Hello Aragon-properties, great to have someone in your neck of the woods, I don't have a section for you at the moment (nearest probably Costa Brava) but if you email me the section that you cover - I will add it on the
Spanish Real Estate Forum for you.
Here on the Costa Blanca, getting an NIE number only takes one day to get, but you have to get there early and wait about a while, there is another option which we have a local office which take the applications which take a week to process and you can collect it at the end of the week.
All areas work differently so I would not be able to comment up in your region.
Do stick around and have your say of the forum.
See you round.
Richie