Planning, Process, and Personal
Buying a house in Maresme while living abroad and moving to Spain involves several steps and requires careful planning. That’s why I’ve decided to help you with everything you need. Moving to a new country doesn’t have to be stressful if you organize yourself properly. Personally, I’ve lived in several countries and moved frequently with my family, so I understand the feeling of landing in a new city without knowing anyone and starting over. There’s a lot to consider, and not knowing the language can make it even more challenging.
The steps for buying a house in Maresme and moving to Spain without stress and with everything under control can be divided into three parts: 1. Preparations, 2. The Buying Process, and 3. Settling into the New Country.
1.Preparations
During the preparation phase, you need to consider several important points. It’s crucial that you answer these questions:
What is my budget? The first thing you should do is determine your budget and review your financing options. Check with your bank to see if you can get a loan to purchase a property abroad.
Where do I want to live? Explore different areas in Maresme to find one that suits your needs and preferences. Consider factors such as proximity to work, schools, and other amenities.
What type of property would I like to live in?
Single-family homes: In Spain, single-family homes are called «viviendas unifamiliares» and include detached houses, semi-detached houses, and townhouses. They can be detached («casa independiente»), semi-detached («casa pareada»), or townhouses («casa adosada»).
Villa: A villa, often detached and located in an urbanization, is popular among foreign buyers and may have its own pool and garden. They are often situated a bit away from cities, requiring a car for amenities.
Duplex: A duplex is a semi-detached house with two large, independent apartments, one above the other, with their own entrances.
Townhouse: Townhouses (adosado or casa de pueblo) are attached houses that can be found in cities, towns, or urbanizations, where they are often more modern and offer communal facilities like pools. They are often older, which may require renovations.
Apartment («piso»): A «piso» is an apartment in a multi-story building («vivienda plurifamiliar»). They can be modern or older and are found in both cities and suburbs. Pisos may have communal facilities like elevators, shared gardens, or pools and are often a convenient choice for those who want to live centrally with proximity to shops, restaurants, and public transport.
How do I find a property?
Once you have a budget, know what type of property you are looking for, and have considered factors like proximity to work, schools, and other important amenities, you can contact me via email at tatiana@amoreipsum.com or visit my website amoreipsum.com to talk to my assistant «Twise,» who will help you fill out a form describing what you are looking for. Then I will contact you for a meeting before starting to search for your home. Once I have found and visited several houses and have potential homes to purchase, we will plan your trip here and even arrange virtual tours before you come to visit the houses.
How do I know everything is going smoothly? Do I need legal advice?
I will be with you throughout the buying process, and I recommend hiring a lawyer with experience in property purchases in Spain. They can assist you with all legal aspects and ensure everything goes smoothly. Buying a property in Spain requires an NIE number (Número de Identificación de Extranjero). It is a unique tax number required for all legal transactions in Spain.
2.The Buying Process
Offer: Once you have chosen the house you want to buy, you submit an offer through me, who will help you negotiate the price.
Preliminary contract: If the offer is accepted, a preliminary contract (arras) is drawn up, where you pay a deposit of about 10% of the purchase price. The hired lawyer will conduct a thorough inspection of the property to ensure there are no legal issues or unpaid debts, and I will assist you with interpretation. I will translate the contract into English and Swedish if needed.
Completing the purchase: Purchase contract: Once all checks are complete, you sign the final purchase contract (escritura) at a notary’s office. You pay the remaining purchase price, and the property is registered in your name.
Payments: It is important to ensure that all payments, including taxes and fees, are made correctly.
After the purchase: Registration: The hired lawyer will ensure that the property is registered in your name with the local property registry (Registro de la Propiedad).
Insurance and services: You will then need to take out home insurance and ensure that water, electricity, and other services are registered in your name. This is something I can assist you with if needed, including hiring WIFI, alarms, etc.
Home services: Should you need to renovate and decorate the house, hire a cleaner, gardener, or pool maintenance, I can arrange this for you.
Taxes and fees: What do I need to pay for taxes? There are necessary taxes, including transfer tax (Impuesto de Transmisiones Patrimoniales, ITP) and stamp duty (Impuesto sobre Actos Jurídicos Documentados, AJD).
What are the annual costs? Be aware of the annual taxes and fees associated with owning a property in Spain, such as property tax (Impuesto sobre Bienes Inmuebles, IBI).
Buying a property in Barcelona requires careful planning and the right advice, but with proper preparation, it can be smooth and successful.
3. Settling into the New Country
Before moving to Spain, there are several important steps you should take to ensure a smooth transition:
Arrange your accommodation: Decide if you need to sell or rent out your current home to finance or secure income for your new home in Spain.
Investigate school opportunities: For families with children, it is important to find a suitable school. Consider whether a Spanish school or an international school is best for your children’s educational needs.
Move your belongings: Plan ahead to move your personal belongings. Consider costs and space when deciding what to bring and what to leave.
Move pets: If you have pets, make sure you follow all necessary health and safety requirements for their move to Spain.
Learn Spanish: Prepare by learning the Spanish language in advance to facilitate your integration.
Apply for a visa (for non-EU citizens): If you are a citizen of a non-EU/EEA country, apply for an appropriate visa in advance if your plan is to stay in Spain for more than 90 days.
Obtain an NIE number: All foreigners living in Spain need an NIE number for official transactions.
Translate documents: Ensure you have authorized translations of necessary documents to facilitate the NIE or residence permit process.
Health insurance: If you’re not a EU citizen obtain private health insurance to cover your medical needs during the first weeks in Spain.
International driver’s license: If you plan to drive in Spain, apply for an international driver’s license from your home country.
By preparing in advance, you can minimize stress and maximize your opportunity to enjoy your new lifestyle in Spain. Throughout the entire buying process and relocation, if desired, I offer coaching sessions for you and your family so that you can experience the process of buying, moving, and adapting to the new country with calmness, without fear, and with confidence.
Let’s get started here
Find your dream home in Maresme, Catalonia!
Property search service: ideal for those living abroad and looking for properties in Maresme, Catalonia. Save time and stress with Amore Ipsum’s Property Finder services. Let me take care of everything for you and guide you through every step of the way. Contact me today to start your hassle-free search.
Contact Information:
Master Coach &Property Finder Tatiana Borgstrom
Email: tatiana@amoreipsum.com
Phone: +39 3493856874
Website: www.amoreipsum.com
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