The magnificence of Spain always leaves a lasting impression. A country that enraptures and inspires, Spain is where greats such as Velazquez, Picasso, and Goya crafted their masterpieces.
Spain's undeniably alluring atmosphere charms visitors with delicate guitar serenades, passionate flamenco, and spectacular corrida. The breathtaking beauty of modern architecture alongside monuments of the past create an surreal, magnetic effect that can only be experienced in person. Some particularly unforgettable sights are the Prado art gallery in Madrid, the Salvador Dali museum in Figeuras (Catalonia), and of course the splendid works of Antoni Gaudi in Barcelona; particularly the Casa Batillo, Park Guell and Sagrada Familia.
Legendary Spaniards of today include director Pedro Almodovar, actress Penelope Cruz, football player Raul, Formula-1 racer Fernando Alonso, flamenco dancer Joaquin Cortes and numerous others.
Spain is an enchanting and spiritual place. One goes there to savor the work of brilliant chefs, to marvel at wonders of the past, to sunbathe on the coasts of the Mediterranean, and to partake in national holidays and traditions. But above all else, one travels to Spain to fall in love with it forever.
Eventually it becomes impossible for people to resist their longing for Spain, a realization best addressed with purchase of a luxurious Spanish villa.

Spain is a prosperous European country, but the costs of living are significantly lower than in its Western European counterparts. Nevertheless, Spain ranks among the top-10 EU countries with the highest standards of living. A prominent member of the European Union, Spain enjoys strong political and economical systems. The local currency is the euro, and foreign currencies can be exchanged conveniently at banks and other financial institutions.
Compared to the most popular countries, property prices in Spain are relatively low. The buying process is straightforward for those looking to invest in real estate. The Spanish property market is popular among foreigners and natives alike, as high demand for real estate create a stable market with low-risk investment opportunities.

Long-term investing in property in Spain guarantees success, even when considering the current economic downturn.

Spain occupies the majority of the Iberian Peninsula. Its national territory also includes the Balearic Islands in the Mediterranean and the Canary Islands in the Atlantic, located off the African coast.
Madrid, a city of astonishing beauty, is the capital and heart of Spain. Barcelona, the capital of Catalonia, is known as the city of art. Wonderful Seville, capital of Andalusia, is the home of unforgettable characters Don Juan and Carmen. Valencia is one of the most beautiful cities in the Mediterranean, featuring picturesque landscapes, a mild climate, and fantastic beaches.
Undoubtedly, Spain is one of the world's top clubbing destinations. Ibiza Island, another Spanish territory, is paradise for lovers of house music, personal freedom, and making exciting new acquaintances. The island features some of the best nightclubs in the world, including Renaissance, Ministry of Sound, Pacha, Café del Mar, Amnesia, and many more.
As a global attraction, Spain's popularity as a tourist destination make it ideal for property investors, with high returns on property rentals and a stable market for long term investments.

Once you've found the perfect property, and established the price and conditions of purchase, your agent will prepare a letter of intent to be signed by both parties. The letter of intent outlines the conditions of sale and the reservation period, during which your lawyer checks the legal details of the property and draws up a private purchase contract. If you haven't appointed a lawyer by this point, now would be a good time to do so. Anyone intending to sell or buy property in Spain (or has to pay taxes of any kind to Spanish Inland Revenue) needs an NIE by Spanish law for tax purposes. Applying at your nearest consulate is more expensive than obtaining an NIE in Spain, but may still be advantageous for many non-resident property-buyers.

What is an NIE?
NIE is an Identity Number for Foreigners (Numero de Identidad de Extranjeros). The modern NIE is actually just a piece of paper with your name, number, and an official stamp.
Until recently, foreign non-residents in Spain could buy and sell property without an NIE, and once it became necessary for them to have one, it could be obtained by their legal representative. However, recent legislation has made it necessary for anyone paying money to the Spanish Inland Revenue (Hacienda) to have a Spanish identity number, and to obtain it in person someone else has been named as their legal representative.
In consideration of various factors, it is necessary for international property buyers to anticipate unavoidable additional expenses when buying a house in Spain. These include the services of legal advisors, translators, taxes, possible mortgage expenses, and most importantly, the services of a notary. The notario is responsible for drawing up the deeds (escritura), the tax due (registro catastral) and registering the names of the new owners in the Spanish property register (registro de la propiedad), and the tax register (registro catastral). The tax register charges fees to the vendor and purchaser, in compliance with a fee schedule set by the government.

