A new recruit in Madrid asks which national licence she must hold before she can broker a flat sale in Spain. What is the correct answer?

1. The official API title issued by the Ministry of Housing
2. None: since 2000 anyone may broker property without a title or college membership
3. A licence from the Colegio de Registradores after a written exam
4. A national broker card renewed every three years

An investor wants to start renting out a flat to tourists in a building in Valencia city in 2026. What must he obtain from the community of owners under the reform in force since 3 April 2025?

1. Nothing: the community can only regulate noise, never the use itself
2. A simple majority of owners present at the meeting
3. Unanimous consent of every owner in the building
4. Express prior approval voted by three fifths of owners holding three fifths of the quotas

You plan to open an agency office in Barcelona. What does Catalan law require before you start trading?

1. Registration in the Register of Estate Agents of Catalonia (the AICAT register)
2. Nothing beyond a city business licence, as in the rest of Spain
3. Membership of the Barcelona Chamber of Commerce
4. A written exam set by the Catalan Notaries' Association

Your Catalan agency has one office open to the public in Girona. What minimum professional liability cover does the Catalan register require for that office?

1. EUR 30,000 per claim with no annual cap
2. EUR 1,000,000 per claim and EUR 5,000,000 per year
3. EUR 100,000 per claim and EUR 600,000 per year
4. No insurance, only a bank guarantee

Besides insurance, a Catalan agent must lodge a guarantee (surety or bond) to protect client money. What minimum applies to a standard office, and to an agent who works only online?

1. EUR 10,000 for both
2. EUR 60,000 per office, EUR 300,000 for an online-only agent
3. EUR 300,000 per office, EUR 60,000 for an online-only agent
4. EUR 600,000 per office, no guarantee online

Which of these professionals is NOT obliged to join the Catalan register of estate agents?

1. A Barcelona agency that only lets flats, never sells
2. A company working only online that sells homes in Tarragona
3. A one-person agency in Sitges that charges sellers a 3% fee
4. An agent established in another EU country with no office open to the public in Catalonia

A colleague wants to work in Alicante. Which rule created the Valencian register of real estate intermediation agents, and what training does it ask for?

1. Decree 98/2022, with at least 200 teaching hours of real estate training
2. Law 18/2007, with a university law degree
3. Royal Decree-law 4/2000, with no training at all
4. Decree 12/2010, with a 40-hour online course

In January 2025 the Valencian High Court (TSJCV) ruled on an appeal by the competition authority (CNMC) against the Valencian agents register. What was the outcome?

1. The whole register was annulled and closed
2. The appeal was fully rejected and all requirements stand
3. Several requirements, including the EUR 60,000 guarantee and the liability insurance, were annulled, and the ruling could be appealed to the Supreme Court
4. The court ordered all Valencian agents to also join the Catalan register

A French agent moves to Marbella to join your team. What does she need to work legally?

1. A work permit sponsored by your agency
2. Nothing at all, not even a tax ID
3. A golden visa
4. No work permit, but she must register as an EU citizen (registration certificate with her NIE) for stays over three months

A Moroccan friend holding a Spanish tourist stay wants to start showing villas on commission next week. What is the correct advice?

1. She needs a residence authorisation that allows work (employed or self-employed) under the immigration rules before she starts
2. She can work for 90 days on a tourist stay
3. An NIE number alone gives her the right to work
4. Commission-only work is not considered work, so no permit is needed

A freelance agent will invoice commissions in her own name. What two registrations must she complete before her first invoice?

1. Land Registry and Notaries' College
2. Tax census with the Agencia Tributaria (form 036/037) and the self-employed social security scheme (RETA)
3. Chamber of Commerce and the Bank of Spain
4. Only a bank account in Spain

A seller signs an exclusive mandate (nota de encargo en exclusiva) and then sells privately during the term. How did the Supreme Court approach such clauses in ruling 263/2019?

1. Exclusivity is always void in Spain
2. The agency always earns double the agreed fee
3. Exclusivity is valid in civil law, but the clause must pass consumer law checks such as clarity and proportionate compensation
4. Only notaries can sign exclusive mandates

Your agency's template mandate says the seller owes 100% of the commission if he sells to a buyer he found himself during the exclusive period. According to the Consumer Affairs report on exclusivity pacts, how is this clause viewed?

