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Buying a home is the most important financial transaction for most families. However, the boom in the Spanish real estate market has brought with it an alarming sophistication of fraud. We're no longer just talking about fake advertisements, but about legal schemes designed for deception.<\/span><\/p>\n As lawyers specializing in real estate law, we've seen buyers lose their life savings by failing to recognize warning signs in time. In this guide, we detail the 7 most common scams and how to protect your investment.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n Many buyers are unaware that in Spain, debts \"follow\" the property. If you buy an apartment with outstanding property tax (IBI), community fees, or even unpaid liens, you become responsible for them.<\/span><\/p>\n This occurs when the seller signs contracts with several different buyers and collects advance payments from all of them without actually signing a deed with any of them, or signing a deed with only one of them.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n The seller proposes declaring a lower value in the deed and paying part of it in cash \"off the books\" to save on taxes.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n Dwellings in buildings with major renovation works pending, without a first occupancy license or subject to expropriation or sealing.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n Companies that sell properties \"off-plan\" receive the advance payments and disappear before starting construction or entering bankruptcy proceedings.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n Use of documents or even impersonating a notary to give the appearance of legality to a non-existent transaction.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n It is crucial to understand that this is not a comprehensive list of all potential real estate scams currently operating. Fraudulent methods are constantly evolving and adapting to new technologies. Therefore, we strongly recommend exercising extreme caution when buying a property and not taking any legal or financial steps without absolute certainty that the transaction is legitimate.<\/span><\/p>\n In addition to protecting yourself from scams, it's also very important to thoroughly check the property documentation before buying. You can read our post\u00a0What to check before buying a house in Spain: a practical guide for foreigners<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Most of these scams succeed because the buyer trusts the other party's \"good faith.\" A professional scammer will always offer convenience and speed. We, as lawyers, will provide you with security and rigor.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n In addition to these four essential steps to avoid scams, at MBT Abogados we offer a comprehensive advisory and support service for buying homes in Spain. Our team assists the buyer from the initial search to the signing at the notary's office, including:<\/span><\/p>\n If you feel you need assistance with the purchase or sale of a property, don't hesitate to contact us email<\/a> or Whatsapp<\/a>.<\/span>\u00a0Our headquarters are in Barcelona and we provide our services remotely throughout Spain.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n ——————————————————<\/p>\n What should I do if I suspect I've been scammed?<\/strong> Is it safe to buy with a \"Nota Simple\" that's weeks old?<\/strong> Does the real estate agency protect me against fraud?<\/strong> What does it mean for the seller to be in a great hurry?<\/strong> How do I know if my money is safe when buying new construction?<\/strong> Is it legal to pay part of the house in cash (\"under the table\")?<\/strong> [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" [et_pb_section fb_built=\u00bb1″ admin_label=\u00bbsection\u00bb _builder_version=\u00bb3.0.47″ custom_padding=\u00bb2px|0px|0|0px|false|false\u00bb][et_pb_row custom_padding=\u00bb0|0px|0|0px|false|false\u00bb admin_label=\u00bbrow\u00bb _builder_version=\u00bb3.0.48″ background_size=\u00bbinitial\u00bb background_position=\u00bbtop_left\u00bb background_repeat=\u00bbrepeat\u00bb][et_pb_column type=\u00bb4_4″ _builder_version=\u00bb3.0.47″][et_pb_text admin_label=\u00bbText\u00bb _builder_version=\u00bb3.0.74″ text_font_size=\u00bb15px\u00bb text_line_height=\u00bb1.8em\u00bb background_size=\u00bbinitial\u00bb background_position=\u00bbtop_left\u00bb background_repeat=\u00bbrepeat\u00bb] Comprar una vivienda es la operaci\u00f3n financiera m\u00e1s importante para la mayor\u00eda de las familias. Sin embargo, el auge del mercado inmobiliario en Espa\u00f1a ha tra\u00eddo consigo una sofisticaci\u00f3n alarmante de los delitos de estafa. […]<\/p>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"La mayor\u00eda de los argentinos que viven en Espa\u00f1a no saben que deben declarar su patrimonio en el extranjero superior a 50.000 euros, y cuando se enteran de ello suele ser demasiado tarde para encauzar la situaci\u00f3n. <\/span>\r\n\r\nEn 2012 el gobierno de Espa\u00f1a cre\u00f3 el Modelo 720, una declaraci\u00f3n informativa sobre bienes y derechos situados en el extranjero que todo residente fiscal en Espa\u00f1a debe realizar cada a\u00f1o entre el 1 de enero y el 31 de marzo, en base a su situaci\u00f3n patrimonial al 31 de diciembre anterior. <\/span>\r\n\r\nSe trata simplemente de una declaraci\u00f3n informativa y no implica en s\u00ed misma el pago de impuestos. Luego, al hacer la renta, se ver\u00e1 si corresponde pagar o no seg\u00fan cu\u00e1l haya sido el origen de esos bienes. Pero no hacer el Modelo 720 implica elevada multas, tanto que puede llegar hasta el 150% del valor no declarado si la Agencia Tributaria considera que es una ganancia patrimonial no justificada. <\/span>\r\n\r\n\u00a0\r\n\r\nPara verlo en n\u00fameros y con un ejemplo, supongamos que Juan Carlos es un argentino residente en Espa\u00f1a. En 2016 hered\u00f3 un departamento de 100.000 euros en Argentina, no hizo el Modelo 720. Si m\u00e1s adelante Hacienda de Espa\u00f1a toma conocimiento de la existencia de esa propiedad de Juan Carlos puede sancionarlo por 150.000 euros.