Purchase costs 2026

The cost of buying property in Spain — every line item

ITP Spain, IMT, notary, land registry, lawyer — the full cost overview for buyers in Spain and Portugal. ITP is the transfer tax Spain charges on a resale purchase, and the rate depends on the region.

How much should I budget for purchase costs in Spain?

Budget roughly 10 to 13 % in purchase costs on top of the price when buying in Spain — Portugal is similar. The largest item is transfer tax: in Spain the ITP on resale properties, whose rate varies by autonomous region, and on new builds the IVA plus AJD instead. In Portugal the staggered IMT plays this role. Add notary and land registry, legal fees, and — if you finance — the cost of the tasación (valuation) and bank charges. Crucial for your calculation: banks finance the purchase price, not the incidental costs. You must cover those from equity, on top of your share of the price, because only the lower of price and tasación is lent against. Buyers who build the purchase costs into their financing from the start avoid the most common gap among German buyers just before the notary appointment: enough money for the property, too little for everything around the purchase.

Purchase costs 2026

Property purchase tax Spain — the biggest single cost factor

When buying a resale property in Spain, the ITP (Impuesto de Transmisiones Patrimoniales) applies — and its rate depends on the autonomous community. In Portugal the equivalent is called IMT and is tiered. This makes considerable differences.

ITP comparison Spain

Transfer tax by region (as of 07/2026, autonomous tax laws)

Low

Canary Islands

ITP 6.5 % on resale. New builds: IGIC 7 % instead of IVA 10 %, plus AJD 0.75 % on the deed.

Low

Andalusia (Marbella)

ITP 7 % on resale. Wealth tax effectively 0 (100 % rebate).

Standard

Balearics (Mallorca, Ibiza)

ITP from 8 %, tiered up to 13 %. Increased wealth-tax allowance of €3m per person.

High

Catalonia (Costa Brava)

ITP banded 10–13 % (Decret llei 5/2025): 10 % to €600,000, 11 % to €900,000, 12 % to €1.5m, 13 % above. Lower entry prices compensate.

High

Valencian Community

ITP 9 % up to €1m, 11 % above (since 01/06/2026, Law 5/2025). Solid rental yields partly offset.

Standard

Madrid

ITP 6 %. Partial reductions for a main residence.

Full cost overview

All items on a Spanish purchase

On a typical Mallorca purchase of €400,000 you pay approx. 10–11 % in costs on top:

Example · €400,000 Mallorca

Full cost list

  • ITP 8 % (Balearics)€32,000
  • Notary (0.5–1 %)€2,000–4,000
  • Land registry (0.3–0.5 %)€1,200–2,000
  • Lawyer (1 %)€4,000
  • NIE application~€12 (state) + €200–600 (service)
  • Total costs~€39,500–42,500 (10–11 %)

Model calculation, no guarantee. Actual costs vary by notary, lawyer and mortgage.

Model calculations without guarantee. Not binding offers. Terms vary depending on credit profile, property and bank. No tax or legal advice.

Portugal variant

IMT instead of ITP — tiered

Portugal levies a tiered IMT (Imposto Municipal sobre Transmissões) based on the purchase price. Tendency: smaller properties are taxed cheaply, large ones progressively higher. Plus stamp duty IS 0.8 %, notary, NIF. In total around 7–10 % in costs. Note for non-residents: since 25 May 2026 a flat IMT of 7.5 % applies to buyers without Portuguese tax residence (DL 97/2026, Art. 6 — the progressive tiers no longer apply to you), unless you become tax resident within two years or let at a moderate rent. Worked examples and exceptions in detail.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How high are the purchase costs in Spain?
Depending on the region, 10–13 % of the purchase price. The largest item is the ITP (transfer tax): Balearics banded 8–13 % (from €400,000 tiered up, 13 % above €2m), Andalusia 7 %, Catalonia banded 10–13 % (Decret llei 5/2025), Valencia 9 %, Canaries 6.5 %. Plus notary (0.5–1 %), land registry (0.3–0.5 %), lawyer (1 %) and the NIE application. AJD on the mortgage has been paid by the bank, not the buyer, since 2018.
Why are the costs lower in Portugal?
The IMT is tiered — for medium purchase prices the effective rates are often lower than Spain's flat ITP. There are also fewer intermediate taxes. In total 7–10 % in costs. For non-residents a flat 7.5 % IMT has applied since 25 May 2026 (DL 97/2026), unless you become tax resident within two years or let at a moderate rent.
Can I use the costs as equity?
No, on the contrary: purchase costs must be provided in addition to equity because they cannot be financed. At 70 % LTV in Spain and 11 % costs you therefore need 30 + 11 = approx. 41 % of the purchase price in your own funds.
What does a good lawyer in Spain cost?
Typical fees: 1 % of the purchase price, at least €1,500–2,000. For more complex purchases (developers, renovation properties) higher. A good lawyer checks charges, defects and licences — and is worth the money.
Who pays the AJD on a mortgage?
Not you — the bank. Since 10 November 2018 the lender is the taxable person for AJD on mortgage deeds (Real Decreto-ley 17/2018, confirmed by Ley 5/2019). It is no longer a buyer's cost and cannot be passed on to you by contract clause. As a buyer you pay AJD only on a new build — there on the purchase deed, because that deed is subject to IVA; roughly 0.75–1.5 % depending on the region (Comunitat Valenciana 1.4 %).

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