1. As standard practice that courts always uphold
2. As clearly abusive, since case law generally treats penalties above 50% of the fee as disproportionate when the agency did not bring the buyer
3. As valid only if the mandate lasts more than one year
4. As abusive only when the property is worth over EUR 1 million

A seller asks what commission is 'legal' in Spain. Which answer is accurate?

1. Fees are fixed by law at 2% for all sales
2. The buyer must always pay 5%
3. Fees are capped at 3% including VAT
4. Fees are freely agreed, usually around 3% to 7% of the price, and 21% VAT is added unless stated as included

Example figures: you sell a flat in Malaga for EUR 350,000 with an agreed 4% commission plus 21% VAT. What total does the seller pay you, VAT included (in EUR)?

You find a tenant for a long-term flat in Seville. Under the Housing Law 12/2023, who pays the agency's management and contract fees?

1. The landlord
2. The tenant
3. Half each
4. Whoever the agency chooses

In February 2024 the Consumer Affairs ministry warned agencies that were charging tenants one month's rent plus VAT as a 'management fee'. What fine range did it cite for this serious infringement?

1. EUR 150 to EUR 3,000
2. EUR 3,001 to EUR 10,000
3. EUR 10,001 to EUR 100,000, or up to four to six times the illicit profit
4. Only a written warning, with no fine

Your agency brokers both sales and lettings. When does Spain's anti-money laundering Law 10/2010 also cover your rental work?

1. Never: only sales are covered
2. For every rental, whatever the rent
3. Only for tourist rentals
4. When the monthly rent is EUR 10,000 or more

A Spanish-resident buyer offers to pay your agency's EUR 6,000 fee in cash. Which response matches Spanish law?

1. Accept it, as cash below EUR 10,000 is always fine
2. Refuse: cash payments of EUR 1,000 or more are banned when one party acts as a professional, and the client must be identified under Law 10/2010
3. Accept it if he signs a receipt
4. Accept it but split it into two receipts of EUR 3,000

A Chinese investor asks in 2026 whether buying a EUR 600,000 villa still gives him a Spanish golden visa. What do you answer?

1. Yes, the threshold is still EUR 500,000
2. Yes, but only in Andalusia
3. No: investor visas were abolished by Organic Law 1/2025 with effect from 3 April 2025
4. No: the threshold rose to EUR 1 million in 2025

Since 1 July 2025, what does a host need before a short-stay rental can be listed on platforms that take bookings and payments online?

1. A registration number from the national Single Rental Register, issued through the Property Registry
2. Only a regional energy certificate
3. A notarised lease for each guest
4. Nothing new: the national register only applies to hotels

A buyer in Fuengirola wants to run a 40 m2 studio as a holiday let (VUT) for four guests. Under Andalusia's rules as amended by Decree 31/2024, what is the problem?

1. None: Andalusia has no size rules for tourist flats
2. Studios can never be tourist flats in Andalusia
3. He must first obtain a golden visa
4. The decree requires at least 14 m2 per guest, so 40 m2 allows only two places, and the flat must be filed in the Andalusian Tourism Register

Which Spanish province had the highest share of home purchases made by foreigners in Q2 2026?

1. Málaga
2. Illes Balears
3. Alicante
4. Santa Cruz de Tenerife

The 'Golden Triangle' of the western Costa del Sol is usually made up of which three municipalities?

1. Marbella, Benahavís and Estepona
2. Málaga, Torremolinos and Benalmádena
3. Fuengirola, Mijas and Marbella
4. Estepona, Casares and Manilva

On 2025 notary data, which of the three Golden Triangle municipalities showed the fastest yearly price growth?

1. Marbella
2. Benahavís
3. All three grew at the same rate
4. Estepona

A Swedish family wants a Marbella address near golf courses and Puerto Banús, with good holiday-rental demand. Which area fits best?

1. Teatinos
2. Nueva Andalucía
3. Torrevieja
4. Pedregalejo

According to 2025 notary data, which Marbella sub-area had the highest average price per sqm?

1. San Pedro Alcántara
2. Marbella East
3. Sierra Blanca
4. Nueva Andalucía and Puerto Banús

Example figures: a client buys a 150 sqm apartment in Sierra Blanca at the 2025 notary average of EUR 5,479 per sqm. What is the indicative price (in EUR)?

In 2025, which nationality was the leading group of buyers in Estepona according to notary data?