<\/span>\r\n\r\nAnte esta situaci\u00f3n, Juan Carlos piensa: \u201cBueno\u2026 yo no hago la declaraci\u00f3n. Total, \u00bfc\u00f3mo se va enterar la agencia tributaria espa\u00f1ola que tengo un departamento en Argentina?\u201d. Y es probable que sea as\u00ed, que no se entere nunca que Juan Carlos tiene esa propiedad. <\/span>\r\n\r\n\u00a0\r\n\r\nPero el d\u00eda que Juan Carlos haya vendido ese departamento en Argentina y traiga el dinero a Espa\u00f1a empezar\u00e1n sus problemas. Lo primero que har\u00e1 la Agencia Tributaria espa\u00f1ola ser\u00e1 preguntar de d\u00f3nde sali\u00f3 ese dinero. Juan Carlos podr\u00e1 decir que lo hered\u00f3 de su madre en el 2016. Pero estaremos en el 2018 y ya habr\u00e1 vencido el plazo en el cual tuvo que declarar que ten\u00eda esa propiedad. Por lo tanto, ser\u00e1 sancionado por montos muy elevados.<\/span>\r\n\r\nEs posible que a Juan Carlos le pase como a muchos argentinos que nos consultan en el despacho: se enteran de la existencia del Modelo 720 despu\u00e9s de haber vendido propiedades en Argentina y quieren trasladar su capital a Espa\u00f1a. Entonces ven que ya no pueden traer el dinero, o que si logran traerlo no pueden ingresarlo en su banco. Llegados a este punto, ya es tarde para hacer la declaraci\u00f3n de bienes porque las multas ser\u00e1n tan elevadas que ser\u00e1 mejor dejar el dinero en Argentina. <\/span>\r\n\r\n\u00a0\r\n\r\nPara evitar esta situaci\u00f3n de tener capital en Argentina y no poder traerlo a Espa\u00f1a es que escribimos este post, para recomendarles que hagan el Modelo 720 si es que todav\u00eda est\u00e1n a tiempo. En otras palabras, si al 31 de diciembre del 2018 su capital en extranjero supera los 50.000 euros deber\u00e1n declararlo entre el 1 de enero y 31 de marzo de 2019. Siempre y cuando ese capital haya sido recibido o generado en el 2018, porque si ya lo ten\u00edan de antes ya ser\u00e1 tarde para declararlo. \u00a0<\/span>\r\n\r\n\u00a0\r\n\r\nM\u00e1s detalles sobre el Modelo 720<\/span>\r\n\r\n\u00a0\r\n\r\nPara calcular si los bienes superan los 50.000 euros se consideran: <\/span>\r\n1) Fake Owners and Identity Theft<\/h3>\n
It's one of the most dangerous scams. People present themselves as the owners of the property using falsified documents or taking advantage of the fact that the real owner lives far away or has died.<\/span><\/h3>\n
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2) Sale with Hidden Debts and Registered Encumbrances<\/h3>\n
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<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n3) Double Sale (Art. 1473 of the Civil Code)<\/h3>\n
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4) The Danger of Payment in \"B\" (Tax Fraud)<\/h3>\n
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<\/span><\/span>\n5) Urban Planning and Habitability Scams\u00a0\u00a0<\/h3>\n
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6) Fake Promoters and Phantom Real Estate Companies<\/h3>\n
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7) Forged Contracts and Deeds<\/h3>\n
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Important note<\/span><\/h4>\n
Why is legal advice your best investment?<\/h3>\n
What we do for you at MBT Abogados<\/span><\/h4>\n
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) \/ Real Estate Scams When Buying a Home in Spain<\/h3>\n
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Do not alert the seller. Contact a lawyer immediately to attempt to have the bank accounts frozen and file a report with the police or Civil Guard. Acting quickly is the only way to recover your money.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
No. The property registration status can change in minutes (seizures, encumbrances, or previous sales). The Nota Simple (property registry extract) must be from the same day as the signing or, at most, from the previous 48 hours.
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Not necessarily. They are commercial intermediaries, not legal auditors. Most of their contracts disclaim responsibility for the veracity of the seller's documents. Only an independent lawyer can guarantee complete security.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
This is the biggest red flag. The scammer uses pressure to prevent you from verifying the documents. Never hand over money under pressure without a professional confirming that the property and the seller are legitimate.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
By law, your contributions must be guaranteed by a bank guarantee or surety bond. If the developer does not provide you with an individual certificate of this guarantee, your money is at serious risk if construction is halted.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
No, it's illegal and dangerous. You risk severe penalties from the tax authorities and paying significantly more in taxes when you decide to sell the property in the future. Furthermore, the cash is impossible to recover if the sale turns out to be fraudulent.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\r\n \t