Buying Property in Spain - Glossary

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