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FCG Mortgage Blog

Practical, human-written guidance for expats and non-residents who want a clearer mortgage path in Spain. You deal directly with Alberto Bertazzi or Mike Brady from first review to completion.

Work Directly With Alberto or Mike

No outsourced case handling. From the first mortgage review to the final stretch of the transaction, you can reach a real specialist when something needs explaining, solving or chasing.

Alberto Bertazzi

Alberto Bertazzi

Founder & Director

A Bocconi University graduate with over 22 years in Spanish banking, Alberto leads the bespoke strategy side of FCG and personally oversees client cases.

Mike Brady

Mike Brady

Senior Mortgage Advisor

Mike focuses on Spanish mortgages for expats and non-residents, guiding international buyers through lender fit, paperwork and day-to-day progress with clarity and care.

Mortgage Guides

Start with the core guides

These are the foundational pages we would normally point a new client to first: process, non-resident lending, deposit planning, buying costs and the practical timeline.

Latest country guide

Spanish Mortgage in Spain for French Buyers

A practical guide to French income, documents, deposit planning and lender fit when buying property in Spain.

Illustration of a house releasing equity, representing a reverse mortgage
Retirement & Equity Release
14 August 2026
Alberto BertazziBy Alberto BertazziMike BradyReviewed by Mike Brady

Reverse Mortgages in Spain: A Guide for Expat Homeowners

How a reverse mortgage lets expat homeowners release equity from their Spanish home in retirement without selling or making monthly repayments — and what to weigh up before signing.

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Mortgage Broker in Spain
Broker Guide
Updated June 2026 · Guide

Mortgage Broker in Spain

How a Spanish mortgage broker helps foreign buyers compare lenders, prepare documents and manage the process.

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Getting a Mortgage in Spain
Pillar Guide
Updated 10 August 2026 · Guide

Getting a Mortgage in Spain

The core process, key decision points and the practical questions to settle before you sign an arras contract.

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Non-Resident Mortgages in Spain
Non-Residents
Updated 11 August 2026 · Guide

Non-Resident Mortgages in Spain

How lenders usually look at overseas income, liquidity, valuation, existing debt and cross-border paperwork.

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Spanish Mortgage in Spain for German Buyers
German Buyers
1 July 2026 · By Mike Brady
Mike BradyBy Mike Brady

Spanish Mortgage in Spain for German Buyers

Income assessment, German tax documents, deposit planning and lender fit for German residents buying property in Spain.

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Spanish Mortgage in Spain for Irish Buyers
Irish Buyers
30 July 2026 · By Mike Brady
Mike BradyBy Mike Brady

Spanish Mortgage in Spain for Irish Buyers

Euro income assessment, Revenue documentation, deposit planning and lender fit for Irish residents buying property in Spain.

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Spanish Mortgage Pre-Approval: What It Really Means
Application Process
4 August 2026 · By Mike Brady
Mike BradyBy Mike Brady

Spanish Mortgage Pre-Approval: What It Really Means

How Spanish pre-approval differs from a formal offer, what it doesn't guarantee, and when to get one before signing a reservation contract.

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Documents Needed for a Spanish Mortgage
Documents
12 August 2026 · By Mike Brady
Mike BradyBy Mike Brady

Documents Needed for a Spanish Mortgage: The Complete Checklist

The full list of documents Spanish banks ask for, broken down by employment type, plus the mistakes that most often slow a file down.

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Spanish Mortgage Interest Rates in 2026
Interest Rates
10 August 2026 · By Mike Brady
Mike BradyBy Mike Brady

Spanish Mortgage Interest Rates in 2026: A Guide for Non-Resident Buyers

What drives Spanish mortgage rates in 2026, the current ECB policy backdrop, and how fixed, variable and mixed products compare.

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How Much Can I Borrow for a Spanish Mortgage?
Affordability
11 August 2026 · By Mike Brady
Mike BradyBy Mike Brady

How Much Can I Borrow for a Spanish Mortgage?

