If you are not a Spanish national and you intend to buy a property in Spain then there are a few things that you need to know...

However, please note that this is not intended to be a definitive guide but merely a brief summary of the absolute essentials.

You actually need three things:

• A Spanish bank account.
• An NIE number. This entails registering with the police.
• A Spanish lawyer that speaks your native tongue or at least speaks a language in which you are both fluent.

The first two are legal requirements and the third is an essential. Moreover, your lawyer will be able to help you with the other two items. So, once you have found a property that you want to buy, do not agree to anything, do not sign anything, find a lawyer.

Once the sale has been agreed you will be required to pay a deposit - usually 10% within 2 or 3 weeks. This is not refundable if you pull out of the deal. If the seller reneges on the deal then your deposit is returned and the seller additionally has to pay you 10% of the agreed price. Once the deposit has been paid you will normally be expected to complete in about a month.

In addition to the cost of the house budget for an extra 10% to cover land registry, solicitor's fees etc.