Section
Mortgages, banking and transfers for buying in Spain
Quick answer
The money side of a purchase has six parts, from the loan and its process to the rate, paying cash, the bank account and the transfer. Spanish law fixes how a lender informs you, who pays the mortgage deed costs and the caps on early repayment. We print no current rates and name no provider, and we take no commission from any.
Applies toBuyers who need to plan financing, an account and the transfer of funds.
On this page: 9 sections
§ 1The money side
A purchase needs a budget, a way to pay, an account to receive the money and a route for the transfers. Each has its own chapter. It is informational only: we do not compare lenders, banks or firms by name, and we take no commission or referral fee from any of them.
§ 2Mortgages
The chapter on mortgages for non-residents explains what the law fixes and what each lender decides. The chapter on applying for a mortgage explains the sequence, the information sheets, the appraisal, the notary meeting and the costs. The chapter on rates and repayment explains fixed, variable and mixed rates, the Euribor index and the caps on early repayment.
§ 3Paying without a mortgage
Many foreign buyers pay with their own funds. The chapter on paying without a mortgage explains proof and source of funds, the anti-money-laundering checks and the limits on cash.
§ 4Accounts and transfers
The chapter on Spanish bank accounts explains what banks ask of non-residents and how direct debits work. The chapter on transferring money explains the cost of exchange, forward contracts and how to compare banks and currency firms.
§ 5What the law gives you
Spanish law requires lenders to give you standard information sheets well before you sign and requires a notary to advise you. The lender pays the notary and registry fees for the mortgage deed, and the borrower pays the appraisal. Early repayment fees are capped.
§ 6What we do not know
We found no official figure for the usual deposit or loan to value for non-residents, so we print none. We also did not read parts of the mortgage law, and the pages say which parts.
§ 7Risk
A loan is a long commitment, and a currency mismatch adds risk. Borrow an amount you could repay if rates rose and your income fell.
§ 8Next
Read the costs section for the taxes that sit on top of the price, and the legal process section for the checks and the deed.
§ 9Chapters in this section
The basics of mortgages for non-residents explains what to expect when borrowing as a non-resident and applying for a mortgage for buyers explains the steps from first enquiry to signing.
An overview of rates and repayment explains how Spanish mortgage interest works and what repaying early costs and paying without a mortgage explains the checks on paying with your own money.
Spanish bank accounts explains how a non-resident opens and uses an account and transferring money explains how to move money to Spain for a purchase.
FAQRelated questions
Where do I start?
Fix your budget, then decide whether to borrow. If you do, read the chapters on non-resident mortgages and the process, and ask lenders for the standard information sheet. If you do not, read the chapter on paying without a mortgage.
Do you recommend lenders or banks?
No. We name no lender, bank, broker or currency firm, and take no commission. We explain the criteria and the legal protections so that you can compare written offers.
Are these figures current?
Each page names its sources and the date we read them. We print no current rates, since they change. Legal caps and rules are dated, and pages are updated when the sources change.
Sources
- Boletín Oficial del Estado: Ley 5/2019, de 15 de marzo, reguladora de los contratos de crédito inmobiliario (official source, opens in a new window), Articles 8, 10, 14 and 15 read; later articles not readLast checked 18 October 2026
- Banco de España: La ley reguladora de los contratos de crédito inmobiliario (Boletín Económico, 1T 2019, recuadro 5) (official source, opens in a new window), Allocation of costs, early maturity, information dutiesLast checked 18 October 2026
Financial note. No rate is printed unless it comes from a dated, official publication. Capital is at risk, exchange rates move, and no lender, broker or provider is recommended here. Mortgage terms are set by each lender; ask a registered intermediary about yours.