{"id":1091622,"date":"2024-05-09T11:59:14","date_gmt":"2024-05-09T09:59:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/puravida-estate.com\/what-is-a-contrato-de-arras\/"},"modified":"2026-04-12T18:14:17","modified_gmt":"2026-04-12T16:14:17","slug":"what-is-a-contrato-de-arras","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/puravida-estate.com\/en\/what-is-a-contrato-de-arras\/","title":{"rendered":"What is a Contrato de Arras?"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"1091622\" class=\"elementor elementor-1091622 elementor-1091614\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-420c4c25 elementor-section-stretched elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"420c4c25\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;stretch_section&quot;:&quot;section-stretched&quot;,&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-background-overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-3bf5c6ac\" data-id=\"3bf5c6ac\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-404a7cc3 elementor-widget-divider--view-line_text elementor-widget-divider--element-align-center elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"404a7cc3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider__text elementor-divider__element\">\n\t\t\t\tGood to know :: our real estate encyclopedia\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-723e2f96 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"723e2f96\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">What is a Contrato de Arras?<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-34f87804 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"34f87804\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-372f70fb\" data-id=\"372f70fb\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-723db310 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"723db310\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2><b>&#8220;The Contrato de Arras in Mallorca &#8211; What foreign buyers should definitely know&#8221;<\/b><\/h2><p class=\"p1\">Many buyers who do not come from Spain are surprised when they hear about the <a href=\"https:\/\/puravida-estate.com\/en\/reservation-contract-for-new-construction\/\" title=\"Reservation contract for new construction\" data-wpil-monitor-id=\"786\"><span class=\"s1\"><b>Contrato de Arras<\/b><\/span> <\/a>in Spain. This document is standard in Spain when buying a property &#8211; there is nothing comparable in this form in Germany or Austria. This is why uncertainties often arise: What is this contract good for? What risks does it entail? And what should you pay particular attention to as a foreigner?    <\/p><p class=\"p1\">In this article, we explain step by step what the <i>Contrato de Arras<\/i> is all about &#8211; simply, clearly and with practical examples from Mallorca.<\/p><h3><b>1 What is a Contrato de Arras anyway?<\/b><\/h3><ul><li><p class=\"p1\">This is a <span class=\"s1\"><b>preliminary contract<\/b><\/span>which prepares the subsequent <a class=\"wpil_keyword_link\" href=\"https:\/\/puravida-estate.com\/en\/costs-when-buying-a-property\/\" title=\"Costs when buying a property\" data-wpil-keyword-link=\"linked\" data-wpil-monitor-id=\"761\">purchase of<\/a> a property.<\/p><\/li><li><p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">The buyer usually pays <\/span><b>a deposit (usually 10% of the purchase price)<\/b><span class=\"s1\">.<\/span><\/p><\/li><li><p class=\"p1\">The seller and buyer already record important key points in writing: purchase price, method of payment, date of the notary appointment, assumption of costs, etc.<\/p><\/li><li><p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">You could say that the <i>Contrato de Arras<\/i> is a <i>reservation<\/i> <\/span><b>reservation with legal binding force<\/b><span class=\"s1\">.<\/span><\/p><\/li><\/ul><p class=\"p4\"><b>Example:<\/b><b><\/b><\/p><p class=\"p1\">You would like to buy an <a class=\"wpil_keyword_link\" href=\"https:\/\/puravida-estate.com\/en\/apartments\/\" title=\"Apartments\" data-wpil-keyword-link=\"linked\" data-wpil-monitor-id=\"760\">apartment<\/a> in Palma, purchase price \u20ac400,000. You pay \u20ac40,000 as a deposit. The <a class=\"wpil_keyword_link\" href=\"https:\/\/puravida-estate.com\/apartments\/\"   title=\"Apartments\" data-wpil-keyword-link=\"linked\"  data-wpil-monitor-id=\"861\">apartment<\/a> is now reserved for you and the seller is no longer allowed to offer it to anyone else.  <\/p><h3><b>2 Why is this contract so important?<\/b><\/h3><ul><li><p class=\"p1\">It gives <span class=\"s1\"><b>security<\/b><\/span> for both sides: The seller knows that you are seriously interested, and you know that the property will no longer be snatched from under your nose.