Buying Property in Spain - Glossary
Posted by Nick Niesen on November 8th, 2010
Buying Property in Spain
Although any expatriate intending to buy property in Spain would be advised to use the professional services of an estate agent and a translator and must legalise the transaction before a Public Notary, the following glossary of terms commonly used either to describe properties in Spain or during the transaction process is a useful aid for non-Spanish speakers.
Abogado - Lawyer
Actos Juridicos Documentados (AJD) - Stamp duty
Adosado - Semi-detached house
Agencia Inmobiliaria - Estate Agent
Agencia Tributaria - Tax office
A.P.I. (Agente de la Propiedad Inmobiliaria) - Officially licensed estate agent
Aire acondicionado - Air conditioning
Aparcamiento - Parking
Apartamento - Apartment
Arras - Small payment given to the seller to guarantee that the property transaction will be completed within an agreed time limit.
Asesor Fiscal - Financial Advisor
Aval - Loan underwriter
Ayuntamiento - Town hall
Balcón - Balcony
Baño - Bath/WC
Caja de Ahorros - Savings bank
Calefacción central - Central heating
Campo - Countryside
Casita - Cottage
Chalet - Villa
Cocina - Kitchen
Comedor - Dining room
Compra - Buying
Compra-Venta - Promise to Purchase
Contract Comunidad de propietarios - Comunity of property owners
Constructor - Builder
Copia Simple - Copy of the Mortgage Deeds
Cuarto de Baño - Bathroom
Cuotas de comunidad - Community fees
Cuenta de Banco - Bank account
Documento privado - Private document
Documento público - Public document
Dormitorio - Bedroom
Ducha - Shower
Duplex- Apartment over two floors
Edificio - Building
Escritura - Deeds of ownership
Finca - Farm house or small estate
Garaje - Garage
Habitación - Room
Hacienda - Tax office
Hipoteca - Mortgage I.B.I Rates
Inmobiliaria/agente - Estate agent
IVA - VAT
Jardín - Garden
Ladrillo - Brick
Libre de cargas - Debt free
Licencia de obra - Building permission
Licencia de Ocupación - License to occupy a property
Metros cuadrados - Square metres
N.I.E. - Identity Number for Foreigners
Notario - Notary Records legal documents and transactions
Nota Simple - Certificate from Land Registry
Obra nueva - Document certifying a new building
Oferta vinculante - Bank document specifying mortgage conditions
Pago en efectivo - Cash payment
Parcela - Lot or plot
Piscina - Swimming pool
Piso - Apartment
Plan Parcial - Town hall plan for building plots
Playa - Beach
Plusvalía - Municipal Capital gains tax on sale of property
Poder - Power of Attorney
Préstamo - Loan
Pueblo - Town or village
Registro de la Propiedad - Land Registry
Representante fiscal - Foreigner's official tax representative
Residencia - Residency permit
Residente - Resident
Sala, salon - Lounge
Se vende - For sale
Se alquila - For Rent
Solar - Lot for building
Solana - Utility Room
Sótano - Basement
Tarjeta de Banco - Bank card
Techo - Roof
Teja - Roof tile
Terraza - Terrace
Terreno - Land plot
Tipo de interés - Interest rate
Título de propiedad - Property ownership deeds
Trastero - Storeroom
Venta - Selling
Vista de mar - Sea view
