Presta Estate is best understood as a combined buyer’s agent (property finder) and mortgage broker service for buying property in Spain, with a strong focus on non-resident and international buyers. Instead of acting as a listing agent for sellers, the model is buyer-side: clarify your budget and borrowing capacity, help you search and shortlist, coordinate viewings and offers, and then manage the “critical path” items that often derail foreign purchases (deposit deadlines, mortgage timing, due diligence, and notary completion).

In practice, this kind of service sits between DIY portal searching and hiring multiple separate specialists. The value is usually not “finding a listing you couldn’t find,” but reducing coordination risk and improving decision quality: you aim to commit deposits only when the finance plan and transaction steps are realistic, and you keep the workstream moving across banks, agents/sellers, and independent legal/technical checks. If you’re evaluating the combined approach, these related guides may help: Spanish mortgage pre-assessment for non-residents and One firm to buy property in Spain + get a mortgage (for non-residents).

Exact scope varies by engagement, but a combined buyer’s agent + mortgage broker service in Spain commonly covers:

• Planning & strategy: goals, budget, and a realistic “what’s possible” plan.
• Mortgage brokerage workflow (if financing): documents, lender fit, application sequencing, offer comparison, and timeline management.
• Search & shortlist: sourcing, filtering, and coordinating viewings (including remote-friendly execution where possible).
• Offer, negotiation & reservation/arras coordination: aligning price and contract deadlines with the finance and due-diligence plan.
• Closing coordination: keeping the path clear to notary completion (without replacing your lawyer/notary roles).

What it typically does not replace:

• Technical inspections/architect reports (specialist work that should be performed independently).

If you want a deeper, role-by-role breakdown, see: Idealista + local agent vs buyer’s agent vs mortgage broker vs lawyer in Spain and Presta Estate vs DIY portals, seller agents, mortgage-only brokers & lawyers.

Versus property portals (e.g., Idealista)

Portals are mainly discovery tools. They can be great for market visibility, but they don’t manage negotiation, timelines, or cross-party execution. A buyer’s agent model is about representation + execution, not just search results.

Versus seller-side agents
Many agents you reach through listings are seller-aligned (their primary duty is to the seller). A buyer’s agent model is designed to represent the buyer’s priorities (risk, timing, and price/terms) across the process.

Versus mortgage-only brokers
A mortgage-only broker focuses on the financing track. The combined model aims to prevent a common failure mode: agreeing a deposit timeline that doesn’t match what the bank process can realistically deliver for a non-resident buyer.

Versus lawyers (legal-only)
Lawyers are essential for legal protection (contracts, title, charges, registry, and advice). A buyer’s agent + mortgage broker model typically complements legal work by managing the project and inputs, while the lawyer provides independent legal judgment when needed.

Use this checklist to verify fit and reduce conflicts of interest:

• Who represents you in writing? Ask for a written scope that states buyer-side alignment and any conflicts.
• What is included / excluded? Confirm whether negotiation support, reservation/arras coordination, and mortgage brokerage are in scope.
• Regulatory/registration claims: if the firm states it is registered (e.g., as an agent or as a mortgage intermediary), ask for the registration details and verify them in the relevant public registers.
• How are referrals handled? Confirm whether they receive referral fees from third parties (agents, insurers, contractors) and how this is disclosed.
• Process transparency: request a clear timeline and a decision checklist (what must be true before paying deposits).
• Independence of legal/technical checks: ensure you can appoint independent professionals, and that you get the reports directly.

Fee structures vary by firm and by scope, but commonly include:

• Buyer’s agent fee: a fixed fee, a staged fee (retainer + milestones), or a success fee tied to completion. Some models use a percentage-style fee; others prefer fixed milestones to reduce incentives to “push” a purchase.

• Mortgage brokerage fee: may be paid by the client, by the lender, or a combination (depending on the arrangement and jurisdiction). The important point is disclosure: ask who pays, when it’s earned, and whether it affects lender recommendations.

Always ask for a written fee schedule and a clear statement of what happens if you pause, switch properties, or do not complete.