Property taxes in Spain
When buying a house in Spain it is important to estimate the taxes you will have to pay, not only when you actually purchase your Spanish property, but also local taxes and housing rates which are paid on a yearly basis by all home owners in Spain. Annual Spanish housing rates vary depending on the value and location of the property, but here is a rough guide to all the tax expenses you will need to take into account when deciding what house to buy.

Taxes payable at the time of the purchase
Re-sale purchase tax: House buyers of re-sale property (as opposed to brand new) are required to pay the Impuesto de Transferencia de Propiedad - Transfer Tax - which is currently 7%.
New Properties purchase tax: Buyers of brand new houses in Spain are liable to paying 7% IVA (VAT) if the house is finished or under construction at the time of the purchase, plus an extra 0.5% stamp duty. However, if you buy land, commercial premises or space in parking garages, then the VAT rises to 16%.
Increased patrimony tax payable to Spanish Treasury: When property is sold in Spain, the seller owes capital gains tax. According to Spanish fiscal regulations, the buyer withholds 5% of the total purchase price to protect against the seller taking the money without following through on his/her end of the bargain. This amount represents a capital gains tax on the profit made by the seller at the time of sale, and constitutes the difference between the current (official) sale price and the price paid by seller when he/she originally purchased the property + the value of any reforms and improvements carried out since then.
The capital gains tax is payable to the Spanish Treasury (Tesoro Público) and is 5% for non residents of Spain and 3% for residents; however, this is only the advanced deposit. The estimated amount retained at the moment of sale is payable once all documentation has been presented to the local registry and the new deeds are available. Therefore, property sellers not living in Spain will have to arrange for their lawyer or gestoría to arrange the necessary paperwork and to formalize the full tax payment a few months after the sale. The final amount could be as much as 30% of the profit made on the sale, so if there is a substantial difference between the selling price and the price that was originally paid, it may be worthwhile to apply for residency prior to selling the property in order to be eligible for the reduced percentage for residents (nationals of EU member states are automatically granted residency, although the paperwork can be a bit tedious). Please note that an NIE is required to pay this tax. Any seller over the age of 65 who has been a legal resident in Spain for the past three years is exempt from paying this tax. Residents and non-residents who purchased the property they are now selling before December 1986 are also exempt from the capital gains tax.
Plusvalía Tax: The Plusvalia Tax is set by the local authorities and is based on the increase in the value of the land from the date the owner acquired the property to the time of sale.
The local authorities determine the amount of plusvalía owed for each house purchased in Spain, depending on where the property is located. The market value or sales price of the property does not have an effect on the plusvalía tax.
As a general rule, the seller pays the plusvalía tax. However, this will vary depending on the sales agreement. The tax is calculated according to the ratable value of the property and the number of years it has been owned by the vendor.
Overall cost of purchasing property in Spain
You can estimate that taxes and fees will add up to about 10% of the overall value of the property you are purchasing.

Hardly any other country in Europe has as many holidays as Spain does. The main ones were originally based on religious traditions, but over the centuries have become joyful occasions with singing and dancing.

If you witness a heated argument between two Spaniards there is no need to intervene, they are merely discussing the latest episode of their favorite telenovela. You should do your best to speak with passion and excitement.

The distance from Madrid to the Moon is 384,400 kilometres.

The Spaniards eat breakfast at 2 p.m. and dinner at 10 p.m. During the meal, it is in your best interests to avoid discussing the Spanish Civil war, Francisco Franco, influenza, corrida and private life.

If invited to breakfast you should not accept the invitation, it is a mere formality.

If asked a second time, you should refuse again. If asked a third time, it might be a sincere invitation.

Being "on time" in Spain means arriving at the appointed place no less than 15-20 minutes late.

You should never pay someone a visit during siesta, unless you are the masseuse.

In spite of Don Quixote's war on windmills, the luxurious Spanish property market remains vibrant.

When a Spaniard slaps you in the face, it is customary to either slap him back, or to not.

You should always offer to share your meal while traveling by train, but not necessarily by throwing it at your co-passengers. If your fellow travelers do not accept, you should refuse their offers in turn. You can play offended if you like.