1. British
2. Swedish
3. Polish
4. Dutch

Estepona's 'New Golden Mile' (Nueva Milla de Oro) is located:

1. Between Estepona and San Pedro Alcántara
2. Between Málaga airport and Torremolinos
3. Inland around Ronda
4. Between Benidorm and Altea

In August 2026, which district was the most expensive in Málaga city according to idealista?

1. Centro
2. Teatinos
3. Este (El Limonar, Pedregalejo, El Palo)
4. Carretera de Cádiz

An investor wants to buy a flat in central Málaga to run as a new holiday let in 2026. What should you warn them about first?

1. Holiday lets are banned everywhere in Andalusia
2. Málaga suspended new tourist flat registrations in August 2025 for up to three years
3. Foreigners cannot own flats in historic centres
4. Tourist lets in Málaga only need a national tax number

Example figures: a 70 sqm flat in Málaga city rents at the July 2026 idealista average of EUR 16.4 per sqm per month. What is the yearly gross rent (in EUR)?

Example figures: a 70 sqm flat in Málaga city is bought at the August 2026 average of EUR 3,938 per sqm and let at EUR 16.4 per sqm per month. What is the gross yield (in %, one decimal)?

Which Costa del Sol municipality had the highest average rent in Málaga province in July 2026 (idealista)?

1. Fuengirola
2. Estepona
3. Benahavís
4. Marbella

On the Costa Blanca in June 2026, which of these towns had the highest asking price per sqm (pisos.com)?

1. Calpe
2. Torrevieja
3. Alicante city
4. Jávea

A Belgian retiree wants a sunny apartment with golf nearby at the lowest entry price on the Costa Blanca. Which area should you show first?

1. Altea old town
2. Jávea's Montgó villas
3. Torrevieja and Orihuela Costa
4. Marbella's Golden Mile

Which Costa Blanca town showed the strongest yearly price rise among these in June 2026 (pisos.com)?

1. Altea
2. Jávea (Xàbia)
3. Benidorm
4. Dénia

Example figures: a resale apartment in Torrevieja costs EUR 220,000 and the deed is signed in July 2026. The Valencian general transfer tax (ITP) rate is 9%. How much ITP does the buyer pay (in EUR)?

Example figures: the same EUR 220,000 resale apartment is instead in Estepona (Andalusia), not a main home, so the 7% general ITP rate applies. How much LESS tax does the buyer pay than at the Valencian 9% rate (in EUR)?

In Q3 2025, which nationality was the largest group of foreign buyers in Alicante province?

1. German
2. Dutch
3. French
4. British

Registradores put the Q2 2026 average registered price at EUR 3,347 per sqm in Málaga province and EUR 2,267 per sqm in Alicante province. How much cheaper per sqm is Alicante (in %, rounded to one decimal)?

A British couple is buying an off-plan (sobre plano) apartment in Estepona. In which order do the usual steps happen?

1. Notary deed, reservation, staged payments, private contract
2. Reservation, private purchase contract, staged payments during works, then notary deed and keys at completion
3. Private contract, notary deed, reservation, keys
4. Staged payments, reservation, keys, private contract

Your client will pay 30% of the price to a developer before the building is finished. What protection does Spanish law require the developer to give for that money?

1. None: advance payments are at the buyer's risk
2. A personal guarantee signed by the agent
3. An individual bank guarantee (aval) or insurance policy for each buyer, under the LOE's First Additional Provision
4. A notarised promise to repay within ten years

Under the LOE First Additional Provision, what must the guarantee on off-plan deposits cover, and where must the money be paid?

1. Only 50% of the amounts, paid to any account of the developer
2. The amounts paid plus legal interest, paid into a special account kept separate from the developer's other funds
3. Only the reservation fee, paid in cash
4. The full price of the home, paid to the agent's client account

The contract says keys by June 2026. In October 2026 works have stopped and the developer gives no date. What can the buyer do under the LOE?

1. Nothing until five years have passed
2. Only sue the agent who sold the unit
3. Accept a 10% discount, which is the only remedy
4. Choose to terminate and recover the sums paid plus legal interest through the guarantee, or grant the developer an extension

A developer went bust without paying the premium on the deposit insurance. Can the insurer refuse to repay your client for that reason?

1. No: since the 2015 reform the insurer cannot use defences it has against the developer, including unpaid premiums
2. Yes, an unpaid premium always voids the cover
3. Yes, unless the buyer paid the premium himself
4. Only if the buyer is a non-resident

The building is finished and the first occupation permit has been obtained, but the buyer refuses to sign the deed and collect the keys. What happens to the deposit guarantee?

