Easy living on the Costa Blanca

On a new build you pay VAT (IVA) and stamp duty (AJD); on a resale home, transfer tax (ITP) instead. Notary, Land Registry and legal fees come on top. Our buyer guide puts the total at roughly 13 to 14 percent of the price, but rates change, so ask us for an estimate for the home you have in mind.

A new build needs no renovation, comes with a 10-year construction guarantee and lets you choose finishes if you buy early, but you wait for completion and usually furnish it yourself. A resale home often costs less per square metre, you see exactly what you buy and you can move in sooner, but an older building may need upgrades.

Payments you make before completion are covered by a bank guarantee, and the developer gives a 10-year guarantee on the construction. Our partner lawyer checks both before you sign.

Yes. Foreign buyers need an NIE, the Spanish identification number for foreigners. You can apply at a Spanish consulate in your own country or at the police foreign office in Spain, and our partner lawyer can arrange it for you. You also need a Spanish bank account for taxes and utility bills.

We recommend it strongly. We work with Hugo Gutiérrez Colás of Colás Abogados, who speaks English, Swedish and Spanish and checks the property, the contracts and the guarantees. You are free to choose another lawyer.

Yes. We plan viewings around the dates of your trip, and we can show a home by video call first, so you only travel for the homes that are worth a visit.