<\/p><\/li><li><p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">It regulates what happens <\/span><b>if one party does not fulfill its obligation<\/b><span class=\"s1\">.<\/span><\/p><\/li><li><p class=\"p1\">It creates a clear framework for taking care of financing and formalities in peace before the notary appointment takes place.<\/p><\/li><\/ul><h3><b>3 What types of Contrato de Arras are there?<\/b><\/h3><p class=\"p1\">Spanish law distinguishes between three types &#8211; important because the consequences are different:<\/p><ol start=\"1\"><li style=\"list-style-type: none;\"><ul><li><p class=\"p1\">The deposit is part of the purchase price.<\/p><\/li><li><p class=\"p1\">If one party does not cooperate, the other can insist on fulfillment of the contract or demand compensation.<\/p><p class=\"p1\"><b>Arras confirmatorias (confirmatory deposit)<\/b><\/p><\/li><\/ul><ul><li><p class=\"p1\">Most often on Mallorca!<\/p><\/li><li><p class=\"p1\">Buyer can withdraw \u2192 loses deposit.<\/p><\/li><li><p class=\"p1\">Seller can withdraw \u2192 must pay back double.<\/p><p class=\"p1\"><b>Arras penitenciales (revocable deposit)<\/b><\/p><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><p class=\"p3\"><span class=\"s2\"><b>Example:<\/b><\/span> You pay \u20ac40,000. If you withdraw, you lose this. If the seller backs out, he must refund the \u20ac40,000 and pay a \u20ac40,000 penalty.  <\/p><\/li><li><p class=\"p1\"><b>Arras penales (contractual penalty)<\/b><b><\/b><\/p><ul><li><p class=\"p1\">Contain a penalty clause.<\/p><\/li><li><p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Buyer or seller can insist on <\/span><b>insist on fulfillment of the contract AND claim damages<\/b><span class=\"s1\">.<\/span><\/p><\/li><li><p class=\"p1\">Rather rare in private real estate purchases.<\/p><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ol><h3><b>4 What do foreign buyers need to be aware of?<\/b><\/h3><table><thead><tr><th><p class=\"p1\"><b>Point<\/b><\/p><\/th><th><p class=\"p1\"><b>Explanation<\/b><\/p><\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td><p class=\"p1\"><b>Language &amp; understanding<\/b><\/p><\/td><td><p class=\"p1\">Always have the contract translated or explained by a lawyer. A small legal mistake can be expensive. <\/p><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><p class=\"p1\"><b>Clarity on deadlines<\/b><\/p><\/td><td><p class=\"p1\">The appointment for the notary in particular must be clearly regulated. Does the contract state that you must propose the date? How and by when?  <\/p><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><p class=\"p1\"><b>Communication channel<\/b><\/p><\/td><td><p class=\"p1\">In Spain, Burofax (court-proof delivery) is often used. E-mail alone is not secure. <\/p><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><p class=\"p1\"><b>Allocation of costs<\/b><\/p><\/td><td><p class=\"p1\">In Germany, the buyer usually pays almost everything &#8211; in Spain it can be different. Make sure the contract contains clear provisions. <\/p><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><p class=\"p1\"><b>Financing<\/b><\/p><\/td><td><p class=\"p1\">If you need a mortgage, clarify in advance whether your bank can finance it on time. If necessary, include an extension in the contract. <\/p><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><h3><b>5. how much is the deposit?<\/b><\/h3><ul><li><p class=\"p1\">As a rule <span class=\"s1\"><b>10 %<\/b><\/span> of the purchase price.<\/p><\/li><li><p class=\"p1\">For properties in Mallorca that are in high demand (e.g. sea view apartments or fincas with a license), the seller can demand more.<\/p><\/li><li><p class=\"p1\">Important: The deposit will be deducted from the purchase price at a later date.<\/p><\/li><\/ul><h3><b>6. is the Contrato de Arras binding?<\/b><\/h3><ul><li><p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\"><b>No<\/b><\/span>you could also sign the purchase contract directly at the notary.<\/p><\/li><li><p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\"><b>But:<\/b><\/span> In practice, the Arras contract is almost always the standard, as sellers want security before they take the property off the market.<\/p><\/li><\/ul><h3><b>7. tax aspects<\/b><\/h3><ul><li><p class=\"p1\">When the purchase is finalized: The deposit is considered part of the purchase price.<\/p><\/li><li><p class=\"p1\">If the purchase fails:<\/p><ul><li><p class=\"p1\">Buyer loses down payment \u2192 no tax advantage.<\/p><\/li><li><p class=\"p1\">Seller keeps deposit \u2192 must tax this as profit.