1. It stays in force for ten more years
2. The buyer can still claim it at any time
3. The developer may cancel it, so the buyer loses that protection
4. It converts automatically into a mortgage

Example figures: an off-plan flat in Torrevieja costs EUR 420,000 before tax. The plan is 10% at the private contract, 20% in instalments during works and the rest at the notary. What base price remains to pay at completion (in EUR)?

A buyer compares a brand-new flat from a developer with a resale flat next door. Which tax applies to the first sale of the new flat?

1. Transfer tax (ITP) only, as for resales
2. VAT at 21%
3. No tax for the first owner
4. VAT at the reduced 10% rate, plus stamp duty (AJD) on the deed

Example figures: a new-build flat in Malaga sells for EUR 380,000 from the developer. VAT is 10% and Andalusia's general stamp duty (AJD) is 1.2%. What are VAT plus AJD together (in EUR)?

Example figures: the buyer of an off-plan unit pays a EUR 50,000 stage payment to the developer during construction. VAT on new homes is 10%. How much VAT is added to that stage (in EUR)?

Your buyer adds two parking spaces and a storage room to her new-build flat, all bought in the same deed. What VAT applies to the extras?

1. 10%, as up to two parking spaces and annexes sold together with the home follow the home's reduced rate
2. 21% on all extras
3. 0% because they are not homes
4. 10% on one space and 21% on everything else, always

Under article 17 of the Building Act (LOE), how long are the builder and developer liable for defects in a new home?

1. 6 months for everything
2. 2 years for everything, as for consumer goods
3. 10 years for structural defects, 3 years for habitability defects, 1 year for finishing defects
4. 20 years for structure, 5 years for the rest

Eight months after taking the keys, your buyer notices cracked tiles and doors that do not close properly. What is the best advice?

1. Too late: snags must be raised on the day of handover
2. Notify the developer in writing now, as finishing defects are covered for one year from handover
3. Wait for the ten-year insurance to pay
4. Pay a private builder and forget the claim

Which insurance must a developer of new homes take out to cover structural damage, and for how much?

1. A one-year contents policy for EUR 30,000
2. No insurance is compulsory
3. A three-year policy for 10% of the price
4. Ten-year (decennial) insurance covering 100% of the final cost of the works

Why can a notary and land registrar refuse to record a finished new-build declaration (obra nueva terminada) for a residential block?

1. If proof of the ten-year structural insurance is not provided
2. If the agent's commission has not been paid
3. If fewer than half the units are sold
4. If the buyers are non-residents

In Andalusia, how is occupation of a newly finished building that matches its building licence usually authorised under the LISTA land law (Law 7/2021)?

1. By a decision of the regional parliament
2. By the buyer's own statement at the notary
3. By a declaracion responsable de ocupacion filed with the town hall, replacing the old first occupation licence
4. It needs no paperwork at all

Your client will fund the completion balance with a Spanish mortgage. Under Law 5/2019 on real estate credit, what must happen before she signs?

1. Nothing: she can sign the same day she receives the offer
2. The bank gives the standard information sheet (FEIN) and documents at least 10 calendar days before signing, and she meets the notary free of charge to confirm she understands
3. The agent must sign the mortgage on her behalf
4. She must open a deposit equal to 50% of the loan

Savills data reported in July 2026 put the average Costa del Sol new-build apartment at EUR 5,725 per m2 in 2025. At that average, what would an 80 m2 new apartment cost (in EUR)?

According to Savills figures published in July 2026, how fast do new Costa del Sol schemes sell?

1. Under 5% of units are sold before completion
2. Developers must wait until completion to sell by law
3. Some schemes sell 30% to 50% of units before construction starts, with about 12,265 new homes sold in 2025
4. All new homes are sold to Spanish first-time buyers

What did INE and Registradores data show for the province of Alicante (Costa Blanca) in the first half of 2026?

1. New-build sales doubled and foreigners bought under 10% of homes
2. Sales were unchanged and new builds were 50% of the market
3. Foreign buyers disappeared after the golden visa ended
4. Total sales fell 7.6% to 25,085, new-build sales fell 12.4% to 4,657, and foreigners bought about 44.65% of homes

According to notary data for 2025, roughly what share of all home purchases in Spain involved a foreign buyer?

1. About 8.8%
2. About 18.8%
3. About 28.8%
4. About 38.8%

In the Land Registry statistics for Q4 2025, which nationality made the largest share of home purchases by foreigners?

