How does Cottage Properties help international buyers?
Cottage Properties works with buyers from the United States, the United Kingdom, France, the Netherlands, Germany, Canada, Mexico, Venezuela, Brazil, Colombia and other countries. When purchasing a masia or unique property involves a change of residency, our collaborating immigration lawyer manages the legal process in parallel – NIE, residence permits, fund transfers and tax compliance – so that the purchase and relocation progress together.
One process, not two
Most international buyers discover too late that buying a property in Spain and obtaining residency are processes that intersect. The order matters: the NIE is required before signing, the transfer of funds has specific requirements regarding origin and destination, and the residency application depends on the purchase – not the other way around.
Cottage Properties coordinates both processes from day one. Àngels Sabater works directly with our collaborating immigration lawyer so that the legal documentation, property search and residency procedures progress in parallel – without the buyer having to coordinate between professionals who do not know each other.
Immigration and residency procedures
Our collaborating lawyer specialises in buyers from outside the EU who are acquiring properties in Catalonia. Services include obtaining the NIE, opening a bank account in Spain, managing international fund transfers in compliance with anti-money laundering regulations, and processing residence permits once the purchase has been completed.
Each country of origin has its own tax and documentary particularities. Managing a purchase from the United States is not the same as from Colombia or from France. Our lawyer knows the differences and tailors the process to each individual case.
Beyond the purchase: settling in Catalonia
Buying the property is the first step. Settling in is the second. Our team can guide buyers on practical aspects of life in Catalonia – from tax and registration matters to connecting with trusted local professionals. We do not replace a tax adviser or a gestor, but we do facilitate the initial connections so that the buyer does not have to start from scratch.
Hear from our previous clients
Read success stories from clients who bought their dream home with the help of Cottage Properties.
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We Help an American Couple Settle Into a Farmhouse in Sant Julià de Ramís
In early 2026, an American couple relocating to Spain purchased through our portfolio this 18th-century estate in Sant Julià de Ramís, for €850,000.
For an international buyer, the purchase is just the beginning. The hard part comes afterwards: settling into a new country, with a different language and different bureaucracy. That is where our support made all the difference.
Whilst they were still in the United States, we had the house ready for their arrival: we sent our cleaning team, installed an alarm system, and set up Starlink so they had internet from day one. We helped them open a Spanish bank account — an increasingly complex process for an expatriate — and personally accompanied them to purchase garden furniture so they could enjoy the estate from the very first moment. For immigration and visa formalities, we also called upon a specialist partner solicitor.
This is an example of our service for international buyers: we not only find the right property, but we take care of everything needed to make moving to Girona straightforward.
Are you buying a property in Catalonia from abroad?
Request a consultation with Àngels Sabater. We assess your situation, connect you with our collaborating immigration lawyer and coordinate the purchase and residency as a single process.