<\/p><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><h3><b>8. practical tips for German buyers<\/b><\/h3><ol start=\"1\"><li><p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\"><b>Always consult a lawyer<\/b><\/span> &#8211; ideally German-speaking and with experience in Mallorca.<\/p><\/li><li><p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\"><b>Do not sign a Spanish contract without checking it!<\/b><\/span>  &#8211; Even small clauses can have serious consequences.<\/p><\/li><li><p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\"><b>Observe deadlines precisely<\/b><\/span> &#8211; especially for the notary appointment.<\/p><\/li><li><p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\"><b>Payment via verification channels<\/b><\/span> &#8211; Bank transfer, no cash.<\/p><\/li><li><p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\"><b>Prepare documents<\/b><\/span> &#8211; NEVER, NEVER forget the NIE (Spanish Alien Identification Number).<\/p><\/li><\/ol><h3><b>Conclusion:<\/b><\/h3><p class=\"p3\">The <i>Contrato de Arras<\/i> is a key document when buying a property in Mallorca. It protects both parties, but also harbors risks if you are not familiar with the legal differences to German law. <\/p><p class=\"p3\">Our advice:<\/p><ul><li><p class=\"p1\">Always have the contract <span class=\"s1\"><b>always checked legally<\/b><\/span>.<\/p><\/li><li><p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Pay attention to <\/span><b>clear formulations<\/b><span class=\"s1\"> and <\/span><b>realistic deadlines<\/b><span class=\"s1\">.<\/span><\/p><\/li><li><p class=\"p1\">And above all: understand the consequences before you sign &#8211; then nothing will stand in the way of you buying your dream property in Mallorca.<\/p><\/li><\/ul><p class=\"p3\"> <\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-887f4f1 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"887f4f1\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-ff080f3\" data-id=\"ff080f3\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-384eb843 elementor-align-center elementor-mobile-align-center elementor-widget elementor-widget-button\" data-id=\"384eb843\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"button.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-button-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-button elementor-button-link elementor-size-sm\" href=\"https:\/\/puravida-estate.com\/en\/the-real-estate-encyclopedia-for-mallorca\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t<i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-book-open\"><\/i>\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-text\">back to the lexicon<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A Contrato de Arras is a contract under private law for the purchase or sale of real estate in Spain. In this contract, the buyer and seller reserve the property and define the most important conditions of the purchase.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"elementor_header_footer","format":"standard","meta":{"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"none","_seopress_titles_title":"Contrato de Arras in Mallorca: What buyers need to know","_seopress_titles_desc":"Find out all about the Contrato de Arras in Mallorca and its importance for foreign buyers when purchasing real estate - security guaranteed!","_seopress_robots_index":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1360],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1091622","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-faq-en"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/puravida-estate.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1091622","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/puravida-estate.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/puravida-estate.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/puravida-estate.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/puravida-estate.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1091622"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/puravida-estate.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1091622\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/puravida-estate.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1091622"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/puravida-estate.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1091622"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/puravida-estate.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1091622"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}