The moment it hits you isn’t when you book the flight. It’s when you stare at some crumbly old villa on Idealista and think, huh, that’s less than a one-bed in Croydon. Then it begins: the spiral of fantasies. Terracotta tiles. Orange trees. Maybe a pool shaped like a guitar.
And before you know it, you’re asking: do I rent first or just go full send and buy?
Let’s break it down. No fluff. No AI smooth-talk. Just the good, the bad, and the things I wish someone had shouted at me across the airport before I bought a 300-year-old ruin with no roof but “plenty of charm”.
Renting in Spain: Like Dating With an Escape Plan
Pros
- You don’t have to marry the town. You can try it, ghost it, or stay for tapas.
- Deposits are (usually) manageable — 1 or 2 months, unless your landlord is “old-school” and asks for six.
- Maintenance? That’s someone else’s problem. Water heater explodes? Call Paco, not your wallet.
- You can move if your upstairs neighbour practices flamenco at midnight or keeps pigeons indoors.
Cons
- You’ll compete with digital nomads who’ve driven prices up and locals who hate them for it.
- Want a long-term rental near the coast? Good luck between May and October. It’s Airbnb season, baby.
- You may never fully relax knowing you could be booted at the end of the contract.
- You can’t paint the walls, adopt a Great Dane, or install that ugly-but-irresistible wine fridge from Lidl.
Renting is perfect if: You’re new to Spain, figuring out where you belong, or just not emotionally ready to commit to stone walls and suspiciously low property taxes.
Buying in Spain: Also Known As “Falling Into a Paperwork Pit With Nice Views”
Pros
- You own it. It’s yours. Nobody can evict you unless you forget about the tax man.
- Renovate it. Paint it. Knock the kitchen wall through and pretend you’re on a home improvement show.
- You might actually make money if the market keeps climbing — especially in hot spots.
- Great for your residency paperwork. Bureaucrats love it when you own things.
Cons
- 10–15% in taxes and fees on top of the price. That €120k flat? More like €135k after notary, registry, tax, your lawyer, and your lawyer’s mysterious admin assistant named Carmen.
- You need an NIE. And a lawyer. And probably a priest if you’re buying from a rural abuela.
- Selling takes time. Not easy to cut and run if your plans change.
- Welcome to the wild west of unexpected costs. That “rustic charm” might be termites.
Buying is perfect if: You’re in it for the long haul. You’ve tried the tapas, the towns, the Tinder. You want roots. And maybe a lemon tree.
Regional Reality Check
- Madrid & Barcelona = Cool, cultural, and increasingly unaffordable.
- Costa Blanca/Costa del Sol = The dream, but saturated. Prices rising. Great for sun, sea, and estate agents who reply to your emails with emojis.
- Northern Spain = Stunning, green, less touristy, more rain. Also more paperwork.
- Inland Villages = Cheap, gorgeous, and sometimes you get 3 chickens with the deeds.
If you’re still figuring out where you belong — rent. You don’t want to end up stuck in a town where nothing happens except olive harvest and loud fiestas on work nights.
Let’s Talk Money (and Regret)
| Renting | Buying | |
|---|---|---|
| Initial Cost | Low: deposit + first month | High: taxes + fees + lawyer + translator |
| Flexibility | Total. Pack your suitcase and go. | Zero. You own the keys, and the plumbing. |
| Stress Level | Medium (depends on landlord) | High (depends on lawyer, notary, sunspots) |
| Control | None. Don’t touch the curtains. | Full. Paint it pink, knock out walls. |
| Freedom | High, especially for seasonal living | High, if you know what you’re doing |
Final Verdict? Rent First. Buy Later.
Unless you’re:
- Retired and ready to commit
- A cash buyer who laughs at taxes
- Or so sure of the town you’d tattoo its name on your arm
…rent first. Give it a year. Try the lifestyle. Learn how things work (or don’t). Find out if you can live without cheddar cheese and Greggs.
Then, if it still feels right — buy that house with the mountain view and the dodgy electrics. Just get a good lawyer. And always ask if the roof is included.
