Many old country homes purchased in Spain are in need of restoration or renovation. It is always recommended to first check the building for faults and ask the expert advice of a local architect, as often the renovation costs are too high for the property to be purchased in the first place.
 
There are strict planning regulations in Spain. Nowadays more and more local administrations enforce these regulations rigorously, certainly a big change from just few years ago. Failure to follow the planning regulations can result in a fine. In addition, not adhering to these rules may have disastrous results i.e. that the property becomes impossible to sell or you may be ordered to demolish it. >>

What information can i request from the Registro de la propiedad?

The registro de la propiedad offer the following information:

• Nota simple
• Nota informativa.

The office of the catastro allows locating a specific property in three different ways:

• Typing province, municipality, street name and number in case of urban buildings; province, municipality, polygon and parcel in the case of rural properties.

•  Selecting it in the cadastral cartography.

• Typing the holder's National Identification Number (NIF), and selecting a property from the list of properties owned by that person.

Extending your mortgage term in Spain
and how to use the mortgage pain to your advantage

Those who are having difficulties meeting their ever increasing monthly repayments will be happy to hear about a new law that has been passed and will shortly be implemented here in Spain.
You can increase the term of your mortgage thereby reducing payments.

The New Regulations (Decree 218/2005) on Information to the Consumer in purchases and rents of real estate in Andalusia is applied to commercial and Professional activity of offering, promoting and advertising the selling and renting of real estate, including the brokering activities. It excludes sales in public auctions, both judicial and administrative. This recently passed Andalusia Decree regulates: >>

The Decreto applies solely to professional intermediaries who are **in contact with buyer or rental clients**. If a property portal does not come directly into contact with buyer or rental clients, then it does not need to comply with Decreto 218/2005. Please note, that *private owners* who offer their homes for sale or rental are also not subject to the Decreto. >>

The vast majority of mortgages in Spain are based on proof of income.  Spanish mortgages are available to both employed and self-employed persons but, naturally, the proof of income requirements are different for each category (see below).
It is also important to note that anybody going on the title deed and/or mortgage must obtain an NIE number from the Spanish authorities BEFORE being able to complete the purchase.  These must be applied for in person in Spain at a suitable police station.  Please discuss this with your lawyer before you leave Spain. >>