Listing & viewing terminology (ES/CAT → EN)
*The dictionary for idealista, fotocasa, estate-agent brochures and viewings — from a reformar through calidades to marés. Terms without a marker are purely linguistic; ✅/🟡/🔴 only where it becomes legally relevant.*
Location (Ubicación)#
| Term (ES/CAT) | English | Note |
|---|---|---|
| primera línea / a pie de playa | first sea line / right on the beach | 🟡 The Ley de Costas often applies (servitude zones, building/conversion bans) — check the coastal setback (→ Ch. 10) |
| segunda línea | second row from the sea | one row/street back; usually a partial sea view |
| vistas al mar | sea view | 🟡 very elastic — check on site and at the right time of day |
| a reformar / de origen | in need of renovation / original condition | 🔴 May indicate a missing cédula de habitabilidad (→ Ch. 09); clarify the permit situation + budget |
| para entrar a vivir / llaves en mano | ready to move in / turnkey | a marketing claim, not a technical standard |
| reformado / recién reformado | renovated / recently renovated | 🟡 ask for the licencia de obra of the works (risk of unpermitted conversion) |
| céntrico / a las afueras / zona tranquila | central / on the outskirts / quiet area | check seasonal summer noise separately |
| urbanización | (planned) residential development | usually communal facilities + comunidad fees (→ Ch. 05) |
Condition & quality#
| Term | English | Note |
|---|---|---|
| calidades / altas calidades | material quality / high-end fittings | marketing — inspect specifically at the viewing |
| obra nueva / de segunda mano | new build / resale property | tax-relevant (IVA vs. ITP, → Ch. 04) |
| exterior / interior | outward-/inward-facing | interior = facing an inner courtyard/light well (often darker) |
| luminoso / orientación (sur/norte) | bright / orientation (south/north) | South = lots of sun/summer heat; North = cooler |
Rooms & areas#
| Term | English | Note |
|---|---|---|
| dormitorio · baño / aseo | bedroom · full bathroom / guest WC | aseo = WC, usually without a shower |
| salón-comedor · cocina americana/office | living-dining room · open-plan/separate kitchen | — |
| despensa · trastero | pantry · storage room | 🟡 trastero often has its own referencia catastral → included in the sale? |
| altillo · buhardilla | mezzanine loft/intermediate level · attic room | 🟡 altillo often not counted in the legal living area/height |
| sótano · semisótano | basement · semi-basement | 🟡 residential use of a semi-basement is not always legal/declared |
| ático · bajo · entreplanta | penthouse · ground-floor flat · mezzanine | — |
| terraza · balcón · solárium · porche · patio · jardín | terrace · balcony · roof terrace · covered terrace · inner courtyard · garden | — |
| parcela | plot/parcel | 🟡 on rústico land, check minimum size/buildability (→ Ch. 10) |
Areas: listings usually quote m² construidos; m² útiles (usable floor area) are typically 15–25 % lower — always ask for útiles (→ Ch. 17).
Fittings & features#
| Term | English | Note |
|---|---|---|
| aire acondicionado frío-calor | air conditioning (cooling + heating) | heat pump — on Mallorca often the only “heating" |
| calefacción central / individual | central / individual heating | central = costs via the comunidad |
| suelo radiante · domótica | underfloor heating · smart home | — |
| armarios empotrados · cocina amueblada | fitted wardrobes · equipped kitchen | ask what stays |
| piscina (climatizada/desbordante/infinity) | pool (heated/overflow/infinity) | 🟡 check the pool's legality/permit (a frequent finca problem, → Ch. 10) |
| garaje · plaza de aparcamiento · ascensor · portero/conserje | garage · parking space · lift · porter/concierge | parking space often a separate cadastral unit; concierge = comunidad cost |
Mallorca-specific#
| Term | English | Note |
|---|---|---|
| finca | country house on rústico land | 🟡 buildability/residential use/ETV strictly regulated (→ Ch. 10/11) |
| possessió (Cat.) | historic manor/country estate | 🟡 often listed as a heritage building (BIC/catálogo) |
| casa de pueblo | village/town house in the centre | often marés construction, with a patio |
| casita de aperos | tool/equipment shed | 🔴 no legal residential use — often marketed as a “house" |
| molino | (wind-/water-) mill | 🟡 heritage/conversion restrictions |
| cisterna | cistern/rainwater tank | important for fincas without a public water supply (→ Ch. 26) |
| marés | Balearic sandstone (calcareous) | a defining building material; 🟡 maintenance-intensive (damp/salt), expensive to restore |
| teulada · porxo (Cat.) | tiled roof · covered veranda | check the roof condition/insulation |
Law & marketing (with cross-references)#
| Term | English | Note |
|---|---|---|
| libre de cargas | free of encumbrances | 🔴 always verify via the nota simple, don't trust the listing (→ Ch. 02) |
| escriturado / escriturada por X € | value declared in the deed | 🟡 under-declaring is illegal (→ Ch. 21) |
| nuda propiedad | bare ownership without use rights | 🔴 use only after the usufructo expires (→ Ch. 17) |
| alquiler con opción a compra | rent-to-buy | 🟡 fix the option period/credit contractually |
| vivienda VPO | subsidised/social housing | 🔴 price/sale/letting restrictions (→ Ch. 17) |
| seña / reserva · exclusiva · contraoferta | deposit/reservation · sole agency mandate · counter-offer | 🟡 clarify the arras type, do not pay before the nota simple (→ Ch. 01) |
| vendido como visto | “sold as seen" | 🔴 an attempt to exclude liability for defects — check condition/permits beforehand |
❓ FAQ#
What does “a reformar" really mean? Renovation needed — often combined with a missing valid cédula de habitabilidad. Clarify the permit situation and budget before buying.
Why does the listing show more m² than the flat actually has? Listings quote m² construidos (including walls/communal share); the walkable area is the m² útiles, typically 15–25 % less.
“Libre de cargas" — can I rely on it? No. Verify it yourself via the nota simple (Land Registry extract) before paying any deposit.
Sources (selection)#
- Tinsa/Housfy/Banc Sabadell (cédula at sale) · idealista/MAPFRE (construidos vs. útiles)
- Lexway/Sierra Abogados (nuda propiedad) · Wikipedia/Ingeniatura (marés)