Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about buying property in Spain through ostaInvest.
ostaInvest is a data-driven property investment platform focused on Spain’s Costa Blanca and Costa Cálida regions. We aggregate thousands of bank-repossessed and resale listings, enrich every property with a machine-learning price estimate and a proprietary Deal Score, and provide interactive analytics, calculators, and buying guides—so you can evaluate investment opportunities faster and with more confidence.
Bank-repossessed (or REO) properties are homes that banks have taken back after the previous owner defaulted on a mortgage. Because banks want to clear these assets from their books quickly, repossessed properties are often listed 15–40% below comparable market prices. They come with a clean legal title and are usually sold through the bank’s own portal or asset management company.
On top of the purchase price, expect to pay roughly 10–14% in additional costs. This includes Transfer Tax (ITP) of 6–10% depending on the region, notary fees (€600–€1,200), land registry fees (€400–€700), and legal fees if you hire a lawyer (typically 1–1.5% of the price). For new-build properties, VAT (IVA) of 10% plus stamp duty of 1–1.5% applies instead of ITP.
Yes. Spain’s Golden Visa programme grants residency to non-EU investors who purchase real estate worth €500,000 or more. The visa is valid for two years, renewable, and extends to your spouse and dependent children. It does not require you to live in Spain full-time.
The Deal Score is a number from 0 to 100 that ostaInvest assigns to every listing. It combines several factors: how the asking price compares to our ML price estimate, the desirability of the location, property characteristics such as size and number of rooms, and how long the listing has been on the market. A score above 70 generally indicates a strong investment opportunity.
We currently cover three main areas along Spain’s south-eastern Mediterranean coast: Costa Blanca North, Costa Blanca South, and Costa Cálida in Murcia. Together these regions offer over 5,000 active listings at any time.
Yes. Spain has a well-established legal framework for foreign property buyers. You will need a NIE (foreigner identification number), a Spanish bank account, and a notarised deed of sale (escritura). We strongly recommend hiring an independent lawyer who specialises in Spanish property conveyancing.
Annual costs typically include IBI (local property tax), community fees if the property is in a complex, home insurance, and utilities. Non-resident owners also pay an annual imputed income tax. Our recurring-costs guide covers this in detail.
Our machine-learning models are trained on 50,000+ historical sale transactions. On average the model predicts within 8–12% of the actual sale price. Estimates are most accurate for standard apartments and townhouses in urban areas.
No. ostaInvest is a property data and analytics platform. We do not sell properties, arrange viewings, negotiate deals, or provide legal or financial advice. When you find a property you like, you deal directly with the bank, estate agent, or seller.