What to consider before buying a property on the Costa Blanca
The Alicante region, home to the beautiful Costa Blanca coastline, has become one of the most sought-after areas in Spain, especially amongst foreign property buyers. In fact, according to a report by Registradores de Espana, foreigners accounted for nearly 44% of all local property purchases in 2025, with British, German and Dutch buyers leading the numbers. Much of this is very easy to explain: sun, sea, delicious food and prices that still undercut most of Western Europe.
If you, too, are eyeing a place here, such popularity cuts both ways: there’s already infrastructure in place to help you buy safely, but there’s also a lot of competition. So, here’s what you need to know beforehand.
The end of the Golden Visa
Spain officially scrapped its Golden Visa scheme in April 2025 (the visa that automatically granted foreigners residency permits when investing in local real estate worth €500,000 or more). While, in Costa Blanca, purchases under Golden Visa historically accounted for only a small fraction of all foreign investment, it’s still worth taking into consideration.
Owning a Spanish property and having the right to live there full-time are two separate questions now. Therefore, if you’re planning to actually relocate to Spain, start by understanding your visa options.
Sort out the paperwork early
Before you fall for a property and a beautiful coastal view, the boring part needs to come first. You cannot legally complete a Spanish property purchase without an NIE number (Número de Identidad de Extranjero, a.k.a. your foreigner tax identification number).
Without an NIE, you can have no registration, no mortgage, no utilities in your name - nada! So, ideally you would get an English-speaking Spanish lawyer to help you sort out all the legal bits as quickly and accurately as possible.
Location decides almost everything
The Costa Blanca isn't one market, but rather several very different areas stitched together. The north, around Dénia and Xàbia, is greener, hillier, quieter and, of course, pricier per square metre. Meanwhile the south, such as Torrevieja and Orihuela Costa, is flatter, cheaper, but also busier with expat communities. Get the location wrong and you'll end up somewhere that doesn't suit how you actually want to live, miles from the amenities or the communities you pictured.
Working with a local agent who has deep knowledge in the entire area will help you avoid that disappointment. 1 Real Estate, for instance, are established agents with over 50 years of experience in the Spanish market. They also offer a unique commission model of just 1%, potentially saving you thousands off your purchase.
Budget for more than the property price
Remember that the property price is never fully representative of the real purchase costs. While you may negotiate your way down from the asking price, you also need to account for all the extra fees and costs. Being realistic here will help you avoid unpleasant “surprises”.
There’s usually around 10 to 13% on top of the final property price, which include notary fees, registration, legal costs, transfer tax, etc… Resale properties may also carry different tax rates to new builds, so check which category you’re buying into before you do the maths.
Additionally, bank financing to foreigners in Spain is usually limited to 50 to 70% of the property’s purchase price, meaning you’ll need to cover a fair amount of it from your pocket.
The bottom line
Buying a property in Spain is an exciting move, but it’s also a decision that requires a lot of consideration, from legal requirements and financial calculations, to location choices. Luckily, there are many excellent, English-speaking experts in each of those fields who you can lean on for help.
