What costs come with buying a property on the Costa Blanca?

Taking the step towards buying a Property on the Costa Blanca often starts with a very specific picture: breakfasts in the sun, walks around Guardamar, afternoons by the sea in La Mata, or weekends in Orihuela Costa. But there’s something just as important as falling in love with the area: understanding the real costs of the transaction.

And it’s worth doing it calmly. This stretch of Alicante offers more than 300 days of sunshine a year, good connections via the AP-7 and the N-332, services open most of the year, and an international community that makes settling in easy if you’re coming from abroad.

Also, we’re not talking about just one lifestyle. You might be looking for a residential atmosphere in La Marina, beaches and dunes next to Guardamar, proximity to golf in Ciudad Quesada, or a practical second home near Torrevieja. Every buyer profile finds their own pace here.

• Highly rated beaches such as La Mata, El Moncayo or La Marina.
• Nearby golf courses in areas like Ciudad Quesada and Orihuela Costa.
• Alicante-Elche Airport around 30 to 35 minutes away depending on the area.
• Everyday services all year round: supermarkets, medical centres and restaurants.

The interesting part comes when you put numbers on the table and see what portion of your budget needs to be set aside, in addition to the sale price.

What to calculate in buying a Property on the Costa Blanca before signing

When you analyse buying a Property on the Costa Blanca, there’s a simple rule that helps you avoid surprises: don’t focus only on the listing price. Typically, you’ll need to add taxes, notary fees, land registry costs, legal handling, and some procedures that depend on whether you’re buying a resale property or a new build.

With a second-hand home, the main cost is usually the Transfer Tax (ITP). With a new build, on the other hand, VAT and stamp duty (AJD) usually come into play. What truly changes between one option and the other? The type of taxation, and therefore the budget planning you need to do from the very start.

It’s also wise to account for notary fees, registration at the Land Registry, possible legal advice, valuation if there is a mortgage, and bank costs linked to financing. If you’re buying from abroad, sometimes you also need to add NIE processing, translations, or currency exchange.

• Resale with transfer tax costs.
• New build with VAT and associated documentation fees.
• Notary and land registry to formalise and register the transaction.
• Mortgage with valuation and a review of bank terms.
• Extra funds for utilities, community fees, or initial set-up work.

The key isn’t memorising acronyms, but knowing which items apply to your specific case and when you’ll need to pay them.

Buying a Property on the Costa Blanca changes a lot when an expert team supports you

When we guide people through processes of buying a Property on the Costa Blanca, we see the same question again and again: how much money should I set aside on top of the price? That’s why we work with a complete overview, reviewing the property, legal, tax and financial side so you can make decisions with your feet on the ground.

We have over 20 years of experience in the area and a multilingual team that assists in Spanish, English, Italian, French, German and Russian. As well as finding resale or new build homes, we can also help you with NIE, contracts, signing at the notary, inheritances, financing and currency exchange.

People coming from abroad really appreciate having a single point of contact throughout the whole process. And it makes sense. If you want to prepare your budget better, you can also check our currency exchange to buy a property on the Costa Blanca service, especially useful when the transaction is funded from another country.

Our work doesn’t end on signing day. We also handle after-sales, renovations, maintenance, taxes, and tailored solutions through Smart Constructions if you prefer to build from scratch. Do you need Spanish residency to buy? Not necessarily, but it’s a good idea to have your paperwork well organised before you place a reservation.

If you’re considering buying a Property on the Costa Blanca, we can explain every cost clearly and help you calculate the real budget before you commit.

• Send an email: sales@smartinmo.com
• Office address: Agencia Amsterdam: Calle Amsterdam angulo calle Alfredo Kraus, 1 – 03177 San Fulgencio (Alicante – Espana)
• Call one of our phone numbers: +34 966 790 787 | +34 622 001 605