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It is perhaps the biggest purchase of your life: buying a house. It’s exciting and there’s a lot involved. Buying a house in Spain is all that bit more exciting, because it’s not in your language, it’s a country with different rules… and that’s exactly what we want to talk about. Whereas until recently anyone could start as an estate agent from a small attic room without any experience, fortunately this has now changed. In large parts of Spain, estate agents are required to register and to do so, you will have to meet a number of requirements.
Regulation of estate agents in Spain
What has been the norm for years in Spain’s largest autonomous regions – Andalusia (including the provinces of Malaga, Almeria, Seville and Granada) and Catalonia (including Barcelona and Tarragona), now also applies to another important region: the Costa Blanca. In the Valencian state, which includes the provinces of Valencia, Alicante (Costa Blanca) and Castellon, a new law has been accepted regarding the regulation of the real estate profession. With a registration requirement, this law is going to regulate the profession of real estate agent for sale and rental of property in Spain.
Requirements for an estate agent in Spain
This registration of estate agents in Spain ensures that practising the profession of estate agent is regulated. The aim of the law is to protect buyers and tenants and promote transparency. This will hopefully separate the wheat from the chaff and those who remain will do what they are good at: assisting in the sale or purchase of a property in Spain.
Mandatory registration of estate agents in Spain
As mentioned, the law requires estate agents in Spain to register, but they cannot do so “just like that”. This registration requires you, as a Spanish estate agent, to meet a large number of requirements. The most important ones are listed here:
- Proven experience and competence
Through studies and the certificates obtained with them, you will have to provide evidence that you have the required knowledge and competence, known as broker certification. This will be tested. In addition, you will also need to have a proven experience in the profession. - Have civil liability insurance
This is covered for issues that may arise, so that the buyer/seller can rely on it in case of proven incorrect actions. - Have an insurance/bank guarantee that covers down payments
Clients’ money flows through brokers on a regular basis, think of booking deposits, among others. The money deposited in the account with registered brokers are covered for the customer as a result. - Have a physical office address
Again, as a requirement that there is an actual office you can go to and thus be and remain accessible to clients. - The agent is not criminally convicted
It seems like an open door, but is still nice to know that this is covered and checked.
How can you tell if a real estate agent is registered?
Trade association estate agents in Spain
Besides the mandatory registration of estate agents in Spain, Spanish estate agents are as yet not obliged to join an industry organisation, such as the Agenta de Propiedad Inmobiliaria (API).
However, it is nice to work with an estate agent who is a member of one or more sector organisations for estate agents in Spain. This ensures that the estate agent in question meets all the requirements. In addition, each sector association also has its own code of conduct and offers training so that the estate agents’ knowledge remains up to date.
Dream Properties International is 100% committed to the regulation of estate agents in Spain
There are several industry associations in Spain that an estate agent can join, to show they meet a certain standard of quality. Each again with its own code of conduct, training standard and insurance requirements. These obviously meet the standard set by law for estate agents in Spain. Since Dream Properties International only wants to realise dreams and certainly not create nightmares, we think regulation is a good thing and, in addition to the mandatory registration and certification, we are also affiliated to the main industry associations for estate agents in Spain. For this, of course, we have also had to meet all the entry requirements and are therefore licensed estate agents in Spain.
Nothing emphasises worry-free home buying in Spain more than knowing that a company is recognised by the main industry associations and meets all the standards and requirements in the Spanish real estate industry. Our Dream Properties Group, which includes Dream Properties International and Spaanse Droomhuizen (our company name in Dutch), is therefore affiliated to all major and relevant registers and industry associations of estate agents such as RAIVC, API, ASICVAL, AIPP, AIR and FAI. This means that with us you enter into a reliable and professional purchase process no matter what. Buy without worries!
Would you like to know more about the registers and trade associations we are members of? Then read the page Certified estate agent in Spain, where we elaborate on the different organisations and where you can immediately check our listing.
What else can you check when choosing an estate agent in Spain?
Certificates and industry associations are good indicators of an estate agent’s professionalism in Spain. You can also look at the estate agent’s experience, reputation and references before making a decision. Curious what clients say about us? Check out our reviews on Google.
With Dream Properties you can rest assured if you want to buy a house in Spain with a reliable, certified and registered estate agent in Spain. We can also guide you from A to Z and that starts from the free and no-obligation Property Finder Service.