The income and debt rule Spanish banks use, the loan-to-value cap, and a worked example showing how the two interact.

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Spanish Mortgage Fees and Buying Costs Explained
Costs
13 August 2026 · By Mike Brady
Mike BradyBy Mike Brady

Spanish Mortgage Fees and Buying Costs Explained

An itemized breakdown of transfer tax, notary, registry, legal and valuation fees, with a full worked example.

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Spanish Mortgage in Spain for Dutch Buyers
Dutch Buyers
25 June 2026 · By Mike Brady
Mike BradyBy Mike Brady

Spanish Mortgage in Spain for Dutch Buyers

Income assessment, Dutch documentation, deposit planning and lender fit for Dutch residents buying property in Spain.

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Spanish Mortgage for Swiss Buyers
Swiss Buyers
Updated June 2026 · Guide

Spanish Mortgage for Swiss Buyers

CHF income, Swiss documentation, deposit planning and lender fit for buyers purchasing property in Spain.

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Expat Mortgages in Spain
Expat Buyers
Updated 11 August 2026 · Guide

Expat Mortgages in Spain

For buyers living, working or relocating to Spain who want to understand how resident and near-resident cases are usually assessed.

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Mortgage in Spain for UK Buyers
UK Buyers
Updated 10 August 2026 · Guide

Mortgage in Spain for UK Buyers

How UK buyer cases are assessed, what to prepare, and how to structure a case without surprises.

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Getting a Spanish Mortgage from Dubai or the UAE
Dubai & UAE
Updated 10 August 2026 · Guide

Getting a Spanish Mortgage from Dubai or the UAE

A practical guide for Gulf-based buyers who want a calm, well-managed application from abroad.

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Self-Employed Mortgage in Spain
Self-Employed
Updated 11 August 2026 · Guide

Self-Employed Mortgage in Spain

What lenders usually want from autónomos, company owners and internationally mobile professionals.

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How Much Deposit Do You Need to Buy in Spain?
Deposit
Updated 10 August 2026 · Guide

How Much Deposit Do You Need to Buy in Spain?

The answer most buyers need before they reserve: how much cash is likely to be required and what a mortgage does not cover.

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Buying Costs in Spain for Non-Residents
Costs
Updated 11 August 2026 · Guide

Buying Costs in Spain for Non-Residents

A clean breakdown of mortgage costs versus property purchase costs, and why those are two different conversations.

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Spanish Mortgage Timeline & Process
Timeline
Updated 11 August 2026 · Guide

Spanish Mortgage Timeline & Process

What tends to happen, in what order, between first review, bank submission, valuation, FEIN and notary.

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Insights & Articles

Deeper reads for specific questions

In-depth articles with clear bylines, regular updates and practical links to related topics our clients often ask about.

Banco de España Credit Intermediary Registration
Updated June 2026 · Professional Standards

Banco de España Credit Intermediary Registration

What the Banco de España credit-intermediary framework means for clients arranging a Spanish mortgage through our service.

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How to Get a Mortgage in Spain as a Non-Resident
Buyer's Guide
Updated 15 April 2026
Mike BradyBy Mike BradyAlberto BertazziReviewed by Alberto Bertazzi

How to Get a Mortgage in Spain as a Non-Resident

Non-resident mortgages in Spain are very possible, but the strongest files usually start with realistic cash planning and a lender shortlist that matches the client before a reservation agreement is signed.

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Fixed vs Variable Rate Mortgages in Spain: What Really Matters?
Market Analysis
Updated 15 April 2026
Alberto BertazziBy Alberto BertazziMike BradyReviewed by Mike Brady

Fixed vs Variable Rate Mortgages in Spain: What Really Matters?

The real decision is not fixed versus variable in the abstract. It is whether you value payment certainty, flexibility, or a middle road that still feels manageable if rates move against you.

