The real estate industry in Spain has its own jargon and differs from other Spanish speaking countries.
There are also some terms that are specific to a region in Spain. For example a country house in the region of Catalonia most of the time is referred to as a Masía, in Andalucía a Cortijo and in the Balearics a Finca rústica.
I have compiled a list of the most essential real estate terms you’re likely to encounter. The following real estate glossary is a handy reference for English speaking buyers or sellers or anyone who’s interested in the industry.
I update this list on a regular basis and should you want to have a term included, do not hesitate to send it through the form provided below.
I have provided audio files of each Spanish term for your convenience. You can also use the search functionality to find any Spanish or English real estate terms.
| Spanish | English | 🔊 |
|---|---|---|
| A corto plazo | Short-term | |
| Abogado | Lawyer | |
| Acreedor | Creditor | |
| Acuerdo | Agreement | |
| Administrador de fincas | Licensed property administrator | |
| Adosado | Semi-detached | |
| Agencia | Estate agent | |
| Agua | Water | |
| Aire acondicionado | Air conditioning | |
| Amortización | Depreciation, redemption. | |
| Amueblado | Furnished | |
| Apartamento | Apartment | |
| API | One of the official property agents bodies | |
| Arrendador | Landlord | |
| Árboles | Trees | |
| Armarios | Closets | |
| Arras, señal | Down payment, Deposit | |
| Asequible | Affordable | |
| Asignar | Allocate | |
| Ático | Penthouse | |
| Aval | Guarantee requested by the bank to approve a mortgage application. | |
| Ayuntamiento | Town hall, city hall | |
| Balcón | Balcony | |
| Banco | Bank | |
| Baño | Bathroom | |
| Barato | Cheep | |
| Barbacoa | Barbacue | |
| Beneficiario | Beneficiary | |
| Bién | Good, well | |
| Bienes, Activos | Assets | |
| Bodega | Cellar | |
| Boletín de enganche | Official report on the property services, like water and gas | |
| Bungalow | Bungalow | |
| Cantidad | Amount | |
| Cabaña | Cabin, hut | |
| Caja de ahorros | Savings bank. Usually offers mortgage deals | |
| Calefacción | Heating | |
| Campo de golf | Golfcourse | |
| Capital en la propiedad | Home equity | |
| Características | Features | |
| Cargas | Charges, Debts | |
| Caro | Expensive | |
| Casa | House | |
| Casa de pueblo | Townhouse | |
| Castillo | Castle | |
| Catastro | Spanish Land Register | |
| Cédula de habitabilidad | Certificate of occupancy | |
| Certificado | Certificate | |
| Certificado energético | Energy certificate | |
| Chalet | Villa | |
| Chimenea | Fireplace / chimney | |
| Cláusula | Clause | |
| Cocina | Kitchen | |
| Comedor | Dining room | |
| Comisión | Commission | |
| Compra | Purchase | |
| Compra sobre plano | Off-plan property purchase | |
| Comprador | Buyer | |
| Comunidad de propietarios | Community of property owners | |
| Comunitario | Communal | |
| Con | With | |
| Condición | Condition | |
| Construcción | Construction | |
| Construir | To build | |
| Contable | accountant | |
| Contraoferta | Counteroffer | |
| Contrato | Contract | |
| Contrato de arrendamiento | Rental contract | |
| Contrato de compraventa | Sales contract | |
| Condición | Condition | |
| Constructor | Builder | |
| Cortijo | Cottage in Andalusia | |
| Costos | Costs | |
| ¿Cuánto cuesta? | How much is it? | |
| Cuenta bancaria | Bank account | |
| Cuenta de depósito en garantía | Escrow account | |
| Cuota | Installment | |
| Declaración de obra nueva | New build certificate | |
| Déposito | Deposit | |
| Desahucio | Eviction | |
| Deuda | Debt | |
| Dinero | Money | |
| Documento privado | Private document | |
| Documento público | Public document | |
| Dormitorio | Bedroom | |
| Edificio | Building | |
| Efectivo en mano | Cash on hand | |
| Electricidad | Electricity | |
| Embargo | Repossession, foreclosure | |
| Escaleras | Stairs | |
| Escritura | Deeds | |
| Escritura pública de compraventa | Title deed | |
| Estimación | Estimate | |
| Euribor | Euro Interbank Offered Rate | |
| Factura | Invoice | |
| Fianza | Deposit | |
| Finca | Farm, Estate. | |
| Fraude | Scam, Fraud | |
| Ganancias patrimoniales | Capital gains | |
| Ganga, Chollo | Bargain | |
| Garaje | Garage | |
| Garantía | Guarantee, Collateral | |
| Gastos | Expenses | |
| Gestor | A bookkeeper specialized in real estate | |
| Gestoría | Bookkeeper or firm specialised in obtaining official documents, permits, licences... | |
| GIPE | One of the official property agents bodies | |
| Habitación | Room | |
