Alberto Bertazzi
Founder & Director
A Bocconi University graduate with over 22 years in Spanish banking, Alberto leads the bespoke strategy side of FCG and personally oversees client cases.
📝 Guides & Articles
FCG Mortgage Blog
Practical, human-written guidance for expats and non-residents who want a clearer mortgage path in Spain. You deal directly with Alberto Bertazzi or Mike Brady from first review to completion.
Direct Human Contact
Work Directly With Alberto or Mike
No outsourced case handling. From the first mortgage review to the final stretch of the transaction, you can reach a real specialist when something needs explaining, solving or chasing.
Mike Brady
Senior Mortgage Advisor
Mike focuses on Spanish mortgages for expats and non-residents, guiding international buyers through lender fit, paperwork and day-to-day progress with clarity and care.
Mortgage Guides
Start with the core guides
These are the foundational pages we would normally point a new client to first: process, non-resident lending, deposit planning, buying costs and the practical timeline.
Pillar Guide
Getting a Mortgage in Spain
The core process, key decision points and the practical questions to settle before you sign an arras contract.
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Non-Resident Mortgages in Spain
How lenders usually look at overseas income, liquidity, valuation, existing debt and cross-border paperwork.
Read Article →Expat Buyers
Expat Mortgages in Spain
For buyers living, working or relocating to Spain who want to understand how resident and near-resident cases are usually assessed.
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Mortgage in Spain for UK Buyers
Buying after Brexit, travel-day planning, lender expectations and how to structure a case without surprises.
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Getting a Spanish Mortgage from Dubai or the UAE
A practical guide for Gulf-based buyers who want a calm, well-managed application from abroad.
Read Article →Self-Employed
Self-Employed Mortgage in Spain
What lenders usually want from autónomos, company owners and internationally mobile professionals.
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How Much Deposit Do You Need to Buy in Spain?
The answer most buyers need before they reserve: how much cash is likely to be required and what a mortgage does not cover.
Read Article →Costs
Buying Costs in Spain for Non-Residents
A clean breakdown of mortgage costs versus property purchase costs, and why those are two different conversations.
Read Article →Timeline
Spanish Mortgage Timeline & Process
What tends to happen, in what order, between first review, bank submission, valuation, FEIN and notary.
Read Article →Insights & Articles
Deeper reads for specific questions
In-depth articles with clear bylines, regular updates and practical links to related topics our clients often ask about.
By Mike BradyReviewed by Alberto BertazziHow to Get a Mortgage in Spain as a Non-Resident
Non-resident mortgages in Spain are very possible, but the strongest files usually start with realistic cash planning and a lender shortlist that matches the client before a reservation agreement is signed.
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By Alberto BertazziReviewed by Mike BradyFixed vs Variable Rate Mortgages in Spain: What Really Matters?
The real decision is not fixed versus variable in the abstract. It is whether you value payment certainty, flexibility, or a middle road that still feels manageable if rates move against you.
Read Article →By Mike BradyReviewed by Alberto BertazziMortgage in Spain for UK Buyers After Brexit
Brexit did not close the Spanish property door for British buyers. It simply made the planning stage more important, especially around travel days, non-resident status and documentary preparation.
Read Article →How Much Deposit Do You Really Need to Buy Property in Spain?
The deposit is only part of the story. Buyers usually need to budget for their equity contribution and then a second layer of taxes and buying costs that the mortgage does not cover.
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By Mike BradyReviewed by Alberto BertazziIs Costa del Sol Property Investment Still Profitable?
The Costa del Sol can still be profitable, but only when the numbers are treated like numbers. The glossy version of the market is not the one that pays the bills.
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By Mike BradyReviewed by Alberto BertazziTop 5 Mistakes Foreign Investors Make When Buying Property in Spain
Foreign investors rarely get hurt by a single dramatic mistake. More often, the damage arrives in neat little layers: a generous valuation assumption here, a thin cash buffer there, and a property that looked better in sunlight than in numbers.
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By Mike BradyReviewed by Alberto BertazziStrategic Mortgage Structuring for Property Investors in Spain
Good leverage can sharpen a strategy. Bad leverage turns a property into a polite hostage situation. The mortgage needs to fit the investment thesis, not merely the maximum amount a bank might lend.
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By Mike BradyReviewed by Alberto BertazziThree Ways to Profit from Property Investment in Spain
There is no single “best” investment strategy in Spain. There are only strategies that fit the asset, the location, the regulation and the investor’s own temperament.
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By Alberto BertazziReviewed by Mike BradyHow to Finance a Property Renovation in Spain
Renovation finance in Spain is possible in some cases, but it is not magic. The bank will want to understand the property, the works, the budget and the final value with considerably more discipline than a casual buyer might expect.
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By Mike BradyReviewed by Alberto BertazziWhy We Are REALTORS®: What NAR Membership Means for You
REALTOR® is not decorative punctuation. It signals membership of the National Association of REALTORS® and a commitment to its Code of Ethics, which exists to protect the public and raise professional standards.
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By Alberto BertazziReviewed by Mike BradyWhat Is SIRA? Spain’s Professional Alliance for International REALTORS®
SIRA is the local partner route into International REALTOR® membership for Spain and Portugal. For clients, it represents an extra layer of professional alignment and ethical commitment in a market where clarity is valuable.
Read Article →By Mike BradyReviewed by Alberto BertazziGetting a Spanish Mortgage from Dubai, Saudi Arabia or Qatar
For many Gulf-based buyers, the challenge is not whether a Spanish mortgage is possible. It is how to package the case properly from abroad so the right lenders can understand it quickly and confidently.
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