Question
“Is it better to have a property in Spain before applying for your non-lucrative visa or get your Spain Non Lucrative Visa first?”
Answers
These are the answers of Spainguru’s Facebook group members:
“Unless you really know where you want to go, what type of home you want, and all the other details, most find it better to get here and rent until they really find the right place to buy.
We stored our stuff, got a seven-month lease off the bat, then took four months to find and buy our place, and then got to move in at a comfortable pace.”
“I used Fotocasa for rental search, we hired a real estate lawyer to vet the lease, and that worked great. We liked Habitaclia the best for the buy search but did hire a buyer’s agent, which was a little pricey, but he saved us more than he cost. Idealista is the most popular search site, but we found it to be the least useful.”
“First, how much is the property? Second, the Golden Visa is ending very soon (April 3rd 2025). Third, if you have the means to get an NLV, why buy first? Are you sure that is the location and place you want? Like, 100% no regrets.”
“The answer is entirely up to the individual. Some will say you should rent first, whilst others will buy and use the home for holidays in advance. There are positives and negatives for both.
We decided to purchase our home 12 months before moving on the NLV. We knew where we wanted to be, we had the capital, and we didn’t want to spend it on rent. On arrival in Spain on your NLV, there are other things to sort, and having our home ready for us made the transition much easier and cut down the number of must-dos.”
“If you are absolutely sure that Spain is going to be your future home country, then it’s a wise decision to take, but be absolutely sure, as not everyone is able to settle nor adjust to life here—it can therefore be an expensive misjudgment.”
“We knew the area where we wanted to live. So we bought our villa as we were applying for our visa. Completed the purchase at the end of October and moved over in November. Stressful time, but well worth it.”
“I say rent first before you buy because you may love the area just because you vacation there, then it doesn’t turn out the way you expected, and you are stuck trying to sell a home.”
“Only thing I would add is that it is entirely up to the individual. However, after being in Spain for a few months and keeping your ear to the ground, you’re much more likely to get a bargain—especially helpful if on an NLV and renovating helps pass the time, so you can go to the bar a bit later.”
“Makes no difference.”
“Honestly, the two steps are independent of one another.”
“If you want to avoid capital gains tax, yes, it’s better to buy after July so it’s not purchased as a tax resident. I own a house in Spain and am in the process of buying another. Once bought, I’m going for a visa.”
“If one wants to move to Spain, you have usually been visiting for a while and likely know where you want to be. And buy a property. You can always move on later. Unlikely you decide to move to Spain on a whim not knowing where to go.”
“We knew the area where we wanted to be. We’ve been going for years. Now that we’re coming to retire, we will buy a property, use it as a holiday home, and then 12 months down the line, we’ll move permanently.”
“Purchased off-plan, and from start to finish, the properties have risen 30%. We purchased the last one, and European buyers were queuing up for ours!”
“It all depends on location, of course.”
Conclusion
Spanish Non Lucrative Visa group community members have differing views on whether to buy a property before or after applying for a Spain Non Lucrative Visa.
Many suggest renting first to get a better feel for an area, while others argue that purchasing beforehand can simplify the transition. Some note that if you’re confident about your location and finances, buying first can help avoid unnecessary rental costs.
However, those unfamiliar with Spain’s real estate market should be cautious about buying too soon. Tax implications, such as capital gains tax for Spanish residents, should also be considered when planning your move.
I’ve asked Ainhoa Manero from Sterna abogados “Does having a property in Spain helps for NLV approval?” Watch this short video:
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