyer?
No. The notary is neutral and checks the legality of the deed, not the planning status or the condition of the property.
Can I pay in cash?
No. Property prices are paid through banks, and the notary records the bank details or draft numbers.
When is the property registered in my name?
Usually a few weeks after the purchase tax is paid. The electronic presentation on the day of signing protects you in the meantime.
Who chooses the notary?
By custom the buyer, who pays most notary costs, can choose; in practice it is agreed between the parties.