1. Moroccan
2. German
3. British
4. Dutch

Looking only at NON-RESIDENT foreign buyers in 2025 (notary data), which nationality reached first place for the first time?

1. British
2. German
3. French
4. Dutch

Which Spanish province had the highest share of home purchases made by foreigners in Q4 2025?

1. Málaga
2. Alicante
3. Illes Balears
4. Madrid

Registry data for Q4 2025: foreigners made 27.17% of home purchases in the Comunitat Valenciana and 12.5% in Andalusia. How many percentage points higher is the Valencian share?

What did the national statistics institute (INE) report for total home sales in Spain in 2025?

1. About 514,000 sales, down 4.5%
2. About 614,000 sales, flat on 2024
3. About 814,000 sales, up 21%
4. About 714,000 sales, up 11.5%

A Dubai-based investor asks whether buying a EUR 500,000 villa in Marbella will give him a Spanish golden visa. What is the correct answer in 2026?

1. No. The investor residence visa linked to real estate was abolished and stopped accepting new applications from 3 April 2025
2. Yes, as long as the property is worth at least EUR 500,000 and paid without a mortgage
3. Yes, but only for properties in Andalusia or Valencia
4. Only if he also opens a Spanish bank account with EUR 1 million

A US client has read online that Spain charges a 100% tax on non-EU buyers. What is the most professional way to answer?

1. Confirm it: every non-EU buyer now pays double the price in tax
2. Say it only applies in Madrid and Barcelona
3. Explain that it started as a 2025 government announcement and a draft bill that had not been approved at last check, and that you will have a tax lawyer confirm the current status before he commits
4. Tell him to buy through a relative with an EU passport to avoid it

According to Idealista data for Q2 2026, how does the gross rental yield in Málaga city compare with the Spanish average?

1. Málaga is about 8.5%, well above the 6.5% average
2. Málaga is about 5.2%, below the 6.5% national average
3. Both are about 4%
4. Málaga is about 6.5%, exactly the national average

Example figures: a two-bedroom flat in Málaga costs EUR 350,000 and rents long term for EUR 1,500 per month. What is the gross yield (in %)?

Example figures: an apartment in Marbella costs EUR 600,000 plus 10% purchase costs. It rents for EUR 36,000 a year. Annual expenses: IBI EUR 1,200, community fees EUR 3,600, insurance EUR 400, management 10% of rent, maintenance EUR 1,200. What is the net yield on the total investment, before income tax (in %)?

In July 2026 Málaga city council moved to freeze new tourist accommodation in residential areas. What does this mean for an investor buying a flat there to put on Airbnb?

1. Nothing, the freeze only affects hotels
2. He can still register a new tourist flat if he pays a higher fee
3. The freeze lasts six months, so he only needs to wait
4. New tourist uses in residential areas are blocked for three years, so he must budget for long-term or seasonal letting unless the flat already holds valid tourist status

Since the reform of the Horizontal Property Law took effect on 3 April 2025, what does an owner need before starting a NEW tourist rental in a flat within a community building?

1. A favourable vote of three fifths of the owners, who must also hold three fifths of the participation quotas
2. A simple majority of owners present at the meeting
3. Nothing, the community has no say
4. Unanimous written consent from every neighbour

Under the Valencian Decree-law 9/2024 on tourist flats, how long does a registration in the Valencian Tourism Register last?

1. For life, it passes with the property
2. One year, renewed every summer
3. Five years, renewable with a new responsible declaration and a favourable municipal planning compatibility report
4. Ten years, then it expires with no renewal possible

In January 2025, which threshold did Málaga use to ban new tourist flat registrations in 43 neighbourhoods?

1. Neighbourhoods with more than 20% of flats owned by foreigners
2. Neighbourhoods where tourist accommodation already exceeded 8% of the residential stock
3. Neighbourhoods within 500 metres of the beach
4. Neighbourhoods with more than 1,000 hotel beds

Example figures: a non-resident buys a EUR 400,000 resale flat in Estepona. The bank lends 70% of the price, and purchase costs are 10% of the price. How much cash must the buyer bring (in EUR)?

Under Spain's mortgage credit law (Law 5/2019), what protection does a borrower get before signing a home loan?

