When buying a property in Spain, if the seller has a mortgage on the property, the cancellation of this mortgage takes place two months before the actual notarisation of the sale, so that the cancellation is entered in the register, or on the day of the sale.Both processes are carried out before a notary and part of the payment to the seller is made by cheque, which is used to pay off the mortgage. This ensures that the property is sold free of any encumbrances.In the case of a mortgage, certified cheques must be prepared by a Spanish bank at a cost of approximately €300 per cheque, which is borne by the buyer.If the seller has financed the property with a mortgage, it is possible to take it over. In this case, it is crucial to carefully check the exact terms of the mortgage.The costs of cancelling the mortgage at the land registry are borne by the seller and are usually deducted from the purchase price.