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Mortgage in Spain for UK Buyers After Brexit
UK Buyer Guide
Updated 15 April 2026
Mike BradyBy Mike BradyAlberto BertazziReviewed by Alberto Bertazzi

Mortgage in Spain for UK Buyers After Brexit

Brexit did not close the Spanish property door for British buyers. It simply made the planning stage more important, especially around travel days, non-resident status and documentary preparation.

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How Much Deposit Do You Really Need to Buy Property in Spain?
Buyer's Guide
Updated 15 April 2026

How Much Deposit Do You Really Need to Buy Property in Spain?

The deposit is only part of the story. Buyers usually need to budget for their equity contribution and then a second layer of taxes and buying costs that the mortgage does not cover.

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Is Costa del Sol Property Investment Still Profitable?
Investment Guide
Updated 15 April 2026
Mike BradyBy Mike BradyAlberto BertazziReviewed by Alberto Bertazzi

Is Costa del Sol Property Investment Still Profitable?

The Costa del Sol can still be profitable, but only when the numbers are treated like numbers. The glossy version of the market is not the one that pays the bills.

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Top 5 Mistakes Foreign Investors Make When Buying Property in Spain
Investor Insights
Updated 15 April 2026
Mike BradyBy Mike BradyAlberto BertazziReviewed by Alberto Bertazzi

Top 5 Mistakes Foreign Investors Make When Buying Property in Spain

Foreign investors rarely get hurt by a single dramatic mistake. More often, the damage arrives in neat little layers: a generous valuation assumption here, a thin cash buffer there, and a property that looked better in sunlight than in numbers.

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Strategic Mortgage Structuring for Property Investors in Spain
Investor Insights
Updated 15 April 2026
Mike BradyBy Mike BradyAlberto BertazziReviewed by Alberto Bertazzi

Strategic Mortgage Structuring for Property Investors in Spain

Good leverage can sharpen a strategy. Bad leverage turns a property into a polite hostage situation. The mortgage needs to fit the investment thesis, not merely the maximum amount a bank might lend.

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Three Ways to Profit from Property Investment in Spain
Investment Guide
Updated 15 April 2026
Mike BradyBy Mike BradyAlberto BertazziReviewed by Alberto Bertazzi

Three Ways to Profit from Property Investment in Spain

There is no single “best” investment strategy in Spain. There are only strategies that fit the asset, the location, the regulation and the investor’s own temperament.

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How to Finance a Property Renovation in Spain
Renovation Finance
Updated 15 April 2026
Alberto BertazziBy Alberto BertazziMike BradyReviewed by Mike Brady

How to Finance a Property Renovation in Spain

Renovation finance in Spain is possible in some cases, but it is not magic. The bank will want to understand the property, the works, the budget and the final value with considerably more discipline than a casual buyer might expect.

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Why We Are REALTORS®: What NAR Membership Means for You
About FCG
Updated 15 April 2026
Mike BradyBy Mike BradyAlberto BertazziReviewed by Alberto Bertazzi

Why We Are REALTORS®: What NAR Membership Means for You

REALTOR® is not decorative punctuation. It signals membership of the National Association of REALTORS® and a commitment to its Code of Ethics, which exists to protect the public and raise professional standards.

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What Is SIRA? Spain’s Professional Alliance for International REALTORS®
About FCG
Updated 15 April 2026
Alberto BertazziBy Alberto BertazziMike BradyReviewed by Mike Brady

What Is SIRA? Spain’s Professional Alliance for International REALTORS®

SIRA is the local partner route into International REALTOR® membership for Spain and Portugal. For clients, it represents an extra layer of professional alignment and ethical commitment in a market where clarity is valuable.

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Getting a Spanish Mortgage from Dubai, Saudi Arabia or Qatar
GCC Buyer Guide
Updated 15 April 2026
Mike BradyBy Mike BradyAlberto BertazziReviewed by Alberto Bertazzi

Getting a Spanish Mortgage from Dubai, Saudi Arabia or Qatar

For many Gulf-based buyers, the challenge is not whether a Spanish mortgage is possible. It is how to package the case properly from abroad so the right lenders can understand it quickly and confidently.

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