Anglo-Spanish vocabulary essential for the real estate buyer

Are you considering a real estate purchase in Spain but you do not speak the language fluently? Our lexicon of the most common terms will be essential to facilitate your exchanges and avoid making mistakes.

Common vocabulary 

a estrenar  - new
aire acondicionado (a/a) - air conditioner
alquilar/alquiler/se aquila - For rent
amueblado - furniture
armario empotrado - built-in cabinet
ascensor - elevator
ático - attic
aval ou aval bancario - bank guarantee or letter of credit
baño completo - full bathroom
bien comunicado - "well located - well served by public transport"
calefacción central (c/c) - central heating
calle (c/) - street
cocina americana - American kitchen (often in the living room)
cocina independiente - separate kitchen
comisión - commission
gastos de la comunidad - condominium fees
dormitorio (dorm) - bedroom
electrodomésticos - appliances in the kitchen
entresuelo - mezzanine
estudio - studio
exterior (ext.) - outside
fianza - bail
garantías - financial guarantees
habitación (hab.) - room
interior (int.) - interior
luminoso - luminous
nómina - payslip
piso - apartment
planta - floor
plaza garaje - parking space
portero(a)/conserje - concierge
portero automático - automatic door
reformado - renovated
sin muebles - unfurnished
soleado - sunny
terraza - terrace
trastero - storage room
vacío - empty
vender/se vende - for sale

Specialized vocabulary

Agente de la propiedad inmobiliaria (API) - Chartered real estate agent
Cédula de habitabilidad - This document certifies that the accommodation is intended for habitation
Certificado de aptitud - Certificate related to compulsory technical inspection
Certificado energético - Housing energy certificate
Certificado final de obra - Certificate of completion from the seller
Contrato de arras penitenciales - sales agreement
Escritura - Notarial deed
Impuesto de Transmisiones Patrimoniales (ITP) - Tax paid on the purchase of real estate
Impuesto sobre Bienes Inmuebles (IBI) - spanish property tax
Inscripción en el Registro de la Propiedad - Registration in the Property Register
Licencia de primera ocupación - First occupation permit issued by the promoter at the end of construction
Nota simple informativa - Document from the Mortgage Office providing brief information on the legal status of the property
Número de Identidad de Extranjero (NIE) - Identity number of foreigners in Spain
Paga y señal - Deposit paid as a temporary reservation of a property
Plan general de ordenación urbana (PGOU) - Land use plan (POS)
Plusvalía estatal - Real estate capital gain tax (based on the value of the real estate)
Plusvalía municipal - Real estate capital gain tax (based on the value of the land)
Registro de la Propiedad - Property register