| Hacienda | The tax office | |
| Heredero | Inheritor | |
| Hipoteca | Mortgage | |
| Honorarios | Fees | |
| Impuestos de actos jurídicos documentados | Tax on documented legal acts | |
| Impuestos de transmisiones patrimoniales | Property transfer tax | |
| IBI - Impuesto sobre bienes inmuebles | Yearly property tax | |
| Impuesto sobre el incremento del valor de los terrenos | Tax on the increase of land value | |
| Impuesto sobre el patrimonio | Capital gains tax | |
| Impuestos | Taxes | |
| Incumplimiento | Defaul | |
| Informe de tasación | Appraisal repport | |
| Ingresos | Income | |
| Inmobiliaria | Estate agency / Realtor | |
| Inmueble | Property | |
| Interés | Interest | |
| IRPF | Income tax | |
| IVA | VAT | |
| Obra nueva | New Built | |
| Jardín | Garden | |
| Largo Plazo | Long-term | |
| Lavadero | Laundry room | |
| Ley | Law | |
| Libre de cargas | Free of debts | |
| Libro del edificio | Documents specifying the property features, which must be handed over by the promoter when building is finished | |
| Licencia | Licence | |
| Licencia de obras | Building licence | |
| Licencia de primera ocupación | Certificate of habitation, given when a new building is fit to live in | |
| Local | Premises | |
| Luz | Light | |
| Madera | Wood | |
| Mar | Sea | |
| Masía | Country house in Catalonia | |
| Metros cuadrados | Square meters | |
| Mucho | Many | |
| Muebles | Furniture | |
| NIE | Personal identification number for non-Spaniards | |
| NIF | Fiscal Identity Number | |
| Nota simple | Land registry short copy | |
| Notario | Notary | |
| Obra nueva | New build | |
| Oferta | Offer | |
| Oferta vinculante | Bank document certifying the exact mortgage conditions | |
| Opción de compra (contrato) | Purchase option (contract) | |
| Orientación sur | South facing | |
| Pagar | To pay | |
| Pago en efectivo | Cash payment | |
| Pago inicial | Down payment | |
| Parcela | Plot of land | |
| Pared | Wall | |
| Pensión alimenticia | alimony | |
| Permiso de residencia | Residency (permit) | |
| Piedra | Stone | |
| Piscina | Swimming pool | |
| Piso | Flat | |
| Plan parcial | Development plan | |
| Planta | Floor | |
| Playa | Beach | |
| Plazo | Term | |
| Plusvalía | Property tax | |
| Poder | Power | |
| Poder legal | Power of attorney | |
| Posesión, Entrega de llaves | possession | |
| Pozo | Water well | |
| Precio | Price | |
| Precio de compra | Purchase price | |
| Precio de mercado | Fair market value | |
| Precio más bajo | Bottom price | |
| Préstamo | Loan | |
| Préstamo con techo | Loan with variable interests with fixed minimum and maximum | |
| Préstamo hipotecario | Mortgage Loan | |
| Presupuesto | Budget | |
| Propiedad | Property | |
| Propiedad de inversión | Investment property | |
| Propietario | Property owner | |
| Promedio | Average | |
| Promotor | Property developer | |
| Puerta | Door | |
| Registro de la propiedad | Land Register | |
| Quiebra, Bancarrota | Bankruptcy | |
| Reclamar | To claim | |
| Renovación | Renewal | |
| Representante fiscal | Official tax representative of foreigner | |
| Residente | Resident | |
| Retención | A deposit held by the tax office while final amounts of taxes are calculated | |
| Salón | Living room | |
| Se alquila | For rent | |
| Se vende | For sale | |
| Segunda vivienda | Second home | |
| Seguro de amortización de préstamos | Loan repayment insurance | |
| Seguro | Insurance | |
| Seguro multirriesgo hogar | Home insurance | |
| Señal | Deposit, down payment | |
| Solar | Plot | |
| Solicitar | To apply | |
| Suelo | Floor | |
| Suelo urbanizable | Building land | |
| Tarjeta de residencia | Residency card | |
| Tasa | Fee | |
| Tasa de cambio | Exchange rate | |
| Tasa de porcentaje anual | Annual percentage rate | |
| Tasa de interés fija | Fixed interest rate | |
| Tasación | Appraisal or valuation of property | |
| Techo | Ceiling | |
| Tejado | Roof | |
| Teléfono | Telephone | |
| Terraza | Terrace | |
| Terreno | Terrain | |
| Tipo de interés | Interest rate | |
| Título de propiedad | Deeds stating the ownership of property, date of sale etc. | |
| Traspaso | Transfer | |
| Trastero | Storage room | |
| Usofructo | Right of use | |
| UTM | Plot number at the land register | |
| Valor catastral | Land register value | |
| Valor real | Real Estate value | |
| Vendedor | Seller | |
| Vestíbulo | Hall | |
| Vigas de madera | Wooden beams | |
| Vistas | Views | |
| Vivienda | Property | |
| Vivienda de protección oficial (VPO) | Subsidized Housing | |
| Zona | Zone or area |