Housing

Learn the procedures, legal requirements and costs of renting or buying a home in various parts of Spain. Below is a brief excerpt from this section:  

Most Spaniards live in small apartments with roommates or family members and rely on public spaces, such as cafés and tapas bars, for socializing and entertainment. Households spend, on average, 22% of their net disposable income on housing. This figure is much higher in major urban centers, such as Barcelona and Madrid, where rent usually takes half of the average monthly budget.

Renting a room in a shared apartment is popular among students and young professionals, particularly in the country´s main cities. Due to the high demand, particularly in Barcelona and Madrid, tenants who want to rent are expected to be ready to pay a deposit as soon as they visit the property, in order not to lose their place in line. Be aware that if you’re using a rental agency, they usually charge up to one month’s rent for their services, plus taxes.

Although home prices have been dropping elsewhere in Europe, this has not been the case in Spain, with prices actually increasing, especially in areas popular with foreigners, such as the Mediterranean coast, the Balearic Islands and the Canary Islands. As with rental properties, the issue is not enough homes being available to fulfill demand. On top of this, mortgage interest rates have been rising too. Foreign nationals are encouraged to buy property. Those who spend more than 500,000 EUR on Spanish properties are able to obtain residence permits (‘Golden Visas’, officially known as the ‘investor visa’) more easily.

This is just a brief sample of the extensive information in the GoinGlobal Spain Career Guide, which is carefully researched and regularly updated by local career experts.