The process

Six clear steps: from first call to final signature

No surprises, no jargon. You know exactly what happens at every stage, who is responsible for what, and how long each step takes.

The agent showing you the house works for the seller. We work for you. We search for you, identify the right home, check it before you make an offer, and negotiate the price.

One clear fee, agreed in writing before we start. You’ll find it below, together with everything it includes

1

Getting started

Intake call, personal overview and agreement

You start with a free 30-minute call about your plans: what you’re looking for, where, and when.

If you want to continue, you sign the agreement and pay the €1,000 retainer, credited against the 3%. Buying with a mortgage? We start once you have pre-approval. From that moment, we work for you, and only you.

Personal overview within 48 hours of the intake call

2

active search

Property search and shortlisting

You only spend time on homes worth your consideration. We actively search for properties matching your criteria across property portals, direct contacts and off-market opportunities, and filter out unsuitable options before they reach you.

Each shortlisted property comes with our initial assessment: location, condition, price relative to market, and any flags worth investigating before proceeding.

First shortlist: anywhere from two weeks to a few months, depending on your wishes, your budget and what’s on the market

3

On the ground

Viewings: in person and remote

For every property of interest, we attend a viewing. If you’re in Valencia, we attend together. If you’re abroad, we do a detailed live video walkthrough, covering every room, every detail, every concern you’d raise in person.

If a live connection isn’t possible, because of the time difference or a weak signal, we record the viewing and send you the video.

We also assess the neighborhood, the building condition, parking, noise, and anything else relevant to your situation. You hear the negatives as clearly as the positives.

Viewings typically scheduled within 3 to 5 days of shortlisting

4

BEFORE THE OFFER

Market value and legal due diligence

Before any offer, you know what the property is actually worth. We analyze comparable transactions in the same area, so you can see whether the asking price is fair, inflated, or a real opportunity.

We coordinate a full legal check with our independent lawyer. This happens before you are contractually committed.

Legal checks include:

Property title and ownership verification
Outstanding debts or mortgages on the property
Planning permissions and building licenses
Habitation certificate (Cédula de Habitabilidad)
Land registry (Registro de la Propiedad) and Catastro (property register) check
Community charges and homeowners’ association (HOA) obligations
Energy Performance Certificate (EPC)
IBI (council tax) status and any arrears

Legal checks are carried out by our independent lawyer. Her fee is separate from our 3%: typically around 1% of the purchase price (minimum €1,800), plus VAT (IVA in Spain).

Legal checks: typically 3 to 7 working days

5

THE DEAL

Offer, negotiation and cost overview

We prepare and submit the offer on your behalf. Our negotiation is informed by market data, not pressure. We advise when to hold, when to move, and when a deal isn’t worth pursuing.

Before you commit, you receive a full cost overview, so you know exactly what the total purchase will cost.

Typical costs when buying in Valencia (2026)

ITP — transfer taxexisting property	9%
AJD — stamp dutynew build only	1.4%
Independent lawyer	~1%
Notary & land registry	~1%
FirstHomeValencia buyer’s agent fee	3%
Total additional costs (approx.)	13–14%

Lawyer and agent fees are shown excluding VAT (IVA, 21%). Mortgage costs not included. ITP reduced from 10% to 9% under Ley 5/2025 (Comunitat Valenciana), effective 1 June 2026.

Offer process: typically 1 to 3 weeks

6

completion

Notary, signing and handover

On completion day, we are present at the notary, or represent you via power of attorney if you cannot be in Valencia. We review the final documentation with you and our lawyer before signing.

The remaining balance of our fee is settled at completion: your total fee is 3% of the purchase price, minus the €1,000 retainer already paid.

Once signed, you receive the keys. We remain available for any questions after completion: your NIE (the foreigner identification number you need in Spain), utilities, or anything else that comes up in the first weeks.

Completion: typically 6 to 12 weeks after accepted offer

buying from abroad

We work with remote buyers

Our clients come from many countries, including the US, the UK, Ireland, Germany, the Netherlands and Sweden. Most of the process can be managed remotely. Many buyers visit once before making an offer; for the notary, a power of attorney means you don’t have to be there.

Can’t travel for every viewing? See how buying from abroad works.

Live video viewings

We attend every viewing in person and provide a live walkthrough via video call, covering every room, every question you’d ask if you were there.

Full written reports

For every home that makes your shortlist, you receive a full written report: condition, location assessment, price analysis, and our recommendation. Homes that clearly don’t fit are filtered out before that, so neither of us spends time on them.

Power of attorney

If you cannot travel for the notary, we can coordinate a power of attorney (via your lawyer) so the purchase completes without you being present.

NIE and bank account

We guide you through your NIE application (your Spanish foreigner identification number) and opening a Spanish bank account, both required for a property purchase. We can advise on doing this remotely or during a single visit.

What it costs

Our fee is 3% of the purchase price, agreed in writing before we start. It begins with a €1,000 retainer, credited in full against the 3%. The selling agent is paid by the seller, not by you. In return, we work exclusively for you, and you work with us for your search.

COMPLETE SERVICE OVERVIEW

Everything included in your 3%

Eight concrete deliverables. Everything below is included in our 3% fee.

01 Property search and shortlisting

Active search across portals, contacts and off-market, filtered before it reaches you.

02 Viewings, in person and remote

We attend every viewing, with live video walkthroughs for remote buyers.

03 Market value analysis

Comparable transaction analysis before every offer. You know what it's worth.

04 Negotiation, exclusively for you

We negotiate with no relationship with the seller and no incentive to close fast.

05 Legal due diligence

Title, registry, debts, planning, coordinated with our independent lawyer.

06 NIE and bank account support

Guidance on your NIE application and opening a Spanish bank account.

07 Notary representation

Present or representing you (via power of attorney) at the notary on completion day.

08 English, Dutch or German throughout

Your language

Questions about the process

How it works: common questions

How long does the whole process take?

From the start of your search to completion typically takes 3 to 6 months, depending on how quickly we find the right property and how complex the legal checks are. Some buyers find their property within weeks; others take longer. We don’t rush: we look for the right match.

What happens if we don't find a property?

No purchase means no success fee. The €1,000 retainer covers the work already done for your search.

Do I need to be in Valencia during the search?

No. We work with many remote buyers. We handle viewings, due diligence and negotiation on your behalf. Most buyers visit once before making an offer, to see the homes on their shortlist. The notary requires your presence or a power of attorney.

Do you also help with mortgages?

We have contacts at Spanish banks who work with non-residents. Spanish banks typically lend non-residents 60 to 70% of the bank’s valuation, which is often below the price. This means a minimum own contribution (down payment) of 30%, plus around 13 to 14% in purchase costs. We can make introductions; mortgage advice remains with the bank or an independent broker.

What if we’d like to rent first?

That’s often a sensible start, especially if you’re moving to Spain rather than buying a holiday home. Renting for six months to a year lets you get to know a town through the seasons, including winter. When you’re ready to buy, we start the search with you, and what you’ve learned on the ground makes it more focused.