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Terminology concerning your Catalan house

Below you'll find a, far from complete, list of words and terms you'll be exposed to when buying or selling a house in Catalunya.

Abogado – Solicitor, legal advisor

Agencia Inmobiliaria - Estate agent

A.P.I. (Agente de la Propiedad Inmobiliaria) - Largest association of estate agents in Catalunya

Arquitecto - Architect

Arras - Money put up as a guarantee that the house will be bought

Asesor Fiscal - Financial adviser

Ayuntamiento - Town hall

Catrasto – Land register

Comisaría de Policía - Police station

Comunidad Proprietarios - Association of house owners

Contrato de Compraventa Privado - Sales agreement, this doesn't always have to be signed in the presence of a notary, however, a bond is negotiated and paid

Copia Simple - Copy of the mortgage deed

Copy of Escritura - This is a legally binding copy of the deed

Cuotas de comunidad – Yearly community dues

Entrada - Down payment

Escritura de Hipoteca - Mortgage deed

Escritura Pública de Compraventa - Deed

Euribor (Euro Interbank Offered Rate) - Interest percentage between banks in Europe

Factura - Bill

Finca – Premises

Gestor - Expert in Catalan bureaucracy

Hipoteca - Mortgage

Impuesto sobre Bienes Inmuebles (IBI) - Local taxes

Impuesto sobre Transmisiones Patrimoniales (ITP) - Transfer tax (7% in Catalunya)

Impuestos – Taxes

IVA – Catalan VAT (7% on houses, 16% on land)

Licencia de Obras - Building permit

Licencia de Ocupación - Residence permit

Nota simple - Copy of the deed of your house from the official registers office

Notario – Notary

PGOU | Plan General de Ordenación Urbana - Zoning plan (development plan)

Plan Parcial - Municipal development plans

Plusvalía - Profit tax, two types, municipal and provincial

Registro de la propiedad - Property registration

Suelo Rústico - Rural area. Here are no developments plans in place, so be careful!

Suelo Urbano - Build up area. There are development plans, roads and running water.

Tasación – Assessment, appraisal (or valuation)

Tasador – Assessor

Últimas Voluntades - Will

Urbanismo - Local Council

Valor Cadestral - Cadastral value

Valor Fiscal - Fiscal value

Valor Comercial - Commercial value

Valuación - Determination of the value, assessment (or Tasación)

Zonas Verdes - Green zones, no building allowed


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