GUIDE TO NOTARIAL DEED FOR THE PURCHASE OF A SECOND HAND HOME

How to ensure a smooth process

In this article we start with the "guide to the notarial deed for the purchase of a second-hand home".

It is intended to establish a guide or roadmap to help the reader to buy a second-hand apartment.

Where do we start from? You have already chosen the floor and you are going to go directly to notary. Or, you have already chosen the flat and have signed a earnest money contract. 

In this case the steps are: 

1º Choose a notary and communicate it to the Bank and / or seller.

For more information on who should choose the notary, click here.

2º Get in touch with the notary's office of your trust.

3rd The seller must provide the notary with some documents. You are going to discover what sense these documents have. How much they cost and who has to pay for them.

  • Photocopy of the DNI of buyers and sellers.

What is the point of providing the DNI in the signature? What other identification documents do I have to provide? To answer these questions, click here. 

  • Provide the powers if someone acts on behalf of another.

To know the reason why you have to provide an authentic copy of the power of attorney, click here.

  • Property title.

  • Registry note.

To differentiate the property title and the simple informative note from the Property Registry, click here.

  • Certificate of debts of the community of owners.

What exactly is the debt certificate of the community of owners and how should it be drawn up? To solve your doubts, click here.

  • Real estate cadastre certificate.

If you want to have more information about the Real Estate Cadastre, click here.

  • IBI receipts.

Why is it necessary to provide IBI receipts? Do I have any responsibility for the IBI of the house that I buy? If you want to answer these questions, click here.

  • Certificate of occupancy.

To know the usefulness of the habitability certificate and its possibilities of exoneration, click here. 

  • Account numbers where you got the money from and account numbers where the seller enters the purchase price.

If you want to learn more about the form and methods of payment, click here.

  • Building aptitude certificate.

Do I need to provide the building's aptitude certificate? How can I obtain it? To find out more about the building's aptitude certificate, click here. 

  • Energy efficiency certificate.

To know in which cases you have to provide energy efficiency and the information it provides, click here. 

4th The notary will give you an hour and a day to sign. Go to vendors and bank representatives.

5th Signature of the public deed between the Notary. What do you have to know?

  1. Should I arrive earlier or on time?

  2. Who do I have to ask for when I get to the notary?

  3. How long does the signature last?

  4. Can I get a copy at the end of the signature?

  5. Who takes care of the post-signature paperwork?

  6. What incidents may exist?

6th Costs of the apartment purchase and / or mortgage process (for example, adapted to the law and practice of Catalonia).

  1. Sell ​​script. Costs

    1. Notary

    2. Registration

    3. Taxes (ITPAJD; VAT; Municipal Tax for Increasing the Value of urban land).

    4. IBI

  2. Mortgage deed. Costs

    1. Car Valuation

    2. Notary

    3. Registration

    4. Tax

7º How to register the supplies of the house that I have bought?

Supplies can be registered in person or online. In any case, you must request a simple copy of the signed deed at the notary's office, or that they send you a copy by email.

To amplify information:

  • Un interesting ABC article about from steps to follow to acquire a second-hand apartment. Gives a more general and less detailed view.
  • Another article -also more general- that covers the whole process. Here.
  • A very detailed report that the Barcelona City Council presents. Perhaps too long. Here.
  • To find out how the physical condition of a home is checked. useful rabbits. Here.
  • There are many pages to register supplies. I recommend this. It is aimed at non-residents but is very well explained. The page depends on the Barcelona City Council.

For more information on second-hand homes, contact with the Notary Public Bosch-Bages of Barcelona.

You can also make an online consultation at the notary's office. Or if you prefer, you can make an appointment for a videoconference with the notary and ask your question. This type of online notarial service is ideal when the preparation of documents is not required. Click this link: online notary to request information. 

We also offer another type of online service such as the request fast simple copies online. By filling out the form on the page you can request your simple copy electronically.