Using a mortgage broker may lead to better deals
Using a mortgage broker may lead to better deals

What are the best mortgage brokers for buying property in Spain?

When choosing a Spanish mortgage broker, consider their experience, reputation, expertise, range of lenders, transparency, customer service, rates, fees, and seek referrals and online reviews. Find out which brokers can help you access a mortgage for buying a property in Spain and see how you can compare the available credit offers.

Erik Edin
Written by Erik Edin
Published at 2023-08-04T09:08:36Z
Last updated at 2023-08-07T12:36:03Z
Readtime 7 minutes

Whether you're looking to buy a vacation home or considering an investment in Spain's property market, understanding your mortgage options as a non-resident is crucial. Thankfully, Spain's real estate market is accessible to foreigners, and there are numerous mortgage brokers who specialize in assisting non-residents. 

Homevest is one option that simplifies the mortgage application process for non-residents. It’s a service free of charge that can help you save more than with other mortgage brokers.

Continue reading for more information.

IMS Mortgages

IMS Mortgages is a part of the IMS Financial Group and specializes in providing mortgage services for non-residents looking to purchase property in Spain. They have a team of advisors who guide you on the most appropriate mortgage products based on your circumstances.

Pros

Cons

  • Part of a larger financial group, providing a holistic approach to financial services
  • Offers personalized advice based on individual circumstances
  • IMS charges a fee of  299 to 995 GBP depending on the loan amount and  the complexity of the case

 

Homevest

Homevest offers a digital platform that simplifies the mortgage application process for non-residents and foreigners interested in buying a property in Spain. 

Their team of professionals provides advice tailored to your needs, and they can help you compare offers from multiple banks, saving you time and money.

Pros 

Cons 

  • Accepts applicants with income in EUR, GBP, USD, ILS, JPY, NOK, SEK, DKK, HUF, RON, AUD, NZD, and AED
  • Offers a wide range of products, including for holiday homes, relocation, investment, property renovations, and construction
  • Provides service in English, Spanish, Swedish, Finnish, Italian and Romanian
  • Works with all the leading banks in Spain, including Santander, Sabadell, Unicaja, Cajasur, Caixa Bank, Cajamar, BankInter, and UCI
  • self serve onboarding flow

Homevest service is free of charge, and they only make a commission from the bank on completion of the mortgage.

Mortgage Direct SL

Mortgage Direct SL is a leading mortgage broker in Spain with over a decade of experience. They specialize in finding the best mortgage conditions for non-residents and have access to deals not available directly from the banks.

Pros 

Cons 

  • Extensive experience in dealing with non-resident mortgages
  • Covering all of Spain and Portugal
  • specialist market advice for American buyers or property buyers living and working on yachts
  • Full range of mortgage solutions (investment, construction, commercial mortgages)
  • an initial fee of 695 EUR to start an application
  • an approval fee of 0.6% of the mortgage amount (minimum 1,000 EUR)

Habeno

Habeno is a mortgage broker based in Sweden and Spain and provides a digital mortgage broker service. 

Habeno offers both a free version and a paid plan called Habeno Plus, and you only pay a fee if the mortgage application is successful.  

Pros

Cons

  • Offers mortgages in Spain and Portugal
  • A multilingual team offering personalized assistance (English, Spanish, Swedish)
  • Habeno works with 15 lenders including Sabadell, Bankinter, UCI, Cajasur, Unicaja

 

  • Habeno offers a free tier, which gives you one bank offer. If you want more, you must use Habeno Plus, which costs 1% of the mortgage amount.
  • You can use Habeno Plus only if you have already obtained a pre-approval

Fluent Finance Abroad

Fluent Finance Abroad (FFA) is a fully regulated, independent, and professional mortgage brokerage service. They have vast experience dealing with non-resident mortgages and are known for their personalized service.

Pros

Cons

  • Fully regulated and professional mortgage brokerage service
  • Fluent Finance Abroad lets you find out how much you can borrow for free
  • Multilingual team offering personalized assistance (English, French, Italian, Polish, Spanish, German)

 

  • FFA doesn’t disclose the fee they charge on completion of the mortgage

Mortgage Matters Spain

Mortgage Matters Spain is a dynamic mortgage consultancy offering services to non-residents wishing to purchase property in Spain. They pride themselves on providing a friendly, professional, and comprehensive service.

