What criteria should I follow when selecting properties to buy a house in Spain?
Well, this question cannot be answered unambiguously and in a single paragraph. In reality, everything depends on the type of property you’re looking for and the purpose you have in mind for using it. So try to analyze each of the following subpoints with enough seriousness that your choice of your “piece of Spain” is as relevant as possible to what you’re looking for. This analysis will not only help you understand your housing priorities and search criteria, but it will also make it easier for your agent to choose the right listings without any of the parties wasting too much time.
What should you pay attention to?
1. Budget. This sub-section comes first for a reason. The amount you set will practically determine everything related to the selection and choice of real-estate offers that an experienced agent can present to you. That’s why it’s so important that, from the very beginning, you clearly and firmly decide how much you want to invest in buying a home. This decision should be made with prudence. Remember that buying a property is always connected with additional payments such as taxes, a notary, registration with the land registry, etc. Be prepared for that.
2. Location, location, and more location! We probably won’t surprise you with this, but trust us: many people have trouble describing the perfect place—well, almost the perfect place! Think carefully about what you want from the city where you want to live:
Does it have to be right by the sea only, or do you prefer more privacy and peace in nearby towns?
How far from the sea do you want to live?
A quiet area or a tourist hotspot?
A big city or Spanish countryside?
Land: flat or mountainous? Or both combined with the sea?
How far do you want to live from the airport?
Close to all services? Or is accessibility not a problem for you? etc.
3. Intended use. This is another important point that will define what a real-estate agent can offer you. Knowing what purpose you want to buy the property for is extremely helpful for selecting a listing for you and your family. Of course, there are three main purposes we have in mind:
Private purchase: you’re buying a property only for yourself and your family to spend holidays there or as a permanent residence.
Investment purpose—you're buying a property for tourist rentals and want it to pay for itself.
Mixed use—tourist rental + private use of the property.
Think about what’s the priority, because it’s pretty important ;)
4. The property. WOW! And this is where the real journey of excitement begins—unfortunately. Many times, it happens that the client is not realistic about their expectations regarding the property selection. Why does this happen? Because the Spanish real-estate market is quite dynamic, and therefore online you can find many offers that unfortunately don’t always match the real situation after a deeper check. Photos may be distorted, the listing may be too colorful or outdated for months—or even years. So before you let your imagination run wild and start making unrealistic demands about your future home, talk to the agent and ask what you can expect right now within your budget. A modern property with two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a living room, a pool, in a private and gated estate with sea views from the terrace, and the property itself located on the beachfront, for €100,000 is a fantasy—we say that very seriously. Be realistic if you’re serious about buying a house.
5. Orientation—that is, the position of the property in relation to the cardinal points. In fact, this point should go hand in hand with the first one, because it is extremely important when choosing a home. What’s the point of buying an apartment by the sea in Spain if you don’t get a ray of sunshine all winter? Isn’t that exactly why you want to invest in a Spanish coastal property, so you can warm up on the terrace and have good energy in winter?
Ask your agent about the layout of your property. Remember that a sea view doesn’t always come with south-facing orientation, which is by far the most favorable.
6. “Where your heart tells you.”
This factor will ultimately determine your choice of new home. The good energy and the emotion you’ll feel when you step into the property are essential for making your decision. Feel that you’ll happily get up here in the morning and welcome a new day with a coffee in hand on this very terrace. Doesn’t that sound great?
Remember that every person is different, and that the property selection criteria mentioned above are only meant to help you narrow down and choose. Try to choose a suitable, experienced agent, because they’ll be your closest advisor, and it’s with them that you’ll work for some time as you ultimately become the owner of a home in Spain.
