The Easter period is the perfect time for overseas buyers to visit the Costa Blanca. The weather is great, flights are frequent again after the winter period, and many people use the holiday season to view properties they’ve been researching for months. This is also the season when many buyers take their first steps towards purchasing a home in Spain, often by paying a reservation deposit.
Reserving a property is an exciting milestone, but it is also a legal step that must be handled with the utmost care. You must understand how reservation deposits work in Spain. This is the only way to make your purchase this spring.
Why Easter is a popular time to reserve property in Spain
Spring is the start of the busiest property season on the Costa Blanca. International buyers arrive for short viewing trips, new listings appear on the market, and attractive homes receive interest from several parties at once.
It is clear that during Easter visits, buyers feel pressure to make quick decisions. They do this to secure a property they love before returning home. Estate agents will suggest placing a reservation deposit to remove the property from the market while legal checks begin. This is standard practice in Spain, but it should never be treated as a simple formality.
A reservation agreement is a legal document. It must be reviewed properly before any payment is made.
What a reservation deposit actually does
A reservation deposit is paid when the buyer and seller agree on the price and basic conditions of the sale. Its purpose is clear: to take the property off the market for a short period while your lawyer carries out legal checks.
For resale properties, the reservation deposit is typically between €3,000 and €6,000. For new-build homes, it will be higher. The exact amount is less important than the wording of the agreement attached to it.
Many buyers wrongly assume this payment is simply a gesture of intent. It is an irrefutable fact that it forms part of the legal structure of the purchase process. The conditions written into the reservation agreement clearly determine whether the deposit is protected if something unexpected arises.
Is the reservation deposit refundable?
This is the most important concern for buyers visiting Spain over Easter.
Properly drafted reservation agreements clearly state that deposits are refundable if legal due diligence reveals problems that prevent the purchase from going ahead.
However, if the agreement is unclear or incomplete, refund rights may be limited. It is important to note that buyers who withdraw for personal reasons can lose the deposit entirely.
You must always have the reservation agreement reviewed by an independent lawyer before signing it or transferring funds.
Who should hold the reservation deposit?
Another important detail that is often overlooked during short viewing trips is who actually receives the reservation money.
The estate agent will sometimes request the payment directly. In other cases, it is transferred directly to the seller or developer. While this may be common practice in some transactions, the safest approach is for the deposit to be held in a lawyer’s client account until legal checks are completed.
This ensures that your funds are always protected while your legal representative confirms that the property is suitable for purchase.
What happens after the reservation agreement is signed
Once the reservation agreement has been signed, your lawyer will begin the due diligence process and, in parallel, the preparation of the private purchase contract.
The private purchase contract is a key document, as it sets out in detail all the terms of the transaction, including the payment structure, the expected date for signing the deed before a notary, and the obligations assumed by both parties. Once this contract has been signed, a larger deposit is paid.
Up until the signing of the public deed, the lawyer will continue the due diligence process, thoroughly reviewing the legal status of the property. At this initial stage, essential checks are carried out, including verifying ownership at the Land Registry, reviewing any charges or outstanding debts, confirming planning compliance, and, where applicable, assessing obligations related to the community of owners.
If any significant issues are identified during this period, the buyers may opt to terminate the contract and recover the amounts paid.
For this to be possible, it is essential that the private purchase contract is properly drafted and includes the necessary clauses to provide this protection.
Why legal advice is especially important during busy viewing seasons
Many buyers find the home they have been searching for during an Easter visit and naturally want to secure it quickly. But acting quickly does not mean acting without protection.
Reservation agreements are sometimes prepared in haste during busy periods, and small wording differences can have significant consequences later in the transaction. Ensure the agreement clearly states the refund conditions, identifies the parties correctly and confirms the timeline for legal checks. This will prevent unnecessary stress.
An independent property lawyer will represent your interests from the outset of the purchase.
A safe start makes your Spanish property purchase far more enjoyable
There is no better time to begin your property journey in Spain than Easter. The Costa Blanca is at its best in spring, and it is then that many buyers take their first serious step towards owning a home here.
However, before paying a reservation deposit, it is always worth taking a moment to make sure the agreement has been properly reviewed and the payment structure protects you.
Start the purchase process safely and enjoy the experience with confidence — exactly as buying a home in Spain should feel. At Albir Abogados we will be happy to help you.