The real cost of buying an apartment in Madrid

Read this article to learn the different costs associated with buying an apartment in Madrid and how they are allocated.

Overview

As a general rule, you can expect to add 10.5% to 11.5% to the total purchase price of your second hand apartment in Madrid. These costs are incurred during the processes of due diligence and negotiation, in addition to traditional closing costs. There are three types of additional costs:

1. Taxes
2. Legal and administrative fees
3. Commissions

1– Taxes: Between 6 and 10% of purchase price

Most of these taxes are for VAT, or its equivalent. If you buy a new build property, you must pay 10% in IVA (Spanish VAT) for a new build property. If you buy a second hand apartment in Madrid, you must pay a 6% property transfer tax (ITP). This is the lowest ITP assessed in Spain. It is 7% – 11% in other regions, such as Valencia or Barcelona.

If you buy a new build property, you must also pay stamp tax (IAJD, Impuestos de Actos Juridicos Documentados). This covers the legal work the local government must do to add the property to the land registry. These are anywhere between 0.3% and 0.7%. To learn how the rate is calculated, read: Why you need a tax expert when buying a property in Madrid.

If you want a tax estimate specific to your situation, book a FREE CONSULTATION TODAY.

2–Legal and administrative fees: 2,150-6,050€

This covers the work to be done by the following professionals:

Gestoría

This is a professional that helps one navigate the Spanish bureaucracy. They also undertake a number of functions that are performed by accountants. Because the Spanish bureaucracy can be quite intricate, and requires a lot of patience, 95% of Spaniards use them to manage their affairs. You can expect to pay an Gestoría between 1,000-2,000€ to help you purchase your apartment in Madrid.

Notary

Notaries have a much bigger role in Mediterranean countries than they do in countries like the UK and the US. The notary is a key figure of traditional Spanish society, along with other important people such as doctors and priests. Spanish notaries enjoy a prestigious position in society, not to mention a privileged revenue stream guaranteed by the law. Their job, during a property purchase, is to ensure that both parties to the transaction understand the terms of the contract, that the terms of the contract do not contravene any laws and to ensure that the appropriate taxes are paid. You can expect to pay them between 800-1500€ to help you purchase your apartment in Madrid.

Lawyer

Although Spanish law does not require you to use a lawyer when you purchase your apartment in Madrid, we strongly recommend you work with one. Typically, Spanish lawyers charge 1% of the final purchase price. For example, to purchase a 500k€ Golden Visa property, this would amount to an additional 5000€.

However, if you work with Moving2Madrid, you can use our special lawyer. They only charge a flat fee of 750€.

Surveyor

If you get a Spanish mortgage to finance your property purchase, they will likely ask a third party to value the property. After the mortgage laws were changed in June, 2019, this was one of the only fees that banks could still pass on to their clients. However, most banks offer very fair rates for this service. Going to the trouble of arranging your own valuation is typically not worth the effort. Valuation fees are usually around 300-500€.

Deed Manager

Hiring a deed manager is optional. However, we recommend using one if you don’t want to deal with all the tax payments directly. They charge 400-600€ for their services.

Architect

This is another optional service. However, we strongly recommend you have one examine the property before you agree to purchase it. They can ensure the structural safety of the building and confirm the viability of any refurbishments you are considering. Architects typically charge 500-700€.

Moving2Madrid partners with a very experienced architect. They offer our clients a free 45 minute consultation with a senior architect with over 10 years experience in refurbishing apartments for foreign buyers in Madrid. Plus, they offer Moving2Madrid readers up to two pricing quotes for apartments you are interested in. Read How to have a stress free renovation to learn more, and get a link to take advantage of this offer.

Commissions– 3% of purchase price

You will need to pay a commission to the seller’s agent. They are between 0 to 5%, with an average at 3%.

Conclusion

In summary, the professionals you hire will complete the following tasks for you:

• Obtain your NIE and TIE quickly. These are your Spanish tax number and Spanish identification card. Both are required to purchase a property in Madrid.
• Check the legal background of your property (making sure no debts are tied to the property and verifying the person selling the apartment really does own the property).
• Estimate the real value of the apartment for sale.
• Review the offer and sales contract for the sale of the apartment.
• Conduct the legal and administrative procedures required to close the deal.

If you need professional help purchasing your property in Madrid, email us today at email@moving2madrid.com. We can help you get the best deal (so our services pay for themselves) and avoid any potential legal pitfalls.

Posted on 14 December, 2019 by Admin in Costs, New? Start Here