1. A 30-day cooling-off period after signing the deed
2. The bank must lend at a fixed rate for non-residents
3. No specific protection for non-residents
4. The European Standardised Information Sheet (FEIN) and loan documents at least 10 calendar days before signing, plus a free session with the notary to confirm understanding

According to Knight Frank research cited in 2026, how has the number of branded residence schemes worldwide changed?

1. From 169 schemes in 2011 to 611, with more than 1,000 forecast by 2030
2. From 1,000 schemes in 2011 down to 611
3. It has stayed flat at about 200 schemes
4. From 50 schemes in 2011 to 100

Example figures: a comparable unbranded villa in Benahavís is worth EUR 1,500,000. Local estimates put the branded premium in Marbella at 15% to 30%. Using a 20% premium, what price would a similar branded villa command (in EUR)?

Example figures: an investor buys in Alicante for EUR 300,000 plus EUR 30,000 costs. Over five years he earns EUR 45,000 net rental income. He sells for EUR 390,000 and pays EUR 15,000 selling costs. Ignoring taxes, what is his total ROI on the money invested (in %)?

Example figures: a client buys a resale apartment in Málaga for EUR 300,000. Andalusia charges a flat 7% transfer tax (ITP) on resale homes. How much ITP is due (in EUR)?

Example figures: a resale villa in Jávea (Comunitat Valenciana) sells for EUR 400,000, with the deed signed in September 2026. The Valencian general ITP rate is 9% for deeds from 1 June 2026. How much ITP is due (in EUR)?

A Dutch buyer is about to sign for a resale villa in Altea at EUR 1,050,000 in October 2026. What ITP rate should you warn him about?

1. 9% on the whole value
2. 9% up to EUR 1 million and 11% only on the extra EUR 50,000
3. 11% on the whole value, because the property is above EUR 1 million
4. 7%, as in Andalusia

Example figures: a resale villa in Moraira sells for EUR 1,200,000 in 2026. What ITP is due at the Valencian 11% rate (in EUR)?

A buyer in Torrevieja signed the purchase deed on 15 May 2026 but filed the tax form in June. Which Valencian general ITP rate applies to a EUR 250,000 resale?

1. 10%, because the rate depends on the date of the deed (accrual), not the filing date
2. 9%, because the form was filed after 1 June 2026
3. The buyer can choose either rate
4. 6%, the reduced rate for all non-residents

Example figures: a client buys a new-build apartment from a developer in Marbella for EUR 500,000. VAT on new homes is 10% and Andalusian stamp duty (AJD) is 1.2%. What is the total of VAT plus AJD (in EUR)?

Example figures: a new-build flat in Alicante is bought from the developer for EUR 350,000, with the deed signed in July 2026. VAT is 10% and the Valencian AJD rate is now 1.4%. What is VAT plus AJD (in EUR)?

Example figures: a resale flat in Fuengirola is agreed at EUR 280,000, but its cadastral reference value is EUR 300,000. Andalusia taxes resales at 7% on the higher of the two values. How much ITP is due (in EUR)?

Which tax does a buyer pay on the FIRST sale of a newly built home by a developer?

1. ITP transfer tax only
2. VAT at 10% plus regional stamp duty (AJD)
3. VAT at 21% only
4. No tax, new homes are exempt

Example figures: a cash resale purchase in Nerja at EUR 250,000. ITP 7%, notary EUR 900, land registry EUR 600, and the lawyer charges 1% of the price plus 21% VAT. What are the total buying costs (in EUR)?

How are notary fees for a property deed set in Spain?

1. Each notary sets any percentage he wants
2. They are a fixed 3% of the price
3. They follow an official state tariff (arancel) based on the value and length of the deed
4. They are always paid by the agent

Example figures: a seller owned a flat for 10 years. The land part of the cadastral value is EUR 80,000. The objective-method coefficient for 10 years is 0.12 and the town hall rate is 29%. What is the plusvalía municipal (in EUR)?

A seller in Benalmádena bought for EUR 320,000 and now sells for EUR 300,000. What happens with the plusvalía municipal?

1. It is still due on the cadastral value, gain or not
2. The buyer must pay it instead
3. It is reduced by half
4. It is not due if the seller proves the loss with the purchase and sale deeds

The seller of a flat in Mijas is a non-resident Swede. Why does the buyer's lawyer usually hold back money for the plusvalía municipal at completion?

