Digital tools in Spanish real estate: Insights from property professionals in 2025

In early 2025, Redpin conducted a comprehensive survey in collaboration with Spanish property professionals.

The participants were a mix of estate agents (72%) and legal conveyancers (28%), and the survey aimed to provide a holistic view of the sector’s software usage, attitudes toward digital transformation, and perspectives on innovation.

The results shed light on how professionals are adapting to a rapidly evolving property landscape – a landscape increasingly shaped by international buyers, new technology, and the growing need for operational efficiency.

Digital tools: from ‘nice to have’ to necessity

The survey data confirmed that digital tools are no longer a luxury – they’re a lifeline.

Estate agents reported the highest use of two software categories: customer relationship management (CRM) systems and lead generation platforms. Legal professionals focus less on customer relationship management software but were more likely to use payment processing and legal practice management tools

Common ground was found in the use of electronic signatures, document management systems, and accounting tools, with these essentials becoming part of the daily digital toolkit across both sectors. But adoption isn’t universal, suggesting a distinction between software enabled firms and more traditional operators. Survey respondents who don’t currently use certain software tools cited cost, complexity, and lack of perceived benefit as the main barriers.

Software costs and payment models: flexibility is key

For property professionals navigating everything from legal red tape to international client demands, software is increasingly perceived as a partner in productivity rather than a tool.

When it comes to paying for these services, traditional models still dominate, with annual and monthly subscriptions paid via direct debit or invoice being the most common. However, the real message from respondents was clear – flexibility is key.

Many professionals expressed a strong preference for payment structures that can scale with their business. For a seasonal market like Spain’s, where transaction volumes often peak in summer and dip in winter, rigid pricing plans simply don’t make sense. Agents and legal firms simply want to pay for what they use.

This mirrors broader trends across the SaaS industry, where flexible, usage-based pricing is rapidly becoming the norm. According to a 2024 report by OpenView Partners, more than 60% of SaaS companies have adopted or plan to adopt usage-based pricing models to better align with customer value.

Whether it’s a flat monthly rate, a per-transaction fee, or a commission-based percentage, the appetite for pricing options among Spanish property professionals is strong.

Redpin Payments: an end-to-end payments solution that addresses the growing risk of cybercrime in Spain

When asked about their interest in the recently launched Redpin Payments service, survey participants showed strong appreciation for features like secure international payment processing, built-in identity verification, and automated transaction documentation – capabilities Redpin has positioned at the core of its offering.

Interestingly, priorities differed depending on profession. Agents were most interested in automation and client-facing features like automated follow-ups (16%) and document signing (15%), while lawyers focused on financial tools such as free instant payments to sellers (21%) and making utility payments without a Spanish bank account (17%).

Security is another key consideration. With cybercrime growing 37% over the past three years in Spain and a reported cybercrime every 82 seconds, many are looking for trusted solutions to limit the sharing of financial information via unsecured methods (INCIBE, ‘Informe de Evolución de la Cibercriminalidad en España’ 2021, 2022 and 2023).

Redpin Payments acts as a transaction control centre for property professionals, removing the usual friction from cross-border property payments and simplifying everything from scheduling and disbursing funds to adhering to compliance processes. It’s streamlined transactions workflows help real-estate-focused solicitors save time, increase control, and mitigate the risks of wire fraud.

For a deeper dive into how real estate professionals can protect themselves and their clients, see our guide to real estate fraud prevention.

Survey respondents expressed concerns with existing tools around data security, pricing transparency, and customer support – areas that Redpin has addressed through robust encryption, real-time fraud monitoring, and multilingual support from a dedicated team.

Notably, the ability to create a shared, always-online workspace for every transaction makes Redpin particularly appealing to professionals juggling international clients, fluctuating disbursements, and tight deadlines. It replaces back-and-forth, unsecure emails and last-minute banking panic with a single, streamlined interface.

In a landscape where payment security is paramount and clients demand speed, Redpin Payments has arrived to change the game.

Wider market context: opportunity and upheaval

These insights land at a time when the Spanish property market is seeing both opportunity and upheaval.

Price increases

In 2024, Spain saw an 11% year-on-year rise in house prices – the second highest in the EU after Portugal. American buyers, in particular, are entering the market aggressively, paying nearly 30% more per square metre than British buyers.

International influence

Over half of respondents reported that a significant proportion of their annual transactions involved foreign clients. This underscores the need for cross-border payment tools and multilingual platforms. Additionally, given that international buyers and sellers are 32% more likely to be targeted for cybercrime in Spain, identifying solutions that protect targeted clients has taken on new importance.

Local backlash

At the same time, Spain is experiencing protests in cities like Barcelona and Madrid over rising rents and housing shortages. The national conversation is shifting toward sustainable development and regulation, factors which could impact the international property market.

Smart, sustainable, and software-powered

Forward-thinking property professionals are positioning themselves at the intersection of technology, sustainability, and customer experience. In 2025, this means not only adopting the right tools, but also understanding how digital transformation can support more transparent, efficient, and ethical transactions.

Features like smart home integration, AI-enhanced lead generation, and paperless workflows are increasingly sought after by both domestic and international clients.

What this means for your business

Whether you're a small agency managing ten deals a year or a legal firm closing hundreds of property transactions, investing in the right digital tools can yield measurable returns:

✅ Greater operational efficiency.

✅ Enhanced client trust and satisfaction.

✅ Streamlined compliance and reporting.

✅ Reduced friction in international deals.

Spain’s property market is facing transformative pressures, from international demand and housing policy changes to tech disruption and environmental accountability.

Professionals who embrace this change, using tools like CRMs, digital contracts, and integrated payment platforms, will be best positioned to lead.

Want to learn more about Redpin Payments? Speak to an expert today to find out how our payment platform could benefit your business.