Not every Spanish bank is equally interested in lending to non-resident buyers. Some have dedicated international desks and decades of experience with foreign clients; others have quietly scaled back this business. Here’s how the main options compare.
| Bank | Typical max LTV for non-residents | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Banco Sabadell | Up to 70% | Long-standing non-resident mortgage line; particularly strong in Catalonia and Costa Brava |
| BBVA | Up to 70% | Active international/digital-focused lending for non-residents |
| Bankinter | Up to 60% | Experienced with multi-currency income documentation |
| CaixaBank | Up to 70% | Large branch network, broad regional coverage |
| Santander | Varies, often declined/routed to private banking | Retail arm has pulled back from non-resident lending in recent years |
What to Actually Compare
- Maximum LTV offered for your specific profile, not just the bank’s advertised headline figure
- Linked product requirements — many of the best rates require you to also take out home insurance, life insurance, or route your income through the bank, which affects the real net cost
- Arrangement and valuation fees, which vary meaningfully between lenders and add to the effective cost of the loan
- English-language service and whether you’ll be assigned a dedicated international client manager
- Early repayment penalties, relevant if you might want to pay off the mortgage faster later
Should You Use a Mortgage Broker Instead?
A broker who works across multiple banks can save significant time by pre-qualifying your profile against several lenders at once, rather than you approaching each bank individually. This is often worth the broker’s fee (commonly 1–2% of the loan, sometimes paid by the bank instead of the borrower) for non-resident buyers unfamiliar with which banks are currently most receptive. See our dedicated comparison of mortgage brokers vs. direct banks for more detail.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I use my home bank’s Spanish branch if it has one?
It can be a reasonable starting point for familiarity, but don’t assume it will offer better terms than a Spanish-based lender — compare both before deciding.
Do smaller regional Spanish banks also lend to non-residents?
Some do, particularly in regions with high foreign buyer concentration like the Costa del Sol or Balearic Islands, though the large national banks generally have more standardized non-resident processes.
Can rates and LTV offers change between when I apply and when I close?
Once you receive a formal binding offer (oferta vinculante), the terms are locked for a defined period, but informal pre-approvals can shift if market rates move before you formalize the application.