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