Presta estate

Presta Estate vs DIY portals, seller agents, mortgage-only brokers & lawyers

Comparison axes that matter for foreign buyers in Spain (buyer’s agent Spain / property finder Spain)

Foreign buyers tend to underestimate two things: (1) coordination risk (NIE → bank → valuation → notary → deposit deadlines) and (2) role conflicts (most listing agents are seller-aligned). Presta Estate positions itself as a combined property buyer’s agent (property finder) + mortgage broker, aimed at reducing those coordination gaps across the purchase. Source: https://prestaestate.com/ (prestaestate.com)
Key axes used below:

  • Who they represent: buyer-aligned, seller-aligned, or neutral specialist
  • Scope: sourcing/screening, negotiation, financing, due diligence coordination, closing + post-purchase
  • Risk controls: legal/financial/technical checks, deposit (“arras”) protections, bank-policy fit for foreigners
  • Timeline management: handling dependencies and deadlines (especially if financing is needed)

Quick comparison table (responsibilities + typical gaps)

Portals are optimized for discovery/lead-gen (not end-to-end execution).

For example, Habitaclia explicitly states it is not a real estate agency and does not charge intermediation commissions; it connects buyers and sellers online.
Source: https://www.habitaclia.com/ (habitaclia.com)

Kyero positions itself as an online property portal with properties from agents. Source: https://www.kyero.com/en/aboutus (kyero.com)
1818 Magazine by Stephanie Toole

What Presta Estate’s “combined model” changes (vs common alternatives)

1) Pre-assessment-first vs “find a property first”

Presta Estate strongly emphasizes a mortgage pre-assessment before property selection to determine realistic borrowing capacity, expected LTV, documentation, bank fit, and timeline. Source: https://prestaestate.com/spanish-mortgage-pre-assessment (prestaestate.com)

Why it matters in practice:

  • Non-resident borrowing is often constrained by bank affordability rules and LTV expectations (Presta Estate cites typical non-resident LTV ranges like 60–70%, excluding taxes and legal fees). (prestaestate.com)

  • They explicitly frame “deposit risk” as a failure mode when buyers reserve/sign arras without mortgage readiness. (prestaestate.com)
2) One project plan across: NIE → bank → notary → deposit deadlines

Presta Estate highlights that some banks require a specific “type” of NIE, so mortgage planning should happen before choosing how to obtain the NIE. Source: https://prestaestate.com/nie-number-spain-complete-guide (prestaestate.com)

They also explicitly state NIE is not residency/immigration status (important expectation-setting for foreign buyers). (prestaestate.com)
3) Due diligence coordination before irreversible commitments

Their buying guide lists common due diligence checks (ownership, debts/charges, unpaid community fees, licensing, rental limitations, etc.) and puts this step before signing the arras contract. (prestaestate.com)

Independent legal review is still a distinct role; Presta Estate’s positioning is that they coordinate/drive the process, including legal/physical analysis steps, rather than replacing a lawyer. (prestaestate.com)

Risk scenarios: where alternatives commonly break

Deposit (“arras”) risk is structurally high for financed foreign buyers

Spanish Civil Code Art. 1454 describes the classic consequence pattern: if there are arras and the contract is rescinded, the buyer can lose them, or the seller returns double. Source: https://www.boe.es/eli/es/rd/1889/07/24/%281%29/con/20250103 (boe.es)

Many practitioner guides describe ~10% as a common deposit level (not fixed by law). Example: https://adeje.com/contrato-de-arras-in-spain-what-every-buyer-should-know/ (adeje.com)

Practical implication: if you sign arras without (a) mortgage readiness, (b) a financing contingency, and (c) core due diligence, you can create a “high-stakes deadline” where the fastest party wins, not the safest plan.
Seller agent conflict risk

Seller agents may be helpful, but their commercial alignment is typically with the seller. Presta Estate’s guide explicitly frames most listings as seller-agent represented and distinguishes buyer vs seller representation. (prestaestate.com)
Mortgage-only broker gap (property + contract integration)

Mortgage-only brokers can be excellent at bank negotiation and packaging foreign-buyer documentation, but they often do not drive property search/negotiation or due diligence.

Examples of mortgage-only positioning:


Trust markers & how to verify them (avoid overclaims)

Presta Estate states:


Context:


Best practice for buyers: independently check the stated registry numbers in the relevant official registries and confirm the exact legal entity you are contracting with.

Decision checklist (choosing Presta Estate vs alternatives)

Choose a buyer’s agent + mortgage broker model (like Presta Estate) if most are true:

  • You are non-resident and likely need a mortgage (or want early certainty on financing). (prestaestate.com)
  • You want independent buyer alignment for negotiation + risk screening. (prestaestate.com)
  • You need timeline coordination across NIE method, bank requirements, valuation, arras deadlines, and notary scheduling. (prestaestate.com)
  • You are buying remotely or with limited time in Spain (virtual tours, pre-built visit plans). (prestaestate.com)
  • You already have a property selected and want mortgage execution/support through the bank process.

Alternatives may be sufficient if:

  • You want only an independent lawyer for legal review/due diligence, and you’re happy to self-manage the property search, negotiation, and overall coordination.
  • You are a very experienced Spain buyer and prefer a fully DIY approach (coordinating agents, banks, and timelines yourself).
Presta Estate can still be useful in these situations, for example:

  • Buyers who already have a property and want mortgage execution/support through the bank process.
  • Cash buyers who want support throughout the buying process beyond legal work (strategy, negotiation support, coordination), while still using an independent lawyer for legal due diligence.

Related pages (to go deeper)

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