1. Because the law makes the buyer the substitute taxpayer when the seller is a non-resident individual
2. Because plusvalía is always paid by the buyer in Spain
3. Because Swedish sellers are exempt
4. Because it replaces the 3% retention

Example figures: a non-resident British owner sells his Estepona flat for EUR 450,000. The buyer must withhold 3% of the price and pay it to the tax office (form 211). How much is withheld (in EUR)?

Example figures: a non-resident bought for EUR 300,000 plus EUR 30,000 costs. He sells for EUR 420,000 with EUR 20,000 selling costs. Gains are taxed at 19% and the buyer withheld 3% of the price. How much more tax does he still owe after the retention (in EUR)?

Example figures: a Belgian resident lets her Marbella flat for EUR 20,000 a year and has EUR 6,000 of deductible expenses linked to the rental. EU and EEA residents pay 19% non-resident income tax on net income. What is the tax (in EUR)?

Example figures: an owner resident outside the EU and EEA lets a flat in Alicante for EUR 20,000 a year. Under the general rule, non-EU residents pay 24% on gross rent with no expense deduction. What is the tax (in EUR)?

Example figures: a German non-resident keeps a holiday flat in Torrox for personal use only. Its cadastral value is EUR 150,000, revised after 2012, so the imputed income rate is 1.1%. The EU rate is 19%. What annual non-resident tax is due (in EUR)?

Example figures: an agency in Marbella charges 5% commission plus 21% VAT on a EUR 600,000 sale. What is the total invoice to the seller (in EUR)?

Example figures: a EUR 800,000 villa in Estepona sells with a 6% commission (before VAT). The listing agency shares 50/50 with the agency that brought the buyer. Your agency pays you 40% of its share. What do you earn (in EUR)?

Example figures: a flat in Alicante costs EUR 250,000 and purchase costs bring the total to EUR 275,000. Long-term rent is EUR 1,100 per month. Annual costs: IBI EUR 600, community EUR 1,200, insurance EUR 300, repairs EUR 500, empty month allowance EUR 1,100. What is the net yield on total investment, before income tax (in %)?

A British couple who just bought in Mijas want to spend October to April there each year. What must you tell them about the 90/180 rule?

1. Owning a Spanish home lets them stay as long as they like
2. The rule only applies to people without a property in Spain
3. As UK nationals they can stay up to 90 days in any 180-day period across the Schengen area, so seven months needs a long-stay visa
4. They can reset the count by flying to London for one night

What changed at Spanish borders for British owners with the EU Entry/Exit System (EES)?

1. Since 10 April 2026 the system is fully operational and records each entry and exit digitally with biometrics, so overstays are detected automatically
2. Nothing, it is still a voluntary pilot
3. It only applies to flights from outside Europe
4. It gives British owners an automatic 180-day allowance

A British client asks if he must apply for ETIAS before his viewing trip to Marbella in November 2026. What is the accurate answer?

1. Yes, it has been compulsory since 2025 and costs EUR 7
2. No, ETIAS was not yet operating in October 2026; when it launches it will cost EUR 20 and last three years, so check the official EU site before each trip
3. No, British nationals are permanently exempt
4. Yes, and it must be requested at the Spanish consulate in London

A Polish buyer and a Swedish buyer ask whether the 90/180 rule applies to them like it does to your British clients. What do you answer?

1. Yes, it applies to every foreigner who owns property
2. Only to the Polish buyer, because Poland joined the EU later
3. Only if they stay in a tourist rental
4. No. As EU citizens they move freely; if they stay more than three months they register in the Central Register of Foreign Nationals and receive a certificate with their NIE

What is the NIE, and why does every foreign buyer need one?

1. A personal tax identification number for foreigners, needed for the deed, taxes and bank account; it does not give residency
2. A residence permit that allows the buyer to live in Spain
3. A licence that allows foreigners to own property near the coast
4. A number issued only to EU citizens

A Gulf-based buyer wants to transfer EUR 2 million from several accounts to buy a villa in Sotogrande. Why should you prepare him for detailed source of funds questions?

1. Because Gulf buyers are banned from paying in cash in Spain
2. Because only Spanish banks can send money to a notary
3. Because estate agents, notaries and banks are obliged entities under Spain's anti-money laundering law and must identify the buyer and understand where the money comes from
4. Because the seller has the right to see the buyer's bank statements

A Dutch first-time buyer asks why she should pay an independent lawyer if the notary is already involved. What is the best explanation?

