Buying and selling properties

Buying and selling properties without paperwork is now possible. The market is experiencing an unprecedented boom: in June 2025, 59,021 property sales were registered, representing a year-on-year increase of 17.9%, marking twelve consecutive months of growth. Amidst all this turmoil, digitization has become a strategic element in streamlining real estate transactions and offering both sellers and buyers a much smoother and more convenient experience.

In this article, we show you how digital solutions such as digital signatures can transform property sales and become a competitive factor that reduces timeframes and protects against fraud.

Overview of buying and selling properties in 2025

The real estate market in Spain is booming. According to data from the National Statistics Institute (INE), at the beginning of August, there had already been almost 20% more transactions than last year, driven by economic and market factors that are boosting demand. Within this growth, there has also been an increase in second-hand housing, which represents approximately 79% of the total, with an increase of 16%, and also in new construction, which grew by 25.3%.

This dynamism requires the sector to adapt quickly. The competition is already committed to innovative solutions to shorten deadlines and offer a much smoother user experience.

In fact, many operations already include electronic procedures to optimize processes, improve efficiency, and transform the customer experience: digitization of construction and payments, automation of real estate processes, and smart buildings, among others. Optimizing operations is no longer an option; it is a real competitive advantage.

Actors and systems involved in digital sales

Different agents are involved in the process of buying and selling properties, all of whom are essential to ensuring that such an important transaction is carried out in the most satisfactory manner for everyone. Two stand out in particular: the buyer and the seller.

However, there are also other participants with different roles in the buying and selling properties’ process. Those mentioned below are not necessarily involved in all sales transactions, but they are involved in most, so they must be taken into account:

• Real estate agencies: Acting as intermediaries between buyers and sellers, they facilitate the entire sales process.
• Financial institution: If a mortgage is required, the financial institution will provide the buyer with all the resources to finance the purchase and carry out the property appraisal.
• Platforms: Many real estate agencies use internal platforms that streamline the buying and selling process, including CRM software and applications for task management and work organization.
• Notary: One of the key agents alongside the seller and buyer. Their role is to certify the transaction, ensuring the legality and legal security of the process.

Digitization of notarial transactions

In the context of buying and selling properties, the notary plays a leading role as an agent involved in the transaction, as it is their presence that gives validity and security to the transaction through what is known as a public deed of sale. This legal document formalizes the transaction (buying and selling properties), validating the transfer of ownership of the property between buyer and seller.

As mentioned above, the notary is not a mandatory participant in all transactions, but it is highly recommended to include them in order to provide legal backing for the transactions. If the buyer needs financing through a mortgage, their presence is mandatory.

Identity fraud risks and how to mitigate them

More and more real estate agencies and notaries are choosing to digitize their operations due to the advantages for their clients and themselves. But despite its popularity, there is widespread fear about the potential risks it may entail, including fraud, identity theft, document tampering, or lack of trust in the services. Although these concerns are based on the experiences of third parties or stories heard, it is important to know that, if the appropriate measures are taken and precautions are followed, nothing should happen.

Measures to ensure security while buying and selling properties

To ensure security in real estate transactions such as property sales, Viafirma provides you with mechanisms that will help prevent fraud:

• Evidential document. This is a technical document that contains all the information about the process of signing a digital file: general data, participants, types of evidence, traceability, etc. It serves as proof of integrity, authenticity, and non-repudiation to third parties.
  Time stamps. Time stamps guarantee the integrity, legal validity, and authenticity of any electronically signed document throughout its life cycle.
• Time stamps. Time stamps guarantee the integrity, legal validity, and authenticity of any electronically signed document throughout its entire life cycle.
• Multi-factor authentication. Provides an extra layer of security, acting as complementary security measures. This is especially useful for dealing with potential cyberattacks, preventing attackers from accessing your account or sensitive information.

Other uses of electronic signatures in real estate

Beyond sales contracts, real estate is one of the sectors where electronic signatures can find the widest range of applications. For example, they could be used in cases such as:

• Rental agreement
• Deposit agreement
• Power of attorney to register/deregister utility companies
• Home insurance signature
• Payment authorization signature (SEPA mandate)

Take your real estate operations to the next level

As you have seen, buying and selling properties is just one of the many applications that digital solutions have in the real estate sector. Do you have a real estate agency and want to offer your clients the best possible buying or selling experience? Trust Viafirma. As a leading company with 25 years of experience in the sector, we have helped companies such as Tecnología Inmobiliaria and Grupo Santamaría make the leap towards digital transformation. Request a free demo of our digital solutions and see the potential they have for real estate agencies.