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 2023-08-04
Last updated on 2024-05-01
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 process for non-residents by managing real estate agents, banks, surveyors, notaries, and lawyers, and negotiates with banks to ensure they compete for your case, making property buying easier and more efficient.

Continue reading for more information.

1. Homevest

Homevest offers a user-friendly 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.

Pros

  • 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, German, Italian, Catalan, Bulgarian and Romanian
  • Works with all the leading banks in Spain, including Santander, Sabadell, Unicaja, Cajasur, Caixa Bank, Cajamar, BankInter, and UCI
  • free service designed to help non-residents secure the best market price for their mortgage in Spain

Cons

  • self serve onboarding flow

2. 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

  • Part of a larger financial group, providing a holistic approach to financial services
  • Offers personalized advice based on individual circumstances

Cons

  • IMS charges a fee of 299 to 995 GBP depending on the loan amount and  the complexity of the case
 

3. 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

  • 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)

Cons

  • an initial fee of 695 EUR to start an application
  • an approval fee of 0.6% of the mortgage amount (minimum 1,000 EUR)
 

4. 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

  • 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

Cons

  • 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
 

5. 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

  • 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)

Cons

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

6. 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

  • Dynamic and flexible approach to mortgage consultancy
  • Offers personalized assistance in English, Spanish, and French

Cons

  • Mortgage Matters Spain does not provide information about their pricing
 

7. 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

  • 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

Cons

  • 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
 

8. 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

  • Works BBVA, Santander, ING, and other banks
  • Free mortgage broker service
  • non-EU residents can check their case viability on the website

Cons

  • 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
 

9. Lionsgate Capital

Lionsgate Capital is a mortgage broker specializing in assisting individuals secure financing for purchasing properties in the Balearic Islands, Marbella, Madrid, and Barcelona.

Their main clients are wealthy individuals looking for different financing options to lower their wealth tax.

Pros

  • A multilingual team with experience in the Spanish banking industry
  • Over 50 years of joint banking experience
  • Besides brokering, they offer tax advice, property valuations, and legal services

Cons

  • Lionsgate Capital does not provide information about its pricing
  • Their service is focused mainly on the Balearic Islands and high-net-worth individuals 
 

10. Bank in Spain

Bank in Spain is a certified mortgage broker in Spain, focused on helping international clients who buy property there. 

They collaborate with many of the top 14 banks in Spain and charge a fixed fee of 495 EUR regardless of the mortgage amount.

Pros

  • Personalized assistance available in English, Norwegian, and German
  • No fee is required until you decide on a mortgage offer
  • Bank in Spain provides a free mortgage quote

Cons

  • A fee of 495 EUR is charged for your mortgage

Comparison of the 10 mortgage brokers in Spain

Below are the main costs of the 10 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
Mortgage broker
Homevest
Cost of getting a 200,000 EUR mortgage
0 EUR 
Mortgage broker
Idealista
Cost of getting a 200,000 EUR mortgage
0 EUR
Mortgage broker
IMS Mortgages
Cost of getting a 200,000 EUR mortgage
346 - 1153 EUR
Mortgage broker
Bank in Spain
Cost of getting a 200,000 EUR mortgage
495 EUR
Mortgage broker
Mortgage Direct SL
Cost of getting a 200,000 EUR mortgage
1895 EUR
Mortgage broker
Habeno
Cost of getting a 200,000 EUR mortgage
2000 EUR
Mortgage broker
Foxes.es
Cost of getting a 200,000 EUR mortgage
3025 EUR
Mortgage broker
Fluent Finance Abroad
Cost of getting a 200,000 EUR mortgage
No data available
Mortgage broker
Mortgage Matters Spain
Cost of getting a 200,000 EUR mortgage
No data available
Mortgage broker
Lionsgate Capital
Cost of getting a 200,000 EUR mortgage
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 10 of the best mortgage brokers, which can assist you in securing a mortgage in Spain. If you’re interested in a 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, and fees. Also, 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 anything needs clarification. Continue reading this handy guide to help you make up your mind when choosing a mortgage broker.

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.

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. Explore our guide comparing mortgage brokers vs banks for non-residents seeking finance in Spain, covering pros, cons, and tips.

Whether you decide to go with Homevest, Mortgage Direct SL, IMS Mortgages, Fluent Finance Abroad, Lionsgate Capital, Bank in Spain, Foxes, Habeno, 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 December 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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