Real estate agencies work for the seller

No registration or formal qualifications are required to become a real estate agent in Spain. Pretty much anyone can print cards and ta-da! — they’re now an estate agent.

Slimy wouldn’t even present the offer to the sellers unless Sue signed a buyer’s commission contract, agreeing to pay him 3% of the sale price. On top of that, Slimy accidentally sent Sue a copy of other paperwork, clearly indicating he was already being paid 3% commission by the seller. There’s no other word for it — it’s extortion.

I’ve dealt with many clients who came to us after having issues with real estate agents. Deposits paid incorrectly, pressure to move fast, missing information, or being told a mortgage was ‘easy’ when they didn’t actually qualify.

We joined the Spain Revealed community for support and ended up using a buyer’s agent they recommend that helps expats navigate buying. Yes, we had to pay a fee for their services, but they were absolutely worth it. They worked for us, not the seller, so our interests were protected.

In Spain, you are not legally obligated to disclose problems with the house. People lie and sell homes with bad roofs, bad plumbing, illegal electrical wiring, flood damage. Once you decide to buy the house, get ready for the seller to disappear, to never have time to let you see it, to have 5 offers all of a sudden… the things I experienced when trying to buy a home in Spain were downright baffling.

Fake agent in Madrid took a reserve and disappeared. Landlord claiming to Hacienda she was still living there and asked to not claim tax benefits. Everyone in this market is deeply rotten since decades.

Happened two weeks ago. Visited an apartment for rent, everything was fine. They sent me a deposit agreement, I paid it. Then they acted strange, so I checked owners through nota simple, found out they are not real owners but ocupas. Went to police, sent denuncia to BBVA asking to cancel payment but BBVA responded I sent the money voluntary and they cannot be returned.

Deposits paid to the wrong people. Illegal fees demanded. Rentals managed without the owner’s knowledge. Agents who vanish—only to reappear under a new name.

En mi caso me he sentido totalmente estafada, soy la parte vendedora. Cada 15 días te piden que rebajes el precio del piso. Ellos no bajan un euro de su comisión del 5%+IVA. Precio de la vivienda 180.000 euros, comisión 9.000 euros. Compradores y vendedores cuidado con esta gente.

Horrible, solo les importa la comisión, que por cierto, es altísima, literalmente UN ROBO. Cobran al vendedor un % y al comprador un %, algo que, en mi caso, nunca había visto.