Renting or buying a home in Spain
What you need to rent, the steps to buy, and where to find real sale prices.
✓ Checked against the sources: October 2026⚠️ This isn't legal or financial advice. Use an independent lawyer for any purchase.
Renting
- Most landlords ask for an NIE and a Spanish bank account.
- Deposit (fianza): in Catalonia the landlord lodges it with INCASÒL, the public housing body.
- After you move in, register with the town hall at the new address (empadronamiento). You need it for school and healthcare.
- Don't send money before you've seen the flat and have a contract.
Source: Policía Nacional: NIE / TIE · Habitatge (Generalitat de Catalunya)
Be patient, and breathe
Finding a place can take time, sometimes weeks or even months. That's normal. Stay relaxed, smile and stay positive with landlords and agents, because first impressions count. Go easy on jokes: humour doesn't always cross languages and cultures, and can be understood in a way you didn't mean. And just breathe.
🔒 3 more sections in this guide
- 🏠 Buying
- 📊 Real prices
- A tip from Maor's experience
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