1. The notary works for the buyer and handles everything
2. Her own lawyer protects her interests: checks title, debts, licences and planning, reviews contracts, obtains the NIE and can sign with a power of attorney, while the notary is a neutral public official
3. The lawyer is only needed if she takes a mortgage
4. Lawyers are required by law for all foreigners

Which information will you NOT find in a nota simple from the Land Registry?

1. The registered owner
2. Registered mortgages and charges
3. The description and surface of the property
4. Whether the community fees and IBI are paid up to date

Why should the buyer's lawyer ask for the seller's latest IBI receipt before completion?

1. Because unpaid IBI is attached to the property itself, so the new owner can end up liable for the debt
2. Because IBI is only paid once, at the time of purchase
3. Because the IBI receipt replaces the nota simple
4. Because IBI is a tax paid by tenants

What document should a seller in a community building bring to the notary regarding community fees?

1. Nothing, community fees are a private matter
2. Only the community statutes
3. A certificate from the community administrator, approved by the president, showing the fees are paid or the amount owed
4. A letter from the town hall

A Belgian buyer loves a rural finca near Ronda that holds AFO status. What does AFO mean for him?

1. The house is fully legal and can be extended freely
2. The house was built without a licence; AFO recognises that it can no longer be demolished, but it does not legalise it and does not automatically allow extensions or new connections
3. The house is a protected heritage building
4. The house must be demolished within six years

Which conditions must an unlicensed rural house in Andalusia meet to obtain AFO recognition?

1. It must be less than two years old and have a pool
2. It must be owned by a Spanish resident
3. It must be inside an urban zone
4. At least six years since completion with no active sanction or demolition procedure, on ordinary rural land, with minimum safety and habitability conditions

An investor wants to buy a flat in Torremolinos that the seller says has a tourist licence. What should you check before he commits?

1. That the flat has a valid registration number in the Andalusian tourism register, that the community statutes and recent minutes allow it, and any municipal limits in force
2. Only that the flat is listed on Airbnb
3. Nothing, the licence passes automatically and cannot be cancelled
4. Only the energy certificate

Dutch buyers are now the largest group of non-resident foreign buyers. Where on the Costa Blanca do they search most?

1. Benidorm, Elche and Villena
2. Valencia city only
3. Jávea, Torrevieja and Dénia, then Orihuela, Moraira, Altea and Calpe
4. Inland Alcoy and Ibi

You prepare a three-day viewing trip for a German couple. What makes the trip most efficient?

1. Showing as many properties as possible without any preparation
2. Pre-screening a shortlist of six to eight homes with nota simple checks done, and planning a meeting with a lawyer and a bank on the last day
3. Avoiding any mention of costs until they choose
4. Letting them visit alone with the keys

A buyer in Benalmádena offers EUR 270,000 on a flat with a cadastral reference value of EUR 295,000. He thinks a lower price will reduce his transfer tax. What should you explain?

1. He is right, ITP is always on the agreed price
2. Reference values only apply to new builds
3. He can declare any price to the tax office
4. Andalusia taxes the higher of the price and the reference value, so his ITP base stays at EUR 295,000 whatever he negotiates below it

Belgian buyers ranked fourth among non-resident foreign buyers in 2025. What is a good first step when you receive a lead from Brussels?

1. Ask which language the client prefers (French or Dutch) and send material in that language
2. Always write in Spanish to show you are local
3. Assume every Belgian speaks German
4. Send the same English brochure to every Belgian

A non-resident buyer signs her deed. Which after-sales service adds real value?

1. Nothing, the agent's job ends at the notary
2. Telling her she has no Spanish tax to pay if she does not rent the flat
3. Reminding her that non-residents owe annual tax on imputed income even if the flat is not let, and introducing a tax representative for form 210
4. Offering to pay her IBI with your own money

A British seller is not resident in Spain. What should you tell him about the money he will receive at completion?

1. He receives the full price; taxes are settled later in the UK
2. The buyer withholds 3% of the price for the tax office, and the plusvalía municipal is usually retained too, so he receives less than the price
3. The notary keeps 10% as a guarantee for one year
4. The agent withholds his tax and pays it

A Swedish buyer needs a mortgage as a non-resident. Which expectation should you set at the first meeting?

1. She will get 100% financing like a resident
2. Non-residents cannot get Spanish mortgages
3. The bank will finance the price and all taxes
4. Spanish banks usually lend non-residents 60% to 70% of the value, so she needs 30% to 40% plus about 10% to 13% in costs from her own funds