Pros

Cons

  • Dynamic and flexible approach to mortgage consultancy
  • Offers personalized assistance in English, Spanish and French
  • Mortgage Matters Spain does not provide information about their pricing

Foxes

Foxes are a highly experienced & qualified team of property, finance, and legal experts, helping mainly international clients purchasing property in Spain. 

They offer a wide range of services, including mortgage brokering and legal support for property purchases.

Pros

Cons

  • Foxes.es gives you a loan calculation and loan offers from banks for free, and only charge a fee if you decide to accept a mortgage offer
  • Works with Bankia, Santander and BankInter
  • They charge 1,500 EUR + VAT once you accept an offer and on completion of the binding paperwork 0.5% of the total mortgage amount + VAT.

Idealista

Idealista is a real estate portal operating as a mortgage broker in Spain, authorized by the Banco de España. Through their real estate portal, they have assisted more than 500,000 clients in finding the right mortgage.

Pros

Cons

  • Works BBVA, Santander, ING, and other banks
  • Free mortgage broker service
  • non-EU residents can check their case viability on the website
  • their service for cross-border mortgages is limited to only one or two banks
  • a TrustPilot review score of 1.2, with many customers being dissatisfied with Idealista’s services

Comparison of the 8 mortgage brokers in Spain

Below are the main costs of the 8 mortgage brokers in Spain, presented in connection with a mortgage valued at 200,000 EUR:

Mortgage broker Cost of getting a 200,000 EUR mortgage
Homevest 0 EUR 
Idealista 0 EUR
IMS Mortgages 346 - 1153 EUR
Mortgage Direct SL 1895 EUR
Habeno 2000 EUR
Foxes.es 3025 EUR
Fluent Finance Abroad No data available
Mortgage Matters Spain No data available

Each of these mortgage brokers offers a unique service, and the best one for you will depend on your specific needs and circumstances. 

When choosing a mortgage broker, consider their experience, the range of services they offer, and their understanding of the needs of non-residents.

In summary

The best mortgage broker for you depends on the benefits you are looking for. There are several options available on the Spanish market to find the most advantageous mortgage loan for your financial needs.

This guide presents a comparative analysis of 8 of the best mortgage brokers, which can assist you in securing a mortgage in Spain. If you’re interested in a fee-free, quick, and easy solution, remember that Homevest can be an excellent option for comparing banking offers and choosing the best mortgage. 

Frequently asked questions 

What should I consider when choosing a mortgage broker for buying a property in Spain?

When choosing a Spanish mortgage broker, consider their experience, reputation, expertise, range of lenders, transparency, customer service, rates, fees, and seek referrals and online reviews. 

Always remember that while a mortgage broker can guide you and offer valuable advice, the final decision is yours. Make sure you are comfortable with the terms of your mortgage, and feel free to ask questions if something needs to be clarified.

How much does a mortgage broker charge?

Mortgage brokers typically earn their income through commissions, paid by the lender or borrower (sometimes both). 

On average, mortgage broker fees can range from 0.5% to 2% of the loan amount. For example, if you take out a 300,000 EUR mortgage and the broker's fee is 1%, you could expect to pay around 3,000 EUR. 

Comparing offers from multiple brokers can help you understand what is considered reasonable in your situation. Remember that some mortgage brokers do not charge customers any commission because they receive it from the bank, just like Homevest.

Will I find better offers than going directly to the bank?

Using a mortgage broker may lead to better deals because they have access to multiple lenders and a broader range of loan products than a single bank. This can help you find a loan that suits your needs and financial situation.

Whether you decide to go with Homevest, Mortgage Direct SL, the Spanish Mortgage Company, Abaco Advisers, IMS Mortgages, Fluent Finance Abroad, Idealista, or Mortgage Matters Spain, each of these Spanish mortgage brokers has a proven track record in helping non-residents secure a mortgage in Spain.

Sources used and checked in August 2023:

  1. Mortgage Direct SL
  2. Habeno
  3. IMS Mortgages
  4. Fluent Finance Abroad
  5. Mortgage Matters Spain
  6. Foxes
  7. Idealista

We recommend obtaining professional or specialist advice before taking or refraining from any action based on the content in this article. The information in this article does not constitute legal, tax, or other professional advice from Homevest Limited. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. We make no representations, warranties, or guarantees, whether express or implied, that the content in this article is accurate, complete, or up to date.

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